Memnoch the Devil   (book)

Memnoch the Devil

Anne Rice books come recommended to me very highly by a friend of mine whose taste in books I largely share. At least he hasn't recommended something that's turned out to be crap, yet.

Although I read this (#5 in the Vampire Chronicles) before any of the other ones in the series, I thought it stood alone very well. This is a book with very deep religious and spiritual themes, so if that's not something that interests you, don't waste your time. This book is not really about vampires. It's about exploring alternate histories based in a religious context.

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD:

If you were raised in a religious family, as I was, it's not hard to spot the key points in the book where breaks are made with basic points of (in my case) Christian creed. I imagine it wouldn't totally jive with other major religions either, but I can't speak as intelligently on that subject. In this book, God is not omniscient, evolution is blended with creation, and hell is a gateway to heaven once certain conditions are met.

The book was a good read, however heretical or blasphemous it may seem to those who understand the ways it differs from orthodox beliefs. I recommend it to anyone with an interest in thinking about such things.