We as a fandom are often asked which books are the most important in VC, which ones need to be read before the new one comes out, which books we consider to be canon…

Every reader has to decide that for themselves. It’s great when we can agree on things, but some things are left ambiguous, either by unreliable narrators, discrepancies in the information we’re given, or simply some variation of “these characters are #ooc to me and I REFUSE ALL OF IT >:[ ”

“Reflecting on the total lack of consensus amongst my readers on which is my best book, or which is my worst, really, readers write fascinating and substantive responses to "Memnoch the Devil.” Others dismiss it as a total failure or where the whole series went wrong. Some claim the earlier Chronicles are the best; others praise the later books. A few claim my husband, Stan, was the real author. A great many readers embrace the entire series, with all its twists and turns.” Anne Rice, 11/01/2016 [X]

(I didn’t know ppl claimed Stan had written the earlier books! He certainly might have had a big influence on them, at any rate) ^@claudias-ashes pointed this out to me, and I skimmed the responses, lots of praise in there for AR. It’s good to see her acknowledging that we do not all recognize all of the books as canon, and she seems fine with that, even offering advice to writers who may find themselves in a similar situation. It’s a good stance to have, she’s not forcing anyone to accept any or all of it, so when we have our fandom debates about things, keep in mind that AR’s opinion is probably, like mine, #your headcanon may vary.

The rest of her quote is under the cut (cut for length not spoilers), along with the info that:

• Lestat is never gonna die! well good bc he is the gotdamn Sacred Core now

• She’s already all revved up to get started on the next VC! for better or worse

Hit the jump…

“…When I ask, “Which is your favorite book?” The responses are all over. Is this good or bad? Frankly, every author wants to be read, and for the readers to care. But why do I spark so much controversy? I’ve never fully understood. I’m passionate, the books are passionate, and I’m profoundly thankful to say the readers are passionate. But have writers ever had so much fresh and authentic feedback before? I don’t think so. You’ve got to keep your head, keep steering the boat, keep re-entering your world and finding your place there as you continue. I don’t want Lestat ever to die, not even when I die. Perish the thought. For me, he can’t die. He’s too irrepressibly alive, and I am too connected to him. I’ve tried to run away from him, but it has never really worked. Now, I don’t want to run away at all. I want to sail right into a third “Prince Lestat” book— right from “Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis,” and continue writing about Lestat as the monarch of a remarkable tribe. Vampire radio star, Benji Mahmoud with his broadcasts of news from the Vampire Court must be a metaphor for the author. What would it be like to slip into psychosis and wake up body and soul in Chateau de Lioncourt? Lovely. But the view from here is just fine.“

– Anne Rice