Perhaps the best known modern vampire saga began in the late-70s when Anne Rice released Interview with the Vampire. There are currently 11 novels in the Vampire Chronicles series, plus multiple crossover novels within the Mayfair Witch series. That has provided a wealth of characters to follow. So it’s a good thing that Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles: An Alphabettery has just been released. 

Compiled and written by Rice’s longtime assistant Becket, the 450-page Alphabettery covers the characters, settings, storylines, genealogies and more from the world of the Vampire Chronicles. It includes in a single place all the details from across the novels that tie together the people, history and places of Rice’s world.

Much like an encyclopedia, you can find whatever you’re looking for in alphabetical order, from Akasha to Zenobia. Each entry provides the novels in which the character or setting appears, who is connected to him/her/it, significance and developments within the span of the series. Categories are also provided, for example, locations dubbed sanctuaries or the species of a character (mortal, immortal, vampire, witch, etc.). It’s all the details fans, both new and longstanding, will enjoy indulging in.

One other intriguing piece of the Alphabettery is the introduction. Written by Rice (in her typically over descriptive way), it provides some interesting details on her history with the series, how it came about and how she has managed to keep it fresh over the 40 years she’s been writing it. She also describes her writing process, which is a fascinating insight that fans seldom learn about favorite authors.

Obviously, this is a book for fans… and it’s well worth reading. Whether you haven’t indulged in a Vampire Chronicles novel in some time, you’re giving them a reread or you’re immersing yourself in the world for the first time, the Alphabettery is a good way to  remind yourself what you love about the series.