Buy Used/3rdParty

More product information

Find other editions of Tale of the Body Thief (Softback, Hardback, Audio, E-Book)

Similar Products

Audio CD Description It's been said that Vladimir Nabokov's best novels are the ones he wrote after starting a failed novel. Anne Rice wrote The Body Thief, the fourth thrilling episode of her Vampire Chronicles, right after she spent a long time poring over that most romantic of horror novels, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, to research a novel Rice abandoned about an artificial man. Perhaps as a result of Shelley's influence, The Body Thief is far more psychologically penetrating than its predecessors, with a laser-like focus on a single tormented soul. Oh, we meet some wild new characters, and Rice's toothsome vampire-hero Lestat zooms around the globe--as is his magical habit--from Miami to the Gobi desert, but he's in such despair that he trades his immortal body to a con man named Raglan James, who offers him in return two days of strictly mortal bliss. Lestat has always had a faulty impulse-control valve, and it gets him in truly intriguing trouble this time. On the plus side, he gets to experience romance with a nun and orange juice--"thick like blood, but full of sweetness." But Lestat is horrified by an uncommon cold, and his toilet training proves traumatic. He's also got to catch Raglan James, who has no intention of giving up his dishonestly acquired new superpowered body. Lestat enlists the help of David Talbot, a mortal in the Talamasca, a secret society of immortal watchers described in Queen of the Damned. The swapping of bodies and supernatural stories is choice, and there's even a moral: never give a bloodsucker an even break. --Tim Appelo

Customer Reviews not the typical vampire novel [no spoilers] "The Tale of the Body Thief" is the fourth novel in "The Vampire Chronicles" concerning a specific encounter with an individual of extraordinary powers. Lestat narrates the entire account with superb descriptions of the characters and the environments, on par with all the other narratives. Vampire Lestat de Lioncourt and Talamasca member David Talbot dominate the novel as they face a unique experience for Lestat. Love and affection gushes from every person in every direction, the sort of behavior one does not imagine in a vampire's world but will expect in this author's works. As before, Lestat conducts himself in an immature fashion after all his years of undead living, hence his appeal as a character among many fans. The author forgoes some of the traditional limitations found in the vampire genre such as the crucifix, holy water, and garlic, creating her own world where images on reflective surfaces are allowed and being welcomed into the household has no leverage for the residents. The vampires have telepathy and the eldest can perform telekinesis and spontaneous combustion on the younger vampires, abilities I've not encountered in other works. I believe having certain restrictions on the undead brings some balance to the victims yet the novel isn't as much about the conflict between vampires and humans as it is about internal turmoil. I recommend this book in the series to any fan of the romantic vampire genre. Thank you. !!! What a good read! This was my first book by Anne and i've been pleased ever since. This book is very well written...good job Anne! Lestat? Human? No Kidding!!! The Tale of the Body Thief, the 4th book in the Vampire Chronicles Series is for me the most suspenseful and by far outruns Queen of the Damned. It is the one I keep on going back to, over and over again, finding the plot more even and less burdened by the interminable, philosophical monologues that occasionally plague some of the other books making them, at times, difficult to follow. In this book, Lestat after centuries of regrets and yearnings to be human again, finally gets his wish. But at such a price! It does not take him long to realize that things always look greener on the other side of the fence. Being human, despite its perks, means to struggle with mortality, limitations and betrayal. Of course he experiences acutely what it feels to be betrayed not only by the thief himself- whom he chooses to trust, in spite of all warnings-, but also by his fellow vampires, who turn their backs on him when he begs for help. There again, human nature redeems itself to his eyes, through the devotion of his friend David Talbot- the only one who risks everything to help him -and the love of the nun Gretchen. I find this novel imaginative, fast paced, fun to read, difficult to put down, and different enough to stand on its own. I enjoyed reading of Lestat's candid admission of his difficult adjustment with the human daily routines and ailments as simple as a cold, financial hardships, indifference and rejection and his final realization that his vampire powers are an incredible gift. I was disappointed by Louis's refusal to help him- especially after reading in the novel "Merrick" how easily he [Louis] forgets his own principles.- And While I was mesmerized by the last chapter's recounts of David's fate, I could not help but think what a spoiled, ingrateful, incredibly selfish creature lestat proves himself to be, having learnt nothing from his experience. This book is a must read for whomever enjoys this series.