From: domnatr@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Nathan Kane)
Subject: Re: immortality
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 22:39:52 GMT

This is a real corker:  Lestat feeding on Ramses...

I would think of a few things to offer here.

(1) The immortals (I don't like calling them mummies) are powered, so to
    speak, by the sun.  Thus it wouldn't be beyond belief that the elixir is,
    in some manner, the essence of the sun (as both are, to some extent,
    immortal).

(2) For whatever reason, the vampires somewhat fear these immortals (probably
    because of their greater capacities (no sleep, move during day and night,
    what have you).  Ramses also healed amazingly quickly from his wounds;  I
    don't know whether this is a function of age or not, since Cleopatra did
    as well (after becoming a crispy critter in an automobile explosion) and
    she was only a fledgling.

So here is my thought on the matter.

Lestat feeds from Ramses.

a> Lestat becomes supervampire, capable of withstanding daylight, and is a
   creature to be feared forever after.

b> Lestat cannot deal with the conflicting forces at work inside him (to wit,
   hide from the sun or die versus charge in the sun or go into hibernation)
   and either dies or becomes mortal (possibly with a few quirks)

c> Ramses kills Lestat (tromps on his body several times until it's quite
   broken up and then burns it and scatters the ashes), saving us the torment
   of such a question.

Or, several middle grounds could be reached -- perhaps in his quest to gain
still more power with the immortal's blood within him, Lestat attempts to stay
in the sunlight and finds that he cannot endure it -- it burns him as it did
before.  He then digs into the ground frantically to hide and, in the absence
of sunlight, goes into the deep sleep of Ramses, Cleopatra, and their ilk.
Or maybe Lestat goes insane from the imbalance of power.  Perhaps his former
allies -- Armand, Marius, Louis, even Ramses if he joins -- would turn against
him in an attempt to rid the world of such an abomination of an abomination.
This might be *Queen of the Damned* all over again.  

Pretty interesting stuff.  I must admit I'd really like to see some crossing
of Anne Rice's genres;  vampires in the Chronicles of Ramses the Damned, or
vice versa, or Lasher or other people (the Talamasca has already been seen in
such a crossover) in the other books.

And let me say once again (I said this previously before my account died) --

I think the perfect ending to the Vampire Chronicles would be the death of
Lestat.  I love him as a character, but I think he has to go.  It would be
very symmetrical and poetic.  Perhaps Ramses facing off with him and coming
out victorious, or the two destroying one another utterly in an epic
confrontation... it would be perfect.  Anne, if you're reading this, or if
anybody is who would get in touch with her in any way, shape, or form, please
take it under literary consideration (read:  laugh and ignore, shaking head
as to the blatant ignorance of readers nowadays).

I also think (some Body Thief spoilers here) --






















David Talbot (in his new vampire form) should have renewed success with his
Candoble spirit-summoning and possession powers.  Certainly his mind would be
capable of reaching new highs... Hmm.  

I don't know about you other readers, but I'm beginning to see a trend here.
(Spoilers for Lots of Anne Rice novels -- Vampire Chronicles, Mummy, Witching Hr)



















Lasher, a malevolent spirit with great powers of psychokinesis and whatever elseyou want to cook up, becomes flesh in *The Witching Hour*.  Rowan Mayfair, who
also has extremely potent mental abilities, is apparently with him.  And, thoughhe might surface later, Michael (the previous psycher who could read objects'
pasts with his hands) seems to be fading from the picture as his powers are now
gone, and he has a weakened heart.  

This seems to fit well with Talbot, who has all sorts of spiritual control and
summoning powers.  Perhaps the two could clash.

And we've already covered the Ramses--Lestat connection -- hell, Armand's queen
of the coven (in *The Vampire Lestat*) even goes so far as to mention that she
knows/has known of Ramses at some previous time (I can't be sure it's her, but
I know the quote is more or less word for word "Marius, and Mael, and Santino,
who walk the earth in forgotten circles [could be 'unknown places'] and Ramses,
who they were mistaken about, and who was something else altogether..." the
quote is concerning other Elder Vampires walking the face of the planet).  I
think a confrontation between some immortal or another (possibly Cleopatra or
the Professor Whatsisname, or even Julie and Ramses, or another immortal 
altogether -- Ramses wasn't the only one who knew of the formula)

And who knows what will be released in years to come?  I heard that Anne Rice was reworking a Frankenstein screenplay (this COULD be Coppola's version, although
I'm not really sure) and she might write something along those lines.  The body
thief, Raglan James, I thought was excellent -- I'd like to see other action
between immortals and mortals in this manner (Talamasca hunters?  Ex-Talamasca
hunters?  Non-Talamasca hunters?  I don't think they'd be a match for Lestat or
some of the other vampires, but you never know...)

Well, that's enough babbling for now.

Sorry if the subject line didn't reflect the Anne Ricean nature of the post.

Cheers,

______________________

Nathan Kane
domnatr@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu

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