Anne Rice is one of the most read authors in America today. Her stories are a rich blending of the visible and perpetual worlds, epics that challenge the reader while entertaining them. Her books are deeply etched with tapestries of history, philosophy, religion, belief, and supernatural forces, bringing us into the lives of characters that push our physical world beyond that which we perceive. They allow us to examine realms that we would normally not investigate in our normal day to day lives. Each time we enter into one of Rice's books, we can be sure to feel a little saddened when we reach the end. Perhaps more than a little, as we step back into our own realities, after having spent so much time in the invigorating world she creates for us with such vivid and believable characters.