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Everything We Know About AMC’s ‘Interview with the Vampire’ Series 2022 – The Mary Sue

In 2020, AMC announced they gained the rights to Anne Rices The Vampire Chronicles and Lives of the Mayfair Witches series. The deal happened prior to Rices death in 2021, so it is not clear what her involvement was in the development of the first projectan Interview with the Vampire television show.

I first read Interview with the Vampire as a young teenager and it instantly shaped my lifelong love of pansexual vampires. To this day, the vampire Lestat is one of my all-time favorite literary characters. Yet, the Interview with the Vampire film and the proceeding sequel, Queen of the Damned, did not do nearly as well as the Vampire Chronicles book series did. As a side note, I am still bitter they never attempted the novel The Vampire Lestat since that is my favorite of all the books and went between the two films they made. Why did they skip it?!

Because of my past disappointments, I had little hope for this series. But after seeing the actors cast in the show and watching the recently released teaser trailer, I am actually looking forward to it! Here is everything we know about the upcoming show.

Louis de Pointe du Lac Jacob Anderson, who is best known for playing Grey Worm on Game of Thrones (or as he is called by Jonathan Van Ness, Little Baby Barack Obama), will play Louis. The novel begins with Louis telling the boy (later in the series he gets the name Daniel Molloy) about his life as a vampire. It starts when Lestat de Lioncourt chose Louis as his consort. Louis is beautiful and sad, something that keeps Lestat eternally hooked.

Lestat de Lioncourt Sam Reid (Anonymous) will play Lestat. A French vampire who comes to New Orleans looking for a new lease on the afterlife, he feels Louiss humanity will bring him into the new era. Lestat has a dark humor that no one understands. He feels everything deeply, love and hate, but reveals nothing to those around him.

Claudia Newcomer Bailey Bass will play vampire-child, Claudia. Although the actress looks to be in her late teens, the character is supposed to be a very young child. Her innocent look dupes her victims into trusting, not knowing she is a cold-blooded killer. There is no official word, but I can imagine they aged the character up for practical (and possibly problematic) reasons. Lestat found orphaned Claudia and made her into a vampire to keep Louis with him, so they would be a proper family.

Daniel Molloy Eric Bogosian (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) will play Daniel Molloy. In the novel, Louis only refers to him as the boy. So I find it amusing that in this context, a man in his early thirties will play Louis, and the boy is a man almost seventy. Daniel interviews interesting people and takes a particular shine to Louis, wanting to know his story.

The original story began at the end of the 18th century in New Orleans. Louis owns a profitable Indigo plantation. He meets an enchanting vampire named Lestat, who offers him immortality. The two become locked forever in an angsty and beautiful romance filled with so many communication and intimacy issues.

The teaser trailer, and all the officially released pictures, seem like the show takes place much more recently during the Jazz Age (1920s-1930s). This could mean several things. Either Louis doesnt become a vampire until later, or the plot explores this portion of their lives as opposed to the earlier times. In many ways, the Jazz Age is much more funit has its own fantastic soundtrack, and those tailored suits look lovely.

At the end of the teaser, it said the shows premiere date for Fall 2022 on AMC. Just in time for some Halloween viewing.

Last year I started re-reading the novel and, honestly, it wasnt as good as I remembered it being. Since its publication in 1976, a lot has changed in our worlds and many parts did not age well. Rices romanticizing of southern plantations and queer-baiting would not be as well-received today. Even since the movies, gay romances (like the one that played out in the books between the two main vampires) have become more mainstream. So I am hoping with all of my (vampire-loving) soul that AMC has the guts to take the series and make it betterfinally giving fans the love affair between Louis and Lestat we have all been waiting for.

(featured image: AMC)

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You Should (Probably) Read: Endymion by Dan Simmons – Hipsters of the Coast

Sequels are notoriously hard, perhaps even impossible, to pull off in a satisfying manner. Should you hew closely to the formula that resulted in your initial success? How much can you evolve your work while retaining as many fans as possible? Can anything really live up to the original?

Enter Dan Simmons and Endymion (Bookshop.org | Amazon), the 1996 follow up to the Nebula and Locus award winning Hyperion. Simmonss approach to (hopefully) avoiding a sophomore slump was to write a 1,000-page book, split it in half, and publish it as two separate books. The Fall of Hyperion may technically be the sequel to Hyperion, but it is really the conclusion of the original story. Thus, Endymionthe third book of four in the Hyperion Cantos, followed by the finale, The Rise of Endymionis the work that actually bears the burden of a traditional sequel.

Simmons chose to evolve his formula for Hyperions sequel as Endymion takes place in the same universe but is set hundreds of years after the events of the first two books. The events and characters of the original story have faded into legend since the fall of humanitys intergalactic empire at the conclusion of The Fall of Hyperion, though theycontinue to haunt Endymions story at various points. A resurgent Catholic Church, thanks to its mastery of the mysterious resurrection parasite called the cruciform, has filled the void left after the fall and has become the dominant political power in the universe in the form of a theocratic government called the Pax.

MORE: Dont miss our review of Hyperion by Dan Simmons.

The story uses a dual hunter/hunted point of view as its structure to tell the story of Raul Endymion and the messianic Aenea as they flee from Pax forces led by Father Captain Federico de Soya. The Pax believes that Aenea is a threat to the Churchs dominance in human affairs and has chosen de Soya to capture her. But Simmons tries the same trick with this book that he did with Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperionit turns out that the 600 pages of Endymion is just the first half of the story. An additional 800 pages in The Rise of Endymion is required to complete the story.

The hunter/hunted structure serves Endymion well as the cat-and-mouse game provides enough tension to push the book towards its end and give its characters (especially de Soya) room to develop. Unfortunately, this structure continues into The Rise of Endymion and begins to collapse under its own weight, resulting in a 1,400-page story that could easily be cut down by 400 pages. This is especially apparent when, at multiple points, Simmons resorts to 20-page sections of dialog to explain some mysteries and conclude an act of the story, separated by hundreds of pages describing planets and characters in immense detail despite the fact that they dont have any significant impact on the story.

The original covers for Endymion and The Rise of Endymion.

The de Soya and the Pax plot lines are a highlight throughout both books. They are tight, full of mystery and intrigue, and driven by interesting characters. (I have no idea why the Pax point of view is unceremoniously abandoned halfway through The Rise of Endymion.) Raul, on the other hand, is both the protagonist and the flattest, must uninteresting character in the story. This makes it particularly difficult to make it through the more plodding sections of The Rise of Endymion, so feel free to skim as you see fit.

Aenea is more interesting as a quasi-messiah who can see potential futures. But her character falls prey to the lack of development that characters who can see the future often suffer from. Simmons (somehow) didnt find the space in either book to deconstruct the ability to see the future and the impact that ability can have on a character (like Frank Herbert did with Paul Atreides in Dune and its sequels), leaving Aenea to conclude The Rise of Endymion as more or less in the same person as she was at the beginning of Endymion.

The aforementioned issues help explain the polarized reception Endymion and The Rise of Endymion have received since their release in 1996 and 1998, respectively. The universe Simmons has created is still top-notch and worthy of additional stories set within it, but the story of Endymion and The Rise of Endymion is uneven and often boring. The antagonistsde Soya and his Pax allieslive up to the potential of the universe, while the protagonists fall far short as they meander their way towards the storys climax.

And it really doesnt help that Raul (in his late 20s and early 30s) and Aenea (a pre-teen and teenager) have the seeds of a romantic relationship throughout the first book and a half. Even when Aenea is of age, Simmonss portrayal of their romance is clunky and the scenes depicting their more intimate moments are extremely cringeworthy.

In their more focused moments, Endymion and The Rise of Endymion are interested in deconstructing the ideas of religion and faith. In this story, the Catholic Church has achieved immortality for its adherents thanks to the cruciform parasite and Simmons uses that setup to explore the consequences of immortality on a religion and society. He also uses Aeneas messianic arc to highlight the moral clarity of personal faith by contrasting it to the danger and amorality of organized religion-cum-theocracy. These themes are just as fertile as those in Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion, but Simmons makes you work significantly harder to engage with them in Endymion and The Rise of Endymion.

Ultimately, both Endymion and The Rise of Endymion are let down by their length, wandering of focus, and lacking protagonists. Simmonss writing style is easy to digest and lends itself to extended reading sessions, so both books are worth your time if youd like answers to the most interesting questions Hyperions universe has to offer. Just dont be afraid to start skimming when Rauls narrative beings to drag. And it willIm looking at you, Book 2 of The Rise of Endymion. But the books dont stand on their own, meaning your enjoyment of the final two installments of the Hyperion Cantos will likely hinge on how interested you are in the larger story and characters that span the entire series.

Rating: for Endymion and forThe Rise of Endymion. Buy or rent ebook versions so that you can complete the saga.

You can buy Endymion Bookshop.org or Amazon.

This post contains affiliate links from which Hipsters of the Coast may make a small commission.

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You Should (Probably) Read: Endymion by Dan Simmons - Hipsters of the Coast

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Retired CFL QB Michael Reilly inducted into Central Washington University Hall of Fame, credits time with Wildcats for pro success – 3downnation.com

Recently retired CFL quarterback Michael Reilly will have to wait five years to get his bust in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, but the gutsy dual-threat pivot got a taste of richly deserved sports immortality when he was inducted into the Central Washington University Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Reilly quarterbacked the Wildcats football team from 2005 to 2008 and set an NCAA all-division record for consecutive games with a touchdown pass by throwing for a score in all 46 games of his collegiate career. A native of Kennewick, Washington, he finished his time at CWU with a 64 percent completion rate for 12,448 passing yards, 118 touchdowns and 40 interceptions.

As a senior, Reilly was named the 2008 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the most valuable player in Division II after passing for 3,706 yards and 37 touchdowns and six interceptions. That same season, Reilly earned All-America honours from Daktronics, D2Football.com, and Don Hansens Football Gazette.

Originally a walk-on at Washington State, Reilly admitted in a Q & A with WildcatSports.com that he never imagined a Hall of Fame enshrinement would await him after transferring to the tiny school in Ellensburg.

The thought never really crossed my mind. My goal was always to end up playing professional football, but when I started attending Central in 2005 my sole focus was performing well enough to become the starter and doing the things necessary to earn the respect of my teammates so that I could become a leader for our team, Reilly recalled.

[Former CWU head coach John Zamberlin] was also always quick to remind me that although they had high expectations for me, I hadnt done anything yet on the field and needed to prove myself.

He did more than simply prove himself, joining Jon Kitna on the shortlist of best ever Wildcats quarterbacks. After short stints with four separate NFL franchises, Reilly went on to have an outstanding 12-year career in the CFL with the B.C. Lions and Edmonton Elks. He won Grey Cup championships with both teams, earning Grey Cup MVP honours with Edmonton in 2015 and become the leagues Most Outstanding Player in 2017.

Reilly retired in January as the 14th most productive passer in CFL history. He has finished his career with 34,805 passing yards, 182 touchdowns, 105 interceptions, 3,566 rushing yards, and 56 rushing touchdowns. He threw for over 5,000 yards in three consecutive seasons from 2016 to 2018, a feat that only Doug Flutie and Anthony Calvillo had previously accomplished.

According to Reilly, much of that professional success can be attributed to the lessons he learned while playing for the Wildcats.

The number one thing that Central taught me when it came to football was that I had to earn everything that I wanted, and that nothing would be given to me based on who I was or where I was from, he said.

A lot of great players from big Division I schools would come up to the CFL and thought that they could just coast through and be an all-star and that was rarely the case for them. Coming from CWU and Division II, I had the lunch pail mentality that I needed to prove myself and earn my paycheque every single day and I think that attitude served me well throughout my career.

While the 37-year-old may marvel at the fact he is old enough to have a spot in any Hall of Fame, you can guarantee Central Washingtons ceremony wont be the last one Michael Reilly has to attend.

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Downton 2 is the perfect escapists paradise – Sydney Morning Herald

DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERAPG, 125 minutes, in cinemas April 28

In Downton Abbeys first excursion on the big screen in 2019, the upstairs and downstairs families battled the implacable forces of the Buckingham Palace bureaucracy in the lead-up to a visit from King George V and Queen Mary.

This time, they face an equally powerful but much more modern institution with an aristocracy all its own the moving pictures.

All the familiar faces have turned up for the occasion.Credit:Ben Blackall

A film is to be shot at Downton, a prospect that fills Hugh Bonnevilles Lord Grantham with revulsion. The place will be overrun, he snorts, by actresses plastered in make-up and actors just plastered.

Then, just in time, a diversion presents itself. His mother, Maggie Smiths Lady Violet Crawley, receives the news shes been gifted a villa in the south of France. Why? This question is a cue for Downtons creator, Julian Fellowes, to introduce one of his most reliable plot devices, the long-buried family secret. A Crawley party sets out for the Riviera to find out more, leaving Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) to watch over the film-making.

The mere fact Violet has fronted up for the sequel verges on a minor miracle. At the end of the last film, she was dealing with the revelation she probably had just a few months to live news that would surely have pleased Maggie Smith herself. When the series finished in 2015, she told chat show host Graham Norton that she was glad that it was over, partly because Violet had to be about 110 by then and her continued good health didnt make a lot of sense. Even on Downtons rarefied plane of existence, immortality isnt yet in the offing.

Penelope Wilton stars as Isobel Merton and Maggie Smith as Violet Grantham.Credit:Ben Blackall

But here she is, saddling up again, ready to fire off a new quiver full of Violets characteristic zingers with all her old elan. Just before the film crew is due to arrive, she gives Mary a sage piece of advice. Women like us, she says, fall into two categories dragons and fools. You must make sure they think of you as a dragon.

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New hard kombucha brand by St. Paul native launches in the Twin Cities – Yahoo News

A new alcoholic beverage is bubbling in the Twin Cities. Hooch Booch, a hard kombucha brand coming out of Denver, Colo., made its Minnesota debut this April.

Created by Anna Zesbaugh, a born-and-raised Minnesotan, the idea to create a Prohibition-inspired hard kombucha percolated when she was furloughed during the beginning of the pandemic. The frenzy to rush to the liquor stores and stock up on alcohol as the pandemic began to close businesses, including liquor stores, reminded Zesbaugh of the Prohibition era. I wanted to create a drink that was a nod to the past but that was crafted for modern times, says Zesbaugh.

Hooch Boochs hard kombucha comes in three vegan and gluten-free flavors: Clover Club, Bees Knees and Old Fashioned. Clocking in at 8.5% ABV, the beverage undergoes two fermentations (nonalcoholic kombucha usually undergoes only one), is brewed with fresh Rocky Mountain spring water and incorporates real fruit purees and local-to-Colorado ingredients.

You can find Hooch Booch at the following Minnesota locations: Union 32 Craft House, Merwin Liquors, Eagans Big Discount Liquor, Highland Parks Haskells, Sharretts Liquor, Midway Liquor, Kowalskis on Grand Avenue, Wildcats Bar and Grill, Eagans Atomic Liquors and St. Pauls Liquor Vault.

In recent years, kombucha and the fermented tea-based beverages boozy alternatives, have created a significant wedge in the beverage market. According to Market Watch, hard kombucha sales grew from $1.7 million in 2017 to $12 million in 2019.

The probiotic beverage has witnessed a substantial rise in popularity this past decade alone, as many health gurus have made kombucha a part of their diet. Kombucha has been around long before the LuluLemon yoga pant-wearing type found out about its health benefits. The nearly 2000-year-old beverage was deemed the tea of immortality by Qin dynasty-era brewers when it was created in 221 BCE, according to Vox.

Hooch Booch: More info about Hooch Boochs hard kombucha at Drinkhoochbooch.com or on Hooch Boochs Facebook page.

Restaurants, Food and Drink | Longtime owner of Josephs Family Restaurant in Oak Park Heights is retiring

Restaurants, Food and Drink | Recipe: Josephs Family Restaurants famous rhubarb pie

Restaurants, Food and Drink | St. Paul Farmers Market opens with vendors, shoppers, music and more

Restaurants, Food and Drink | Smile, youre on calcium camera: Milk drinkers shamed on social media

Restaurants, Food and Drink | Grand Catch, seafood boil restaurant on Grand Avenue, is closing

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New hard kombucha brand by St. Paul native launches in the Twin Cities - Yahoo News

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One-Liners In a World Without End – Splice Today

A solitary dancer, another hapless soul going through the macabre motions, choreographed movement within and without. A little soft shoe routine, well-seasoned hoofers, belting out old show tunes from forgotten days. A tap dance to the grave. The herky-jerky. The last act, a final curtain. Like theres no tomorrow for a show stoppers big finish. With aflair for drama, the pageantry, a parade of one, dancing solo, a backward journey going forward. No encores.

A cortge bier, funeral pyre, to burn without fire. Its the only way to go. So this is how it is, on days like this, to come and go, until they carry you away? All the pomp of a down-and-dirty dirge. A slow march into the unknown. Signing off on the lease of lifes temporary rental. Twists, turns, too many dead ends. No outlet, or egress, tread softly, upon the earth for those interred in it. Ash to dust, its sublime. Point A to point B? Any directions as good as another. Getting lost on a living map. Nobody goes out in alphabetical order. The directory, an obituary, listed A to Z. Well-spent long sojourns, stopping along way to smell the coffee, the flowers, the manure in a ragged world cafe. Who put the fun in funerals?

Death, dont be cruel. It takes all the fun out of living. Therere no rules. Like when someone answers the phone, Hello, were the undertakers, Diggs, Graves, & Berry. You plug em, we plant em! You whack em, we stack em. You stab em, we slab em. You kill em, we chill em. No hurry, Morts my name, buryings my game. A drunken wake for the recently deceased. If only for poor unfortunates left behind to fend for themselves. Just when you think its over, it begins. This could be the start of something big. Just get up, and leave without saying a word. Disappearing into the loamy scenery, a hubris of humus, the eternal dirt nap. Lay down your burden, by the riverside.

Theres speculation floating around that an unusual parallel universe exists, one that only moves backwards. A reverse time heading to the past, canceling out the future. Time as we know it is irrelevant. Theres a possibility. No time like the present. Tell that to your boss the next time youre late for work. Theyll dock your pay for time that never passed. Youre there but not there. Research claims its possible time may not exist at all. Dark matter may be the vacuum that sucks past, present, and future events into itself. A soap opera gumbo, inside a warped consciousness of existential mumbo jumbo. Released, with time served for good behavior.

Ive addressed this topic on many occasions. Why were here, and where do we go? You can spend an entire life contemplating your demise, or question the reasons why. The low spark, the brief respite, single bright moments. A day in the sun, or perpetual darkness of the soul. Have a sense of humor about it. Its all in jest, the joker of undoing, a lifetime, a single day, the little nothings taken for granted. Its a raw deal, this crazy life. Just when you get the hang of it, poof, thanks for the memories.

Thats okay, I get the absurdity. I understand never knowing for certain. The plans, the meanings, the nature of change, whats left, or long gone. This life, time and place, will be the death of us. Thats plenty for satire. Its a narrow theme with a broad audience. Like a fence around a cemetery, to keep you in or out. You can live forever, on layaway. Immortality is highly overrated, but people die, trying to live forever. The best way to cheat death, go out laughing. The last one-liner youll never hear. I thought there would be cake.

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