Review of The Master of Rampling Gate: A Vook by Anne Rice

Every so often something comes along that provides some new and innovative way to enhance the art of storytelling.

The latest in storytelling innovation comes from the trailblazers at Vook.  A Vook is the blending of both video and text (video+book=Vook) to create an experience unlike any other. Vooks combine entertaining stories with videos that compliment them by providing the reader with interesting information and special features such as author interviews. Add to the mix informative links to such sites as Wikipedia for those wishing to learn more about the topics within a story and you have yourself the makings of a fascinating read.

I recently had the chance to experience Vook for the first time with the retelling of Anne Rice’s short story The Master of Rampling Gate.

The Master of Rampling Gate, Anne Rice’s first and only short story dealing with vampires tells the tale of a young woman and her brother as they visit their ancestral home after the death of their father. Rampling Gate, passed down from generation to generation for centuries had always been the home of the Rampling family. That was of course until their father had left the mansion vowing never again to return. Both siblings are awestruck by the beauty and magnificence of the place which makes fulfilling their father’s deathbed wish all the harder for their father has commanded that Rampling Gate be torn down.

Neither sibling knows why their father had made such a strange request until one night Julie, a bright young lady with a mind full of fantasy meets the true master of Rampling Gate… A centuries old vampire who has been alive since the age of the Black Death.

As an avid Anne Rice fan I have read The Master of Rampling Gate before but even though the story may not have been new to me the presentation certainly was. I enjoyed being able to read the story as well as watch the short videos peppered throughout. Each chapter includes it’s own video involving such topics as Gothic literature, the Black Death, an explanation of the story by Anne and of course information on Anne herself. Oh and don’t forget the vampires. Links to such pages as Wikipedia and AskOxford.Com are also peppered throughout the tale providing information to the reader about topics related to the story.

Vooks may not be taking the place of books anytime soon but they are enjoyable, informative and even though fairly new there is already a wide variety to choose from. Anne has often spoken of her interest in Vooks on her FaceBook so hopefully we shall be seeing more of them from her sometime in the future.

The Master of Rampling Gate is available for both online reading and as an iPhone App from Vook on their website and is currently on sale for .99 cents for a limited time.

-Chris

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