Victor Renquist
Encyclopedia
Victor Renquist is a fictional vampire
(though he himself uses the term nosferatu) created by Mick Farren
. He has appeared in a series of books known as 'the Renquist Quartet'.
sect known as the Cathars during their hopeless last stand against the forces of Pope Innocent III
when he was mortally wounded. To save his life, the Cathars called upon an entity known as Lamia
the Great Vampire. He has not seen her since then.
During the intervening centuries, Renquist survived not only on blood, but also by accepting jobs for various political and intelligence agencies. He has reputedly worked for the Duke of Wellington
, Nicholas II of Russia
, and the NSA. Along the way, he has evaded capture by the Spanish Inquisition
, the Knights of Sebastopol and the Gestapo
.
As a vampire, he is faster, stronger and hardier than a human. He also has certain psychic abilities in mind-reading, brain-washing, and hypnotism. However, he is also vulnerable to radioactivity, both from natural (the Sun) and unnatural sources (such as nuclear devices). He currently lives with at least four other vampires in a 'colony' of nosferatu in an isolated residence in California, of which he is the leader.
Through the series, we are told of how vampires evolved from a warrior class created by an alien race called the Nephilim. The Nephilim conquered Earth millennia ago and tinkered with the primitive humans to create two classes: warrior (Nosferatu) and administrator (Urshuu). However, the Nephilim left Earth in antiquity, leaving their creations behind.
Over the course of the books, Renquist clashes with, variously, the Old God Cthulhu
, the nosferatu Clan Fenrior, members of his own colony, a Nazi
society living in caverns under the ground (in an environment which is supposed to be the basis of the Hollow Earth
), the mythic magician Merlin, a cult
known as The Apogee, and the Dhrakuh, an ancient race of sentient reptiles (who it is implied are the basis of dragon
legends
).
In his 3rd May 2010 Doc40 Blog, Mick Farren disclosed that he was starting work on a 5th Victor Renquist novel.
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
(though he himself uses the term nosferatu) created by Mick Farren
Mick Farren
Michael Anthony 'Mick' Farren is an English journalist, author and singer associated with counterculture and the UK Underground.-Music:...
. He has appeared in a series of books known as 'the Renquist Quartet'.
Profile
He was born in the twelfth century, the bastard son of a nobleman, and who grew up to become a sword for hire. When in his forties, he worked for a breakaway ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
sect known as the Cathars during their hopeless last stand against the forces of Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III was Pope from 8 January 1198 until his death. His birth name was Lotario dei Conti di Segni, sometimes anglicised to Lothar of Segni....
when he was mortally wounded. To save his life, the Cathars called upon an entity known as Lamia
Lamia (mythology)
In ancient Greek mythology, Lamia was a beautiful queen of Libya who became a child-eating daemon. Aristophanes claimed her name derived from the Greek word for gullet , referring to her habit of devouring children....
the Great Vampire. He has not seen her since then.
During the intervening centuries, Renquist survived not only on blood, but also by accepting jobs for various political and intelligence agencies. He has reputedly worked for the Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
, Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
, and the NSA. Along the way, he has evaded capture by the Spanish Inquisition
Spanish Inquisition
The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
, the Knights of Sebastopol and the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
.
As a vampire, he is faster, stronger and hardier than a human. He also has certain psychic abilities in mind-reading, brain-washing, and hypnotism. However, he is also vulnerable to radioactivity, both from natural (the Sun) and unnatural sources (such as nuclear devices). He currently lives with at least four other vampires in a 'colony' of nosferatu in an isolated residence in California, of which he is the leader.
Through the series, we are told of how vampires evolved from a warrior class created by an alien race called the Nephilim. The Nephilim conquered Earth millennia ago and tinkered with the primitive humans to create two classes: warrior (Nosferatu) and administrator (Urshuu). However, the Nephilim left Earth in antiquity, leaving their creations behind.
Over the course of the books, Renquist clashes with, variously, the Old God Cthulhu
Cthulhu
Cthulhu is a fictional character that first appeared in the short story "The Call of Cthulhu", published in the pulp magazine Weird Tales in 1928. The character was created by writer H. P...
, the nosferatu Clan Fenrior, members of his own colony, a Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
society living in caverns under the ground (in an environment which is supposed to be the basis of the Hollow Earth
Hollow Earth
The Hollow Earth hypothesis proposes that the planet Earth is either entirely hollow or otherwise contains a substantial interior space. The hypothesis has been shown to be wrong by observational evidence, as well as by the modern understanding of planet formation; the scientific community has...
), the mythic magician Merlin, a cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
known as The Apogee, and the Dhrakuh, an ancient race of sentient reptiles (who it is implied are the basis of dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
legends
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
).
In his 3rd May 2010 Doc40 Blog, Mick Farren disclosed that he was starting work on a 5th Victor Renquist novel.
Books
- The Time of Feasting (1996)
- Darklost (2000)
- More Than Mortal (2001)
- Underland (2002)
External links
- Series listing at SciFanSciFanSciFan is an online database for fans of science fiction and fantasy books.The site provides detailed bibliographies, linking books together into series' where appropriate and, in turn, grouping series by universe...