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rogueservitor's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jdhacker's review
5.0
I likely never would have picked up Michael Shea, let alone such a nice edition, if Chris Lackey and Chad Fifer of the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast (at hppodcraft.com) hadn't invited the utterly delightful Patton Oswalt on the show to talk about several of these stories. And my life would have been the poorer for it.
This is a fantastic introduction to Shea's lovecraftian influenced work, for those (like myself) without the resources to pick up the extremely limited run and extremely expensive omnibus of all his work.
I know I frequently break down these collections with at least a little blurb about every or almost every story in the collection. However, I can't do them nearly the justice in terms of enthusiasm or depth of knowledge that Patton does on those episodes of Chris and Chad's podcast, so I'm going to recommend everyone go listen to those for more detailed information (really, just listen to every episode Chris and Chad have done).
There is not a single story that disappoints here, though many are present in several other collections or chapbooks, so completionists may find some repition. Themetically, these are all lovecraftian stories set in San Francisco. S.T. Joshi deserves some credit for selection and order here. Shea's deep knowledge and experience of the city rivals that of Lovecraft's knowledge of the New England states, and really helps these stories come alive with a vibrant, living, time and place. People, not stuff rarified intellectuals, receive similar treatment as entirely believable everymen (and women) who feel like believable portraits appropriate to the setting. More of O. Henry perhaps than Lovecraft in the skillful depictions of this cast of characters.
These definitely have the feel of world building, a 60s-80s weird san francisco perhaps, but don't expect some longterm payoff in terms of an over-arching plot.
There's enough here to please everyone from Lovecraft traditionalists to those looking for a more modern feel to their horror, with a lot of respectful portrayals of groups (sex workers, the homeless, addicts, and the poor) that don't normally receive such humane treatment in fiction.
This is a fantastic introduction to Shea's lovecraftian influenced work, for those (like myself) without the resources to pick up the extremely limited run and extremely expensive omnibus of all his work.
I know I frequently break down these collections with at least a little blurb about every or almost every story in the collection. However, I can't do them nearly the justice in terms of enthusiasm or depth of knowledge that Patton does on those episodes of Chris and Chad's podcast, so I'm going to recommend everyone go listen to those for more detailed information (really, just listen to every episode Chris and Chad have done).
There is not a single story that disappoints here, though many are present in several other collections or chapbooks, so completionists may find some repition. Themetically, these are all lovecraftian stories set in San Francisco. S.T. Joshi deserves some credit for selection and order here. Shea's deep knowledge and experience of the city rivals that of Lovecraft's knowledge of the New England states, and really helps these stories come alive with a vibrant, living, time and place. People, not stuff rarified intellectuals, receive similar treatment as entirely believable everymen (and women) who feel like believable portraits appropriate to the setting. More of O. Henry perhaps than Lovecraft in the skillful depictions of this cast of characters.
These definitely have the feel of world building, a 60s-80s weird san francisco perhaps, but don't expect some longterm payoff in terms of an over-arching plot.
There's enough here to please everyone from Lovecraft traditionalists to those looking for a more modern feel to their horror, with a lot of respectful portrayals of groups (sex workers, the homeless, addicts, and the poor) that don't normally receive such humane treatment in fiction.
jackalj's review
3.0
i was mostly vibing with this but the last story veered a little too close to shoggoth porn for comfort.
i like that there’s a lot of tsathoggua stuff. love that guy
i like that there’s a lot of tsathoggua stuff. love that guy
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