The Apocalypse Codex

“The Apocalypse Codex” is the fourth novel in the Laundry Files Series by Charles Stross. It continues his darkly humorous narrative about the Laundry, a secret British agency that seeks to protect the United Kingdom (and the world) from cosmic horrors. They are also a bureaucracy, mired in the Civil Service processes and red tape common to such agencies. Our protagonist remains the nerdy Bob Howard, who came from an IT background, but has now become an expert in computational demonology. Bob has been fast tracked for middle management, and is shaping up to be a capable necromancer. However, he is still unsure of himself, and they might want him to wear a suit! As a trial mission, External Affairs decides to send Bob on a support mission to America along with two investigators. These agents are trying to get to the bottom of a questionable mega-church pastor who is preaching a prosperity gospel that just might have darker aspects. This church is based in the Denver area, and when the team gets there, things begin going wrong almost immediately. As the Laundry Files Series progresses, it’s meta-narrative is beginning to come together. Bob is progressing as a character and is beginning to grow into a larger role. However, he is still a fun character to be involved with. I’m looking forward now to the next novel to see where this is all going.

This review was first published on Kurt's Frontier. Winner of the 2013 Locus Fantasy Award. Synopsis: Bob Howard is, for outstanding heroism in the field, being fast-tracked for a managerial promotion within Laundry. Laundry is a super-secret British government agency that defends the UK from occult threats. As part of his review, he is assigned to External Assets. His first task is to investigate Ray Schiller. Mr. Schiller is an American TV evangelist who has become uncomfortably close to the Prime Minister. Bob finds himself teamed up with freelance agents Persephone Hazard and Johnny McTavish and sent to Colorado. Their mission is to determine if the reverend is in anyway going to prove to be an embarrassment to the PM’s government. Bob, Persephone, and John get more than the bargain for. Schiller’s Golden Promise Ministries is attempting to wake a Lovecraftian horror, believing he is bringing about the Second Coming. The trio must evade various creatures that are trying to get into their bodies and take them over. They must also contend with their American counter parts who can’t get into Colorado and are extremely annoyed. They must find a way to stop the Sleeper from being awakened. Review: Charles Stross has written a mixture of urban fantasy, cosmic horror, and spy thriller. We are introduced to Bob Howard, a computational demonologist; Persephone Hazard, a witch; and John McTavis, Ms. Hazards ex-military assistant. This is the fourth book in the Laundry series. When investigating if TV evangelist Ray Schillers relationship with the Prime Minister, the three have to use a mixture of high-tech devices, magic, and skill to stop the Sleeper, who is something like Cthulhu. At first blush, The Apocalypse Codex seems like a story should be a page-turner. I started reading the book at the beginning of November and finally finished in December. It was difficult to get into. I’d put it down, and it would take weeks to get back to it. The idea for the story is intriguing. A British secret agency dedicated to protecting against occult threats. The story had a slow start. Once Bob Howard reached America, the action and cloak-and-dagger started up. Even then it was didn’t do much to hold my interest. I found it hard to make sense of this lack of interest since the ideas were interesting and intriguing. I believe it is (at least in part) because the descriptions Charles Stross gave were so hard to imagine. He had a hard time getting me to visualize the obviously interesting action.

I've read few authors capable of evoking the terror of H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos in a matter that is not only highly original, but remarkably entertaining.

If you've read the rest of the Laundry series (and don't bother reading this one until you have), you'll find that this a nice continuation of the series. The plot is more predictable than the previous books and there isn't as much action. It almost seemed like this book was intended to introduce the two new characters, which we will hopefully see more of in future installments in the series. I enjoyed this read, but it wasn't the best in the series. That's perhaps "The Fuller Memorandum". This seems more of a "bridge" book for later developments.

Have enjoyed all of his books, looking forward to the next. Thanks for the stories.

Charlie Stross has knocked another story out of the park. "The Apocalypse Codex" masterfully blends sci-fi, horror, and espionage thriller with just a dash of mundane real world paperwork. It's been fun and a pleasure to watch Bob Howard grow and develop. The world he inhabits is terrifying and funny at the same time. Granted, he takes shots at Christian believers, and for some that can become a nuisance. For myself, I found the hodge-podge incorporation of Christian doctrines and liturgical practices distracting. It reflected a casual indifference to what actual Christian practice loos like: had he been more deliberate about limiting himself to just the common patois of Midwestern Christian idiom, the book would have been far more convincing. In the end, Stross' fiction has a lovely blend of Fleming and Lovecraft about it. Bravo for another great adventure.