Lovecraft Country

This really shows the ugly side of racism in America’s past and it’s ongoing effects to this present day; it’s smart and well paced with a wonderful blend of intriguing characters. And of course let’s not forget Lovecraft’s vision of fantasy and horror.

Loved this book - unique, informative story, thrilling, characters you love and hate, and creepy! Too bad HBO didn’t stick with the book, it would’ve been a home run.

Better than the show.

I wasn’t a big fan of the show my first pass through, an opinion that seemed to surprise everyone I shared it with. In an attempt to stay open minded I decided to give the book a chance, and I wasn’t disappointed. I love the structure, the pacing, the characters and the handling of their experiences. The source material as it is would have translated well to a series with more of an American Horror Story handling. The show on the other hand, (for me) carried a tone I would attribute to modern adaption of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A little campy, exposition heavy, choppy, and left me feeling heavily pandered to in its depiction of nuanced topics. I’ll give it another chance, but ultimately, the book is the superior story in my opinion.

It’s refreshing to see African American characters as diverse, empowered, smart, and in control of their own lives.

A tremendous amount of research went into this book. Capturing the feel and depth of Jim Crow. Prince Hall Freemasonry was also on display which was a great addition. I liked how all of the characters felt vital to the overall story. I loved this book and hope that the tv show can live up to the bar that has been set. Episode two isn’t reassuring though....

“Lovecraft Country” is a connected group of stories about an African-American family and their friends who have unfortunately become the target of a secret group of cultists. The book consists of separate narratives often featuring different characters, that each contribute to the overarching story. If this sounds a bit like a TV series, that was one of the stated purposes of the author. This aim seems to have been successful, as the series of the same name is being produced by HBO to be released in the summer of 2020. The struggle against Lovecraftian supernatural horrors is only one of the challenges facing our group of protagonists, the other more persuasive horror is their constant struggle against the racism of the 1950s. Honestly, this was the most difficult part of the book for me. It wasn’t because it was poorly written, but instead because it was all too realistic. It was in fact based on extensive research done by the author, which is cited in one of the afterwards to the book. There is even a listing of works that one can do further reading about the subject. The Lovecraft influence is subtle, but unmistakeable. Our cultist seek dark knowledge from forbidden books. They conduct rituals to open doors into other dimensions where horrible things sometimes await. There are almost no name checks to Lovecraft’s creatures (a “Shiggoth” is mentioned), but there are dangerous creatures sparingly used. The horror is in the dread, not the reveal. Matt Ruff seems to have not been tied to any one genre as an author, and his books have been one-and-done affairs. However, he states in his afterward that he left the ending of “Lovecraft Country” deliberately open. He feels he may have more to write about these characters and in this setting. Therefore, someday we may have some more related tales in print and/or on the small screen.

I don’t do many reviews. However, this is one of the most original books I have read in a while. The use of the sci-fi/fantasy genres to examine Jim Crow race relations is a brave choice. It is pulled off wonderfully and subtly. Fantastic read. Will leave you thinking long afterwards.