From Powells.com
Staff Pick
Lovecraft Country alternately thrilled me with its tales of haunted houses, strange potions, and distant worlds, and grounded me in the reality of being black in mid-century America. This is Lovecraft with a heart, the spirit of the pulps for a modern era. I absolutely loved it. Recommended By Ashleigh B., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
The critically acclaimed cult novelist makes visceral the terrors of
life in Jim Crow America and its lingering effects in this brilliant and
wondrous work of the imagination that melds historical fiction, pulp
noir, and Lovecraftian horror and fantasy.
Chicago, 1954. When his
father Montrose goes missing, 22-year-old Army veteran Atticus Turner
embarks on a road trip to New England to find him, accompanied by his
Uncle George — publisher of The Safe Negro Travel Guide — and his
childhood friend Letitia. On their journey to the manor of Mr.
Braithwhite — heir to the estate that owned one of Atticus’s
ancestors — they encounter both mundane terrors of white America and
malevolent spirits that seem straight out of the weird tales George
devours.
At the manor, Atticus discovers his father in chains,
held prisoner by a secret cabal named the Order of the Ancient Dawn — led
by Samuel Braithwhite and his son Caleb — which has gathered to
orchestrate a ritual that shockingly centers on Atticus. And his one
hope of salvation may be the seed of his — and the whole Turner
clan’s — destruction.
A chimerical blend of magic, power, hope, and
freedom that stretches across time, touching diverse members of two
black families, Lovecraft Country is a devastating kaleidoscopic portrait of racism — the terrifying specter that continues to haunt us today.
Review
“Lovecraft Country doesn’t just race along, it tears, demanding that you keep turning its pages without interruption.” Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother, on BoingBoing.net
Review
“Genuinely spooky... But the real horror is the reality of life for
African-Americans in the Jim Crow era... sparks the imagination while
also igniting the reader’s empathy.” Library Journal
Review
“Lovecraft Country rubs the pervasive, eldritch dread of Lovecraft;s universe against the very real, historical dread of Jim Crow America and sparks fly. . . . Ruff renders a very high-concept, imaginary world with such vividness that you cant help but feel its disturbingly real.” Christopher Moore, New York Times bestselling author of Lamb and A Dirty Job
Synopsis
Soon to be a New HBO(R) Series from J.J. Abrams (Executive Producer of Westworld), Misha Green (Creator of Underground) and Jordan Peele (Director of Get Out)
The critically acclaimed cult novelist makes visceral the terrors of life in Jim Crow America and its lingering effects in this brilliant and wondrous work of the imagination that melds historical fiction, pulp noir, and Lovecraftian horror and fantasy.
Chicago, 1954. When his father Montrose goes missing, 22-year-old Army veteran Atticus Turner embarks on a road trip to New England to find him, accompanied by his Uncle George--publisher of The Safe Negro Travel Guide--and his childhood friend Letitia. On their journey to the manor of Mr. Braithwhite--heir to the estate that owned one of Atticus's ancestors--they encounter both mundane terrors of white America and malevolent spirits that seem straight out of the weird tales George devours.
At the manor, Atticus discovers his father in chains, held prisoner by a secret cabal named the Order of the Ancient Dawn--led by Samuel Braithwhite and his son Caleb--which has gathered to orchestrate a ritual that shockingly centers on Atticus. And his one hope of salvation may be the seed of his--and the whole Turner clan's--destruction.
A chimerical blend of magic, power, hope, and freedom that stretches across time, touching diverse members of two black families, Lovecraft Country is a devastating kaleidoscopic portrait of racism--the terrifying specter that continues to haunt us today.
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LocusAbout the Author
Matt Ruff is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Bad Monkeys, Set This House in Order, Fool on the Hill, and Sewer, Gas & Electric. He lives in Seattle.