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Titus Crow #3
The Clock of Dreams
In the Clock of Dreams, Cthulhu, one of the Elder Gods, sleeps and dreams - dreams so potent, so powerful, that they can warp reality itself. The mysterious Clock that is capable of hurling men through space and time, even into the monster's dreams, is de Marigny's only hope of finding Titus Crow and saving him from a soul destroying fate.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
18 people are currently reading
261 people want to read
About the author
Brian Lumley
444 books1,354 followersBrian Lumley was born near Newcastle. In 22 years as a Military Policeman he served in many of the Cold War hotspots, including Berlin, as well as Cyprus in partition days. He reached the rank of Sergeant-Major before retiring to Devon to write full-time, and his work was first published in 1970. The vampire series, 'Necroscope', has been translated into ten languages and sold over a million copies worldwide.
He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.
He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 20, 2024
Not bad for The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath fanfiction! There's no denying that's what this excursion across all of Lovecraft's Dreamlands is. All Cthulhu Mythos material penned by any of H.P.'s followers is technically fanfiction, and this book takes it to a soaring height. But I'll be damned if wasn't a swashbuckling good time, stuffed with damsels in distress, night gaunts, sneering Lengites, Cthulhu's all-stars, wise Atal, personal flight technology, and cats. It was a rollicking adventure and positively portentous of Lumley's later Hero of Dreams series. Besides, having his own admittedly somewhat Mary Sue characters romp through Lovecraft's creations is kind of Lumley's thing at this phase of his career, to the acclaim of many. It was such an endearing success that there's a collection of other authors' fanfiction of Lumley's fanfiction: Singers of Strange Songs: A Celebration of Brian Lumley
The three years since The Transition of Titus Crow reveal improvement in Lumley's writing style. This was much less stuffed with exclamation points and ellipses, and I finally see the quality of writing that first hooked me on his books. It's still pulp, but joyously so. There's a smoothness to the prose and firm grasp of pacing that wasn't there earlier.
The choice of font for the Paul Ganley small press edition was a big improvement too. Gone is the wide typewriter-style font of the prior two books. The included artwork is always welcome, with different artists for each book so far. I think Jim Pitts is the best artist to be featured so far, but Dave Carson's illustrations, though a bit goofy, are welcome here.
This is a faithful rendition of an original creature creation from the text:
And I adore the panel art for the wraparound cover, especially in ochre:
If you like pulp fantasy adventure with high-flying heroes blended with eldritch, dripping horror, this is a blast.
The three years since The Transition of Titus Crow reveal improvement in Lumley's writing style. This was much less stuffed with exclamation points and ellipses, and I finally see the quality of writing that first hooked me on his books. It's still pulp, but joyously so. There's a smoothness to the prose and firm grasp of pacing that wasn't there earlier.
The choice of font for the Paul Ganley small press edition was a big improvement too. Gone is the wide typewriter-style font of the prior two books. The included artwork is always welcome, with different artists for each book so far. I think Jim Pitts is the best artist to be featured so far, but Dave Carson's illustrations, though a bit goofy, are welcome here.
This is a faithful rendition of an original creature creation from the text:
And I adore the panel art for the wraparound cover, especially in ochre:
If you like pulp fantasy adventure with high-flying heroes blended with eldritch, dripping horror, this is a blast.
September 3, 2016
The third volume of the Titus Crow series by Briam Lumley changes locales again. While the first volume was set on Earth and the second was a space-time crossing adventure, this is a story set entirely in the Dreamlands. H.P. Lovecraft's Dream Cycle is, already, his most "out there" work and its setting only becomes more so in Brian Lumley's hands.
This is certainly the most 'fantasy-esque' of his books and doesn't properly belong in the horror section of books at all. Indeed, I'd say it's as much a pastiche of Edgar Rice Burroughs as anything else. For some people this will prove intriguing but, sadly, this is my least favorite of the Titus Crow novels.
The Clock of Dreams' premise is Henri Laurent de Marginy, the intrepid sidekick of Titus Crow, finds out his mentor has been kidnapped along with said mentor's new bride. Henri is recruited by the Elder God Kthanid to go get them back. This requires Henri to journey into the Dreamlands, specifically to the city of Ulthar, and try to get them back. It's a fairly straightforward premise and gets resolved around the halfway mark before a series of side-adventures occur which end in a confrontation with the Other God Nyarlathotep.
Unfortunately, The Clock of Dreams is a book decidedly lacking in tension. Despite the fact Henri loses the overpowered Clock of Dreams early on, there's very little actual threat from the opponents they face. The Horned Men are decidedly un-intimidating opponents compared to the Chthonians from The Burrowers Beneath. Likewise, Nyarlathotep is far from the omnipotent figure from Lovecraft's Dream Cycle. Instead, he's merely a different kind of monster and far from as powerful as the heroes' patron Elder God.
The book's treatment of the Girl Goddess Tiania isn't very pleasing either. Despite being thousands of years old and, presumably, every bit the same level of sorcerer as capable of learning in Elysia--she's easily captured not once but three times during the course of the novel. Titus Crow is also very dismissive of his lady love. This, despite the fact Titus Crow is equally ineffective against the forces they're arrayed against.
Despite this, there's still much to admire in this volume. My favorite part of the book is the story of the dreamer Elderby, who finds the town he visits in his dream taken over by the Horned Men and its people reduced to slavery. Its a haunting and evocative tale which, despite having a "happy" ending is the most traditionally Lovecraftian portion of this tale. I also liked a hilarious scene where Henri pilots the titular clock while drunk off his ass.
Overall, I wasn't a big fan of The Clock of Dreams. The books have shifted genre repeatedly with the first being a horror-adventure, the second being science-fiction, and the third being fantasy. The abrupt tonal shift was also troubled by the relative incompetence of the villains and the ease by which they're disposed of. Our heroes' victories are earned, occasionally, but they seem to come too easy to be really enjoyable. I didn't much care for the treatment of Tiania either. As a result, I could take or leave this novel and suggest it only for those who want to complete their Titus Crow collection.
6.5/10
This is certainly the most 'fantasy-esque' of his books and doesn't properly belong in the horror section of books at all. Indeed, I'd say it's as much a pastiche of Edgar Rice Burroughs as anything else. For some people this will prove intriguing but, sadly, this is my least favorite of the Titus Crow novels.
The Clock of Dreams' premise is Henri Laurent de Marginy, the intrepid sidekick of Titus Crow, finds out his mentor has been kidnapped along with said mentor's new bride. Henri is recruited by the Elder God Kthanid to go get them back. This requires Henri to journey into the Dreamlands, specifically to the city of Ulthar, and try to get them back. It's a fairly straightforward premise and gets resolved around the halfway mark before a series of side-adventures occur which end in a confrontation with the Other God Nyarlathotep.
Unfortunately, The Clock of Dreams is a book decidedly lacking in tension. Despite the fact Henri loses the overpowered Clock of Dreams early on, there's very little actual threat from the opponents they face. The Horned Men are decidedly un-intimidating opponents compared to the Chthonians from The Burrowers Beneath. Likewise, Nyarlathotep is far from the omnipotent figure from Lovecraft's Dream Cycle. Instead, he's merely a different kind of monster and far from as powerful as the heroes' patron Elder God.
The book's treatment of the Girl Goddess Tiania isn't very pleasing either. Despite being thousands of years old and, presumably, every bit the same level of sorcerer as capable of learning in Elysia--she's easily captured not once but three times during the course of the novel. Titus Crow is also very dismissive of his lady love. This, despite the fact Titus Crow is equally ineffective against the forces they're arrayed against.
Despite this, there's still much to admire in this volume. My favorite part of the book is the story of the dreamer Elderby, who finds the town he visits in his dream taken over by the Horned Men and its people reduced to slavery. Its a haunting and evocative tale which, despite having a "happy" ending is the most traditionally Lovecraftian portion of this tale. I also liked a hilarious scene where Henri pilots the titular clock while drunk off his ass.
Overall, I wasn't a big fan of The Clock of Dreams. The books have shifted genre repeatedly with the first being a horror-adventure, the second being science-fiction, and the third being fantasy. The abrupt tonal shift was also troubled by the relative incompetence of the villains and the ease by which they're disposed of. Our heroes' victories are earned, occasionally, but they seem to come too easy to be really enjoyable. I didn't much care for the treatment of Tiania either. As a result, I could take or leave this novel and suggest it only for those who want to complete their Titus Crow collection.
6.5/10
August 26, 2021
In this one Henri de Marigny finally decides to use the Clock to make his way to Elysia like his friend Titus Crow urged him to do in the previous book but before he attempts it he's contacted by Kthanid, Cthulhu's benevolent brother, who tasks him to go to Earth's dreamlands and rescue both Titus and his lover Tiania, who are captured by a Mythosian plot and beyond the Elder God's ability to rescue himself, so Henri makes his way there to enact the rescue and we get to see familiar places and faces from HPL's story cycle Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath. Much to my surprise, a big part of the first half of the novel dealing with the city of Dylath-Leen seemed all too familiar and I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd read that before decades ago, so I looked it up and, sure enough, it tuned out that part was previously published as a short story by Brian Lumley. I found this one much more fun than the previous two volumes and as interesting as the prequel short story collection, which had been my favorite in the series so far, so it was a nice surprise. On to the next volume.
May 21, 2020
This is easily my least favorite Titus Crow story, which I suppose shouldn't be surprising as the "Dream Cycle" is my least favorite part of Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos.
Simon Vance is, as always, an excellent narrator. His voices are varied and distinct. His tempo shifts are effective. And if somewhat less (accurate to the text) than I'd like, his inflections are skillful.
Apart from my general dislike of the dream cycle this book does do some interesting things.
Although it felt very much like an unneeded departure, there is a recounting of one of Lumley's dream cycle stories as it's related to de Marigny (who I'm still not overly fond of).
There are a few really neat scenes, including a few cool battle scenes, Titus suddenly falling it if the sky when his "flying cloak" vanishes work few Marigny, and the scene of de Marigny trying to pilot the clock and fight a battle while utterly sloshed!
As with other of Lumley's work though, there are some clear problems in sensibilities regarding race and gender. The women in the book seem to be present purely for the purpose of pairing up with the male characters.
Finally, the ending.
In truth, the climax of the book comes around the mid point. I'm not exactly clear on why it continues part that point apart from the author's need to pad his word count.
The climax is well presented and satisfying. But the end of the book is... less so. It comes across as very "Deus Ex Machina." It's almost like the author wrote himself into a corner and couldn't figure another way out of it.
Simon Vance is, as always, an excellent narrator. His voices are varied and distinct. His tempo shifts are effective. And if somewhat less (accurate to the text) than I'd like, his inflections are skillful.
Apart from my general dislike of the dream cycle this book does do some interesting things.
Although it felt very much like an unneeded departure, there is a recounting of one of Lumley's dream cycle stories as it's related to de Marigny (who I'm still not overly fond of).
There are a few really neat scenes, including a few cool battle scenes, Titus suddenly falling it if the sky when his "flying cloak" vanishes work few Marigny, and the scene of de Marigny trying to pilot the clock and fight a battle while utterly sloshed!
As with other of Lumley's work though, there are some clear problems in sensibilities regarding race and gender. The women in the book seem to be present purely for the purpose of pairing up with the male characters.
Finally, the ending.
In truth, the climax of the book comes around the mid point. I'm not exactly clear on why it continues part that point apart from the author's need to pad his word count.
The climax is well presented and satisfying. But the end of the book is... less so. It comes across as very "Deus Ex Machina." It's almost like the author wrote himself into a corner and couldn't figure another way out of it.
October 15, 2025
A wonderful new installment
I was a bit disappointed in the previous book of this series, but this book returned to the excitement and wonder of the first book. The heroes carry their fight against the forces of Cthulu into earth's dreamland.
I was a bit disappointed in the previous book of this series, but this book returned to the excitement and wonder of the first book. The heroes carry their fight against the forces of Cthulu into earth's dreamland.
July 13, 2024
While the original Crowe trilogy begins tethered to the terrestrial bedrock of Earth and Lovecraftian horror, it ends in the outer reaches of the cosmos, and the inner most realm of dream, more akin to planetary romance than supernatural horror. The Clock of Dreams is purely cosmic, chockablock with wild action set pieces that feel more at home in a modern Godzilla movie than the quaint surroundings of Arkham, MA. And they’re all the better for it.
March 10, 2014
For some reason when Lumley writes Cthulhu Cycle fiction, it always comes out like Edgar Rice Burroughs. There is no great depth to any of the stories, with the exception of voluminous references to Lovecraft’s mythos. Pull those our and you have John Carter, or Carson Napier, or David Innes. It’s not bad writing, it’s just predictable (insert last minute miracle to save the hero… here).
September 25, 2020
When I realized this was more of the previous book. I stopped reading and returned both books to Audible.
How Lumley managed to move from an extension of Lovecrafts horror, into a fantasy with an alien love goddess and a talking flying dragon, I don't know.
But I want nothing to do with it. Count me out.
How Lumley managed to move from an extension of Lovecrafts horror, into a fantasy with an alien love goddess and a talking flying dragon, I don't know.
But I want nothing to do with it. Count me out.
March 19, 2024
I enjoyed the third volume in Lumley's Titus Crow series much more than the second. Taking place almost entirely in the Dreamlands, the dangers felt more pressing, the action had more momentum. And the Dreamlands make for a great setting.
February 28, 2025
Sort of a unique theme about time and dreams, but it lacked a lot for me. There were certainly some great parts, like the escapes and the mind games with the demons, but mostly it felt disjointed and not very smooth. Maybe like a dream, I guess, but not like a great story in my opinion.
2.8
2.8
November 14, 2020
Why do I keep doing this to myself? Why do I keep reading this series? It's clearly not going to get any better.
October 1, 2021
Another fantastic Titus Crow adventure set in Lumley's dark fantasy Cthulhu Mythos. This time Titus and Henri must venture to the Dreamlands to stop Cthulhu's influence with the help of Kthanid.
August 19, 2022
3.5 stars. For being set in the Dreamlands, I rather enjoyed this!
January 5, 2023
This foray into Lovecraft’s Cthulhu universe is beautifully written and completely enthralling.
If you like Lovecraft, you’ll love this.
If you like Lovecraft, you’ll love this.
November 21, 2024
Maybe I wasn't in the right mood. Feels like a good introduction to the mythos if recommended to younger readers, but otherwise it felt obsolete
I'll try the Necro series next.
I'll try the Necro series next.
October 6, 2022
Brian Lumleyn sankarit Titus Crow ja Henri-Laurent de Marigny jatkavat seikkailujaan H. P. Lovecraftin unimaailmoissa. Kokonaisuutena The Clock of Dreams on aivan silmitöntä p--kaa, mutta on siinä muutama hyväkin kohta. Aion ehkä kuunnella sarjan loppuun pelkän harrastuneisuuden vuoksi, mutta nyt on pakko pitää vähän taukoa.
May 2, 2017
This book is a poor man's "Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath".
I'll explain: Imagine, if you will, that I wrote a book set in Middle Earth, taking place some 50 years or so after the events of Lord of the Rings. I have a character with super powers, significantly more powerful than Sam or Frodo. I set that character on a rambling journey around Middle Earth, and my character purposefully hits EVERY locale that Sam and Frodo did, only my character does it BETTER. In fact, as an author I make sure to TELL YOU that my character is better/smarter/more powerful than Sam and Frodo. Oh, and I make sure to completely change the tone of the book too, so that my protagonist has absolutely no problem overcoming every obstacle.
Sounds like a suckfest, right? Now you know what I meant by the opening line.
This book proved (as if The Transition of Titus Crow or The Burrowers Beneath hadn't already) that Brian Lumley is a hack author with no respect for the world created by H.P. Lovecraft. Gone is the magic of the world of the Dreamlands. Gone is the horror and fear and suspense of that beautiful and deadly place.
Aside from the overarching theme of "Lumley shat upon the Dreamlands", let's examine other atrocities with which the reader, especially a reader familiar with H.P.L's writings, must contend:
- There is an Elder God named Kthanid, and he's COUSIN TO CTHULHU. Only he's shiny and sparkly (think Twilight Vampire), but looks just like the Great Old One himself. I about wanted to tear up the book at this stupidity
- Kthanid claims he knows "little" of Earth's Dreamlands, and then proceeds to educate de Marginy for 8 pages, effectively vomiting up every locale form every HPL Dreamlands story ever. Way to pad your story with 8 pages of work by a master storyteller.
- It felt like a personal violation to have Randolph Carter appear and act/speak as stupidly as Titus Crow (e.g. "The CCD..."). This is particularly noxious when one considers that HPL more or less cast Randolph Carter as his alter ego
- Lumley called HPL a liar in the last book and he did it again in this book. He makes these words come out of Randolph Carter's mouth: "I was by no means as great a dreamer as the stories would have it". Really? Next to King Kuranes, Randolph Carter was the greatest dreamer. He alone found unknown Kadath. Neither Barzai the Wise nor Atal nor Kuranes did that.
- Lumley sets up Etienne de Marginy as the greatest dreamer of all time. See above.
- There is no "dream within a dream" in HPL's Dreamlands! In order to go to the Dreamlands of other worlds, HPL clearly (CLEARLY) indicated that this was a PHYSICAL TRAVEL starting in Earth's Dreamlands. One did not sleep in the Dreamlands and then enter OTHER Dreamlands. Lumley is somewhere between sloppy and sacrilegious on this point.
- "Yuggoth on the Rim". What is that? It's just "Yuggoth"
- Yuggoth is a PLANET, not a DIMENSION
- "The G Creatures". This shorthand is as atrocious as "The CCD".
- Having a war on the Nightgaunts is terrible! Basically this is Lumley trying to take the Dreamlands from being a scary, but fascinating place and just cleansing it in his stupid "good versus evil" diatribe. HPL made it clear -- it isn't "Good versus Evil" it's "The universe is an uncaring place"
- The underworld of Earth's Dreamlands is just a location. It is not "one of Cthulhu's factories of nightmare"
- The so-called "Clock of Dreams" is the greatest Deux ex Machina of all. It does everything.
- The finale with Nyarlathotep was yet another of the Lumley-cum-Derleth fanboy name drops. Had to make sure to mention every Great Old One and Other God from HPL without consideration of the logic.
All in all, I'm dreading pressing on with this series, but I promised to give it one fair shake. On to Spawn of the Winds, biting my tongue the whole way...
I'll explain: Imagine, if you will, that I wrote a book set in Middle Earth, taking place some 50 years or so after the events of Lord of the Rings. I have a character with super powers, significantly more powerful than Sam or Frodo. I set that character on a rambling journey around Middle Earth, and my character purposefully hits EVERY locale that Sam and Frodo did, only my character does it BETTER. In fact, as an author I make sure to TELL YOU that my character is better/smarter/more powerful than Sam and Frodo. Oh, and I make sure to completely change the tone of the book too, so that my protagonist has absolutely no problem overcoming every obstacle.
Sounds like a suckfest, right? Now you know what I meant by the opening line.
This book proved (as if The Transition of Titus Crow or The Burrowers Beneath hadn't already) that Brian Lumley is a hack author with no respect for the world created by H.P. Lovecraft. Gone is the magic of the world of the Dreamlands. Gone is the horror and fear and suspense of that beautiful and deadly place.
Aside from the overarching theme of "Lumley shat upon the Dreamlands", let's examine other atrocities with which the reader, especially a reader familiar with H.P.L's writings, must contend:
- There is an Elder God named Kthanid, and he's COUSIN TO CTHULHU. Only he's shiny and sparkly (think Twilight Vampire), but looks just like the Great Old One himself. I about wanted to tear up the book at this stupidity
- Kthanid claims he knows "little" of Earth's Dreamlands, and then proceeds to educate de Marginy for 8 pages, effectively vomiting up every locale form every HPL Dreamlands story ever. Way to pad your story with 8 pages of work by a master storyteller.
- It felt like a personal violation to have Randolph Carter appear and act/speak as stupidly as Titus Crow (e.g. "The CCD..."). This is particularly noxious when one considers that HPL more or less cast Randolph Carter as his alter ego
- Lumley called HPL a liar in the last book and he did it again in this book. He makes these words come out of Randolph Carter's mouth: "I was by no means as great a dreamer as the stories would have it". Really? Next to King Kuranes, Randolph Carter was the greatest dreamer. He alone found unknown Kadath. Neither Barzai the Wise nor Atal nor Kuranes did that.
- Lumley sets up Etienne de Marginy as the greatest dreamer of all time. See above.
- There is no "dream within a dream" in HPL's Dreamlands! In order to go to the Dreamlands of other worlds, HPL clearly (CLEARLY) indicated that this was a PHYSICAL TRAVEL starting in Earth's Dreamlands. One did not sleep in the Dreamlands and then enter OTHER Dreamlands. Lumley is somewhere between sloppy and sacrilegious on this point.
- "Yuggoth on the Rim". What is that? It's just "Yuggoth"
- Yuggoth is a PLANET, not a DIMENSION
- "The G Creatures". This shorthand is as atrocious as "The CCD".
- Having a war on the Nightgaunts is terrible! Basically this is Lumley trying to take the Dreamlands from being a scary, but fascinating place and just cleansing it in his stupid "good versus evil" diatribe. HPL made it clear -- it isn't "Good versus Evil" it's "The universe is an uncaring place"
- The underworld of Earth's Dreamlands is just a location. It is not "one of Cthulhu's factories of nightmare"
- The so-called "Clock of Dreams" is the greatest Deux ex Machina of all. It does everything.
- The finale with Nyarlathotep was yet another of the Lumley-cum-Derleth fanboy name drops. Had to make sure to mention every Great Old One and Other God from HPL without consideration of the logic.
All in all, I'm dreading pressing on with this series, but I promised to give it one fair shake. On to Spawn of the Winds, biting my tongue the whole way...
February 19, 2013
I ate this up with a spoon when I was 20-something. I just read it again at 55 and it doesn't hold up. Verbiage gushes out like a broken water pipe, with here and there a line like "With a vile paw he tore away the tattered cloth, the only thing covering her perfect breasts". Lumley is no genius, but he has done better than this.
January 3, 2021
One of many of the Mythos books that Lumley wrote in his early years. This is based on the Dreamlands and is better than the original. (a low bar). I did use some of the items like the clock (Tardis) and the flying cloak in my Call of Cthulu game. Its a decent read.
September 1, 2016
Big fan of the Titus Crow series and this entry into it didn't disappoint, though it was less about crow and more about fleshing out other characters within the TC universe. I gave 4 stars because I feel earlier books had a bit more depth, but highly entertaining read.
Read
August 22, 2008The Clock of Dreams by Brian Lumley (1992)
July 16, 2013
I read this thing several times. Very good book and my first introduction to the mythos known as Cthulhu. Scary stuff!
February 29, 2016
There was never a dull moment in this one. Henry and Titus ended up big heroes and now Henry has a love interest. Very interesting series.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews