The Old One and The Sea

by Lex H. Jones

Sinister Horror Company presents a children's book about the secret childhood of a young boy called Howard Phillips Lovecraft.

Howard is a lonely, isolated boy who lives in the run-down seaside town of Innsmouth. Most of the town’s men left to fight the Great War and didn’t come back, and those that did, like Howard’s neighbour Mr Derleth, brought their own scars and strange stories with them. None quite so strange as what is about to happen to Howard, however.

An undersea earthquake brings a strange black reef to the surface just off the coast of Innsmouth, and with it something else. Something old, and forgotten, and every bit as lonely as the young boy who discovers it. What follows is a unique and secret friendship that will change the life of both Howard and his bizarre new friend forever.

“With ‘The Old One and The Sea’, Lex H Jones has crafted a clever and beautiful coming-of-age story set within a miniature Lovecraftian snowglobe – in which adventure and intrigue exist alongside ancient monsters, and friends can be found in the unlikeliest of places.”
Laura Mauro, British Fantasy Award Winning author of ‘Looking for Laika’.

“Lex H Jones is a unique voice in horror and a writer to watch. The Old One and The Sea is an imaginative tale that will delight Lovecraftian readers of all ages.”
Taylor Grant, Two-Time Bram Stoker Award Finalist.

Genres: Horror, Childrens, Lovecraftian

95 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2019

About the author

Lex Jones was born and raised in Sheffield, north England, in 1985. A keen writer from a young age, he was always fascinated with the supernatural and is obsessed with stories. He loves films, books, theatre, videogames, graphic novels, anything with a good story that captures the imagination. His books tend to have a supernatural (or at least 'unusual') undercurrent, as this moves them away from the more boring aspects of real life.

Reviews

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a book for the kiddo to start them on their journey towards love for dark/horror fiction? An appreciation for Lovecraft wrapped in a clever coming-of-age tale?? This book is perfect in every way.
the copy I received for review consideration was a hardcover edition with color illustrations. The story is easy to follow and has short chapter breaks. I'm thinking of my niece who is already such an avid reader at seven years old and I believe she's the perfect age for independently reading this book but it would be a great book to read out loud to a younger audience.
The story is a re-telling of a young H. P. Lovecraft; Howie.
He lives with his mother in a quaint town by the sea.
Howie notices a strange strip of land that wasn't there before somewhere off a familiar coastline so he ventures off to investigate. He meets Oolu. A sea monster.
From this point in the story, Lex Jones covers some of the great themes we have all come to love in our children's stories. Young men starting to make adult decisions for themselves.
The power of friendship.
The danger of someTHING or someONE being misunderstood to the point of oppression or destruction.
Standing up for your beliefs.
Just a lot of great talking points for parents and children after the story is finished.
I highly recommend this one for young readers and old--a timeless tale that would make a great gift.

[Sjgomzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Old One And The Sea is a beautifully written Lovecraftian fairytale. I don’t want to spoil anything, so as simply as I can put it, the story opens with a fictional version of young HP Lovecraft remembering times past, and mourning the recent loss of his father. Soon after, many familiar names from the Lovecraft Mythos appear throughout, including one particularly important member from the Lovecraft pantheon. This may be marketed as a children’s book, but it’s many themes of loss and loneliness will resonate deeply with older readers, and I never once felt like this story was watered down in any way for a younger audience. This book brought out my inner child-the adventurous, curious, and sometimes rebellious child from the eighties, who sometimes gets lost now, at age 49, in the everyday grind of daily life. I was hooked from the first page. At times, this perfectly captured the feel of old school, black and white monster movies, or early Bradbury. A perfect bridge to horror for the young one’s. I can’t wait to share this with my kids, and this is the kind of story that begs to be reread at various times throughout life, and deserves to be hailed as one of those classic multigenerational books that survive the test of time. Books like The Halloween Tree, Charlotte’s Web, or The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. As you can probably tell, I loved it!

[Steve Stred · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a stunning, little piece of fiction ‘The Old One and the Sea’ is.

Released through Sinister Horror Company’s Kids imprint, Lex H. Jones expertly delivers a kids story that introduces young readers to Lovecraft’s The Old Ones, specifically Cthulu, affectionately known as Oolu here.

When this was released, I saw so many folks raving about it. I ordered it on Kindle as well as a physical copy, but for whatever reason I didn’t get to this sooner. Heck, between the time this was released and me reading it, I appeared in an anthology with Mr. Jones (humble brag!).

What I liked: The book follows a young Howard, living at the ocean’s edge. He’s struggling with the reality that his father isn’t returning from war and memories of his dad are everywhere. His mom is doing her best and an older male with a fascination with the stars treats Howard kindly. Then, one night, the town is rocked by an earthquake, which results in an odd, black reef jutting forth from the depths. From this point on, Jones introduces Oolu and we get to see the creature and the boy develop an unlikely friendship while the reader gets to experience some poignant philosophical passages.

Jones has really done a great job of introducing Lovecraft’s mythos to younger readers while also crafting a beautiful story of childhood sorrow and imagination. This book left me with tears a number of times, and now that I’ve read it, I’m excited for when I can read this with my own son.

What I didn’t like: Jones created a perfect set up for the ‘why’ of Lovecraft creating and writing the mythos he does as an adult, and the epilogue was great. One thing that I found interesting (and while I understand it, as it is a kids book) was that in the epilogue there was no mention of Lovecraft’s personal beliefs tainting how he is remembered. It is very minor and when you take this purely as a kids book, completely makes sense, but if you have a slightly older reader who would look into Lovecraft following reading this, a lot of questions may arise.

Why you should buy this: If you’re looking for a fantastic bridge story to introduce your little ones to Cthulu and the Old Ones mythos, this book is perfect. Jones writes with such delicacy in here, really making for a sweet and adorable read filled with so many emotions. I should’ve read this far earlier, but now that I’ve read it, I have to say – if you have this on your TBR, definitely get to it! It was awesome.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review coming to KENDALL REVIEWS, but y’all!!!!! Put this book on your gosh darn radar. Read it to yourself. Read it to your kids. Read it to your pets. Everyone should be enjoying this Lovecraft tale!

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was given this by a relative, of whom I had asked for the Ernest Hemingway book "The Old Man and The Sea". She obviously got it woefully wrong, but I thought I'd go ahead and read it anyway, as much out of boredom as anything.
The book is obviously the efforts of an amateur, there's no getting round that. It's essentially a vanity-project release, or possibly the result of a secondary school competition, so it's rather difficult to be too critical really. It would be similar to analyzing the scribbles my three year old daughter brings back from her nursery class as a serious piece of artwork.
Having said that, the book presents itself here for review, so I will attempt something of a fair appraisal, in the interests of objectivity.

The thing that struck me the most about this effort is how shoddily conceived and out of it's depth it is. As the number of positive reviews here seem duty bound to mention 'Lovecraft' (I'm not sure why this is- are all the reviewers friends of the author? It certainly seems odd that they all mention the same thing!) it's clear the writer seems to believe he is one of the true greats. An arrogance permeates the pages that leaves a rank taste in the mouth of any reader who has his faculties. We all know there is nothing worse than someone calling themselves a "writer" when it is not their profession, and this book perhaps embodies that more than any other. I imagine it has been produced as much to give the author a bit of an ego boost as anything else, and can easily imagine him 'displaying it' at home, perhaps on a shelf specially designed to hold it and other such efforts.

All this is fine of course, and I'm all for 'amateurs having a go at something' but when it crosses the line to moody looking black and white photos, puffed-up and inflated biographies of achievements, comparison with some of the greats (i.e. Lovecraft) and chest-beating pretentiousness, we get into dangerous territory. It's akin to walking down the street pretending you're a rock-star because you sing in the shower. All surface and absolutely no substance. All the effrontery with nothing to back it up. A toxic cocktail for those of us who only really care about content.

The actual story is sparse, but again it would seem overly harsh to be too critical as it's only the work of a hobbyist, perhaps having a go at writing in his spare time as he earns money in a corporate job. I'd encourage him to keep going, but perhaps pop a disclaimer at the beginning of any future things he publishes for him and his friends mentioning that it isn't really intended for a wider audience, and simply a bit of fun!

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about H.P. Lovecraft and Cthulhu. It's published by a company named "The Sinister Horror Company", and the two forewords of the book discuss when it's appropriate to introduce young kinds to horror. I expected it to be a cosmic horror novel, tamed down a bit so the young 'uns wouldn't be scarred for life.

This is not that kind of story. In fact, I would hesitate to call it horror at all, because that's not what it's about. This is a sweet story of friendship, told against a backdrop of how fear affects how people think. Suffice it to say, "sweet" and "Old Ones" are hardly ever (if at all) expected to go together, but I'll be damned if Jones didn't make it work.

I picked this up on a whim, expecting it be more along the lines of R.J. Ivankovic's HP Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu for Beginning Readers, but was pleasantly surprised to find it bucked my expectations. I highly recommend it.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say don't judge a book by its cover but as soon as I caught sight of a cute Cthulhu, well, I had to give it a go. I'm glad I did. It's a children's story, a kind of introduction to the horror genre, but it will appeal to adults too. The main character is a boy called Howard who lives with his mum in a rundown seaside town. His dad didn't return from the war. After a strange reef suddenly appears from under the sea one night, Howard wants to explore it. There he encounters the huge, other-worldly monster 'Oolu', who he befriends. An imagining of how H.P. Lovecraft came to write about Cthulhu, this is a charming tale about friendship, loss, fear and the evil that men do out of fear. It also has some lovely illustrations. After having enjoyed it myself, I'm going to pass it on to my young daughters. They have an idea who Cthulhu is and I think they'll enjoy this depiction of 'Oolu'.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll start by saying that I haven’t read much of H.P. Lovecraft’s work, but I have read a fair amount to do with the Cthulhu mythos. Mainly because so many other authors use it in their modern works. I am however a fan of Lex H. Jones and that was why I picked up this book. It’s marketed as a kids book and I can understand why. It would be great to read to your children but while I was reading it, I never felt it to be overly juvenile. I was captivated from beginning to end and would happily recommend it to other adults. The art throughout was another bonus. It really made the book come to life. Whether you are a fan of Lovecraft. The Cthulhu mythos, Lex, or new to all three, I encourage you to read this book. You will have a lot of fun. I even had a lump in my throat by the end and that doesn’t happen often.

[Shawna Mathieu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most adorable eldritch horror EVER

I REALLY like this. It made me smile, the idea of Lovecraft meeting and making friends with Cthuhlu as a child. It's so sweet, especially what he does to keep his friend safe. I will always think of this story when I read anything in the Cthuhlu mythos.

[Patrick R. McDonough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me feel like a child, and I mean that exclusively in every complimentary way imaginable. Let’s start with the idea of the book itself. It’s about a young Howard Phillips Lovecraft as a child. It’s before he was a writer. And like the author’s (Lex H Jones) introduction before the first chapter, Old Readers think they know the truth of Lovecraft. About Cthulhu. About the relationship he had with his mother and what really happened with Lovecraft’s father. You see, New Readers typically can accept new truths.
Here’s the thing, though. Cthulhu, or Oolu, as he’s called in The Old One And The Sea, isn’t this big terrifying alien set to kill us all. Howie, as his mother affectionately calls him, is a boy with practically no friends. With the exception of Mr. Derleth (Sarah Lovecraft’s friend), Howie doesn’t seem to have much social interaction. But that’s ok because Mr. Derleth is an interesting person. Like Howie’s father, he fought overseas. He was in The Great War. But unlike his father, Mr. Derleth returned home.
Howie’s mother encourages him to never stop asking questions, to be the best he can be, and reach for the stars. But what happens when old stars appear and unlock the door to weirdness? With the appearance of an emerged black reef and strange coins to call upon the mighty Oolu, Howie does just that, accidentally.
Oolu and Howie don’t communicate in conventional ways, yet they understand each other. They were meant to be best friends. Oolu teaches Howie so many wonderful things. About the cosmic wonders, the history of humans, and Oolu’s place in our…er, his world.
This book has a lot to offer, from the incredible artwork by Liam “Pais” Hill, to the beautiful descriptors. Lex reimagined Lovecraft and his most notorious character in such a fantastic way.
The first time I heard about this story, I was apprehensive with a hint of optimism. But now, if Lex told me he would come out with future stories about Lovecraft or *insert author name* then I would, without a doubt, be excited. His story put a smile on my face while reading it and still…when I think about it, my take away is that he truly offered the world a gift. Books like this don’t come around, in this format, really ever.
But it’s kind of more than that. This book doesn’t sugar coat the world. And children’s books shouldn’t. What kind of lesson would that be? Let’s face it, this is horror. So like any good horror story, really any good story, it teaches you a lesson. It also does something to your emotions towards Cthulhu that I never ever (ever, ever, ever) imagined I’d feel for the giant creature. Sympathy. Congrats, Lex, you’ve got me sobbing mentally like a little boy over a fictional alien that, by all accounts, has been a titanic-sized threat towards our entire race for the last ninety-three years.
This was the first book I’ve read by Lex, and it certainly won’t be the last. It is without a doubt one of my favorites. Ever. Yes, it is targeted for children, but at the same time, if you don’t have kids, or don’t feel like reading them this and holding it as a secret (how could you do such a thing, you monsters!), then go for it.
Take a lesson from Howie and Oolu and communicate with each other. Let the adventure of one of the greatest authors unfold before your eyes. If you read this to your kids (really any kids), it will surely entice them to explore the more complex stories of Lovecraft, and they’ll go in knowing that Oolu isn’t such a bad guy after all. Which will lead to more questions about all the other things in Lovecraft’s and our universe. If you take away one thing from this book and or review, let it be this: the moment you stop asking questions, is the moment you stop learning

I received The Old One And The Sea from Lex H Jones for review consideration.

[Serenity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellently written! What a lovely story. Sad though. Humans are always the real monsters. A definite recommend!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of The Old One and The Sea is a beautiful Children’s storybook by an author I have come to admire greatly. In this story Lex H Jones has really done himself proud. The story follows a lonely young boy named Howard who has grown up listening to strange stories from the few townsfolk who returned from the Great War. I don’t want to tell you too much of the outline of the book because I don’t want to spoil it, I want you to read it and experience it like I did. So here’s the blurb from the book to give you an idea;

“Howard is a lonely, isolated boy who lives in the run-down seaside town of Innsmouth. Most of the town’s men left to fight the Great War and didn’t come back, and those that did, like Howard’s neighbour Mr Derleth, brought their own scars and strange stories with them. None quite so strange as what is about to happen to Howard, however.

An undersea earthquake brings a strange black reef to the surface just off the coast of Innsmouth, and with it something else. Something old, and forgotten, and every bit as lonely as the young boy who discovers it. What follows is a unique and secret friendship that will change the life of both Howard and his bizarre new friend forever”

I personally really enjoyed this book, it has all the elements required for a gentle but gripping read and is an absolutely perfect way to introduce Classic Horror to Children’s Literature. A unique take on a Lovecraftian tale, this is sure to inspire all small readers. This is not only suitable for children, it’s a story the whole family can enjoy. No more mindlessly repeating words from a simple story that you’ve memorised, you can now lose yourself in adventure before bed time whether you’ve got kids or not!

When I read this book, I realised it had the potential to be that one special book that you read as a child and carry into adulthood with you. The one that really has a place in your heart, which makes it even more magical to me because having grown up with this one you might then be inspired to go and read Lovecraft’s work and you’ve then got the link which is explained this one about why adults might not necessarily remember Cthulu in the same way. The fact that the main charcter IS a small H P Lovecraft makes this link utterly perfect.

The artwork on this book is beautiful too, delightfully cute whilst packing in the meaning found in the book, it’s the perfect compliment to Jones’ work. There’s just nothing for me to complain about with this book, I’d read it to any child.

[Josh reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book that Lex H Jones has written. I absolutely loved this short book of loss, resilience, and coming of age. Young HP Lovecraft has lost his father and often wonders the waterfront near his hometown, one day a reef appears near the beachfront. This reef has a strange altar set upon it and coins with a strange symbol on it. I don’t want to go to far into detail on this one as it is best left to the reader to see where things go from there. There is one particular character though that readers of HP Lovecraft will recognize immediately, what a wonderful character he is. This book though targeted as YA I believe, is for anyone young at heart and remembers that impressionable time when they needed positive and guiding forces in their lives. This book does not talk down to the reader at all, and Jones writes with such gentle humility. This book can be read in a sitting or two and is well worth your time, in fact it is one of my favorite of this year! Highest recommendation.

[Thomas Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 9-year-old daughter and I read-along with this book at bedtime. The story was great, dealing with things like loneliness and difficulty making friends, as well as a boy losing a parent. But it is also just entertaining for a kid to read. The art is wonderful, with interior illustrations at the start of each chapter. Although it is published by the Sinister Horror Company through their new Kids imprint, it is absolutely suitable for the younger reader; it relates to Lovecraft's Cthulhu character, but it is a child-friendly version. It is a wonderful way to introduce curious young readers to the character, without giving them nightmares. It is a perfect book for young readers!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was perfection.