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Necrom
SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL
After a long reign as the bad boy of rock 'n' roll, the years of excess had caught up with Joe Gibson. Now a bitter burn-out. he couldn't imagine his life getting any worse—until a strange gentleman arrived on his doorstep hinting at great things to come. But when their car was attacked in midtown Manhattan by a Haitian voodoo hit squad and then rescued by interdimensional secret agents, Joe realized that he was not headed for a come-back solo album.
Instead, he became trapped in a nightmare odyssey through the dimensions, pursued by renegade demons and otherworldly death merchants. For an ancient evil was once again beginning to stir in the universe—and to his horror. Joe suspected he was the key that could unleash the ultimate terror that was Necrom...
After a long reign as the bad boy of rock 'n' roll, the years of excess had caught up with Joe Gibson. Now a bitter burn-out. he couldn't imagine his life getting any worse—until a strange gentleman arrived on his doorstep hinting at great things to come. But when their car was attacked in midtown Manhattan by a Haitian voodoo hit squad and then rescued by interdimensional secret agents, Joe realized that he was not headed for a come-back solo album.
Instead, he became trapped in a nightmare odyssey through the dimensions, pursued by renegade demons and otherworldly death merchants. For an ancient evil was once again beginning to stir in the universe—and to his horror. Joe suspected he was the key that could unleash the ultimate terror that was Necrom...
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
3 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Mick Farren
67 books81 followersFarren was the singer with the proto-punk English band The Deviants between 1967 and 1969, releasing three albums. In 1970 he released the solo album Mona – The Carnivorous Circus which also featured Steve Peregrin Took, John Gustafson and Paul Buckmaster, before leaving the music business to concentrate on his writing.
In the mid-1970s, he briefly returned to music releasing the EP Screwed Up, album Vampires Stole My Lunch Money and single "Broken Statue". The album featured fellow NME journalist Chrissie Hynde and Dr. Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson.
He has sporadically returned to music, collaborating with Wayne Kramer on Who Shot You Dutch? and Death Tongue, Jack Lancaster on The Deathray Tapes and Andy Colquhoun on The Deviants albums Eating Jello With a Heated Fork and Dr. Crow.
Aside from his own work, he has provided lyrics for various musician friends over the years. He has collaborated with Lemmy, co-writing "Lost Johnny" for Hawkwind, and "Keep Us on the Road" and "Damage Case" for Motörhead. With Larry Wallis, he co-wrote "When's the Fun Begin?" for the Pink Fairies and several tracks on Wallis' solo album Death in a Guitar Afternoon. He provided lyrics for the Wayne Kramer single "Get Some" in the mid-1970s, and continued to work with and for him during the 1990s.
In the early 1970s he contributed to the UK Underground press such as the International Times, also establishing Nasty Tales which he successfully defended from an obscenity charge. He went on to write for the main stream New Musical Express, where he wrote the article The Titanic Sails At Dawn, an analysis of what he saw as the malaise afflicting then-contemporary rock music which described the conditions that subsequently gave rise to punk.
To date he has written 23 novels, including the Victor Renquist novels and the DNA Cowboys sequence. His prophetic 1989 novel The Armageddon Crazy deals with a post-2000 United States which is dominated by fundamentalists who dismantle the Constitution.
Farren has written 11 works of non-fiction, a number of biographical (including four on Elvis Presley), autobiographical and culture books (such as The Black Leather Jacket) and a plethora of poetry.
Since 2003, he has been a columnist for the weekly Los Angeles CityBeat.
Farren died at the age of 69 in 2013, after collapsing onstage while performing with the Deviants at the Borderline Club in London.
In the mid-1970s, he briefly returned to music releasing the EP Screwed Up, album Vampires Stole My Lunch Money and single "Broken Statue". The album featured fellow NME journalist Chrissie Hynde and Dr. Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson.
He has sporadically returned to music, collaborating with Wayne Kramer on Who Shot You Dutch? and Death Tongue, Jack Lancaster on The Deathray Tapes and Andy Colquhoun on The Deviants albums Eating Jello With a Heated Fork and Dr. Crow.
Aside from his own work, he has provided lyrics for various musician friends over the years. He has collaborated with Lemmy, co-writing "Lost Johnny" for Hawkwind, and "Keep Us on the Road" and "Damage Case" for Motörhead. With Larry Wallis, he co-wrote "When's the Fun Begin?" for the Pink Fairies and several tracks on Wallis' solo album Death in a Guitar Afternoon. He provided lyrics for the Wayne Kramer single "Get Some" in the mid-1970s, and continued to work with and for him during the 1990s.
In the early 1970s he contributed to the UK Underground press such as the International Times, also establishing Nasty Tales which he successfully defended from an obscenity charge. He went on to write for the main stream New Musical Express, where he wrote the article The Titanic Sails At Dawn, an analysis of what he saw as the malaise afflicting then-contemporary rock music which described the conditions that subsequently gave rise to punk.
To date he has written 23 novels, including the Victor Renquist novels and the DNA Cowboys sequence. His prophetic 1989 novel The Armageddon Crazy deals with a post-2000 United States which is dominated by fundamentalists who dismantle the Constitution.
Farren has written 11 works of non-fiction, a number of biographical (including four on Elvis Presley), autobiographical and culture books (such as The Black Leather Jacket) and a plethora of poetry.
Since 2003, he has been a columnist for the weekly Los Angeles CityBeat.
Farren died at the age of 69 in 2013, after collapsing onstage while performing with the Deviants at the Borderline Club in London.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 29, 2022
Just another one of those "washed-up rock star finds himself caught up in a worldwide conspiracy involving parallel realities, secret societies, demons, flying saucers, sorcery, ancient Watchers, and awakening Lovecraftian elder gods"-type novels, and it's fun as hell. Despite all the craziness, late author Mick Farren, himself a former rock star, doesn't treat it all as a joke (which can sometimes cause me to check out), even though the situations the main character finds himself in can be pretty humorous at times. His writing is engaging and, much like his weird and tripped-out music of the 60s, there are plenty of far out, reality-bending ideas sprinkled throughout. He also seems to know his stuff when it comes to the lore of various conspiracy theories and legends, which made it all a bit more "believable" within the context of the batshit story.
Though it could probably stand to lose 50-60 pages, imo, this is definitely worth checking out if you're in the mood for a globe-spanning, dimension-hopping adventure with a bunch of memorably eccentric characters -- both human and non -- for company.
Though it could probably stand to lose 50-60 pages, imo, this is definitely worth checking out if you're in the mood for a globe-spanning, dimension-hopping adventure with a bunch of memorably eccentric characters -- both human and non -- for company.
August 16, 2019
Another fun read by Farren! Stepping aside from his usual dystopian future, we enter a world with a washed up rock star caught up with people and forces from parallel dimensions. Lots of sex, drugs and rock and roll, and humorous cultural references.
September 13, 2013
I originally read Farren back in the 20thC, when his books first emerged. I enjoyed his hard, pseudo-realistic style, his imaginative reinterpretation of SF tropes, and the wit his characters demonstrated. All of these features are found in this novel.
I was prompted to read this not previously read Farren due to his recent death. I may well read more of his words over the next few months, both new and old. This novel is simple enough. A bunch of dimension travelling creatures (demons, more or less), kidnap a spun out rock star to aid in the fight against a powerful 'god', who plans to return to the Earth, and destroy it, more or less. A story that can be found in various guises up and down the list of SF stories over the previous century.
What sets Farren apart is that first, the story is almost irrelevant, as it is the actions of his combative characters and their internal conflicts which make this novel a hoot, second, that the 'real' story is far more complex and is only slowly, but never fully revealed, over the course of the novel.
Suffice it to say that the novel is told in an amusing, captivating, and engaging manner. Recommended.
I was prompted to read this not previously read Farren due to his recent death. I may well read more of his words over the next few months, both new and old. This novel is simple enough. A bunch of dimension travelling creatures (demons, more or less), kidnap a spun out rock star to aid in the fight against a powerful 'god', who plans to return to the Earth, and destroy it, more or less. A story that can be found in various guises up and down the list of SF stories over the previous century.
What sets Farren apart is that first, the story is almost irrelevant, as it is the actions of his combative characters and their internal conflicts which make this novel a hoot, second, that the 'real' story is far more complex and is only slowly, but never fully revealed, over the course of the novel.
Suffice it to say that the novel is told in an amusing, captivating, and engaging manner. Recommended.
March 27, 2024
How did a boy named Joe end up as an intergalactic traveler with such a strong acceptance of unknown. Or how did a man named Gibson completely break his psyche? And are these the same questions? Are these spoilers?
Readers meet a man who was a world famous rockstar, but that was years ago. He's lost all his money and fame, but has he completely lost his mind as well? Throughout the book, these are the questions rolling through my head. Is this all just a wacky trip on some wild drug concoction? Is he even really a former rock star? There are turning points hinted at throughout the story arch, which would lead you to believe one way or the other.
I love how this book is formatted with the back and forth from present day, to the events that led to the present day.
I'll read more of Farrens work if I ever come across it. Great gift idea, Joseph Gibson, if you're ever looking for something to gift me.
That's right, everyone. I'm Joseph Gibson's real brother in the real world life, in the dimension where the Rolling Stones are a famous band.
Readers meet a man who was a world famous rockstar, but that was years ago. He's lost all his money and fame, but has he completely lost his mind as well? Throughout the book, these are the questions rolling through my head. Is this all just a wacky trip on some wild drug concoction? Is he even really a former rock star? There are turning points hinted at throughout the story arch, which would lead you to believe one way or the other.
I love how this book is formatted with the back and forth from present day, to the events that led to the present day.
I'll read more of Farrens work if I ever come across it. Great gift idea, Joseph Gibson, if you're ever looking for something to gift me.
That's right, everyone. I'm Joseph Gibson's real brother in the real world life, in the dimension where the Rolling Stones are a famous band.
November 27, 2024
You get the impression, first, that Mr. Farren is drawing on some deep understanding of the music industry and music performers and the wildly-popular-band lunatic environment. And second, that Mr. Farren has imbibed more than his share of various recreational chemistry. And I am not referring to those 'make your own!' juvenile kits.
You can sort of see how this works up to concepts played better in _Kindling_: sexual energy as a universal force, an unlikely person (Joe Gibson) unknowingly poised to change the world and grow into that role, and surrounding forces attempting to manipulate that person and which Gibson must eventually grow beyond.
And Yancey Slide, whose presence here elevates this book and _Kindling_ for the implication of a greater setting.
Despite all this the story flounders for at least a hundred pages in the preliminaries, of Gibson batted around with the implication that he _might become_ a player or active element. Until then he is someone to whom things happen and is a witness and victim. A whiny witness and victim who is not in himself interesting or pleasant to be around.
You can sort of see how this works up to concepts played better in _Kindling_: sexual energy as a universal force, an unlikely person (Joe Gibson) unknowingly poised to change the world and grow into that role, and surrounding forces attempting to manipulate that person and which Gibson must eventually grow beyond.
And Yancey Slide, whose presence here elevates this book and _Kindling_ for the implication of a greater setting.
Despite all this the story flounders for at least a hundred pages in the preliminaries, of Gibson batted around with the implication that he _might become_ a player or active element. Until then he is someone to whom things happen and is a witness and victim. A whiny witness and victim who is not in himself interesting or pleasant to be around.
April 9, 2025
I bought this around 1990-91 and started reading it that afternoon. And I didn't put it down or go to sleep until i finished it about 18 hours later. My only complaint is I could use another volume or two to tell us what happens next.
Chaotic and anarchic, love it. Best followed up with the Last Stand of the DNA Cowboys.
Chaotic and anarchic, love it. Best followed up with the Last Stand of the DNA Cowboys.
May 27, 2014
Great fun -- hard-boiled science fiction with a terrific anti-authoritarian protagonist (a Farren specialty), in this case a washed-up old rocker. Joe Gibson gets embroiled in a multi-dimensional conspiracy-filled apocalyptic jaunt that has him rubbing shoulders with demons, magicians, technologically-advanced enforcers, sort-of gods, and more. It starts out a little slowly, then once it starts rolling, it doesn't stop. Plenty of in-jokes for both s-f readers and underground music fans alike. It made me think of Richard Kadrey's Sandman Slim books -- probably because both books star a human thrown into a demonic milieu where nobody wants to tell him what's really happening, and he gets fed up with it and comes out on top...or at least not on the bottom. Great fun.
Read
July 30, 2013Need to re-read this, now that Mr. Farren has passed on. The main surprise that I liked from this was the character of Gideon Windemere, whom the main character meets in the book. Gideon, for those versed in SF, is a thinly-veiled older version of Michael Moorcock's Jerry Cornelius. Nice touch.
September 12, 2014
Not sure what to expect on picking this up, but I can say it was one that I couldn't put down and with all the references to things in the book I can say I enjoyed it with a good scotch .. probably as much as ol' Joe Gibson would have
June 17, 2009
Very weird. Very funny. Very good.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews