Cthulhu Armageddon (Cthulhu Armageddon, #1) in Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy"

Oct 29, 2016 Seth Skorkowsky rated it liked it

3.5

I'm a huge fan of the Cthulhu Mythos (not as much as many, but more than most) so I was quick to pick up Cthulhu Armageddon to see a modern take on the Mythos folklore. I've enjoyed several of C.T. Phipps previous works, so I was comfortable with both the author and materiel.

Phipps' world, set after the Great Old Ones have returned, is a lot of fun. The Cathedral is the crown jewel of that world and it beautifully captures this familiar and alien setting. Other locations, such as New Arkham, 3.5

I'm a huge fan of the Cthulhu Mythos (not as much as many, but more than most) so I was quick to pick up Cthulhu Armageddon to see a modern take on the Mythos folklore. I've enjoyed several of C.T. Phipps previous works, so I was comfortable with both the author and materiel.

Phipps' world, set after the Great Old Ones have returned, is a lot of fun. The Cathedral is the crown jewel of that world and it beautifully captures this familiar and alien setting. Other locations, such as New Arkham, offer a little bit of old and new for those familiar with Lovercraft's settings.

Another thing I highly enjoyed was that the Mythos is not merely a flavor or a cookie-cutter backdrop set behind the story, but is highly essential and used throughout. The Mythos is always involved in the story. More than just a generic Mythos, but highly specific. Phipps obviously loves the source materiel and it shows. You will find references to "The Color Out of Space," "Herbert West-Reanimator," "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward," "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," "At The Mountains of Madness," "The Call of Cthulhu (obviously)," and many, many more of Lovecraft's tales. The only problem I could see with it is for readers that are not familiar with Lovecraft's world might not fully grasp it. Maybe they will. I don't know.

One aspect of Lovercraft that I did not feel was necessary was "indescribable horror." Lovecraft uses that term often to describe his creatures because they are from the point of view of a person glimpsing their first encounter with the Mythos. Here, we have a hero who has spent their entire life with these things and is somewhat hardened to them. When they encounter colossal statues of The Great Old Ones, and these mind-bending terrors are depicted in stone, describing them as "indescribable" was disappointing because these are not oozing, writhing monsters charging to eat the shocked hero, but static representations, and the narrator could have actually described them. Using "indescribable" felt more like a cop-out here.

One thing that's also worth noting is Cthulhu Armageddon refers to itself as "Post-Apocalyptic Western." It's not. Yes, it's post-apoc, but not Western in either theme or technology. It's a mythos-inspired action/revenge story set in a post-apocalyptic wastelend. The heroes use automatic weapons, night vision, solar-powered vehicles, attack helicopters, and other modern technology. Aside from the hero wearing a stetson and a duster in a few chapters, it lacks anything Western. Other post-apoc stories, like The Road Warrior, have Western themes (A man with no name arrives at a remote outpost besieged by villains only to return to the wastes once he has solved their problem), Cthulhu Armageddon does not. Rob Zombie wears a cowboy hat, yet he is neither a cowboy or a Country singer.

The action is good and I enjoyed that characters would die, sometimes quickly and without warning. It is definitely more serious than Phipps' comedic stories that he is so good at. However there are a few moments when his comedic voice slips through and the narrator sort of winks at the audience. To me, this lessened the sincerity and horror of the overall story.

Overall I enjoyed it. Fans of post-apocalyptic fantasy and fans of the Cthulhu Mythos will find this to be a real treat. I fully intend to use some of Phipps' setting in a post-apoc Call of Cthulhu game I'm running in the next few weeks.

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Mar 28, 2017 Bookwyrm Speaks rated it it was amazing

Cthulu Armageddon deals with the remnants of humanity struggling to survive in small walled enclaves 100 years or so after the rise of the Old Ones, the primordial gods of the universe. Being so vast they barely notice the life forms on earth except as nuisaces under their tentacles. This coming has also created mutated humans and brought monsterous servants with it. Into the wasteland created by this invasion go the Rangers, the city's scavengers and warriors against the encroaching darkness.

J Cthulu Armageddon deals with the remnants of humanity struggling to survive in small walled enclaves 100 years or so after the rise of the Old Ones, the primordial gods of the universe. Being so vast they barely notice the life forms on earth except as nuisaces under their tentacles. This coming has also created mutated humans and brought monsterous servants with it. Into the wasteland created by this invasion go the Rangers, the city's scavengers and warriors against the encroaching darkness.

John Henry Booth is just such a Ranger. When he and his team discover a tower deep in the Wasteland, they discover a man they thought dead is working with the power of the Old Ones to bring about the end of Humanity as it was, and shape it to his twisted desires. When his team is lost on the mission, Booth is found wandering near his city, and is brought in and tried as a traitor. With the help of his ex wife, he escapes with another prisoner, a woman who killed her husband, and they escape into the wasteland. Out there, they discover what the madman's real plan is, and gain allies and new enemies while trying to stay alive. The climactic ending is well suited to the book, and leaves you wanting more, especially as you discover just how Booth plays into the grand scheme of things.

Like all CT Phipps books, this is a very character driven story, even given the large and appalling setting of a world almost destroyed by the Old Ones. The relationships between Booth and his companions and enemies sets the tone for the whole book. Booth almost seems a man out of time, a warrior with honor in a time when that commodity is becoming increasingly scarce, even as his world slowly comes apart and his secret is revealed, even to himself. The worldbuiding (destroying?) is excellent, giving you a feeling of living in this desolate and dying world, where you live on the knifes edge of survival. This has to be one of the best realized dystopias I've ever heard of in books. Plot and pacing are also top notch, with a great storyline and fast paced action keeping the listener engaged.

Narrationwise, Jeffrey Kafer does an outstanding job, which is something I've come to expect from him. He brings each character to life, and keeps the narration flowing steadily, never letting his narration lag or become monotone. Just another excellent performance.

This book is a must listen to anyone into the Cthulu mythos or Dystopian worlds. It keeps the listener engaged and wanting to see where the story will take them. In this case, it will be in directions you never expected. All told, a five star effort from the Author.

I was voluntarily given a review copy of this audiobook by the Author, Narrator or Publisher.
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