“Under an alien sky where gods of eldritch matter rule, the only truth is revenge.”CTHULHU ARMAGEDDON is the story of a world 100 years past the rise of the Old Ones which has been reduced to a giant monster-filled desert and pockets of human survivors (along with Deep Ones, ghouls, and other “talking” monsters).John Henry Booth is a ranger of one of the largest remaining city-states when he’s … city-states when he’s exiled for his group’s massacre and suspicion he’s “tainted.” Escaping with a doctor who killed her husband, John travels across the Earth’s blasted alien ruins to seek the life of the man who killed his friends.
It’s the one thing he has left.
more
I am not a Cthulhu genre fan.
However, I wanted to try something different and wanted to expand my viewpoint regarding anything, Cthulhu.
I was not disappointed! Cthulhu Armageddon is a great ride! Part of what makes this audiobook so much fun aside from the incredible writing is the narration. Jeffrey Kafer did a great job of doing an almost William Shatner over the top, badass guy with a big heart character.
I would recommend this audiobook to fans of the Cthulhu genre that’s looking to have some fun.
Cthulhu Armageddon (Cthulhu Armageddon, Book 1) by C. T. Phipps and narrated by Jeffrey Kafer is a fast-paced adventure you are sure to enjoy! Recommend for those looking for a new fantasy with a post-apocalyptic theme or if you’re looking for a new fantasy. 4 ½ stars for story. 5 stars for narration.
What’s it about? While John Henry Booth is on a mission with his team when things go awry. He wakes up to learn his team is dead and accused of being responsible for their deaths. He escapes to find out the truth of what went down. During his search, he finds more than he bargained for. There’s lots of action, humor, twists and turns. There’s a military feel to it. My favorite character is Richard the ghoul, who was a mechanic in the Korean War, likes pre-rising music, wears Hawaiian shirts, and plays video games. If you are familiar with Lovecraft, you may better appreciate this book, but it isn’t necessary to enjoy the story. My only complaint: I would have liked to have a little more character development.
“There are survivors and the dead in this world, nothing more.”
“The only thing infinite that can be held in a mans hand is a thought.”
“Where do my socks go when I put them in the dryer?”
The narrator, Jeffrey Kafer, did a great job.
Overall, I recommend. The author and narrator are one of my favorite teams and hope they continue to work together.
“I was given this book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.”
I like genre mash-ups, have loved Lovecraft’s work (and have role-played the old Call of Cthulhu RPG), and although I don’t read much dystopian works these days I was in the mood for something darker. Cthulhu Armageddon was it.
*** What to expect
The author notes in the preface that he set out to mix Mad Max with the Cthulhu mythos, coming from a background of gaming. He has done exactly that. The tone of the novels has that lone-gunman, cobbled-up technology relics feeling of the Mad Max movies and similar dystopia, while the creatures that inspired H.R. Giger and generations of horror lovers pop up to provide a suitable bloodbath and target practice.
The pace is quick, the action is constant, and in between the protagonist travels and adventures reminiscent of The Walking Dead there is that sense of deeper, mystical conspiracies and the doom of mankind.
*** What I liked
I loved the tone of the book, how Phipps unashamedly appropriates the Cthulhu mythos and asks the logical “what if” question – what will the world looks like, in the days after the horrors have already won? Don’t expect a pure continuation of Lovecraft tales, but instead they are used as the basis for a new world.
Phipps writes what almost feels like a gaming scenario, as the hero navigates the ravaged world and uncovers its secrets in between bouts of gruesome violence. That keeps the story advancing at a rapid pace, where the backstories are interspersed just in time for when they become relevant.
*** What to be aware of
As with most Lovecraftian horror, it’s not just about the inconceivable monstrosities but about the bleakness of existence. Don’t expect a happy ending (even by the horror genre standard). There is no good vs evil, but a sense of the fatalistic, ultimately futile, struggle of humanity to just survive. As the protagonist says, there is nothing much left but blood and vengeance, like ants spoiling the gods’ picnic.
This is makes for a harsh read, and for a harsh protagonist. I didn’t find Booth (the main character, from whose view the story is told) particularly appealing or relatable, though naturally that’s a matter of taste. Another similar aspect for me is that the writing style and characterisation feel a bit simplistic at times, going for the cheesy hard line rather than a deeper emotional description.
*** Summary
I’d highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys dystopian horror, whether they’re familiar with Lovecraft’s stories or not. Especially if you like gaming-style high-action sequences of bloody violence.
—
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic – for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
Cthulhu Armageddon (Cthulhu Armageddon #1) by C.T. Phipps is an awesome fantasy/with a touch of sci-fi. There is plenty of action, adventure, suspense, magic, creatures, a great plot, well developed characters, and intrigue. It was a wild ride and it was a strange mix of desert, western, and more. I thought of Scorpion King only Western and in the future, after an Earth destruction. It was unique and suspense filled, action packed, and you never knew what was going to happen. I can picture this as a movie! I really enjoyed this book, it was never boring! I was given this book to read and the review was voluntary.