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Cthulhu Armageddon #3
The Tree of Azathoth
"The Dreaming City has a million stories."
The world has finally reached its final hours with Yog-Sothoth devouring time itself. John Henry Booth is not content to die and seeks out an old enemy to provide him an escape from the dying Earth. This results in him being transported to a strange monster-filled city where millions of humans live in a bizarre hodgepodge of eras. John soon finds out he's been here before, or at least some variant of him has, and he is soon founded by faces long thought dead. And what is his lost son's connection to the mysterious metropolis?
The Tree of Azathoth is the third novel of the Cthulhu Armageddon series, a post-apocalypse continuation of H.P. Lovecraft's popular Cthulhu Mythos.
The world has finally reached its final hours with Yog-Sothoth devouring time itself. John Henry Booth is not content to die and seeks out an old enemy to provide him an escape from the dying Earth. This results in him being transported to a strange monster-filled city where millions of humans live in a bizarre hodgepodge of eras. John soon finds out he's been here before, or at least some variant of him has, and he is soon founded by faces long thought dead. And what is his lost son's connection to the mysterious metropolis?
The Tree of Azathoth is the third novel of the Cthulhu Armageddon series, a post-apocalypse continuation of H.P. Lovecraft's popular Cthulhu Mythos.
301 pages, Paperback
Published May 20, 2023
21 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
C.T. Phipps
91 books671 followersC.T Phipps is a lifelong student of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. An avid tabletop gamer, he discovered this passion led him to write and turned him into a lifelong geek. He is a regular reviewer on Booknest.EU and for Grimdark Magazine.
He's written the Agent G series, Cthulhu Armageddon, the Red Room Trilogy, I Was A Teenaged Weredeer, Lucifer's Star, Psycho Killers in Love, Straight Outta Fangton, The Supervillainy Saga, and Wraith Knight.
Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blog...
Website: https://ctphipps.com/
C.T. Fanclub: https://www.facebook.com/groups/14917...
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ctphipps
He's written the Agent G series, Cthulhu Armageddon, the Red Room Trilogy, I Was A Teenaged Weredeer, Lucifer's Star, Psycho Killers in Love, Straight Outta Fangton, The Supervillainy Saga, and Wraith Knight.
Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blog...
Website: https://ctphipps.com/
C.T. Fanclub: https://www.facebook.com/groups/14917...
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ctphipps
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 19, 2023
It's been five years since the release of THE TOWER OF ZHAAL and I really thought that would be the last of John Henry Booth's adventures in the post-apocalypse world of Post-Rising Earth. However, inspiration strikes us when we least expect it and I think this may be the best volume in the book yet. John lives rent free in my head and I really should have continued the series earlier but I wanted to have a sequel worthy of it.
This book has John Henry Booth head into the Dreaming City, a seemingly impossible metropolis existing in the Dreamlands where monsters and humans co-mingle. The price of this city is intense, though, and John also finds out he's not the first John Henry Booth to have walked its streets. Now he must solve a mystery of not only the strange eldritch location's origins but whether paying the terrible price is worth it if it means humanity's survival.
I hope everyone enjoys this one.
This book has John Henry Booth head into the Dreaming City, a seemingly impossible metropolis existing in the Dreamlands where monsters and humans co-mingle. The price of this city is intense, though, and John also finds out he's not the first John Henry Booth to have walked its streets. Now he must solve a mystery of not only the strange eldritch location's origins but whether paying the terrible price is worth it if it means humanity's survival.
I hope everyone enjoys this one.
March 20, 2023
Cthulhu Armageddon goes Noir, see...
I really enjoyed the first two Cthulhu Armageddon novels--the originality of setting a post-apocalyptic weird western after a Lovecraftian apocalypse drew my attention. The characters, particularly the main character Booth, kept me there. I am, I have to confess, not the biggest fan of Lovecraft's works. My views about them haven't stopped me from enjoying works that are inspired by him and his "Mythos". On the flip side, I regard Raymond Chandler as possibly the greatest ever writer of detective fiction whose writing is as deserving of high praise as any of the established 'greats' of literature. To see Phipps draw together these two towering figures of Pulp (my views on Lovecraft in no way affect his stature) was either something that would lead to disaster or else a brilliant novel. Add to that the gamble of effectively switching genres in an established series, and I have to say I was worried that one of my favourite current authors had bitten off more than he could chew.
Thankfully, my concerns were for naught. Booth is drawn into the City which at once recalls the setting typical of Chandler's books, as adapted for the screen. The place can exist only because it is in the Dreamlands (one of the more pulpy but also philosophical parts of Lovecraft's world building). Unfortunately, Booth has been there before, or at least one of him has been... cue a series of mysteries wrapped up in a larger mystery and filled with odd, engaging, sometimes creepy, sometimes humorous characters, some of whom are human, some are psychopaths in feline form (actual cats), and some who come from the darker, weirder recesses of the Cthulhu Mythos.
The plot ticks along at a fast pace, but is kept from being too fast by Booth's reflections on his situation and the changing world around him. Where such navel-gazing can sometimes make a book drag, here they were vital for me to grasp what was going on with some of the more 'weird' elements and also to draw me deeper into Booth's own internal struggle for meaning in a seemingly meaningless multiverse.
That reveals the only weak part of the whole book for me--the author is clearly an expert on the Cthulhu Mythos and can reference elements of it with such familiarity that for a reader like me, who has a very limited knowledge of it, there are a handful of times where I got a little overwhelmed.
Something I really enjoyed but which some readers may find less to their taste, is how bleak the world so adeptly conjured by Phipps is. I found myself stopping to think about some events or character observations with a existential shudder running down my spine. For me, that's magnificent, but if you prefer to avoid existential dread in favour of icky creatures and the like, The Tree of Azathoth has you covered.
While the detective elements don't get out from Chandler's long, long shadow, they're very good and satisfying. The issue of Cthulhu based complexity mentioned above knocks the book down from an unreserved 5/5 but it's not enough to take it down to 4 stars. Very enjoyable and an extremely good entry in the series--hopefully leading to more of the same...!
I really enjoyed the first two Cthulhu Armageddon novels--the originality of setting a post-apocalyptic weird western after a Lovecraftian apocalypse drew my attention. The characters, particularly the main character Booth, kept me there. I am, I have to confess, not the biggest fan of Lovecraft's works. My views about them haven't stopped me from enjoying works that are inspired by him and his "Mythos". On the flip side, I regard Raymond Chandler as possibly the greatest ever writer of detective fiction whose writing is as deserving of high praise as any of the established 'greats' of literature. To see Phipps draw together these two towering figures of Pulp (my views on Lovecraft in no way affect his stature) was either something that would lead to disaster or else a brilliant novel. Add to that the gamble of effectively switching genres in an established series, and I have to say I was worried that one of my favourite current authors had bitten off more than he could chew.
Thankfully, my concerns were for naught. Booth is drawn into the City which at once recalls the setting typical of Chandler's books, as adapted for the screen. The place can exist only because it is in the Dreamlands (one of the more pulpy but also philosophical parts of Lovecraft's world building). Unfortunately, Booth has been there before, or at least one of him has been... cue a series of mysteries wrapped up in a larger mystery and filled with odd, engaging, sometimes creepy, sometimes humorous characters, some of whom are human, some are psychopaths in feline form (actual cats), and some who come from the darker, weirder recesses of the Cthulhu Mythos.
The plot ticks along at a fast pace, but is kept from being too fast by Booth's reflections on his situation and the changing world around him. Where such navel-gazing can sometimes make a book drag, here they were vital for me to grasp what was going on with some of the more 'weird' elements and also to draw me deeper into Booth's own internal struggle for meaning in a seemingly meaningless multiverse.
That reveals the only weak part of the whole book for me--the author is clearly an expert on the Cthulhu Mythos and can reference elements of it with such familiarity that for a reader like me, who has a very limited knowledge of it, there are a handful of times where I got a little overwhelmed.
Something I really enjoyed but which some readers may find less to their taste, is how bleak the world so adeptly conjured by Phipps is. I found myself stopping to think about some events or character observations with a existential shudder running down my spine. For me, that's magnificent, but if you prefer to avoid existential dread in favour of icky creatures and the like, The Tree of Azathoth has you covered.
While the detective elements don't get out from Chandler's long, long shadow, they're very good and satisfying. The issue of Cthulhu based complexity mentioned above knocks the book down from an unreserved 5/5 but it's not enough to take it down to 4 stars. Very enjoyable and an extremely good entry in the series--hopefully leading to more of the same...!
May 8, 2024
A Fever Dream of Apocalyptic Proportions
Diving into The Tree of Azathoth by C.T. Phipps, narrated by Cary Hite, felt like stepping into a whirlwind of cosmic chaos and existential dread—typical Monday, right? From the moment John Henry Booth refuses to surrender to the inevitable consumption of time, I knew this book wouldn’t just be a read; it would be an experience.
As the third installment in the Cthulhu Armageddon series, it not only lives up to its predecessors but also elevates the saga to new heights. (I know I’m not the only one who was eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.)
Phipps has penned what I can only describe as a heartfelt homage to H.P. Lovecraft’s mythos. The energy pulsating through each chapter made it clear this wasn’t just a story written to continue a series, but a passionate tribute to the Lovecraftian world. The complexity of being transported to a dream/nightmare city that is a bizarre amalgamation of eras provided a backdrop so vivid, it was like watching an epic film unfold in my mind.
Navigating this labyrinthine plot without giving away spoilers is a challenge, but suffice it to say, the return of familiar characters—or are they?—added layers of intrigue and nostalgia that kept me hooked. The entire search for his son in this dream world was fascinating.
There’s something uniquely thrilling about not only exploring a dream world but recognizing faces within that dream (and even recognizing it’s a dream/dream world). And let’s talk about that fever dream vibe! The narrative had a surreal quality that made the boundaries between reality and fantasy deliciously blurred, enhancing the immersive experience.
Cary Hite’s narration was the cherry on top. His ability to capture the essence of this apocalyptic fever dream with his voice added an extra layer of depth to the storytelling. His pacing and tone perfectly matched the unfolding drama, making it easy to get lost in Booth’s adventures and misadventures.
Overall, The Tree of Azathoth is a wild ride through a dying universe filled with love, loss, and the quest for a sliver of hope in the chaos. It’s a must-listen for fans of the series and newcomers alike (read the other two first), provided they’re ready to dive headfirst into a beautifully chaotic world. For those who revel in stories that push the boundaries of imagination, this audiobook is a compelling journey through time, memory, and the unknown.
Diving into The Tree of Azathoth by C.T. Phipps, narrated by Cary Hite, felt like stepping into a whirlwind of cosmic chaos and existential dread—typical Monday, right? From the moment John Henry Booth refuses to surrender to the inevitable consumption of time, I knew this book wouldn’t just be a read; it would be an experience.
As the third installment in the Cthulhu Armageddon series, it not only lives up to its predecessors but also elevates the saga to new heights. (I know I’m not the only one who was eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.)
Phipps has penned what I can only describe as a heartfelt homage to H.P. Lovecraft’s mythos. The energy pulsating through each chapter made it clear this wasn’t just a story written to continue a series, but a passionate tribute to the Lovecraftian world. The complexity of being transported to a dream/nightmare city that is a bizarre amalgamation of eras provided a backdrop so vivid, it was like watching an epic film unfold in my mind.
Navigating this labyrinthine plot without giving away spoilers is a challenge, but suffice it to say, the return of familiar characters—or are they?—added layers of intrigue and nostalgia that kept me hooked. The entire search for his son in this dream world was fascinating.
There’s something uniquely thrilling about not only exploring a dream world but recognizing faces within that dream (and even recognizing it’s a dream/dream world). And let’s talk about that fever dream vibe! The narrative had a surreal quality that made the boundaries between reality and fantasy deliciously blurred, enhancing the immersive experience.
Cary Hite’s narration was the cherry on top. His ability to capture the essence of this apocalyptic fever dream with his voice added an extra layer of depth to the storytelling. His pacing and tone perfectly matched the unfolding drama, making it easy to get lost in Booth’s adventures and misadventures.
Overall, The Tree of Azathoth is a wild ride through a dying universe filled with love, loss, and the quest for a sliver of hope in the chaos. It’s a must-listen for fans of the series and newcomers alike (read the other two first), provided they’re ready to dive headfirst into a beautifully chaotic world. For those who revel in stories that push the boundaries of imagination, this audiobook is a compelling journey through time, memory, and the unknown.
May 29, 2025
They say comedians make the best tragic actors. Thanks a lot CT Phipps. You just outdid Dune for freaky recursions of self and other. It’s so fucking eerie. I got the ick and can’t stop icking. That fucking tree. Lovecraft himself would find this somehow enlightening - part Cimmerian wasteland, part Mythos, part true understanding of madness. If you want to feel unclean, unwell, and never safe again, then this series is for you.
June 12, 2024
I've been waiting for this book for a while now! Glad I finally got to give it a listen. Cthulhu Armageddon is my favorite series by Phipps. I wasn't too crazy about the change in narrator. Jeffrey Kafer is the perfect voice for this series, but Cary Hite wasn't bad. The story itself was good and I'm looking forward to the next book!
May 20, 2024
I liked this story but the pacing felt off. It just felt too long
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews