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Eldritch Chrome: Unquiet Tales of a Mythos-Haunted Future
UNQUIET TALES OF A MYTHOS-HAUNTED FUTURE
During the decades since H.P. Lovecraft first wrote of the Cthulhu Mythos, many authors have crossed his themes into other genres, enhancing his original vision with stories taking place in the distant past, in the far-flung future, and in myriad places in-between.
Cyberpunk tales are written in dark, gritty, film-noir styles. Their protagonists live and die at the bottom echelon of an electronic society gone awry. They may be seedier, poorer, and less inclined to make moral judgements than stoic Lovecraftian New Englanders, but in Cyberpunk-Cthulhu tales they encounter the same horrors as their more-genteel predecessors.
Confronting monstrous entities and fiends from beyond space and time, the Cyberpunk-Cthulhu hero may wield high-tech weapons and have other advances at his or her disposal. To beings where time has no meaning and whose technologically is so advanced that their actions seem supernatural or powered by magic, no human finds an advantage.
This is the Cyberpunk-Cthulhu world — mythos horrors lurk at the edge of society, mythos-altered technology infects human beings, dark gods lurk in cyberspace, and huge corporations rule society while bowing to entities inimical to humankind.
During the decades since H.P. Lovecraft first wrote of the Cthulhu Mythos, many authors have crossed his themes into other genres, enhancing his original vision with stories taking place in the distant past, in the far-flung future, and in myriad places in-between.
Cyberpunk tales are written in dark, gritty, film-noir styles. Their protagonists live and die at the bottom echelon of an electronic society gone awry. They may be seedier, poorer, and less inclined to make moral judgements than stoic Lovecraftian New Englanders, but in Cyberpunk-Cthulhu tales they encounter the same horrors as their more-genteel predecessors.
Confronting monstrous entities and fiends from beyond space and time, the Cyberpunk-Cthulhu hero may wield high-tech weapons and have other advances at his or her disposal. To beings where time has no meaning and whose technologically is so advanced that their actions seem supernatural or powered by magic, no human finds an advantage.
This is the Cyberpunk-Cthulhu world — mythos horrors lurk at the edge of society, mythos-altered technology infects human beings, dark gods lurk in cyberspace, and huge corporations rule society while bowing to entities inimical to humankind.
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 30, 2013
13 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Brian M. Sammons
78 books73 followersBrian M. Sammons lives in Michigan, loves horror films and books, writes stories and reviews, edits various books, and is described by his neighbors as “such a nice, quiet man.”
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 3, 2018
I don't remember all the stories in the collection very clearly, as it's been my Kindle book of choice for those nights when I feel like reading in bed after I've finished reading NOT in bed for the evening, but the overall impression I have on the book is a good one. Not every story was killer, though that may be a matter of taste, but some were fantastic. My clear favorite was the last, which was a piece by Jeffrey Thomas set in Punktown. Maybe it was a favorite because I already knew I enjoyed his work before reading this, but it was just well done, too. The story about a future cop in a flying mech trying to bring peace back to a city (plus more) was pretty interesting too, I enjoyed it and mechs were the last thing I'd ever expected to see in an anthology of Lovecraftian fiction of any kind, even a futuristic one. Glad I read it, and I'm sure I'll look into a few of the other authors sooner or later, too!
November 15, 2015
Cyberpunk and Lovecraft's mythos, what more could one want?
Sammon has put together a very interesting anthology with this collection of stories. Though some would never have thought to combine the two subjects, they oddly work extremely well together and this anthology shows that. There are a wide variety of themes within these stories, and some are not your traditional cyberpunk tales, though they easily fit within the genre. I'm going to comment on some of the stories I really enjoyed, and those that I feel didn't work.
The Place That Can Not Be by D.L.Snell is an interesting portrayal of the future. The entire story crawls with a sense of unease among beautifully described settings. Not your classic style cyberpunk story, Snell tells a story that fits perfectly within the genre and was one of the most memorable stories in this collection.
Playgrounds Of Angolaland by David Conyers was everything I expected from this author. I am no stranger to Conyers works, having read his Peel works and a few other stories. This story brings a good mix of action and intrigue into the mix while showing an advanced future of the Peel universe. One thing I always have enjoyed is Conyers' ability to write a story in his world and do it in such a way that no prior knowledge is required from the reader to understand what is going on. This story is one such example. I really enjoyed this story, though if I had one point I wasn't fond of, it was the inclusion of Peel himself. (well, in a form) His inclusion felt unnecessary for the little amount of time he was on screen and could have easily been replaced with an equally like-minded character and nothing would have changed. Still, this was a fun and enjoyable story to read.
Sonar City by Sam Stone was a good idea with a lot of extra material that felt forced in to increase word count than for actual world building. The base story itself is interesting, and contains some nice tension building, especially with the sonar waves. The Lovecraftian element is handled well and is terrifying in its own right. The Revivalists were a nice touch, however, having the protagonist change into their dress for her first foray into the sewers felt unnecessary (as nothing comes of it) and included just to beef up the word count. The Revivalists could have been explained in a couple sentences as a bit of flavor text and nothing would have changed. That they are given so much space, and then not really used, makes them feel pointless and wasted potential.
Another element that felt wrong was the final part including Mai. Those two elements combine to removed any and all horror or sense of danger from the story and instead made it come across as a tame tale where the protagonist doesn't actually do anything. Still, there were some nice elements to the story that I did enjoy, and bits of world building text that helped shape a world I would have liked to see more of.
Inlibration by Michael Tice in an amazing story that comes together beautifully and handled the cyberpunk elements with the Lovecraftian ones seamlessly. His depiction of the future was believable, his protagonist realistic, and the way the events play out, simply wonderful to read. One of my favorites of the entire anthology.
Real Gone by David Dunwoody is a haunting tale, and one that shows us a future that could very well become a possibility. Dunwoody has crafted a story that is horrific in a number of different ways, and presents Lovecraftian horror in a stunning manner. The hopelessness of the protagonist's situation at times seems so bleak I found myself glued to the pages, unable to set it down until I had finished the story. The writing is handled well, the story's beats are right on the mark, and the cyberpunk element is as unnerving as the Lovecraftian element is. This story was a gem to read and I will read it again in the future.
The Gauntlet by Glynn Barrass and Brian M. Sammons was unexpected for this anthology, but ultimately perfect. Mecha don't normally seem to fit into the cyberpunk genre, but Barrass and Sammons show that not only do they fit, but they can be an integral part to it. There is almost a Judge Dredd feel to this story with how the world is put together, and the Lovecraftian and mythos elements are worked in masterfully. Barrass and Sammons have crafted something I would love to see in a full length novel or series. The action is handled well, the characters are engaging, and the way things pan out is beautifully done. A unique story in this anthology, and one that fits perfectly with the theme.
All in all, Eldritch Chrome is a perfect book for any fan of Lovecraft or the cyberpunk genre. The stories all fit the theme in one way or another, and the authors Sammon has collected here all show an amazing ability to craft engaging stories that draw the reader in. I didn't know what I was going to get when I picked up this anthology as cyberpunk is a genre not a lot of the newer generations recognize anymore, but what I got was something I will read again and again over the years. I highly suggest you pick this anthology up.
Sammon has put together a very interesting anthology with this collection of stories. Though some would never have thought to combine the two subjects, they oddly work extremely well together and this anthology shows that. There are a wide variety of themes within these stories, and some are not your traditional cyberpunk tales, though they easily fit within the genre. I'm going to comment on some of the stories I really enjoyed, and those that I feel didn't work.
The Place That Can Not Be by D.L.Snell is an interesting portrayal of the future. The entire story crawls with a sense of unease among beautifully described settings. Not your classic style cyberpunk story, Snell tells a story that fits perfectly within the genre and was one of the most memorable stories in this collection.
Playgrounds Of Angolaland by David Conyers was everything I expected from this author. I am no stranger to Conyers works, having read his Peel works and a few other stories. This story brings a good mix of action and intrigue into the mix while showing an advanced future of the Peel universe. One thing I always have enjoyed is Conyers' ability to write a story in his world and do it in such a way that no prior knowledge is required from the reader to understand what is going on. This story is one such example. I really enjoyed this story, though if I had one point I wasn't fond of, it was the inclusion of Peel himself. (well, in a form) His inclusion felt unnecessary for the little amount of time he was on screen and could have easily been replaced with an equally like-minded character and nothing would have changed. Still, this was a fun and enjoyable story to read.
Sonar City by Sam Stone was a good idea with a lot of extra material that felt forced in to increase word count than for actual world building. The base story itself is interesting, and contains some nice tension building, especially with the sonar waves. The Lovecraftian element is handled well and is terrifying in its own right. The Revivalists were a nice touch, however, having the protagonist change into their dress for her first foray into the sewers felt unnecessary (as nothing comes of it) and included just to beef up the word count. The Revivalists could have been explained in a couple sentences as a bit of flavor text and nothing would have changed. That they are given so much space, and then not really used, makes them feel pointless and wasted potential.
Another element that felt wrong was the final part including Mai. Those two elements combine to removed any and all horror or sense of danger from the story and instead made it come across as a tame tale where the protagonist doesn't actually do anything. Still, there were some nice elements to the story that I did enjoy, and bits of world building text that helped shape a world I would have liked to see more of.
Inlibration by Michael Tice in an amazing story that comes together beautifully and handled the cyberpunk elements with the Lovecraftian ones seamlessly. His depiction of the future was believable, his protagonist realistic, and the way the events play out, simply wonderful to read. One of my favorites of the entire anthology.
Real Gone by David Dunwoody is a haunting tale, and one that shows us a future that could very well become a possibility. Dunwoody has crafted a story that is horrific in a number of different ways, and presents Lovecraftian horror in a stunning manner. The hopelessness of the protagonist's situation at times seems so bleak I found myself glued to the pages, unable to set it down until I had finished the story. The writing is handled well, the story's beats are right on the mark, and the cyberpunk element is as unnerving as the Lovecraftian element is. This story was a gem to read and I will read it again in the future.
The Gauntlet by Glynn Barrass and Brian M. Sammons was unexpected for this anthology, but ultimately perfect. Mecha don't normally seem to fit into the cyberpunk genre, but Barrass and Sammons show that not only do they fit, but they can be an integral part to it. There is almost a Judge Dredd feel to this story with how the world is put together, and the Lovecraftian and mythos elements are worked in masterfully. Barrass and Sammons have crafted something I would love to see in a full length novel or series. The action is handled well, the characters are engaging, and the way things pan out is beautifully done. A unique story in this anthology, and one that fits perfectly with the theme.
All in all, Eldritch Chrome is a perfect book for any fan of Lovecraft or the cyberpunk genre. The stories all fit the theme in one way or another, and the authors Sammon has collected here all show an amazing ability to craft engaging stories that draw the reader in. I didn't know what I was going to get when I picked up this anthology as cyberpunk is a genre not a lot of the newer generations recognize anymore, but what I got was something I will read again and again over the years. I highly suggest you pick this anthology up.
November 2, 2023
CthulhuPunk! This was pretty fun. A lot of Lovecraft's "horror" was thinly veiled SF (such as At the Mountains of Madness or The Shadow Out of Time) so the cyberpunk/Cthulhu fusion works pretty good.
February 4, 2021
De qualité vraiment inégale. J'ai même parfois souffert, et les quelques bonnes nouvelles ne rattrapent pas l'ensemble.
October 6, 2017
What is cyberpunk, anyway? Is it about how the withdrawal of government control leads to corporations assuming the functions of government? Is it about a world-wide collective hallucination formed by interconnected computer networks, like city lights, receding. Is it, as I've seen put, the opposite of transhumanism--transhumanism is about how technology will allow us to overcome the limitations of being human, and cyberpunk is about how it won't? Is it about people with mirrorshades and cybernetic limbs shooting their way into heavily-guarded facilities and committing crimes? Is it about elves on motorcycles?
This kind of confusion does provide a wide swath to draw from, but I can still tag some stories as definitely not cyberpunk and there are a lot of those stories included in Eldritch Chrome. Like "Dreams of Death," about mutated scavengers in post-apocalyptic Massachusetts. An organism called the Flotulum injects humans and overwrites them with its DNA, and the main character is trying to keep himself and his grandmother human in a pointless struggle doomed to failure. It's all very bleak, but I'm not sure how it's either cyber or punk.
"Flesh & Scales" is theoretically about the down and out in Innsmouth, gang violence, and a caste system between deep ones, hybrids, and humans, but in practice is about tentacle sex, pointless murder, and degradation. I thought it was puerile and more than a little creepy--in the "why is this worth including" sense, not the "unsettling" sense--and it was by far the worst story in the book.
"The Gauntlet" straddles the line for me. On the one hand, it's about cultists trying to make sure the stars are right and riot police in mecha sent in to stop them, and mecha aren't usually what I think of when I think cyberpunk. On the other hand, it's about the interface between AI and the eldritch entities of the mythos, which is space I think needs more exploring. It doesn't do much with it, but I appreciate the attempt.
My favorite story in the book is "Inlibration," which begins with the line:
"Obsolete, Absolute" is about researchers of a viral plague killing large numbers of people, but things seem immediately off because the characters have odd names like "Augustus 34." Eventually the protagonist realizes that something is wrong with the viral research, and when another researcher offers to show him the truth, he accepts and learns that the return of the Old Ones is nigh: It's not a new twist, but it's done well here.
"Real Gone" is about dreams as a subscription service and a woman with an illegal implant who sells her dreams from her squat to get by. Her evocative dreams bring her to the attention of the corporation who makes the dreaming implants, an executive of which has an entirely different use he wants to put the dreams to. This story does an excellent job of blending the mythos connection to dreams as psychic disturbance caused by the mythos of the cyberpunk concept that even the contents of one's own head can be commoditized and sold by the megacorporate overlords. Highly recommended.
"The Battle of Arkham" doesn't belong in this book at all, but I'm writing about it because I loved it. Teams of humans, deep one marines, mi-go air support, and ghoul infiltration squads fighting against the "Whateleys," horribly mutated former humans who are now overrunning the earth. A squad is dropped into Arkham to collect a book and fights their way in with railguns and shoggoth-grenades. It's delightful and I can overlook its complete lack of horror or cyberpunk because I had so much fun reading it.
Eldritch Chrome is much like the other mythos anthologies I've read--some good, some bad, no real consistency of theme or even sticking to the concept of a mythos. It's worth it for the good stories, but not amazing.
This kind of confusion does provide a wide swath to draw from, but I can still tag some stories as definitely not cyberpunk and there are a lot of those stories included in Eldritch Chrome. Like "Dreams of Death," about mutated scavengers in post-apocalyptic Massachusetts. An organism called the Flotulum injects humans and overwrites them with its DNA, and the main character is trying to keep himself and his grandmother human in a pointless struggle doomed to failure. It's all very bleak, but I'm not sure how it's either cyber or punk.
"Flesh & Scales" is theoretically about the down and out in Innsmouth, gang violence, and a caste system between deep ones, hybrids, and humans, but in practice is about tentacle sex, pointless murder, and degradation. I thought it was puerile and more than a little creepy--in the "why is this worth including" sense, not the "unsettling" sense--and it was by far the worst story in the book.
"The Gauntlet" straddles the line for me. On the one hand, it's about cultists trying to make sure the stars are right and riot police in mecha sent in to stop them, and mecha aren't usually what I think of when I think cyberpunk. On the other hand, it's about the interface between AI and the eldritch entities of the mythos, which is space I think needs more exploring. It doesn't do much with it, but I appreciate the attempt.
My favorite story in the book is "Inlibration," which begins with the line:
The most wonderful thing in the world, I think, is the ability of the augmented human mind to correlate all its contentsand goes from there. A freelance agent with extensive cybernetic augmentation is hired to take pictures of a specific book that hasn't been scanned and uploaded to the Internet, and you can probably see where this goes. After he does, he spins off an agent to do some research while he sleeps and...well. Computers don't understand the significance of mythos knowledge and haven't been programmed to avoid certain areas of knowledge. That's how humanity ends up wild and free, shouting and killing and reveling for joy.
"Obsolete, Absolute" is about researchers of a viral plague killing large numbers of people, but things seem immediately off because the characters have odd names like "Augustus 34." Eventually the protagonist realizes that something is wrong with the viral research, and when another researcher offers to show him the truth, he accepts and learns that the return of the Old Ones is nigh: It's not a new twist, but it's done well here.
"Real Gone" is about dreams as a subscription service and a woman with an illegal implant who sells her dreams from her squat to get by. Her evocative dreams bring her to the attention of the corporation who makes the dreaming implants, an executive of which has an entirely different use he wants to put the dreams to. This story does an excellent job of blending the mythos connection to dreams as psychic disturbance caused by the mythos of the cyberpunk concept that even the contents of one's own head can be commoditized and sold by the megacorporate overlords. Highly recommended.
"The Battle of Arkham" doesn't belong in this book at all, but I'm writing about it because I loved it. Teams of humans, deep one marines, mi-go air support, and ghoul infiltration squads fighting against the "Whateleys," horribly mutated former humans who are now overrunning the earth. A squad is dropped into Arkham to collect a book and fights their way in with railguns and shoggoth-grenades. It's delightful and I can overlook its complete lack of horror or cyberpunk because I had so much fun reading it.
Eldritch Chrome is much like the other mythos anthologies I've read--some good, some bad, no real consistency of theme or even sticking to the concept of a mythos. It's worth it for the good stories, but not amazing.
July 30, 2014
My mistake as I read collections like these is that I do not ever take enough notes about the individual stories to write up bits and bobs about the pieces that make up the whole, and talking about the whole can be dangerous. Still, I'll give it a shot.
I have a had a general dream of finding the perfect blend of Mythos and Cyberpunk for years. This book is not the perfect blend, but it really does have some neat ideas. It takes the mofit—what is sometimes called cthulhupunk—and runs with it in a number of different directions, which is a plus. Some of the stories involve straight up street sams in a world where the outer species are war with humanity, while others are a simpler take on blogger culture. Some involve really explicit Mythos elements, others dance around some word play and unknown elements. Some are gonzo. Some are understated. Some are beautiful. Some are gritty. And, as it were, some are all of these things at different times. There are a couple of low-points, such as when a story makes a little *too* big a deal about steampunk outfits versus cyberpunk ones or when another story delights more in tentacle rape than it does with cyber-anything, but I'd say 50% of the collection is fairly brilliant and 30% is pretty cool. Not a bad ratio for such an anthology. Recommended for anyone wanting to deal with near-future stories of all stripes.
My top three would probably be "Obsolete, Absolute", "The Gauntlet", and "Indifference". Your mileage may vary.
I have a had a general dream of finding the perfect blend of Mythos and Cyberpunk for years. This book is not the perfect blend, but it really does have some neat ideas. It takes the mofit—what is sometimes called cthulhupunk—and runs with it in a number of different directions, which is a plus. Some of the stories involve straight up street sams in a world where the outer species are war with humanity, while others are a simpler take on blogger culture. Some involve really explicit Mythos elements, others dance around some word play and unknown elements. Some are gonzo. Some are understated. Some are beautiful. Some are gritty. And, as it were, some are all of these things at different times. There are a couple of low-points, such as when a story makes a little *too* big a deal about steampunk outfits versus cyberpunk ones or when another story delights more in tentacle rape than it does with cyber-anything, but I'd say 50% of the collection is fairly brilliant and 30% is pretty cool. Not a bad ratio for such an anthology. Recommended for anyone wanting to deal with near-future stories of all stripes.
My top three would probably be "Obsolete, Absolute", "The Gauntlet", and "Indifference". Your mileage may vary.
October 27, 2014
Some stories very really disappointing, others were really awesome. I recommend this book but suggest you to be patient with some of the less interesting works that are provided there. The distribution is about 50/50. Many creative ideas, nevertheless. I support and will support inspired works as this one.
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