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Titus Crow #5-6
In the Moons of Borea
In the Moons of Borea is the fifth book in the Titus Crow series from award-winning author Brian Lumley
The Titus Crow novels are full of acts of nobility and heroism. Titus Crow and his faithful companion fight the forces of darkness--the infamous and deadly Elder Gods of H.P. Lovecraft--wherever they arise. The powerful Cthulhu and his dark minions are bent on ruling the earth--or destroying it, yet time after time, Titus Crow drives the monsters back into the dark from whence they came.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
The Titus Crow novels are full of acts of nobility and heroism. Titus Crow and his faithful companion fight the forces of darkness--the infamous and deadly Elder Gods of H.P. Lovecraft--wherever they arise. The powerful Cthulhu and his dark minions are bent on ruling the earth--or destroying it, yet time after time, Titus Crow drives the monsters back into the dark from whence they came.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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562 people want to read
About the author
Brian Lumley
444 books1,353 followersBrian Lumley was born near Newcastle. In 22 years as a Military Policeman he served in many of the Cold War hotspots, including Berlin, as well as Cyprus in partition days. He reached the rank of Sergeant-Major before retiring to Devon to write full-time, and his work was first published in 1970. The vampire series, 'Necroscope', has been translated into ten languages and sold over a million copies worldwide.
He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.
He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 10, 2025
This is a direct sequel to 1978's Spawn of the Winds that loops the story back into the increasingly ill-named 'Titus Crow' series, in which Titus Crow has not appeared in either of these two books, nor did he appear to be the actual main character in the ones before.
In any case, Henri-Laurent de Marigny, in his cross-spacetime quest to join his friend in the distant realm of Elysia, finds himself stuck in Borea's space, that world normally accessible only by Cthulhu's pal Ithaqua, the Wind-Walker. Since the prior book, in which Texan strongman telepath Hank Silberhutte found himself and friends stranded on Borea, ingratiated themselves then took over leadership of the good-sided plateau people, hooked up with Ithaqua's sultry daughter Armandra, and sent the Old One himself reeling, a few years have passed, and Hank and Armandra have a boy child, not that we ever see this child nor does Hank seem to spare a thought for him. I guess being the strongest guy around, able to kill lesser men with a single unarmed blow, beloved hero of all, and a telepath to boot, doesn't leave room for attentive fatherhood.
Henri's time-space clock is stolen by Ithaqua and hidden away on one of Borea's moons, leaving Henri with only his flying cloak to perform his own heroic feats. Henri and Hank travel to these moons via a super-tornado generated by Armandra, encounter new foes and allies and counter more of Ithaqua's long-standing machinations.
I've got two editions of this book in my Lumley collection. This one, the Paul Ganley hardback, has cover art that always make me think it's an owl, until I focus and see it's the coffin-shaped spacetime clock vehicle hovering in front of Ithaqua's enormous face. (Desktop site required to see the images in this review, btw).
Each book so far in this edition of the series has featured different artists, for cover and interior plates, with mixed appeal. As for this book's illustrator, Jim Pianfetti, I don't think his style is particularly well-suited to the material. For comparison, here are some visualizations of Ithaqua NOT from this book:
Pretty rad, right? Here is Ithaqua in this book:
'Adventure Time' would not premier for another 23 years after this book's publication.
Of course, no pulp adventure serial in the style of A Princess of Mars or Outlaw of Gor would be complete without a nubile maiden for the hero to hook up with. Hank already acquired Armandra in the previous booking, but Henri needs his own love interest to be complete, so this book provides Moreen, ready to be rescued by a real man on the moon of Numinos. No, I don't know what became of his love interest from the prior book, dark eyed Litha, daughter of the Underbys in Dreamland, for whom Henri planned to return and build a chalet at that book once he finally located the mythic Elysia, but let's not worry about her, because here's Moreen!
Moreen, a nineteen-year old lithe maiden, the product of generations of breeding the most beautiful human specimens Ithaqua could capture, lives alone (aside from her giant bat guardians) at the highest peak on the Isle of Mountains, thought safe from Ithaqua's Viking hordes, enjoying her solitary existence and rejecting the advances of the occasional disgusting, hunched, cave-dwelling young men who seek to woo her. She's saving herself for the real man that her witch-wife sister told her would come one day. She wore little but a sachet of powder around her neck, containing the special powder that she would consume minutely on occasion to stay warm so who needs clothing?
Alerted by her bat companions that something was coming, she hurriedly bathed,
In greater detail, the book describes her thusly:
This is the accompanying illustration:
. . .
Aaaaaand here's another illustration of her from later in the book. THE SAME CHARACTER, remember, from the same illustrator:
I appreciate the vivid blood splatter in this one, excellent inking.
Illustrations aside, this was a passable pulpy space fantasy Cthulhu-adjacent "adventure for men" type of story. It was rather tiresome at first, but it picked up in part II once the heroes arrived on the first moon in their journey. This is because we are presented with new material at that point: new peoples, new threats, new allies, and fast-paced plotting. Typically, there's no real sense of danger because there's never a moment of doubt that the heroes will fully triumph and beat back Ithaqua once more, but it's moderately entertaining as these things go, and Lumley's depictions of strange beings and monsters, ice caves, lava pits, hallucinatory hellscapes, etc, are as strong and juicy as ever.
Initially this was the final book in the "Titus Crow" series, with five novels published between 1974 and 1979, with short stories in which Titus Crow actually appears also trickling out from 1969-1983. But the true finale, which would incorporate additional Lumley novels yet to come, would have to wait until 1989's Elysia: The Coming of Cthulhu. I don't remember whether that book resolves the issue of de Marigny's abandoned Dreamlands girlfriend, but I shall discover this soon enough.
In any case, Henri-Laurent de Marigny, in his cross-spacetime quest to join his friend in the distant realm of Elysia, finds himself stuck in Borea's space, that world normally accessible only by Cthulhu's pal Ithaqua, the Wind-Walker. Since the prior book, in which Texan strongman telepath Hank Silberhutte found himself and friends stranded on Borea, ingratiated themselves then took over leadership of the good-sided plateau people, hooked up with Ithaqua's sultry daughter Armandra, and sent the Old One himself reeling, a few years have passed, and Hank and Armandra have a boy child, not that we ever see this child nor does Hank seem to spare a thought for him. I guess being the strongest guy around, able to kill lesser men with a single unarmed blow, beloved hero of all, and a telepath to boot, doesn't leave room for attentive fatherhood.
Henri's time-space clock is stolen by Ithaqua and hidden away on one of Borea's moons, leaving Henri with only his flying cloak to perform his own heroic feats. Henri and Hank travel to these moons via a super-tornado generated by Armandra, encounter new foes and allies and counter more of Ithaqua's long-standing machinations.
I've got two editions of this book in my Lumley collection. This one, the Paul Ganley hardback, has cover art that always make me think it's an owl, until I focus and see it's the coffin-shaped spacetime clock vehicle hovering in front of Ithaqua's enormous face. (Desktop site required to see the images in this review, btw).
Each book so far in this edition of the series has featured different artists, for cover and interior plates, with mixed appeal. As for this book's illustrator, Jim Pianfetti, I don't think his style is particularly well-suited to the material. For comparison, here are some visualizations of Ithaqua NOT from this book:
Pretty rad, right? Here is Ithaqua in this book:
'Adventure Time' would not premier for another 23 years after this book's publication.
Of course, no pulp adventure serial in the style of A Princess of Mars or Outlaw of Gor would be complete without a nubile maiden for the hero to hook up with. Hank already acquired Armandra in the previous booking, but Henri needs his own love interest to be complete, so this book provides Moreen, ready to be rescued by a real man on the moon of Numinos. No, I don't know what became of his love interest from the prior book, dark eyed Litha, daughter of the Underbys in Dreamland, for whom Henri planned to return and build a chalet at that book once he finally located the mythic Elysia, but let's not worry about her, because here's Moreen!
Moreen, a nineteen-year old lithe maiden, the product of generations of breeding the most beautiful human specimens Ithaqua could capture, lives alone (aside from her giant bat guardians) at the highest peak on the Isle of Mountains, thought safe from Ithaqua's Viking hordes, enjoying her solitary existence and rejecting the advances of the occasional disgusting, hunched, cave-dwelling young men who seek to woo her. She's saving herself for the real man that her witch-wife sister told her would come one day. She wore little but a sachet of powder around her neck, containing the special powder that she would consume minutely on occasion to stay warm so who needs clothing?
Alerted by her bat companions that something was coming, she hurriedly bathed,
being satisfied merely to splash her face and breasts with the chill waters of a streamlet cascading from on high.Ladies, these are the usual quick-wash targets, right? Face and breasts?
In greater detail, the book describes her thusly:
Moreen . . . The "woman" Moreen, in actuality little more than a girl. Almost twenty years of age and all of them spent on Numinos, an alien moon in an alien universe.Do you have a mental picture of this character, inspired by decades of Boris Vallejo art, Conan book covers, etc? This woman with whom Henri will fall instantly in love the moment he alights by her cave and she throws her nubile body into his arms?
Moreen of the golden hair, shoulder length and shining with its own lustrous light; Moreen of the wide blue eyes. Her natural, intrinsic warmth covered her like a blanket only ever torn aside by Ithaqua, black walker on the winds that blow forever between the worlds.
Tiny Moreen, at least by Numinosian standards. Sixty-four inches of unaffected grace, loveliness, youthful litheness, and not-quite innocence; for she has seen the Wind-Walker at his worst, and no one could remain wholly innocent after that.
This is the accompanying illustration:
. . .
Aaaaaand here's another illustration of her from later in the book. THE SAME CHARACTER, remember, from the same illustrator:
I appreciate the vivid blood splatter in this one, excellent inking.
Illustrations aside, this was a passable pulpy space fantasy Cthulhu-adjacent "adventure for men" type of story. It was rather tiresome at first, but it picked up in part II once the heroes arrived on the first moon in their journey. This is because we are presented with new material at that point: new peoples, new threats, new allies, and fast-paced plotting. Typically, there's no real sense of danger because there's never a moment of doubt that the heroes will fully triumph and beat back Ithaqua once more, but it's moderately entertaining as these things go, and Lumley's depictions of strange beings and monsters, ice caves, lava pits, hallucinatory hellscapes, etc, are as strong and juicy as ever.
Initially this was the final book in the "Titus Crow" series, with five novels published between 1974 and 1979, with short stories in which Titus Crow actually appears also trickling out from 1969-1983. But the true finale, which would incorporate additional Lumley novels yet to come, would have to wait until 1989's Elysia: The Coming of Cthulhu. I don't remember whether that book resolves the issue of de Marigny's abandoned Dreamlands girlfriend, but I shall discover this soon enough.
September 3, 2016
Brian Lumley's Titus Crow series are a series from the 1970s which follow the adventure of a trio of Pulp adventurers (Titus Crow, Henri de Marginy, and Hank Silberhutte) as they deal with the Cthulhu Mythos. I've reviewed the majority of the series before this entry and found them both enjoyable as well as frustrating. Part of this is due to Brian Lumley's desire to humiliate the Great Old Ones and undercut cosmic horror with human ingenuity every chance he gets. Lumley's heroes put the Ghostbusters to shame in cosmic horror bashing.
The books are different from most pastiches of H.P. Lovecraft's work as present the Great Old Ones as dastardly schemers than cosmic forces of nature while being more about the heroism of the protagonists than the insignificance of mankind. Despite this, the attention to detail regarding continuity as well as world-building is amazing. The books may be silly at times but are quite entertaining and great examples of fun not-too-serious science-fiction.
The premise is the Cthulhu Mythos is a collection of alien deities which were banished by the Elder Gods millennium ago but who have been stirring in recent years. Very similar to the interpretation of the Mythos forwarded by August Derleth when he rewrote the books to fit his own Christian beliefs (and helped popularize them).
In previous books, Titus Crow successfully defeated an invasion of Cthonian worms and escaped a trap set for him in the Dreamlands as well as discovered the Elder Gods' homeworld of Elysia. Henri de Marginy acquired Randolph Carter's Time Clock which, essentially, functions like the TARDIS and helped said individual become a wandering space hero. Finally, Hank Silberhutte married the half-human princess of a displaced tribe of humans and helped thwart the machinations of the Great Old One Ithaqua.
In the Moons of Borea's premise is an attempt to do an old fashioned Pulp adventure tale teaming up Henri de Marginy and Hank Silberhutte on a quest to recover the lost Time Clock. It's very much in the fashion of the Doctor Who serials of the time, only with no budget limitations. Henri lands on the planet quite by accident (or drawn there by the Elder Gods) but has his Time Clock stolen by the forces of Ithaqua who take it to one of Borea's two moons.
Visiting the moons via a magic tornado, they discover the beautiful Moreen who possesses Snow White-esque powers to talk to animals. Dealing with the local Vikings, they try to prevent an invasion of Borea and end up facing not a group of ancient primeval wizards and Ithaqua himself.
As the plot description attests, this isn't exactly the most traditional science fiction novel. It is full of off-kilter and weird elements purely for the sake of being cool. Our heroes also never really feel endangered because they routinely laugh at the Great Old Ones and run rings around their minions, which removes any feeling of danger which might otherwise be present. Indeed, the aura of invincibility our heroes possess is the biggest problem in the narrative as nothing seems able to stop them for any length of time.
New character Moreen is a character I can either take or leave. Adding a character reminiscent of Disney's Princesses into the middle of a Pulpy Lovecraftian adventure is so weird and dissonant, it's almost awesome. On the other hand, the insistance of making sure every hero is paired off in heterosexual relationships with women who are innocent as well as beautiful is a bit annoying. I understand it's the Seventies but Armandra really is the only one of the three I think has a well-developed personality.
In conclusion, In the Moons of Borea is an entertaining Pulp adventure in the vein of the previous entries to the series. It can be read without the other volumes but is enriched by their presence. Those searching for tales of cosmic horror and man overwhelmed by the universe should look elsewhere, though.
8/10
May 21, 2020
This book brings together my two least favorite characters from the series, Hank and Henri, for a surprisingly interesting adventure.
Simon Vance is, as always, an excellent narrator. His voices are varied and distinct. His tempo shifts are effective. And if somewhat less (accurate to the text) than I'd like, his inflections are skillful.
In this book we find de Marigny (still) scouring the universe in search of Elysia, and (randomly?) landing in the very place Hank is stranded.
Since we already know these characters pretty well, I can forgive the lack of character development, especially since there are once again enough new characters to keep things interesting.
Predictably, de Marigny loses the Time Clock early on, which largely prompts the adventure.
There are a number of redeeming factors, including encounters with (basically) Vikings, witches, ice priests, and others, along with some genuinely interesting plot elements, suspense, etc.
However, it must be said that this is a very strange story. The idea of riding a [hurricane/tornado/whatever] through space well and truly destroys my suspension of disbelief, as do a few other happenings throughout the book.
And, as before, there is still the issue that the women involved seem to be there just to pair up with the men. Even those who are well and truly powerful on their own (such as Armandra) seem to be almost, if not wholly dependent on those make characters.
The ending comes together well, if a bit predictably. I've been waiting to see epic battles with Great Old Ones and so far that's been a let down. Hopefully the last book is better in that regard.
Simon Vance is, as always, an excellent narrator. His voices are varied and distinct. His tempo shifts are effective. And if somewhat less (accurate to the text) than I'd like, his inflections are skillful.
In this book we find de Marigny (still) scouring the universe in search of Elysia, and (randomly?) landing in the very place Hank is stranded.
Since we already know these characters pretty well, I can forgive the lack of character development, especially since there are once again enough new characters to keep things interesting.
Predictably, de Marigny loses the Time Clock early on, which largely prompts the adventure.
There are a number of redeeming factors, including encounters with (basically) Vikings, witches, ice priests, and others, along with some genuinely interesting plot elements, suspense, etc.
However, it must be said that this is a very strange story. The idea of riding a [hurricane/tornado/whatever] through space well and truly destroys my suspension of disbelief, as do a few other happenings throughout the book.
And, as before, there is still the issue that the women involved seem to be there just to pair up with the men. Even those who are well and truly powerful on their own (such as Armandra) seem to be almost, if not wholly dependent on those make characters.
The ending comes together well, if a bit predictably. I've been waiting to see epic battles with Great Old Ones and so far that's been a let down. Hopefully the last book is better in that regard.
March 9, 2008
If you like reading Mary-Sue accounts of someone's Call of Cthulhu game... this book will appeal to you.
March 20, 2016
This was the last of the Titus Crow series. It has led me to re-read H.P. Lovecraft's work. This series was no where near as good as the Necroscope series, but I did like the characters.
August 26, 2020
I hate to say it, but I was very disappointed in the Titus Crow series. I am a fan of Brian Lumley, and the Titus Crow short stories were great, but I just couldn't get into the novels.
We have more high fantasy here rather than horror, and then in the final volume we get the big final battle with Cthulhu and all of the other old ones. I assumed the final volume would take us back to the "eldritch horror" that kicked the series off, but no, we just got more fantasy and then an ending that was pretty unsatisfying.
In closing I'll say this. If you like fantasy and pulp fiction style adventure, you will enjoy this series. However, if you're looking for Lovecraftian horror, look elsewhere. I suppose it's back to the Necroscope series for me.
We have more high fantasy here rather than horror, and then in the final volume we get the big final battle with Cthulhu and all of the other old ones. I assumed the final volume would take us back to the "eldritch horror" that kicked the series off, but no, we just got more fantasy and then an ending that was pretty unsatisfying.
In closing I'll say this. If you like fantasy and pulp fiction style adventure, you will enjoy this series. However, if you're looking for Lovecraftian horror, look elsewhere. I suppose it's back to the Necroscope series for me.
July 9, 2021
Having read this whole cycle.... I am not impressed. Th Great Old Ones do not need "good" counterparts. Eldritch horror does not need humorous interludes. The C'Thulhu Mythos does not need Dr. Who stories, as written by Robert E. Howard.
February 26, 2022
I don't even know why these are called Titus Crow. They are barely about him. I'm glad I'm done with these books. I can't even say why I saw it all through to the end.
July 27, 2025
This is the 3rd volume containing books #5 and 6 of the Titus Crow series by Brian Lumley... which is set in the HPL created world containing the Cthulhu mythos and the Dreamlands.
This series was not names correctly. Titus Crow was only in 3 of the stories , Including this one, and its only a very small role here.
De Marigny, The Searcher, is the main protagonist throughout most of these stories. I enjoyed these last 2 stories way more than I did stories #2-4 but I still think the its slightly less appealing than the first earth grounded story that was heavily basked in Cthutlu lore. The Dreamland aspects of this series was something I didn't care of and there were plenty of Dreamlands Lumley characters that came to the aid of our heroes for the climax in the 6th story.
All in all, this was a very fun ending to a series that wasn't my favorite. I love Lumley and his Necroscope series but his writing here just didn't engage me.
The 5th book was set in the Moons of Borea and we see Henry and Hank team up to stop Ithaqua and some evil priests inside a moon volcano...yup.
The 6th book we see Henry the Searcher search for a way into Elysia and every stop along the way adds another piece to the puzzle and the ultimate show down between all of our heroes and the CCD. Funny, Lumley ends this series in almost the same exact fashion as he did the Original 5 Necroscope novels. Cycle indeed!
This series was not names correctly. Titus Crow was only in 3 of the stories , Including this one, and its only a very small role here.
De Marigny, The Searcher, is the main protagonist throughout most of these stories. I enjoyed these last 2 stories way more than I did stories #2-4 but I still think the its slightly less appealing than the first earth grounded story that was heavily basked in Cthutlu lore. The Dreamland aspects of this series was something I didn't care of and there were plenty of Dreamlands Lumley characters that came to the aid of our heroes for the climax in the 6th story.
All in all, this was a very fun ending to a series that wasn't my favorite. I love Lumley and his Necroscope series but his writing here just didn't engage me.
The 5th book was set in the Moons of Borea and we see Henry and Hank team up to stop Ithaqua and some evil priests inside a moon volcano...yup.
The 6th book we see Henry the Searcher search for a way into Elysia and every stop along the way adds another piece to the puzzle and the ultimate show down between all of our heroes and the CCD. Funny, Lumley ends this series in almost the same exact fashion as he did the Original 5 Necroscope novels. Cycle indeed!
December 25, 2023
Okay, I was just not the target audience for this series. I enjoyed the first two, which read like a Victorian MIB against Lovecraft’s monstrous creation; the next two, which dealt with the dream realm were exceptionally creative, but I just found myself not engaging in the narrative, and with a time-traveling clock that can fly and has a defense system, it felt like the TARDIS from Dr. Who (a series that also just don’t seem able to get into); these final two novels (novellas?) were steeped not just in Lovecraftian lore (which I love), but apparently alluded to or directly referenced characters and events from other novels by Lumley outside of the scope of this series. I assume that if I had read all of his series and works, I probably have been more engaged. I enjoyed the ending (and a great use of the phrase “The Cthulhu Cycle), but I just found my attention wandering.
October 23, 2021
Fantastic end to a fantastic series!
December 18, 2013
more like 4 1/2
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews