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The Rage of Cthulhu
When George Cox chances upon a disused foghorn station on the English coast, he wonders what could have been big enough to cause so much damage to it. His investigations take him and his wife all around the world, tracking down stories about an ancient creature rumoured to have occupied the planet hundreds of thousands of years ago.
Even if such a creature existed, it had to be dead now, hadn’t it? At any rate, it couldn’t be haunting George’s dreams. It couldn’t be summoning him from its immense grave. But the closer George comes to the truth, the more he learns that all the travel guides lack one vital piece of information: In his house at R’lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming.
Even if such a creature existed, it had to be dead now, hadn’t it? At any rate, it couldn’t be haunting George’s dreams. It couldn’t be summoning him from its immense grave. But the closer George comes to the truth, the more he learns that all the travel guides lack one vital piece of information: In his house at R’lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming.
- GenresHorror
98 pages, Hardcover
First published March 23, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 23, 2017
Review copy
I don't think the subject matter of the new novella from Gary Fry is much of a secret. With a title like The Rage of Cthulhu the reader has a pretty good idea of what to expect.
"Cthulhu still lives, too, I suppose, again in that chasm of stone which has shielded him since the sun was young. Who knows the end? What had risen may sink, and what has sunk may rise. Loathsomeness waits and dreams in the deep, and decay spreads over the tottering cities of men. A time will come."
- H.P. Lovecraft: "The Call of Cthulhu
George Cox and his wife, Christine are preparing to travel the world. Married for forty years, George has recently been diagnosed with a brain tumor and if they don't make the trip now, they likely never will.
Aside from occasional bouts of dizziness, George's condition may also cause hallucinations and therein lies the twist with this story.
Are the horrors that George Cox uncovers on his travels real or are they a result of his condition. It's up to the reader to decide.
If it's been a while since you've read a story steeped in the Lovecraftian mythos, Rage of Cthulhu will fill that void nicely.
A quick read which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Published by Horrific Tales Publishing Rage of Cthulhu is available in both hardcover and for the Kindle. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Gary Fry has a PhD in psychology, though his first love is literature. He lives in Dracula's Whitby, literally around the corner from where Bram Stoker was staying while thinking about that legendary character. He has been writing seriously for about 15 years. Gary has had a number of books published, including short story collections, novellas and novels.
I don't think the subject matter of the new novella from Gary Fry is much of a secret. With a title like The Rage of Cthulhu the reader has a pretty good idea of what to expect.
"Cthulhu still lives, too, I suppose, again in that chasm of stone which has shielded him since the sun was young. Who knows the end? What had risen may sink, and what has sunk may rise. Loathsomeness waits and dreams in the deep, and decay spreads over the tottering cities of men. A time will come."
- H.P. Lovecraft: "The Call of Cthulhu
George Cox and his wife, Christine are preparing to travel the world. Married for forty years, George has recently been diagnosed with a brain tumor and if they don't make the trip now, they likely never will.
Aside from occasional bouts of dizziness, George's condition may also cause hallucinations and therein lies the twist with this story.
Are the horrors that George Cox uncovers on his travels real or are they a result of his condition. It's up to the reader to decide.
If it's been a while since you've read a story steeped in the Lovecraftian mythos, Rage of Cthulhu will fill that void nicely.
A quick read which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Published by Horrific Tales Publishing Rage of Cthulhu is available in both hardcover and for the Kindle. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Gary Fry has a PhD in psychology, though his first love is literature. He lives in Dracula's Whitby, literally around the corner from where Bram Stoker was staying while thinking about that legendary character. He has been writing seriously for about 15 years. Gary has had a number of books published, including short story collections, novellas and novels.
March 26, 2017
I received my copy of Rage of Cthulhu by Gary Fry as an eBook from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
Before I read it, I wondered what kind of Cthulhu story this would be, would it be a simple mythos story set loosely in Cthulhu’s fictive universe or a random second rate story referring to the great old one. Well no, this is a sequel and modern take on Lovecraft’s classic tale “the call of Cthulhu”, its well written and atmospheric. When it comes to the plot I feel like I cannot say too much of it without spoiling it, so I won’t.
All I can say is that I loved it, it’s a well-crafted Lovecraftian tale, and a worthy sequel to a call of Cthulhu!
Before I read it, I wondered what kind of Cthulhu story this would be, would it be a simple mythos story set loosely in Cthulhu’s fictive universe or a random second rate story referring to the great old one. Well no, this is a sequel and modern take on Lovecraft’s classic tale “the call of Cthulhu”, its well written and atmospheric. When it comes to the plot I feel like I cannot say too much of it without spoiling it, so I won’t.
All I can say is that I loved it, it’s a well-crafted Lovecraftian tale, and a worthy sequel to a call of Cthulhu!
March 28, 2017
I didn't have high expectations for this book. After all, a name like The Rage of Cthulhu brings to mind the many fan-written books about Lovecraft's most infamous monster, most of which aren't the highest quality.
It's true that this book suffers from a predictable plot. I was able to guess everything that was going to happen well in advance and solve every mystery as soon as it was introduced. Even the book's twist was easy to see coming.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading this book. It's entertaining and I think a big part of that is the characters. Gary Fry has created characters that are engaging and nuanced. I was able to connect with them easily.
I wish I could give this book a higher rating but the predictable plot is too big an issue to ignore. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book greatly and I will likely reread it in the future. I just wish my first time reading didn't feel like a reread.
It's true that this book suffers from a predictable plot. I was able to guess everything that was going to happen well in advance and solve every mystery as soon as it was introduced. Even the book's twist was easy to see coming.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading this book. It's entertaining and I think a big part of that is the characters. Gary Fry has created characters that are engaging and nuanced. I was able to connect with them easily.
I wish I could give this book a higher rating but the predictable plot is too big an issue to ignore. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book greatly and I will likely reread it in the future. I just wish my first time reading didn't feel like a reread.
March 29, 2017
George Cox is dying. The tumour in his brain, while slowly killing him, is causing odd behaviours, hallucinations and delusions.
When he explores an abandoned foghorn and starts to investigate, he discovers an ancient religion, worshipping a creature so vast and hideous that few who see it retain their sanity.
So far so familiar for most horror fans – the clue was in the title after all. But Gary Fry has a few surprises up his sleeve that make the story fresh and interesting.
The POV character is of course unreliable, so we can never be sure if the world we see through his eyes is real. And there are twists in the narrative that genuinely caught me off guard.
Perhaps not much new to say about everyone’s favourite Great Old One, but an enjoyable novel given depth by Fry’s strong characterisation.
When he explores an abandoned foghorn and starts to investigate, he discovers an ancient religion, worshipping a creature so vast and hideous that few who see it retain their sanity.
So far so familiar for most horror fans – the clue was in the title after all. But Gary Fry has a few surprises up his sleeve that make the story fresh and interesting.
The POV character is of course unreliable, so we can never be sure if the world we see through his eyes is real. And there are twists in the narrative that genuinely caught me off guard.
Perhaps not much new to say about everyone’s favourite Great Old One, but an enjoyable novel given depth by Fry’s strong characterisation.
March 24, 2017
Readers familiar with H. P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror stories will be comfortable within the cozy confines of the new Cthulhu novella THE RAGE OF CTHULHU by Gary Fry. Fry provides a sequel to Lovecraft’s “The Call of Cthulhu” (first published in 1928) that also serves as a chilling standalone story.
Fry’s update is told in a narrative style that moves fluidly from chapter to chapter. It’s an account of individual exploration and discovery leading to a horrific encounter, similar to the style that Lovecraft so often employed, but minus the purple prose of the times. Fry is respectful of the source material, and the spirit and tone of the story mirror Lovecraft’s themes.
In the original story, a Norwegian crew lose their ship while sailing near Australia, and discover the uncharted island of R’lyeh. An ancient Great Old One sleeps here while awaiting resurrection. The crew accidentally release Cthulhu, a massive god-like being with powerful tentacular features, who is worshipped in secret by several worldwide cults. Only one crew member, Gustaf Johansen, survives and his manuscript detailing the encounter is later discovered and investigated.
Fry’s protagonist is George Cox, a social psychologist nearly 60 and ill from a brain tumor that will eventually kill him. Along with his wife Christine, he is on a global holiday during his remaining days. He becomes intrigued by a discovery during the beginning of their world tour, along the north-east coast of England. Next to a lighthouse, he inspects the damaged wall of an abandoned building that used to house the fog horn machinery. Massive damage has occurred, traced back to a nasty 1975 storm. Cox doubts the official story of land subsidence as the cause, and begins his research into the incident.
Through whispered stories in dim pubs, he hears of a monster attacking the building during the storm. Later, he learns of fog house employee Jens Amundsen, who came upon a copy of the Johansen manuscript and began to trace pentagrams on the floor and use rituals to summon an Old One.
Fry cleverly links events to a 50-year cycle, traced back to the original story. When the stars are in the proper alignment, and the correct incantations are spoken during the proper rituals, Cthulhu will rise again. That’s what happened in 1925 in The Call of Cthulhu, in 1975 in The Rage of Cthulhu, and later in 2025 when this story concludes.
Cox’s pursuit of the truth continues during his global vacation, and he somehow uncovers evidence everywhere they travel. He begins to have dreams, unexplained lapses of memory, and semi-conscious spells. During these spells he begins to speak in the Old language.
Every clue he uncovers acts as a lure, bringing him closer and closer to an encounter with Cthulhu. His wife thinks his behavior is a condition of his illness, and doesn’t try to interfere. Even though regular readers of Lovecraft can anticipate the ending, it doesn’t alleviate the accelerating tension and suspense of Fry’s tale.
The Rage of Cthulhu is a worthwhile sequel close enough in style that it will evoke memories of classic Lovecraft tales. I’d love to see Fry write more sequels to these stories in the future.
Fry’s update is told in a narrative style that moves fluidly from chapter to chapter. It’s an account of individual exploration and discovery leading to a horrific encounter, similar to the style that Lovecraft so often employed, but minus the purple prose of the times. Fry is respectful of the source material, and the spirit and tone of the story mirror Lovecraft’s themes.
In the original story, a Norwegian crew lose their ship while sailing near Australia, and discover the uncharted island of R’lyeh. An ancient Great Old One sleeps here while awaiting resurrection. The crew accidentally release Cthulhu, a massive god-like being with powerful tentacular features, who is worshipped in secret by several worldwide cults. Only one crew member, Gustaf Johansen, survives and his manuscript detailing the encounter is later discovered and investigated.
Fry’s protagonist is George Cox, a social psychologist nearly 60 and ill from a brain tumor that will eventually kill him. Along with his wife Christine, he is on a global holiday during his remaining days. He becomes intrigued by a discovery during the beginning of their world tour, along the north-east coast of England. Next to a lighthouse, he inspects the damaged wall of an abandoned building that used to house the fog horn machinery. Massive damage has occurred, traced back to a nasty 1975 storm. Cox doubts the official story of land subsidence as the cause, and begins his research into the incident.
Through whispered stories in dim pubs, he hears of a monster attacking the building during the storm. Later, he learns of fog house employee Jens Amundsen, who came upon a copy of the Johansen manuscript and began to trace pentagrams on the floor and use rituals to summon an Old One.
Fry cleverly links events to a 50-year cycle, traced back to the original story. When the stars are in the proper alignment, and the correct incantations are spoken during the proper rituals, Cthulhu will rise again. That’s what happened in 1925 in The Call of Cthulhu, in 1975 in The Rage of Cthulhu, and later in 2025 when this story concludes.
Cox’s pursuit of the truth continues during his global vacation, and he somehow uncovers evidence everywhere they travel. He begins to have dreams, unexplained lapses of memory, and semi-conscious spells. During these spells he begins to speak in the Old language.
Every clue he uncovers acts as a lure, bringing him closer and closer to an encounter with Cthulhu. His wife thinks his behavior is a condition of his illness, and doesn’t try to interfere. Even though regular readers of Lovecraft can anticipate the ending, it doesn’t alleviate the accelerating tension and suspense of Fry’s tale.
The Rage of Cthulhu is a worthwhile sequel close enough in style that it will evoke memories of classic Lovecraft tales. I’d love to see Fry write more sequels to these stories in the future.
March 30, 2017
A man with a brain tumour, which affects his perception, wants to enjoy his last days by travelling with his wife. Entering a foghorn he finds himself pulled into a search for one of the Old Ones.
The story is creepy, the history of Cthulhu is fascinating, as is the journey to other cultures. It is a good read and not too short, allowing plenty of description.
It falls down on the repetition for me, too many times being told the same thing. I also found myself being irritated by the wife.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed this book from the publisher, my opinions are my own*
The story is creepy, the history of Cthulhu is fascinating, as is the journey to other cultures. It is a good read and not too short, allowing plenty of description.
It falls down on the repetition for me, too many times being told the same thing. I also found myself being irritated by the wife.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed this book from the publisher, my opinions are my own*
April 11, 2017
George Cox has a problem: namely, an inoperable brain tumor that's robbed him of his career and limited his ability to function. Knowing this, he and his wife Christine have decided to take one last grand holiday. Outside the town of Whitby, George discovers an active lighthouse and an abandoned foghorn station. Sneaking into the latter, he finds a scene of massive years-old damage. His curiosity is piqued...and that's where the trouble begins. The dreams follow: colossal structures, strange geometries, vivid assaults of sound and scent...and behind it all, an immense malevolent presence. Are these just the ravings of his illness-wracked brain, or portents of something more sinister?
George Cox is all too aware of his failing health, and it makes him desperate to unravel the mystery he's stumbled into. But the more he learns and travels, the more he realizes that Cthulhu's hold isn't broken so easily...
"The Rage of Cthulhu" is easily one of the best and most compelling takes on the original "Call of Cthulhu" that I've yet encountered, as Gary Fry breathes new life into the familiar Mythos story. (HPL himself even gets a lengthy mention, in a role he himself probably never envisioned!) If you're a Cthulhu Mythos fan, I can't recommend this highly enough--you won't be disappointed.
(ARC provided by publisher for review.)
George Cox is all too aware of his failing health, and it makes him desperate to unravel the mystery he's stumbled into. But the more he learns and travels, the more he realizes that Cthulhu's hold isn't broken so easily...
"The Rage of Cthulhu" is easily one of the best and most compelling takes on the original "Call of Cthulhu" that I've yet encountered, as Gary Fry breathes new life into the familiar Mythos story. (HPL himself even gets a lengthy mention, in a role he himself probably never envisioned!) If you're a Cthulhu Mythos fan, I can't recommend this highly enough--you won't be disappointed.
(ARC provided by publisher for review.)
April 20, 2017
The story begins well. In the first chapter, not only do we learn that George has an inoperable brain tumour, he also visits a place that offers hints of a mystery likely to unfold over the next 130 pages. And it's set in a part of the world I know well.
An upper-middle class couple take a world tour in their twilight years. George, ex university professor, takes an interest in an abandoned building just outside Whitby. “And what better way to start than trawling the Internet, a great leviathan with tentacles sunk in every port around the world?” It's nice touches like this in the writing that remind you that this is a Cthulhu mythos story.
Patched together from conversations with locals, George learns that the broken foghorn building was attacked by a giant creature that rose from the sea. He sees polaroid photos and a manuscript in Norwegian which go further to convince him of the authenticity of the event. The mystery follows George and his wife on their world tour, with George finding people and places that remind him of the monster. In a freak storm a plane goes down in the Pacific near an Island. George, whether because of his dreams, his investigations or his brain tumour is convinced this is the home of Cthulhu. He dies confronting the beast and protecting his wife.
The question of whether the documented events are hallucination or reality cloaks the narrative in ways reminiscent of Lovecraft's original body of work. It is only the contemporary style of language and setting that distinguishes itself from the source material, making it more accessible to the modern audience. For those who enjoy Cthulhu inspired stories this novella is a must read. Enjoy.
An upper-middle class couple take a world tour in their twilight years. George, ex university professor, takes an interest in an abandoned building just outside Whitby. “And what better way to start than trawling the Internet, a great leviathan with tentacles sunk in every port around the world?” It's nice touches like this in the writing that remind you that this is a Cthulhu mythos story.
Patched together from conversations with locals, George learns that the broken foghorn building was attacked by a giant creature that rose from the sea. He sees polaroid photos and a manuscript in Norwegian which go further to convince him of the authenticity of the event. The mystery follows George and his wife on their world tour, with George finding people and places that remind him of the monster. In a freak storm a plane goes down in the Pacific near an Island. George, whether because of his dreams, his investigations or his brain tumour is convinced this is the home of Cthulhu. He dies confronting the beast and protecting his wife.
The question of whether the documented events are hallucination or reality cloaks the narrative in ways reminiscent of Lovecraft's original body of work. It is only the contemporary style of language and setting that distinguishes itself from the source material, making it more accessible to the modern audience. For those who enjoy Cthulhu inspired stories this novella is a must read. Enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews