The Ereshkigal Working

by Jonathan L. Howard

Jonathan L. Howard is the author of the novels Johannes Cabal the Necromancer and Johannes Cabal the Detective. His short fiction has appeared in Realms of Fantasy and H. P. Lovecraft’s Magazine of Horror. He has also worked in the computer games industry since the early ’90s as a game designer and scriptwriter. He lives in Bristol, England.

If you were a necromancer, how would you feel if you found yourself in the middle of a zombie outbreak? One that threatened the future of the entire world? Well, if you’re Johannes Cabal, you’re not particularly worried—you’re just a little put out.

Cabal has an unusual way of looking at the world, and it’s not just because of his profession, although working with corpses might have colored his outlook. As quick on his feet as James Bond and as selfish as the worst comic book villain, Cabal is an unlikely savior of the world, but when he’s confronted by a magician with more ability than brains, this wizard of the dead is our last and only hope. Unfortunately, all he’s got on his side is one bumbling constable, a bit of rope, and top-notch reconnaissance.

This story fills the gap between the short story “Exeunt Demon King” and the first novel about Cabal, Johannes Cabal the Necromancer. Jonathan Howard says of this story’s inspiration: “I myself halted a zombie apocalypse a couple of years ago, and I remember thinking at the time, ’This would make a good story.’  ”

We think he’s joking.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories

Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2011

About the author

Jonathan L Howard is a game designer, scriptwriter, and a veteran of the computer games industry since the early 1990s, with titles such as the 'Broken Sword' series to his credit.

After publishing two short stories featuring Johannes Cabal (Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day and Exeunt Demon King) in H. P. Lovecraft's Magazine of Horror, Johannes Cabal the Necromancer was published in 2009 as his first novel.

Since then there have been three sequels, with a fourth due in 2016. He has also written two novels in the YA SF "Russalka Chronicles" series, and the ongoing "Goon Squad" serial of superhero stories. October 2015 will see the publication of "Carter & Lovecraft," the first in a new series of novels.

He lives with his wife and daughter near Bristol.

http://www.jonathanlhoward.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/JonathanLHoward
http://jonathanlhoward.livejournal.com/

Reviews

[Ashley Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic little sidenote in the Johannes Cabal universe! I actually wonder if this one shouldn't be read pre-book 1, as it involves the zombie apocalypse Cabal mentions preventing. Alas! Onward to the Fear Institute!

brought to you by the Jonathan L Howard wing of the MacHalo Mansion for Murder and Madness

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

All those little blanks being filled in!

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Faced with a zombie apocalypse, Cabal pursues a creative solution.

[jayhawkrockdoc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is just a personal note: By finishing this short story, I've finally located / downloaded / purchased / read all published JC stories. And it comes almost 10 years to the day that I began reading Johannes Cabal lit which, for me, began with the US release of "JC the Necromancer" after seeing a well-deserved laudatory book review from NPR. It's not that this short story was particularly difficult to find -- the decadal timing is nothing more than a nice, round coincidence -- it just wasn't on my radar for the longest time since, baffling enough, no thorough and accurate chronological bibliography exists for all JC stories. I hunted and pecked my way here, contentedly.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely love the Cabal Universe, but I found this short story to be rather mundane, relatively speaking. There is the expected humor and deadpan attitude about death and its associated complications, but there isn't much meat to the tale. Compounded, I am sure, by my categorical dislike of zombies, a creature concept I find rather mindless. Ha! So, a fun read but its effect will wear off quite soon, I am sure. More for completists than as an introduction to Howard's literary creation.

[Cassian Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

our intrepid hero (ish) encounters a zombie apocalypse and the series' most annoying antagonist. this definitely will not be featured in a later book. i already knew most of what happened here from reading the book so it wasn’t really anything new. it was a short story that was read more out of the obligation to catch ‘em all than actual interest. pretty standard cabal fare in terms of vibe and storyline.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

While out doing a bit of mortuary robbing, also known as specialty shopping, Cabal is caught up in the Ereshkigal Working. In other words, an idiot has started a zombie apocalypse. All this is an attempt to wreak vengeance on Cabal for a perceived wrong. While not as die laughing funny as most of the JC stories, this story is still humorous.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

... In which Cabal first encounters the Ereshkigal working and Rufus Maleficarum

Zombies abound and Cabal, unsurprisingly, fights for his life.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

[See review for A Long Spoon.]