my Goodreads revew: The Dulwich Horror of 1927

[ankh_hpl]

The Dulwich Horror of 1927 by David Hambling

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This novella -- also included in Shadows From Norwood -- is a well-crafted & imaginative (mostly) bit of Lovecraftian fiction, set in one of my favorite eras.

When a group of well-educated Bright Young Things encounter a hideous mystery in a South London churchyard, they must call upon all of their intellectual resources to cope with the consequences. Not surprisingly, said resources may not quite cover a problem of cosmic dimensions.

This is a witty dark entertainment aimed at readers familiar with Lovecraft's work, &/or gamers in the related role-playing system. "Between the wars" Britain is done in the best Sayers/Wodehouse tradition, and the mathematical "explanation" of this particular Horror is something I haven't run into before in the Mythos.

Unfortunately, the ending was a letdown for me. Without getting into spoilers, most dedicated Lovecraftians have met it before -- and with nearly the same details.

Given the quality of the writing & atmosphere, however, many readers may still find this tale (or its associated collection) worth acquiring. YMMV.





View all my reviews