My Goodreads review: Whom the Gods Would Destroy

Whom the Gods Would Destroy by Brian Hodge

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This well-crafted bit of cosmic horror is a fine example of why the novella is an ideal length for the dark stuff. There’s no flab here to get in the way of Brian Hodge’s storytelling, though there is – and needs to be – a considerable amount of scientific information and theoretical speculation. (Have you ever heard of a von Neumann probe? I hadn’t, either.)

Although I wouldn’t call this story strictly Lovecraftian (it names no Names, & certainly doesn’t commit pastiche), I caught echoes of several of HPL’s more famous tales. An unwanted, uncanny heritage? Check. A creepy mother in league with something Not of This World? Check. Hypotheses that would make Fox Mulder roll his eyes turning out to be hideously true? Check . . .

All the same, there’s nothing warmed-over about the plot here. It’s an investigative thriller, a decent piece of SF, & an increasingly chilling horror tale all in one, with an ending I honestly don’t think I’ve seen before. Lovecraftians might enjoy this a little more than other horror readers, but it’s a solid two hours of entertainment either way – and the prose, though not flashy, never detracts. Recommended.




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