(June 2017)
It was only when I was about two-thirds of
the way through this beautifully written novella that I learned it’s based on a
H.P. Lovecraft story—The Dream-Quest of
Unknown Kadath. (Related note: I must at some point actually read some Lovecraft.)
By that point it’s pretty clear that we’re deep into that kind of territory,
what with shifting skies, uncaring gods, and caverns full of ghouls and
nightmare tentacle beasts. Johnson’s use of language is glorious, and it’s here
wedded to a well-done but traditional quest narrative, which I suppose is fair
enough, given the title. Even without a detailed knowledge of this book’s progenitor,
it’s a couple of hours of joy. Recommended.
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