I know that I’ve now done three straight reviews on Michael West’s novels, with a small break for a review on an Evans Light novella, but I tend to really get into a new author who’s been included in my stable of favourites.
Poseidon’s Children is a brilliant Lovecraftian horror story that pays homage to the man who invented horrors that climbed from the sea. Of course the best thing about a Michael West Lovecraftian story is that his characters dialogue will sound real and natural, not like the original H P Lovecraft’s constant problems with dialogue.
The book starts with a young collegiate couple who fall victim to some evil and hungry monstrosity from the sea surrounding the island community of Colonial Bay. After the young man is devoured, his girl almost escapes with the help of a hotel resident who heard her screams.
The hotel resident is named Larry Neuhaus and he is on the island with his girlfriend Peggy trying to save their relationship which is struggling after an ex-girlfriend kills herself. When he tries to save the girl on the beach, he sees something that looks like a man behind the girl just before she is pulled beneath the waves.
It turns out that the young man who was killed first is the only son of billionaire gangster Roger Hays who now wants revenge for the death of his only child.
Meanwhile two archeologists have discovered what they believe to be Atlantis. Dr Miyagi and her lover/assistant Alan Everson are being financed by Roger Hays and when their funding is halted because of his personal tragedy they go to offer their condolences and to get the latest check signed so they can continue their exploration.
Once there they find out that Colonial Bay, where Hays’ son was killed, seemingly has links to their discovered underwater metropolis. Miyagi and Everson accompany Hays to the island to find out more about this connection.
We also get to meet Earl L. Preston (who was working for Homeland Security in Spookhouse) and we find out how he made the transition from Coast Guard Officer to law enforcement. He also winds up on the island as part of a murder inquiry.
When this disparate band of people get together on Colonial Bay, they arrive in time to discover the ancient evil that has risen on the island with the express purpose of killing all of humanity.
One of the Lovecraftian creatures in Colony Bay.
Poseidon’s Children is the first in a series of the Legacy of the Gods stories. I hope that despite his detour to Harmony, Indiana that Agent Preston will be a constant in this new series. He is a great character and one that I really like. I’d also like to think that Larry Neuhaus and his girlfriend will feature in future stories.
I can well imagine that this new series will be quite broad in scope, considering the clues that were revealed at the end of the book, so we may never get the chance to revisit Larry and Peggy as well as their new “family.”
As I wait eagerly for my copy of The Wide Game to arrive from Amazon.co.uk via the post, I’ll keep reading Michael West’s existing books and re-enjoying the great roller coaster rides that his stories take you on.
A welcome addition to any bookcase, whether it be a real or computerised one and a another 5 star book from a 5 star writer.
Author Michael West and a Colony Bay resident.
Related articles
- Book Review: Poseidon’s Children by Michael West (theeclecticbookworm.wordpress.com)
- Cinema of Shadows by Michael West (mikesfilmtalk.com)
- Lovecraftian Longings (iamsophus.wordpress.com)
- 1d10 Lovecraftian Things Left Behind Table For Your Old School Space Opera (swordsandstitchery.blogspot.com)
- Haselwurm (2011) (priddyhorrifying.wordpress.com)
Wow, and all this time I thought it was just me that was having trouble reading Lovecraft.
No, he had a real problem with dialogue, Stephen King mentions it in his book Danse Macbre. And it’s true. His characters speech could be classified as stilted at best. lol