Is that so? Currently these writers are all considered to be both racist and sexist because they reflect the attitudes of their era. What really stood out for me instead was the message that these black characters read and treasure the SFF classics of the day by Lovecraft, Burroughs, Bradbury, Asimov, etc., without any disconnect because of their race. Presumably Ruff set his story in this period at least partly to display the racial issues, but actually he skims over it as fairly matter-of-fact.

If you’re unfamiliar with the facts of Jim Crow segregation and the kind of discrimination African Americans faced in the 1950s, then I suppose this could be a surprise. I’ve read some other reviews that promote this book by saying racism is the real horror in the story. Regardless of the Jim Crow setting, the characters feel contemporary, as if Ruff has set characters with modern sensibilities into the Lovecraft milieu. This is an entertaining read, as the characters are all resourceful and end up accomplishing what they need to do through the application of determination and common sense. Can they save themselves and return to normal lives? Atticus and his friends soon find themselves dealing with ghosts, warlocks and various arcane events as they’re caught up in the machinations of an ancient cult. They end up at Samuel Braithwhite’s manor, where they learn interesting things about Atticus’ maternal ancestry and encounter Samuel’s son Caleb, who wants to control that legacy. His dad Montrose has disappeared somewhere in New England, and with his Uncle George and his friend Letitia, Atticus sets out to find him. The year is 1954, and African American war veteran Atticus Turner is traveling north to Chicago. It’s published by HarperCollins and runs 382 pages. It’s a collection of novellas based on the different characters, but it can also be read as a novel. This book was a finalist for the World Fantasy Awards.

Lovecraft country book reviews