The Riddle of Cthulhu (Paperback)

~ Ray Emerson (Author) "The rusty Russian Whaler, Pushkin, shrouded in the heavy Long Beach fog, lay at pier 33..." (more)
Key Phrases: alien sirens, sample boats, professor cried, Yog Sothoth, Long Beach, Santa Cruz (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

As we now sit on the brink of Armageddon, it just could be that WE are under threat of an invasion — not as a country, but as a planet. And our weapons of mass destruction would be no match for what THEY could undoubtedly bring to the show. If we are clear on nothing else, the many theories of alien invasions all seem to agree on one thing — WE can’t beat THEM. At least, not technologically.

"The Riddle of Cthulhu," by Ray Emerson, offers a neo-classical odyssey in which humanity must determine who or what the aliens are, and then come to grips with the most serious problem Man has yet faced — how to avoid total annihilation. Two young lovers and their companions are at the heart of this tale of bravery, adventure, and an insidious alien invasion.

The ancient myth of the devil, Cthulhu, and the Necronomicon of the Abdul al-Hazred have long gripped science fiction and fantasy readers with the sheer horror of the unknowable. In this story, Cthulhu has reoccupied the Earth with his evil "Old Ones" and is bent on destroying Mankind. Emerson explores the eternal battle between the forces of good and evil, and further intertwines this clash with the age-old mystery: "Where did we come from and why are we here?" And we are left with one final question of our own: "Could WE actually pull this thing off and beat THEM?"

About the Author

Ray Emerson is a nuclear physicist, he formerly taught Operations Research and Applied Mathematics at Stanford University. Later he helped form the Quantum Science Corporation where his interest in the mysteries of quantum physics developed. Inspired by the style of Verne, Wells, and Haggard, Ray now enjoys writing adventure fiction, based on believable science plus mystery and romance.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Llumina Press (February 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932047786
• ISBN-13: 978-1932047783
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,989,863 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent Read But Totally Unlovecraftian, August 8, 2004

By	L. ALLEN "Nyarlathotep" (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The author's style doesn't bother me much, the plot made sense and even involved me a little, and the romance was amusing, bordering on titillating. However, as usual, the author has adopted the Derlethian heresy of good vs. evil, meaning that the story cannot be lovecraftian in any way.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Time, the Forth Dimension, February 6, 2005

By	Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't generally dwell on typos in a vanity press book. Accidents happen, and when you are doing most of the work yourself, they seem to happen more often. But in this case the misspelling of 'fourth' turns out to be one of the highlights of the book. And it does make a peculiar kind of sense.

Ray Emerson's freshman novel is and adaption of Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos into the context of an attack in the genetic structure of the human race. Somewhere out in space, the Elder Gods (also known as 'good old squid-face') have devised a plan to take over the earth by using a comet to sprinkle us with alien DNA. Now, faced with the sudden appearance of beautiful blond vampires who eat sailors, the secret agencies of the free world unite to stave of this horrific invasion.

It's up to Detective Ulysses Martini and beautiful psychic Cybele Sikorsky to solve a string of ugly murders and chase the cause into the dark caverns and oceans beneath New Hampshire. Or rather, that's what their doing when they're not in the bedroom. Lovecraft, who I believe was something of a prude, will be turning over in his grave.

What is interesting about this book is Emerson's efforts to develop scientific explanations for Lovecraft's evil creations. He also tries to fit Cthulhu into Judeo-Christian mythology. In neither case does he succeed well, since Lovecraft intended his creations to be just what they were - mysterious and terrifying denizens of a world gone dark. Explanations will always ring false because they are never more than one person's opinion. That Emerson has to modify Lovecraft a bit to make everything work doesn't help.

The book is a little too roughly written, a little too focused on sex, and a little too prone to overblown language to be a success. On the other hand, Emerson demonstrates a unique ability to explain the scientific complexities behind his story making. There is potential here and the book does have it's moments. My feeling is that, if Emerson were to learn how to flesh out his characters and build up his narrative, he could very easily be an entertaining writer.

Be warned that the more you like Lovecraft, the more you are likely to be irritated by some of Emerson's reinterpretations. The book lacks what we like best about Lovecraft, the brooding sense of doom that inhabits his horror stories. If on the other hand you are looking for a breezy bit of heroic sci-fi you might very well like this story.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Curled Up With a Good Book, October 15, 2004

By	Karri Watson - See all my reviews

The Riddle of Cthulhu is a mix of ancient mythology, science fact and science fiction combined to form a mesmerizing tale that is hard to put down.

The cast of characters includes aliens who manifest themselves in a beguiling manner, protagonists who are named for Homeric heroes, manufactured critters beyond grotesque and enough seesaws between good battling evil to please the most discriminating reader.

The plot moves along steadily and is assisted by well-drawn characters whose personal foibles are believable. The science facts that are utilized so effectively give the whole book a ring of authenticity even in the face of the most outlandish "special effects". The science fiction becomes believable mostly because everything else is so recognizable and familiar.

Cybele calls to mind Ripley of Alien fame. She is a strong female character who manages to stand up very nicely against the boys, both human and otherwise. Some of the varmints she battles would give most anyone nightmares. It is refreshing to see a female hero for a change. The conflicts between Cybele and the men of the group provide a telling glance into the psyche of men faced with a strong, independent woman.

The Riddle of Cthulhu is the kind of book that, if you have to put it down before you finish it, keeps you wondering what comes next. That is the hallmark of a truly good book.


© 2004 by Karri Watson for Curled Up With a Good Book