Oddjobs promises Lovecraftian horrors adapted to modern urban fantasy and packaged with British humour - so of course I jumped right on it.
*** What to expect
Expect an excellent delivery on the above promise. The story takes place over a week, from the arrival of a new employee to the Birmingham branch of a special, secret government agency on Monday, to the grand finale, crisis-narrowly-averted on the weekend.
The whole novel has a Warehouse 13 vibe (or Men In Black, for those unfamiliar with the SyFy series) mixed in with a judicial amount of Lovecraft-style ancient horrors from beyond. All this, of course, with the best of British wit on a background of a modern industrial city.
As one of the characters say: “Yes, it is the end of the world. Yes, we are all going to die. But we are British. These things still need doing in an orderly manner and there is certainly no excuse to get all emotional about it.”
*** What I liked
Loved the wit, the vibe, the plot. It's an excellent urban-fantasy satire, making for a very enjoyable read.
I've never been to Birmingham, but the authors' use of real life settings as the basis for occult locations is brilliant. Makes you suspect any bit of modern architecture for having a sinister, paranormal reason behind it.
Also, the scene with the marketing department on how to sell the apocalypse was positively brilliant!
*** What to be aware of
Don't expect deep emotions or a complex character arc. This is primarily a satire.
Also, without giving too much of a spoiler, though the beginning has the nihilistic, fatalistic tones of Lovecraft this is still a modern work, and the protagonist do save the day (at least temporarily).
*** Summary
If you loved Warehouse 13 / Men In Black and appreciate elder gods from beyond, this is definitely a book for you.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of
Murder In Absentia: Togas, Daggers, and Magic
- for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
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Popular Highlights in this book
“Yes, it is the end of the world. Yes, we are all going to die. But we are British. These things still need doing in an orderly manner and there is certainly no excuse to get all emotional about it.”Highlighted by 103 Kindle readers- ‘There are two kinds of people: those who can infer from incomplete data’.Highlighted by 66 Kindle readers
- The woman smiled like someone who had learned how to do it from a YouTube video but not previously tested it out on another human being.Highlighted by 64 Kindle readers
From the Publisher
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Meet Morag MurrayUnstoppable horrors from beyond are poised to invade and literally create Hell on Earth. Morag Murray works for the secret government organisation responsible for making sure the apocalypse goes as smoothly and as quietly as possible. Trouble is, Morag’s got a temper problem and, after angering the wrong alien god, she’s been sent to another city where she won’t cause so much trouble. That's when her problems start... |
Meet Vivian GreyVivian Grey believes in order and structure. All she wants is a perfect cup of tea, the paperwork filled out properly and everyone to do exactly as she says. Vivian is one of the god appeasers, an end of life carer for an oblivious planet, keeping everything calm and under wraps until the day the world ends. Yes, the world is ending but there's no need to get emotional about it, is there? |
Meet Rod CampbellRod Campbell used to be soldier. As member of the British SAS he's fought in conflicts around the world. Now, he's back in England, part of the first line of defence against the Venislarn horde, the monsters who are poised to destroy our world. Rod's got plenty of work on his hands. Gods are demanding human sacrifices, renegade Venislarn are seeking asylum on earth and there’s a magical teapot that says the city is facing imminent destruction. It’s going to be a tough week and Rod might not live to see the end of it... |
Meet Nina SethNina Seth is young and fearless. Not even the most horrifying creatures from parallel dimensions can shake this girl. But bravery isn't enough to get Nina through her working week. Keeping the monsters hidden from public requires the sort of tact and diplomacy she simply doesn't have. If that isn't bad enough, Nina Seth gets thrown back in time on a desperate mission. An evil sorceress is causing havoc in Georgian England. This clueless time-traveller has to save the past and find a way back to the present. Nina has a lot to learn and no time in which to learn it... |
Top reviews from other countries
Claire
entertaining Read in vein of Terry Pratchett
Reviewed in Canada on October 31, 2021
Anna
Original, funny, strange, compelling...Odd!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 7, 2024
