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A Review and summary of the book by James Ambuehl
ISBN 0-9659433-2-1
$7.95 from Mythos books
introduction by Robert M. Price (fan-fiction vs. pro fiction, what are the differences)
art by Jeffrey Thomas
Six stories by our own Mr. Ambuehl
100 pages
Reviewed by Duane Pesice.
1)Sculpture
This tale tells the story of one Frank Healy, a fantasy and horror author who befriends a sculptor by the name of Simon Wenner. According to the data inside the front cover, this story dates from an earlier time than the other stories in this volume, and has been substantially revised for its appearance.
Jim here has started adding elements to the Mythos from out of his own imagination, utilizing the tried and true apparatus of previous Mythos stories (the seeker after unknown lore, outre creative types), and set the story in the fictional town of Braving, Minnesota.
Introduces the Lu-Kthu Mythos, of which the well-known and well-loved Cthulhu Mythos is just a part, and introduces the entities Volna-Gath (the Keeper of the Secrets and the Guardian of Knowledge), Y'lla (the Master of the Seas), and X'aligha (the Master of Twisted Sound).
Part of the detailing process involves the mention of "thrash metal" and "death metal" bands, with whom Mr. Ambuehl betrays a considerable acquaintance.
I give it a thumbs-up for twisting the conventional arrangement around a little, and extra credit for creating credible Great Old Ones.
2)The Snake Farm
This is in my opinion the weakest of the six stories. It's quite readable, and moves along well, quite reminiscent of the old Creepy/Eerie type stories, has a few of the semi-Kingian cultural subreferences that characterize this collection, and a decent emotional underpinning.
But alas, there are few surprises along the way.
However the tale does include the Ambuehl touches of Mythos oddments and arcana, showing the author's scholarship within the genre.
3)The Stalker In The Snows
This tale is told in journal form, well-done using that technique, and using as a backdrop the Midwestern winterscape. The subject matter is treated in a somewhat novel fashion as the author looks for ways to put his stamp on another tried-and-true story. The background detailing builds up well, and the story moves along in a well-organized fashion.
The tale attempts to combine some of the familiar elements of two very different schools of horror, giving further details of the author's addition to the Mythos. I would like to have seen the underground society of the creatures that are mentioned within the tale, though that would likely have done a disservice to the pacing.
4)The Terror of Toad Lake
Well-told story, set again in upper Minnesota. Background/descriptive details are really worked well here.
Any Mythos fan knows who the Terror of Toad Lake is gonna be...but this is a good way to introduce someone who's not familiar with Tsathoggua to His august presence.
Give this one a ten for handling of the subject matter. Tsathoggua is a much-invoked name in the Mythos pantheon, but is not often depicted in a manner that is frightening.
5)The Deep-Lord Awakens
Does anyone know where artists gets their inspirations? Jim gives a possible explanation, and a reason not to run out of red paint. Good story, has a real narrative force, and another well-handled bit of psychological examination is going on more or less behind the scenes. Again set against the backdrop of the Lu-Kthu mythos, using one of the author's invented pantheon.
Has the best illustration of the bunch.
This is my personal favorite of the tales in this volume.
6)Correlated Contents
Again considers the question of artistic inspiration, with a different twist. Told in a series of letters, messing around with the narrative content again, and a nice little bit of legerdemain to keep knowledgable readers from guessing the truth.
I like this one almost as much as The Deep-Lord Awakens, and the illo is okay, though the angles are Euclidean.
All in all, well-worth the reading. The aim of Mythos books is ostensibly to publish and promote Mythos fan/writers, hence the somewhat high cover price for a slim volume and the woodcut-style black and white illos.
It's nice to see some of Jim's work between covers.
Everyone feel free to bug other publishers to follow suit, and please find a copy of this work for yourself, either at Amazon, or through the store on my site, where it's a featured selection....I didn't give away any of the plots, so you can experience them with your own eyes and minds...
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