Description
An author's murder during an H. P. Lovecraft fan convention reveals dark secrets beneath the printed page in this biting murder-mystery satire.
At the Summer Tentacular, murder is non-fiction.
For fans of legendary pulp author H. P. Lovecraft, there is nothing bigger than the annual Providence-based convention the Summer Tentacular. Horror writer Colleen Danzig doesn't know what to expect when she arrives, but is unsettled to find that among the hobnobbing between scholars and literary critics are a group of real freaks: book collectors looking for volumes bound in human skin, and true believers claiming the power to summon the Elder God Cthulhu, one of their idol's most horrific fictional creations, before the weekend is out.
Colleen's trip spirals into a nightmare when her roommate for the weekend, an obnoxious novelist known as Panossian, turns up dead, his face neatly removed. What's more unsettling is that, in the aftermath of the murder, there is little concern among the convention goers. The Summer Tentacular continues uninterrupted, except by a few bumbling police.
Everyone at the convention is a possible suspect, but only Colleen seems to show any interest in solving the murder. So she delves deep into the darkness, where occult truths have been lurking since the beginning of time. A darkness where Panossian is waiting, spending a lot of time thinking about Colleen, narrating a new Lovecraftian tale that could very well spell her doom.
About the Author
Nick Mamatas is an author, editor, and anthologist. His novels have been translated into German, Italian, and Greek. His work has been nominated for Bram Stoker, Hugo, World Fantasy, Shirley Jackson, International Horror Guild, and Locus awards. Mamatas lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Reviews
"While the novel places one foot in Lovecraft's oeuvre, Mamatas revels in the unfurling tentacles of his narrative, which is a many-toothed, many-eyed beast all its own."
B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog, "The Best Horror Books of 2016"
"Mamatas is sharp but fair, never mocking Lovecraft fans, but pulling the veil reveals the complexities of fandom for the late writer."
The Verge, "The 11 best science fiction and fantasy novels of 2016"
"A great choice for readers who enjoyed Matt Ruff's Lovecraft Country; those who liked the dark humor, mystery, and speculative elements in Ben H. Winters' The Last Policeman trilogy; and anyone who has ever been part of a fandom. The story takes an honest look at Lovecraft's troubling legacy of racism and sexism and how it comes into play during this current revival in his popularity, but you can also feel Mamatas' true affection for the author and the larger community of misfit horror authors."
Booklist, starred review
"Just what I'd expect from Nick Mamatas: sharp wit, biting but humane social commentary, and, for the romantics among us, a faceless narrator decomposing at the morgue."
Matt Ruff, author of Bad Monkeys and Lovecraft Country
"Dark and hilarious. . .I am Providence is that murder-mystery-in-a-writers-convention you didn't even know you wanted, but (like the human skin-bound book which propels the plot) you really must buy."
Lavie Tidhar, author of Osama and The Violent Century
"The central murder mystery is enjoyable enough, but secondary to the laugh-out-loud skewering of convention culture, complete with mansplaining panelists, petty writer feuds in the dealer's room, and the distinct odor of unwashed socially awkward nerds living in close proximity for a weekend celebrating their favorite (admittedly racist, overwrought) author. Mamatas doesn't treat Lovecraft like a sacred cow and the ugly aspects of his worldview don't get glossed over."
Tor.com
"Mamatas provides a heartfelt homage to Lovecraft lore, perfectly captures the antics of conventioneers, and comments on the cutthroat politics of online publishing and the recent discussions of Lovecraft's bigoted views."
Publishers Weekly
"Anyone who has ever skirted the world of obsessive devotees will find a lot to enjoy in this funny homage to horror and its leading practitioner."
Library Journal
"Mamatas knows his subject inside and out, and that makes I Am Providence all the more cutting. He's a fan himself, as well as a skeptic, and he turns his considerable authority and satirical skill toward skewering the subculture that's grown up around Lovecraft over the past century. . . . I Am Providence is pointed social commentary wrapped in a bilious in-joke but one that's more than worth getting in on."
Jason Heller, NPR
"An astonishingly timely book . . . The murder-mystery-at-a-convention is a venerable subgenre. The best of them combine solid mystery stories anyone can enjoy with a dash of in-jokes, cameos, and thinly veiled versions of figures in the field to assume those in the know. I Am Providence is among those best."
Locus
"Its title taken from the epitaph on Lovecraft's gravestone, I Am Providence is vintage Mamatas: funny, compassionate, creepy, and satirical as it dramatizes the absurdities of fandom, publishing, and literary criticism."
East Bay Express
"This meta novel comes at the perfect time: Lovecraft is an author whose reputation has been under intense scrutiny lately, and it looks like a read that will be a perfect take on his legacy."
The Verge
"If you're looking for a wacky summer beach read with a dose of horror and you love Lovecraft, I Am Providence will satisfy your abyss of cravings with some hilarious and pointed jabs at Lovecraftian fandom."
Fangoria
"I Am Providence ended up being a smart, entertaining and truly one-of-a-kind experience, darkly funny and unexpected. Not to mention, very tentacle-y. I look forward to more from Nick Mamatas."
The Bibliosanctum
"Mamatas's latest book is dark and funny, a fantastic mix of horror and mystery. It pokes fun at tropes both meta or otherwise and successfully skewers some of the more ridiculous aspects of the publishing industry."
LitReactor
"Such a smart and fun book . . . it is very chilling, but the mystery is solid . . . This is a book that you need to add to your collections."
RA for All
"This is a book that you need to add to your collections and hand-sell A TON!!! It will be a crowd pleaser."-RA for All, Top 10 Horror Novels of 2016
"While the novel places one foot in Lovecraft's oeuvre, Mamatas revels in the unfurling tentacles of his narrative, which is a many-toothed, many-eyed beast all its own."
B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog, "The Best Horror Books of 2016"
"Mamatas is sharp but fair, never mocking Lovecraft fans, but pulling the veil reveals the complexities of fandom for the late writer."
The Verge, "The 11 best science fiction and fantasy novels of 2016"
"A great choice for readers who enjoyed Matt Ruff's Lovecraft Country; those who liked the dark humor, mystery, and speculative elements in Ben H. Winters' The Last Policeman trilogy; and anyone who has ever been part of a fandom. The story takes an honest look at Lovecraft's troubling legacy of racism and sexism and how it comes into play during this current revival in his popularity, but you can also feel Mamatas' true affection for the author and the larger community of misfit horror authors."
Booklist, starred review
"Just what I'd expect from Nick Mamatas: sharp wit, biting but humane social commentary, and, for the romantics among us, a faceless narrator decomposing at the morgue."
Matt Ruff, author of Bad Monkeys and Lovecraft Country
"Dark and hilarious. . .I am Providence is that murder-mystery-in-a-writers-convention you didn't even know you wanted, but (like the human skin-bound book which propels the plot) you really must buy."
Lavie Tidhar, author of Osama and The Violent Century
"The central murder mystery is enjoyable enough, but secondary to the laugh-out-loud skewering of convention culture, complete with mansplaining panelists, petty writer feuds in the dealer's room, and the distinct odor of unwashed socially awkward nerds living in close proximity for a weekend celebrating their favorite (admittedly racist, overwrought) author. Mamatas doesn't treat Lovecraft like a sacred cow and the ugly aspects of his worldview don't get glossed over."
Tor.com
"Mamatas provides a heartfelt homage to Lovecraft lore, perfectly captures the antics of conventioneers, and comments on the cutthroat politics of online publishing and the recent discussions of Lovecraft's bigoted views."
Publishers Weekly
"Anyone who has ever skirted the world of obsessive devotees will find a lot to enjoy in this funny homage to horror and its leading practitioner."
Library Journal
"Mamatas knows his subject inside and out, and that makes I Am Providence all the more cutting. He's a fan himself, as well as a skeptic, and he turns his considerable authority and satirical skill toward skewering the subculture that's grown up around Lovecraft over the past century. . . . I Am Providence is pointed social commentary wrapped in a bilious in-joke but one that's more than worth getting in on."
Jason Heller, NPR
"An astonishingly timely book . . . The murder-mystery-at-a-convention is a venerable subgenre. The best of them combine solid mystery stories anyone can enjoy with a dash of in-jokes, cameos, and thinly veiled versions of figures in the field to assume those in the know. I Am Providence is among those best."
Locus
"Its title taken from the epitaph on Lovecraft's gravestone, I Am Providence is vintage Mamatas: funny, compassionate, creepy, and satirical as it dramatizes the absurdities of fandom, publishing, and literary criticism."
East Bay Express
"This meta novel comes at the perfect time: Lovecraft is an author whose reputation has been under intense scrutiny lately, and it looks like a read that will be a perfect take on his legacy."
The Verge
"If you're looking for a wacky summer beach read with a dose of horror and you love Lovecraft, I Am Providence will satisfy your abyss of cravings with some hilarious and pointed jabs at Lovecraftian fandom."
Fangoria
"I Am Providence ended up being a smart, entertaining and truly one-of-a-kind experience, darkly funny and unexpected. Not to mention, very tentacle-y. I look forward to more from Nick Mamatas."
The Bibliosanctum
"Mamatas's latest book is dark and funny, a fantastic mix of horror and mystery. It pokes fun at tropes both meta or otherwise and successfully skewers some of the more ridiculous aspects of the publishing industry."
LitReactor
"Such a smart and fun book . . . it is very chilling, but the mystery is solid . . . This is a book that you need to add to your collections."
RA for All
"This is a book that you need to add to your collections and hand-sell A TON!!! It will be a crowd pleaser."-RA for All, Top 10 Horror Novels of 2016
Book Information
ISBN 9781597808354
Author Nick Mamatas
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Night Shade Books
Publisher Night Shade Books
Weight(grams) 293g
Dimensions(mm) 210mm * 140mm * 20mm
At the Summer Tentacular, murder is non-fiction.
For fans of legendary pulp author H. P. Lovecraft, there is nothing bigger than the annual Providence-based convention the Summer Tentacular. Horror writer Colleen Danzig doesn't know what to expect when she arrives, but is unsettled to find that among the hobnobbing between scholars and literary critics are a group of real freaks: book collectors looking for volumes bound in human skin, and true believers claiming the power to summon the Elder God Cthulhu, one of their idol's most horrific fictional creations, before the weekend is out.
Colleen's trip spirals into a nightmare when her roommate for the weekend, an obnoxious novelist known as Panossian, turns up dead, his face neatly removed. What's more unsettling is that, in the aftermath of the murder, there is little concern among the convention goers. The Summer Tentacular continues uninterrupted, except by a few bumbling police.
Everyone at the convention is a possible suspect, but only Colleen seems to show any interest in solving the murder. So she delves deep into the darkness, where occult truths have been lurking since the beginning of time. A darkness where Panossian is waiting, spending a lot of time thinking about Colleen, narrating a new Lovecraftian tale that could very well spell her doom.
About the Author
Nick Mamatas is an author, editor, and anthologist. His novels have been translated into German, Italian, and Greek. His work has been nominated for Bram Stoker, Hugo, World Fantasy, Shirley Jackson, International Horror Guild, and Locus awards. Mamatas lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Reviews
"While the novel places one foot in Lovecraft's oeuvre, Mamatas revels in the unfurling tentacles of his narrative, which is a many-toothed, many-eyed beast all its own."
B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog, "The Best Horror Books of 2016"
"Mamatas is sharp but fair, never mocking Lovecraft fans, but pulling the veil reveals the complexities of fandom for the late writer."
The Verge, "The 11 best science fiction and fantasy novels of 2016"
"A great choice for readers who enjoyed Matt Ruff's Lovecraft Country; those who liked the dark humor, mystery, and speculative elements in Ben H. Winters' The Last Policeman trilogy; and anyone who has ever been part of a fandom. The story takes an honest look at Lovecraft's troubling legacy of racism and sexism and how it comes into play during this current revival in his popularity, but you can also feel Mamatas' true affection for the author and the larger community of misfit horror authors."
Booklist, starred review
"Just what I'd expect from Nick Mamatas: sharp wit, biting but humane social commentary, and, for the romantics among us, a faceless narrator decomposing at the morgue."
Matt Ruff, author of Bad Monkeys and Lovecraft Country
"Dark and hilarious. . .I am Providence is that murder-mystery-in-a-writers-convention you didn't even know you wanted, but (like the human skin-bound book which propels the plot) you really must buy."
Lavie Tidhar, author of Osama and The Violent Century
"The central murder mystery is enjoyable enough, but secondary to the laugh-out-loud skewering of convention culture, complete with mansplaining panelists, petty writer feuds in the dealer's room, and the distinct odor of unwashed socially awkward nerds living in close proximity for a weekend celebrating their favorite (admittedly racist, overwrought) author. Mamatas doesn't treat Lovecraft like a sacred cow and the ugly aspects of his worldview don't get glossed over."
Tor.com
"Mamatas provides a heartfelt homage to Lovecraft lore, perfectly captures the antics of conventioneers, and comments on the cutthroat politics of online publishing and the recent discussions of Lovecraft's bigoted views."
Publishers Weekly
"Anyone who has ever skirted the world of obsessive devotees will find a lot to enjoy in this funny homage to horror and its leading practitioner."
Library Journal
"Mamatas knows his subject inside and out, and that makes I Am Providence all the more cutting. He's a fan himself, as well as a skeptic, and he turns his considerable authority and satirical skill toward skewering the subculture that's grown up around Lovecraft over the past century. . . . I Am Providence is pointed social commentary wrapped in a bilious in-joke but one that's more than worth getting in on."
Jason Heller, NPR
"An astonishingly timely book . . . The murder-mystery-at-a-convention is a venerable subgenre. The best of them combine solid mystery stories anyone can enjoy with a dash of in-jokes, cameos, and thinly veiled versions of figures in the field to assume those in the know. I Am Providence is among those best."
Locus
"Its title taken from the epitaph on Lovecraft's gravestone, I Am Providence is vintage Mamatas: funny, compassionate, creepy, and satirical as it dramatizes the absurdities of fandom, publishing, and literary criticism."
East Bay Express
"This meta novel comes at the perfect time: Lovecraft is an author whose reputation has been under intense scrutiny lately, and it looks like a read that will be a perfect take on his legacy."
The Verge
"If you're looking for a wacky summer beach read with a dose of horror and you love Lovecraft, I Am Providence will satisfy your abyss of cravings with some hilarious and pointed jabs at Lovecraftian fandom."
Fangoria
"I Am Providence ended up being a smart, entertaining and truly one-of-a-kind experience, darkly funny and unexpected. Not to mention, very tentacle-y. I look forward to more from Nick Mamatas."
The Bibliosanctum
"Mamatas's latest book is dark and funny, a fantastic mix of horror and mystery. It pokes fun at tropes both meta or otherwise and successfully skewers some of the more ridiculous aspects of the publishing industry."
LitReactor
"Such a smart and fun book . . . it is very chilling, but the mystery is solid . . . This is a book that you need to add to your collections."
RA for All
"This is a book that you need to add to your collections and hand-sell A TON!!! It will be a crowd pleaser."-RA for All, Top 10 Horror Novels of 2016
"While the novel places one foot in Lovecraft's oeuvre, Mamatas revels in the unfurling tentacles of his narrative, which is a many-toothed, many-eyed beast all its own."
B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog, "The Best Horror Books of 2016"
"Mamatas is sharp but fair, never mocking Lovecraft fans, but pulling the veil reveals the complexities of fandom for the late writer."
The Verge, "The 11 best science fiction and fantasy novels of 2016"
"A great choice for readers who enjoyed Matt Ruff's Lovecraft Country; those who liked the dark humor, mystery, and speculative elements in Ben H. Winters' The Last Policeman trilogy; and anyone who has ever been part of a fandom. The story takes an honest look at Lovecraft's troubling legacy of racism and sexism and how it comes into play during this current revival in his popularity, but you can also feel Mamatas' true affection for the author and the larger community of misfit horror authors."
Booklist, starred review
"Just what I'd expect from Nick Mamatas: sharp wit, biting but humane social commentary, and, for the romantics among us, a faceless narrator decomposing at the morgue."
Matt Ruff, author of Bad Monkeys and Lovecraft Country
"Dark and hilarious. . .I am Providence is that murder-mystery-in-a-writers-convention you didn't even know you wanted, but (like the human skin-bound book which propels the plot) you really must buy."
Lavie Tidhar, author of Osama and The Violent Century
"The central murder mystery is enjoyable enough, but secondary to the laugh-out-loud skewering of convention culture, complete with mansplaining panelists, petty writer feuds in the dealer's room, and the distinct odor of unwashed socially awkward nerds living in close proximity for a weekend celebrating their favorite (admittedly racist, overwrought) author. Mamatas doesn't treat Lovecraft like a sacred cow and the ugly aspects of his worldview don't get glossed over."
Tor.com
"Mamatas provides a heartfelt homage to Lovecraft lore, perfectly captures the antics of conventioneers, and comments on the cutthroat politics of online publishing and the recent discussions of Lovecraft's bigoted views."
Publishers Weekly
"Anyone who has ever skirted the world of obsessive devotees will find a lot to enjoy in this funny homage to horror and its leading practitioner."
Library Journal
"Mamatas knows his subject inside and out, and that makes I Am Providence all the more cutting. He's a fan himself, as well as a skeptic, and he turns his considerable authority and satirical skill toward skewering the subculture that's grown up around Lovecraft over the past century. . . . I Am Providence is pointed social commentary wrapped in a bilious in-joke but one that's more than worth getting in on."
Jason Heller, NPR
"An astonishingly timely book . . . The murder-mystery-at-a-convention is a venerable subgenre. The best of them combine solid mystery stories anyone can enjoy with a dash of in-jokes, cameos, and thinly veiled versions of figures in the field to assume those in the know. I Am Providence is among those best."
Locus
"Its title taken from the epitaph on Lovecraft's gravestone, I Am Providence is vintage Mamatas: funny, compassionate, creepy, and satirical as it dramatizes the absurdities of fandom, publishing, and literary criticism."
East Bay Express
"This meta novel comes at the perfect time: Lovecraft is an author whose reputation has been under intense scrutiny lately, and it looks like a read that will be a perfect take on his legacy."
The Verge
"If you're looking for a wacky summer beach read with a dose of horror and you love Lovecraft, I Am Providence will satisfy your abyss of cravings with some hilarious and pointed jabs at Lovecraftian fandom."
Fangoria
"I Am Providence ended up being a smart, entertaining and truly one-of-a-kind experience, darkly funny and unexpected. Not to mention, very tentacle-y. I look forward to more from Nick Mamatas."
The Bibliosanctum
"Mamatas's latest book is dark and funny, a fantastic mix of horror and mystery. It pokes fun at tropes both meta or otherwise and successfully skewers some of the more ridiculous aspects of the publishing industry."
LitReactor
"Such a smart and fun book . . . it is very chilling, but the mystery is solid . . . This is a book that you need to add to your collections."
RA for All
"This is a book that you need to add to your collections and hand-sell A TON!!! It will be a crowd pleaser."-RA for All, Top 10 Horror Novels of 2016
Book Information
ISBN 9781597808354
Author Nick Mamatas
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Night Shade Books
Publisher Night Shade Books
Weight(grams) 293g
Dimensions(mm) 210mm * 140mm * 20mm
