I will preface all by saying I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to sci-fi/horror(ish) fans with a clean conscience. I really cannot have any sort of grievance with this book from a sheer story aspect save for the fact that I feel as though it took the Cthulhu Mythos in a very odd direction (but then again, Cosmic Horror is meant to keep us forever ignorant and scared of the future, right?).
The Characters were likeable but likewise seemingly expendable, the latter aspect of which if I think about it is the most Lovecraftian thing Mr Phipps could have done (because let’s face it, a lot of Lovecraft’s original characters when viewed not only through the lens of the present but even his specific past were utterly detestable); while it initially felt somewhat distracting, I feel retrospectively that it worked well for the story. Heck, it may well have been intended.
I cannot decide if this is what I would call Lovecraftian Horror simply because of the whole smoky-voiced Western stylization despite the authors agreeable knowledge of the immediate and expanded Lovecraftian Universe. The story itself calls to memory the more adventurous moments in Lovecraft’s bibliography (“Dream-Quest” or “…Sarnath” or what have you).
It suffices to say that this particular story seems to attempt to “have it’s cake and eat it too” when it comes to the paradox of consciousness in the cosmos; Mr Phipps does what Lovecraft was never able to do and successfully (and entertainingly) argue for humanity’s significant insignificance.