The Transition of Titus Crow

Cthulhu Mythos Series, Book 2

A time-space chiller-thriller in the Lovecraft Tradition. This is the second novel in Brian Lumley's Cthulhu Mythos series.

©1975 Brian Lumley (P)2016 David N. Wilson

Good..but…

It was an enjoyable story, and a good continuation from his previous book. However, I kind of felt that the reader Henry’s enjoying an acid trip by the writer.

The Transition of Titus Crow

An interesting story about the elder gods and how Titus Crow learns about them and how he travels with his clock. I am a fan of Brian Lumley and the world of Cthulhu and the Elder Gods but this book felt a bit flat for me. The story did not pull me in and the ellipsis angle in the later chapters got to be annoying. A lot happens during Crow’s journeys that have you scratching your head. It seems like the author threw in almost everything and anything that he could think of to happen to Titus Crow. Narrator Simon Vance speaks clearly and moves the story along.

Even better than the regular book

The Transition of Titus Crow is a fascinating follow-up to the Burrowers Beneath but not one which is without controversy. Brian Lumley takes the titular character and sends him on a 70s psychadelic trip across the multiverse in a time-travelling coffin which effectively turns the entire thing into Doctor Who meets Lovecraft. This the kind of story where the protagonist becomes a cyborg, journeys to science fiction heaven, outwits Yog-Sothoth, and talks with Cthulhu's benevolent brother. It's a crazy-crazy book and I'm very glad to have read it but it's not without flaws. Even so, Simon Vance does an amazing job here and I recommend people pick it up. Just don't expect a traditional Lovecraft tale.

Not as good as the first

Not as good as the first. At points seem lazy. A lot of pointless filler.

The definition of “trippy.”

This book is very different than The Burrowers Beneath, holding more in common with Lovecraft works like The Silver Key and Beyond the Wall of sleep than At the Mountains of Madness or Dreams in the Witch House, with less horror and more strangeness, but some might enjoy that much more than I.