Cthulhu Armageddon

By: C. T. Phipps

Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

Cthulhu Armageddon is the story of a world 100 years past the rise of the Old Ones which has been reduced to a giant monster-filled desert and pockets of human survivors (along with Deep Ones, ghouls, and other "talking" monsters).

John Henry Booth is a ranger of one of the largest remaining city-states when he's exiled for his group's massacre and the suspicion that he's "tainted". Escaping with a doctor who killed her husband, John travels across the Earth's blasted alien ruins to seek the life of the man who killed his friends.

It's the one thing he has left.

©2016 Charles Phipps (P)2016 David N. Wilson

Awesome.

This is a massive departure from this author's other works but it was just as good. It's a blend of different genres, which can be hit or miss, but it works here. It's kind of like Mad max with a western feel, mixed with a little Stephen King and Lovecraft thrown in. Sounds odd, but I really enjoyed it.

This tells the story of John Henry Booth, a soldier who protects the remnants of humanity from the hellish creatures that have taken over the world. During a mission, things take a turn for the worst and his team are killed, he is the only survivour but is blamed for their deaths. Declared dead himself, he sets out with some questionable characters to get revenge and find out the truth of what happened. It's actually a really really hard book to summarise in my own words because there is so much to this book that can't be explained, it needs to be experienced to enjoy it fully. It is an immensely complex world but one that will grab you and suck you in.

The characters were all well written and developed. The MC was badass but he was also kind, thoughtful and reliable. He really shines with his attitude to different people, like the little girl and the Ghoul. Plus his dedication to his team members was admirable. I also have to give the author props for his imaginative and crazy imagination!!! The creatures and monsters in this were equal parts crazy as they were scary. You seriously have to read it to see what I'm on about.

I have read a lot of this author's books and really loved them, but this one shows much more of his abilities than the other ones. The writing and world building was amazing and really complex. It's the type of book that you will need to concentrate on but also one that takes no effort to enjoy. You will find yourself immersed in a magical, desperate, desolate world yet it will captivate you and bring you on an unforgettable journey. It definitely defies categorisation, genre wise, so should appeal to a wide variety of people.

In all, this was a fast paced, action packed and addicting read. I finished it last week yet still find myself remembering details of the world daily. It may not have been as funny and witty as his other works, but this was an amazing read and I devoured it.

Jeffrey Kafer absolutely nailed this book. He brought the characters and the world to life. He definitely knows how to tell a story the right way and is a narrator that never fails to deliver!

I received this for free via Audiobook Boom. This in no way affected or influenced my thoughts.

12 of 13 people found this review helpful

Like a lost Lovecraft book

Any additional comments?

Have you ever read anything by H.P. Lovecraft? how about listened to one of the radio plays by The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society? No? Well why the hell not? Go and read them!! It’s ok I’ll wait…

Ok that’s better. Now remember how the “Things” came and everyone dies? Well not everyone did die. A few small pockets of humanity survived for around one hundred years, and one of these Pockets is called United States Remnants.

The story is told in first person through the eyes of John Henry Booth a Remnant Recon squadron leader. He is kind of unlikable the first peep we get in his head. Then his rage at seeing a child harmed made him instantly relate-able to me. He goes out of his way to help kids and slaves. For the latter its more so he can kill the slavers, but that is still a good thing right?.
If you took some Lovecraft tossed in a bit of Fallout 3 and a pinch of Clint Eastwood you would get those three things mixed together (lol I need Sleep) Actually It felt like I was reading a lost Lovecraft book. Which I suppose could be high praise or condemnation depending. But I say it in praise. The disturbing parts where DISTURBInG.
But what I really loved about this book was the unexpected humor. Many times I laughed so much I had to rewind because I missed something. I call it unexpected humor because the funniest moments in the book are when they talk about a dead Private, when people are trying to shoot John, and when he tells Jessica how f___ed up the situation is.
Cthulhu Armageddon is average lenght Audio book Around 8 hours. Jeffrey Kafer did an excellent job Narrating and C.T. Phips did a great job writing. I really did enjoy it more then I thought I would I give Cthulhu Armageddon by C.T. Phipps 4.5 out of 5 stars.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Cthulhu Meets Fallout

This book feels very much like the Fallout series meets Cthulhu with a few things different. The narration is great and fun to listen to.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Original tale of Post Apocalyptic Earth.

Cthulu Armageddon deals with the remnants of humanity struggling to survive in small walled enclaves 100 years or so after the rise of the Old Ones, the primordial gods of the universe. Being so vast they barely notice the life forms on earth except as nuisaces under their tentacles. This coming has also created mutated humans and brought monsterous servants with it. Into the wasteland created by this invasion go the Rangers, the city's scavengers and warriors against the encroaching darkness.

John Henry Booth is just such a Ranger. When he and his team discover a tower deep in the Wasteland, they discover a man they thought dead is working with the power of the Old Ones to bring about the end of Humanity as it was, and shape it to his twisted desires. When his team is lost on the mission, Booth is found wandering near his city, and is brought in and tried as a traitor. With the help of his ex wife, he escapes with another prisoner, a woman who killed her husband, and they escape into the wasteland. Out there, they discover what the madman's real plan is, and gain allies and new enemies while trying to stay alive. The climactic ending is well suited to the book, and leaves you wanting more, especially as you discover just how Booth plays into the grand scheme of things.

Like all CT Phipps books, this is a very character driven story, even given the large and appalling setting of a world almost destroyed by the Old Ones. The relationships between Booth and his companions and enemies sets the tone for the whole book. Booth almost seems a man out of time, a warrior with honor in a time when that commodity is becoming increasingly scarce, even as his world slowly comes apart and his secret is revealed, even to himself. The worldbuiding (destroying?) is excellent, giving you a feeling of living in this desolate and dying world, where you live on the knifes edge of survival. This has to be one of the best realized dystopias I've ever heard of in books. Plot and pacing are also top notch, with a great storyline and fast paced action keeping the listener engaged.

Narrationwise, Jeffrey Kafer does an outstanding job, which is something I've come to expect from him. He brings each character to life, and keeps the narration flowing steadily, never letting his narration lag or become monotone. Just another excellent performance.

This book is a must listen to anyone into the Cthulu mythos or Dystopian worlds. It keeps the listener engaged and wanting to see where the story will take them. In this case, it will be in directions you never expected. All told, a five star effort from the Author.

I was voluntarily given a review copy of this audiobook by the Author, Narrator or Publisher.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Ia! Ia! Phipps fhtagn!

Would you consider the audio edition of Cthulhu Armageddon to be better than the print version?

Yes.

What other book might you compare Cthulhu Armageddon to and why?

Despite drawing from a number of influences, both obvious and subtle, CTHULHU ARMAGEDDON is wholly unique.

Have you listened to any of Jeffrey Kafer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The battle with the Byakhee matriarch was particularly thrilling.

Any additional comments?

Buy this book or die in a raging tire fire. Those are your only two options.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

I'd Like To Read More Like This From The Author

“Cthulhu Armageddon” is set in a post-apocalyptic earth that has fallen to the “Old Ones,” the various monsters found in H. P. Lovecraft stories. The main character is John Henry Booth, a Ranger of one of the largest remaining city-states. Booth and his squad are seemingly massacred at the beginning of the book, but Booth finds himself waking up a month later with no memory of exactly what happened. The only thing he and others are sure of is that something did, indeed, happen. Booth doesn’t seem completely human anymore.

Immediately after waking up, Booth finds out that he has become the scapegoat for his team’s massacre. He has been stripped of his commission, suspected of being tainted and sentenced to death. Ready to accept his fate, Booth is contacted by a doctor who killed her husband. Soon the two escape to the wastelands. This is just the start of “Cthulhu Armageddon.” I was not familiar with the author, C. T. Phipps before this story. Since “Cthulhu Armageddon,” I’ve found myself picking up another C. T. Phipps novel and was just as impressed by it.

Jeffrey Kafer narrates this novel and does a wonderful job bringing an added dimension to the story. I think his voice is perfect for the Booth character and the book overall. I hope Mr. Phipps writes more stories in his Lovecraftian world. Finally, this audio book was provided by the narrator at no cost in exchange for an honest review, courtesy of Audio Book Boom.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Post Apocalyptic world with an American cowboy

What did you like best about Cthulhu Armageddon? What did you like least?

C.T.'s description is catching from the get go. The description of the Black Cathedral is something. The building feels old and almost alive, maybe something from the underworld. I like it!

Slowly we start to see that the world is now occupied with the great Old Ones once again. We see the land as it was destroyed, desert and strange, with deadly creatures that exist and roaming freely. There is a magic present in people they call 'touched'. And we get to see a few that are Touched.

This book is good, but it didn't seem to hold my attention like C.T.'s other novels I've listened to. I think because I'm not 100% sure what to expect in the world here. We know there are Old Ones but not much more than that. That there are different beings or creatures that now live on the earth too. All are not known to me, but it's known to John Booth. It's not that we are seeing them for the first time with John but as we've seen them time and time again, but they are unfamiliar to me. Although, this is an attraction for many people. Not knowing what's coming around the next bend is something to keep them on their toes, and Captain John Booth could be your person with his adventure.

There was a section where we go back to learn with John Booth as to what happened to him in the block of time he doesn't remember. I really like how C.T. smoothly brought us to the current moment. This transition felt extremely well done and thought out.

Did Jeffrey Kafer do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Jeffery Kafer has returned to the microphone for C.T. in this new novel. He voices John Booth in a way that feels as though he's John. But I didn't feel as much in the additional characters from Jeffery. For me it felt good but just shy of more.

Any additional comments?

The world feels Post Apocalyptic in the way the land has fallen and man has grouped, and even with the new residents of the world. John Booth is like the American cowboy on a mission through the book.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I saw it more as a military type post-apocalypse

The world (earth) is different now that the Old Ones have resurfaced and reduced cities, nations and humans to near extinction.  Life is different and 100 years later, things are only worse as the monstrous Old Ones have risen and turned loose giant monsters that roam freely the now expansive desert like world and where magic is the only way to survive.

John Henry Booth is in the military – a ranger charged with the destruction of the monsters and aliens along with saving humans.  Then he encounters an old friend/mentor – Ward who has become a deadly and magical foe seeking to collect children for his latest experiments.

His team comes under deadly fire; lives are lost and suddenly Booth is persona non-gratis.  Along with another criminal ex-government sanctioned torturer, Booth sets about discovering answers and making Ward pay for his crimes.

Booth discovers more than he bargained for and loses much more!

Action packed post-apocalyptic horror book that keeps one on the edge of their chair!  The twists and surprise ending will keep your head spinning!

The dialog is realistic and well done; the character development is solid as well.  C.T. Phipps does an excellent job of creating imagery to describe what is going on keeping it realistic – such as the relationships and issues are real life but fit easily into the plot.  Phipps does a good job of crafting his story beginning to end.

My only issue lies with how the story is described as a post-apocalypse western; I saw it more as a military type post-apocalypse story.

This is my first time listening to one of Phipps books and I know it will NOT be my last!

Jeffrey Kafer, narrator does an excellent job of telling the story and putting life into the characters via his skillful reading.  He was John Henry Booth – or at least what I think he would sound like.  His voice was gravelly and deep, just as it should be for the type of book and characters involved.

There were no issues with production; everything was clear and well done.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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11 of 15 people found this review helpful

A Post Apocalyptic Cowboy series with Magic

Whats not to like about this book, well that is unless you are John Henry Booth. Great performance by the Narrator (Kafer), and great unique story written by Phipps. Can't wait to see where Booth will end up next.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

An all stars of the Lovecraft Mythos.

Any fan of H.P.Lovecraft or post-apocalyptic stories will like this book. great writing, great characters and great reading by the narrator.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A slightly flawed masterpiece

Got totally sucked into the story and characters. The writing trips up now and again but its hardly an issue. An excellent blend of dystopian Mad Mad and HPL mythos.