Cthulhu Armageddon

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.

13 of 14 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

Interesting Modern Spin on the HPL Apocalypse

Any additional comments?

There are zombies in the Lovecraft Apocalypse along with all the other creepy crawlies out of time and space. All the old friends from Shoggoths to the Colour out of Space wander through the story.
The main character isn't all that likable, but he's trying to survive in a world that has some pretty fluid laws and realities. Ultimately he tries to do the right thing to the right things, but isn't always successful.
All in all a pretty nice addition to the growing HPL world and worth a listen. The story is performed well by Jeffrey Kafer.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com.

2 of 2 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 6 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 good Lovecraftian tale

If you want to dive into a post apocolyptic Old Ones return this one visualizes pretty well.

Dr. A

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Cthulu Armageddon

A fun action packed,post apocolypse type book.The old gods are here to take over. Our hero ,John,seems to survive everything thrown his way. Jeffrey Kafer is a fantastic narrator. I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Magnificent!!

really good read if you like his other works you'll love this one ** spoiler alert** looking forward to the next book

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

HP Lovecraft in a nutshell

Another day, another audiobook finished.

This time we have CT Phipps' homage to HP Lovecraft, and we runs the gamut through much of HPL's more popular stories, tying it all together nicely along the way.

The Old Ones have returned and laid waste to the earth, leaving a planet greatly changed from the one we know. Much of the earth is a poisoned wasteland, haunted by mutants and many HPL fiends. Pockets of humanity still survive, living in cities dotted throughout the land, but mostly isolated from each other. 

John Henry Booth, through whose eyes we see the evens unfold, is a ranger and traditional CT Phipps anti-hero. He's grizzled, cynical and brave, and about to get put through the ringer.

John is a ranger, living in The Remnant, the biggest stronghold of humanity left (in their opinion). His job is to protect the city from the critters that roam outside the walls, and he's good at his job. On a mission to take out a group of slavers, Booth gets injured and his team wiped out when they enter a strange temple they find in the desert. Booth wakes up strapped to a bed back in the Remnant, and it all goes (further) downhill from here.

This is one of the author's works, and there's a less of the humour and pop culture than his later books. Funnily, those few references heard are usually met with confusion from the characters, who have little knowledge of pre-apocalyptic days. As for Lovecraft references, this obviously has them in spades, with the Necronomicon, Cthulhu, Nyharlotep and more making appearances in one way or another. As for others, there are buildings named after characters, gaunts from the Dreamquest and so forth. In a word something for everyone. Except Cats of Ulthar fans. But there is a sequel.

I think this is my favourite of CT Phipp's books so far (and I've read/heard a lot). It's less jokey (not necessarily a bad thing), more gallows humour than Tarantino gangster banter, and you can sense the author's love and knowledge of HPL at ever juncture. Finally, it's just a good story about humanity fighting on against impossible odds, and it ends on a great note. Oh yeah, and the narrator was terrific.

5/5 stars.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

fantastic

love this book so much just got the second one can't wait to start it

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Top rate, original Apocalyptic thrill ride.

Great twist on the familiar 'End of the World' scenario to incorporate the Cthulhu Mythos. There are many of the familiar elements of post-apocalyptic fiction and clever nods towards some of the classics of the genre (A Boy and His Dog, the original Wasteland computer game etc.) The setting alone was satisfying in the way the author subverted those familiar tropes or played off them in a new way. Ultimately, the strength of the story comes down to the characters. All of them are multi-faceted, convincing without being too predictable. Tight plot that allows plenty of exploration of the characters and the aftermath of the rising of The Great Old Ones. In the end, the greatest evil on display is that of the human survivors of one group or another and the deals that they're willing to strike with dark forces for their survival and/or personal power.

It took me about half a chapter to acclimatise to the narrator but that's a common issue for me when listening to American narrators. After that, his performance faded into the background so I was hearing the characters and seeing the story. As far as I'm concerned, that's great narration.

Thoroughly recommended!

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.