ELDRITCH PRISONERS, edited by David Hambling is the sixth anthology in the Books of Cthulhu series. The series takes a pulpier more adventurous take on H.P. Lovecraft’s mythology. Each book focuses on a specific theme and has some of the best new Neo-Mythos authors contribute their short stories or novelettes. This volume has Davd Conyers (Cthulhu Reloaded), David Hambling (Harry Stubbs), Matthew Davenport (Andrew Doran), and John Delaughter (Time Loopers).
The premise, as the title indicates, is dealing with individuals or groups who have found themselves imprisoned by eldritch forces. The stories are stand alone but are thematically related. There’s also the introduction of a new threat to humanity in a group called the Riders, which I found to be an interesting addition to the Mythos.
The first story and chapters spread through the anthology is, “Broken Singularity” by David Conyers. This has his protagonist, Harrison Peele, transported through time to a space station overlooking a black hole. Peele is surrounded by humans from the distant future and equipped with a powerful space suit/power armor but utterly trapped as there’s no way to get home. Slowly, he begins to unravel the nature of his captors as well as what their agenda is.
This is probably my favorite of the stories as I really feel it gets into the desperation and oppressiveness of the theme. Harrison is surrounded by a grim and dark future for mankind even if he does manage to escape with mankind having become increasingly machine-like if the future workers around him are any indication. I’ve always liked the transhumanist element that some Lovecraftian authors have explored. The ending is also incredibly dark but also exceptionally satisfying.
“The Prisoner from Beyond” by Matthew Davenport is a Western with a Man in Black-esque organization of Secret Servicemen (called the Esoteric Cavalry). This is probably my favorite story from Matthew Davenport and one of the darker stories he’s created. It has the least to do with the overall theme as the town is held prisoner by the supernatural entity living there. That’s not a big deal for me as I really enjoyed the story either way.
“Body Snatchers” by David Hambling is a Harry Stubbs story where the 1920s boxer turned private investigator investigates someone capable of stealing bodies. This is another stretched theme as the antagonist imprisons people in new bodies and leaves them to be judged insane. I’m a huge Harry Stubbs fan and think this is a great standalone adventure.
John DeLaughter’s “Leng’s Labyrinth” is the longest of the stories and deals with everything from virtual reality, cults, the French catacombs, time travel, and cannibal ancestry. It is a very compl3ex and intricate story that even I had a bit of trouble following. Nevertheless, I was entertained throughout.
In conclusion, Eldritch Prisoners is a solid and entertaining Cthulhu Mythos anthology. It doesn’t always stay on theme but it is probably the most devoted to straight horror of the Books of Cthulhu series (which tends toward action horror as or occult adventure). It’s a good introduction to the works of the authors as well, I think, and if you like the stories here then you might want to check out their main series.
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