Review: A perfect gem of cosmic horror
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 20, 2014
I'm sure the term "Lovecraftian" will be used in many reviews of Mr. Hodge's latest masterpiece.  I prefer "cosmic horror" because so much of what is labeled Lovecraftian is just a C-grade tentacle creature feature with some of old H.P.'s unpronouncable names thrown in.That said, Whom the Gods Would Destroy achieves the level of dread and horror that Lovecraft strove for but only rarely achieved.  The novella captures the human race's insignificance in the face of an unexplicable force that is scary not because it hates us but because it COULDN'T CARE LESS about us.  Damien, our protagonist, had a terrible childhood filled with terrifying events that become worse when it comes to light what was really going on.  I don't want to spoil any of the plot; if my description of the tone appeals to you, or if you are already a fan of Mr. Hodge's work, you need to read this now!This was my first time reading Brian Hodge and I now understand the reverence many have for his work.  For the interested, Brian composed a soundtrack that is available for free download to go along with the book; comparisons could be made to a spacier John Carpenter score from the 70s.Highest recommendation!