When They Came

It is quite noticeable where Webb's inspiration comes from.

The entire collection is rife with Lovecraftian references and narrative style. However, while one might overlook Lovecraft's flaws in writing and storytelling, this is not the case here.

Webb's short stories are repetitive, lacking in imagination, and in a sense, too short. There are occasional valiant efforts, and his attempt at creating his own mythology comes close to being something original.

Nevertheless, there is more value in reading his books about the Left Handed Path rather than this collection of tired stories.

Perhaps Webb needs to explore new ideas and break free from the constraints of the Lovecraftian influence to truly shine as a writer.

Until then, readers may find themselves disappointed with this particular collection.

It remains to be seen if Webb can overcome these shortcomings and produce work that is more engaging and innovative.

\"When They Came\" is an anthology consisting of 23 short stories that, to different extents, pay tribute to HP Lovecraft. Just like any collection of this kind, some stories stand out more than others. Additionally, some closely imitate Lovecraft's style. Many of the stories incorporate elements of the Cthulhu mythos, while others verge too much on impersonation. For example, \"Oll Athag\" seems less like an homage and more like a poor attempt to copy Lovecraft's Dream Quest stories. However, other stories do an excellent job of using landmarks like Arkham, elements such as the 'Necronomicon', and even characters like Dagon, while still maintaining their own identity. Webb also weaves his unique mythology into tales like \"The Yellow Flower\" and \"Meeting the Messenger\", which blend well into the Lovecraftian mindset, if not his specific mythos, adding credibility to them. \"The Skull: A History\" is perhaps the greatest tribute to what Webb was aiming to create - the story of a man's pursuit to retrieve the skull of HP Lovecraft himself in order to uncover his secrets.

There are a few truly outstanding tales and a few not so good ones, but overall, the good outweighs the bad, and the majority of the stories lean towards the better end of the spectrum. Yes, it is largely derivative, but August Derleth and others have built their careers on borrowing from Lovecraft, who in turn borrowed from the likes of Dunsanny. For true enthusiasts of Lovecraft and his work, there are far worse options.

I first came across Don Webb through his nonfiction works. Subsequently, I got to know him to some extent as a (mostly online) friend. However, I've had a bit of a struggle to truly engage with his fiction. In fact, he actually sent me a copy of this book a few years after its publication. And being the typical librarian that I am, I'm only now getting around to reading it. This is precisely why writers don't send me their books anymore.

This is an anthology of short stories. Evidently, about half of them were previously published. Don wrote these stories from 1989 to 2006. It seems that whenever I think I have a handle on a Don Webb story - for example, thinking this one is based on "Whisperer in the Dark," or this one is an attempt to imitate Clive Barker, or perhaps this one is about New Age occultniks, or whatever - he promptly turns around and does something completely unexpected. This is a good thing, but it means that I almost always start each story feeling a bit disappointed before I reach the good part. All of these stories, in one sense or another, fit within the horror genre. Most of them are, to some extent, "Lovecraftian." Three of the stories involve a book called "The Yellow Flower," which is fairly obviously a riff on Robert W. Chambers' "The King in Yellow." There are also references to Machen, M.R. James, and Dunsany. But there's always something surprising thrown into the mix. Don has difficulty writing about places when he sets stories outside his home region. However, the stories set in Texas, Oklahoma, or elsewhere in the Southwest have a definite presence. Most of his narrators are frustrated men of whatever age Don was when he wrote them. Some of the real horror in the book comes from Don confronting his own fear of failure through them.

This book was published more or less at the beginning of the Createspace self-publishing/digital vanity period, and it shows. The binding is a bit better than most, but the overall package is unattractive. The cover looks like clip art, and the choice of typeface is very unfortunate (small publishers: PRINT IS TO READ, don't make it harder than it needs to be). I don't usually comment on this sort of thing, but it's a little painful to see someone I know and like presented in this way. Don really deserved better.

When They Came is a remarkable collection that features a significant number of Cthulhu mythos stories penned by Don Webb. I had limited prior knowledge of Don Webb, and I wasn't certain if I had read any of his works before obtaining this book. However, according to mythos maven James Ambeuhl, he is a highly respected author. The publisher, Temporary Culture, is one of the many small presses actively involved in the horror scene. The book consists of 222 pages, which is within the typical range for this type of publication. For instance, when compared to Dark Wisdom by Gary Myers, which has only 120 pages, and all the Kurodahan Press books with over 300 pages, it falls within a reasonable page count. However, the physical dimensions of the book were a bit of a letdown. It was at least an inch shorter in height than other trade paperbacks, suggesting that there might have been some skimping on material.

Now, let's move on to my biggest gripe with this book: the font. I absolutely loathed it. It was so bad that I had real difficulties finishing the book, regardless of the enjoyable content. There is a tiny serif between the letters s and t, and c and t whenever they are adjacent in a word. This, combined with an artsy kind of slight blurriness to the letters on the page, made it a real chore to read. The editor responsible for this font choice should seriously consider their actions. What were they thinking? Sheesh! I can't say that I would completely avoid buying other mythos books from Temporary Culture, but I would do so grudgingly. It took me months to get through the book and then write this review because of the font issue.

Thankfully, the stories themselves were mostly new to me. I had read "The Sound of a Door Opening" and "Serenade at the End of Time" before, but I had no recollection of them. I'm not sure if Mr. Webb has any additional Lovecraftian tales to his credit. Similar to Terrors by Lupoff, Lovecraft Slept Here by Dumars, or Twice Dead Tings by Attanasio, not all or perhaps even most of these stories are strict mythos tales. However, it is still a great buy for a mythos fan. Mr. Webb is a talented writer, and there are many little original flourishes and turns of phrase that make all of his work engaging. If only you can get past the awful font.

Although the stereotypical expectation from a mythos story is a pastiche, there are now many talented writers who are constantly pushing the boundaries of the genre, such as Kiernan and Pugmire. Don Webb has his own unique voice, presenting Lovecraftian themes from fresh perspectives. One of his recurring inventions is the Typhonian Tablets, which play a role in several of the stories and is a worthy addition to the eldritch library. Most of these stories are more thoughtful than unnerving, falling more into the category of somber fantasy rather than straightforward horror. The disquiet they induce is just an added bonus! Here are the story titles:

Souvenirs from a Damnation - A very promising start to the book! The story is presented in fragments related to a list of disparate items. Al Azif is mentioned, as it is in several other fantasy stories in this collection.

The Shiny Surface - A modern fantasy piece about a mirror that perhaps reveals too much.

Ool Athag - Under the influence of the Typhonian Tablets, a mystic seeks the knowledge of all things in Ool Athag. I thought this was a very good and moody fantasy that would be worthy of inclusion in a Dreamlands anthology. Perhaps it owes more to Clark Ashton Smith than HPL.

Mission to Monnat - Too brief, but very evocative. A ship carries a message to a strange country across the sea. Of minor interest to mythos fans is a passing mention of Dagon.

The Jest of Yig - Of direct interest to mythos fans, this cautionary tale shows that just because you can communicate with an eldritch being doesn't mean it has any regard for you. It was among the better modern Yig stories I have read.

The Agony Man - A sculptor causes effects through the uncanny realism of his creations in this well-written non-mythos horror story.

The Sound of a Door Opening - A direct homage to Lovecraft, as dreams beget reality and vice versa. What did HPL dream of? Can you recreate reality starting from a dream of reality, with cynical expectations?

The Lamp - Mr. Webb is fascinated by how imagination can influence reality and how perception creates the world around us.

The Heart of the Matter - Somewhat unusually for the Cthulhu mythos, this is something of a love story. It turns out that de Juntz of The Book of Eibon had been given a key to eternal life by Ludwig Prinn, only to fall for a faithless woman. He becomes more a figure of pity than fear.

The Prophecies at Newfane Asylum - I know of only a few mythos stories set in the time of the Revolutionary War. The Fungi from Yuggoth were collecting even back then.

It Sounded Angular - Very well written! A group of friends are offered eternal life and wealth if they dare to seek it. It has more of a Dreamlands than mythos feel.

The Yellow Flower - A man down on his luck meets a new girl who tells him about a self-help book called The Yellow Flower. If you can find this book, its influences on you may not be all that helpful.

Pig - Pig was a talented loser artist known to the narrator of the story, who seems to have turned his life around with the help of The Yellow Flower. Now his sculpture subjects are pain and humiliation depicted in exquisite detail. Finding a copy of The Yellow Flower could be difficult, and the results of reading it may not be what you expect.

The Fourth Man - Although the Necronomicon is mentioned by name, this story contains more allusion than specific reference, perhaps owing more to Chambers than Lovecraft, not just because of the color of the flower. A self-help book seems to inspire destruction in those who read it. For now, I guess, this concludes the series of stories centered on The Yellow Flower. I found these three stories fascinating in aggregate and engrossing individually. I hope Mr. Webb continues in this vein in some future works.

The Collector - This story is dedicated to Zealia Bishop, but that's as close as it gets to the mythos. Instead, it is a really good modern fantasy about an art collector. Who the collector is might surprise you.

The Flower Man - Al Azif is mentioned, but this is actually a fantasy rather than a mythos story, as a young girl with healing talents is compelled to join a strange sect. It was as absorbing as most of the stories in the collection.

The Idiot God - The title is a clear allusion to Azathoth. What would Azathoth use for sustenance, if you really think about it? The prose was not overly explicit, but it sure made me squirm, and the story was one of my favorites in the book.

When They Came - Somewhat hard to properly categorize or even describe, an explanation is offered for the origin of fantastic beasts in our legends. Again, I was struck by how the imagery and thought behind the prose stayed with me long after I finished reading.

The Skull: A History - Very brief, a man really wants to see through Lovecraft's eyes. Good enough, but I would have liked another longer work.

Key to the Mysteries - A wizard chooses an apprentice in this well-written fantasy.

Meeting the Messenger - An excellent mythos story! A paleographologist comes across The Yellow Text of Thanos Kon, Contacting the Messenger. Mythos fans, of course, know who the Messenger is. One thing that never quite makes sense in Yog Sothothery is just why the Great Old Ones would want to come to this particular little sliver of reality or why they even deign to notice humanity. Don Webb's explanation is as good as any. Maybe this was my favorite story from the whole book.

A Little Night Music - This reads almost like a fairy tale or a folk tale. Mr. Webb could undoubtedly write a very good high fantasy. A poor thief meets an acolyte of the god of music and pain and learns about both.

The Source and the Stone - More fantasy than anything else, a Grecian princess from a tiny isle makes a supreme sacrifice for her people.

I was left in a bit of a quandary. I found Webb's prose to be well-crafted and it lingered in my imagination. As noted, there are enough mythos stories in here to tempt a serious Lovecraftian. I liked just about all of the stories and disliked none of them. I highly recommend the prose, but as I mentioned at the start of this review, the font was a major disappointment. Also, if you like seething tentacular obscenities, this won't be your cup of eldritch tea.