Now an HBO® Series from J.J. Abrams (Executive Producer of Westworld), Misha Green (Creator of Underground) and Jordan Peele (Director of Get Out) The critically acclaimed cult novelist makes visceral the terrors of life in Jim Crow America and its lingering effects in this brilliant and wondrous work of the imagination that melds historical fiction, pulp noir, and Lovecraftian horror and fantasy. Chicago, 1954. When his father Montrose goes missing, 22-year-old Army veteran Atticus Turner embarks on a road trip to New England to find him, accompanied by his Uncle George—publisher of The Safe Negro Travel Guide—and his childhood friend Letitia. On their journey to the manor of Mr. Braithwhite—heir to the estate that owned one of Atticus’s ancestors—they encounter both mundane terrors of white America and malevolent spirits that seem straight out of the weird tales George devours. At the manor, Atticus discovers his father in chains, held prisoner by a secret cabal named the Order of the Ancient Dawn—led by Samuel Braithwhite and his son Caleb—which has gathered to orchestrate a ritual that shockingly centers on Atticus. And his one hope of salvation may be the seed of his—and the whole Turner clan’s—destruction. A chimerical blend of magic, power, hope, and freedom that stretches across time, touching diverse members of two black families, Lovecraft Country is a devastating kaleidoscopic portrait of racism—the terrifying specter that continues to haunt us today.
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About the author
Matt Ruff
Author
Matthew Theron Ruff is an American author of thriller, science fiction and comic novels, including The Mirage and Lovecraft Country, the latter having been adapted in 2020 by HBO into a TV series.
Lovecraft Country
by Matt Ruff
Books Like Lovecraft Country
If you're looking for books similar to Lovecraft Country, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
The Underground Railroad
Colson Whitehead
A powerful historical novel that uses magical realism to explore the brutal history of slavery in America. The story follows Cora, a slave who escapes through a literal underground railroad with magical properties. Similar to Lovecraft Country, it combines historical trauma with speculative fiction elements. The narrative provides a visceral examination of racism and survival.
Kindred
Octavia Butler
A groundbreaking science fiction novel about a Black woman time-traveling to the antebellum South. The protagonist is repeatedly pulled back to a plantation, confronting the brutal realities of slavery. Similar to Lovecraft Country, it uses speculative fiction to explore racial trauma and historical oppression. The narrative provides a powerful examination of systemic racism.
Ring Shout
P. Djèlí Clark
A dark fantasy that confronts racism through a supernatural lens, featuring Black women fighting against Ku Klux Klan monsters. The novel blends historical context with horror and magical elements, similar to Lovecraft Country's approach. It explores themes of resistance, supernatural power, and racial violence in early 20th-century America.
American Gods
Neil Gaiman
A mythological novel that explores supernatural forces in modern America. The story follows an ex-convict drawn into a conflict between old and new gods. Similar to Lovecraft Country, it blends mythology, supernatural elements, and social commentary. The narrative provides a unique perspective on American cultural identity and hidden mystical dimensions.
The City We Became
N.K. Jemisin
A supernatural urban fantasy that confronts racism through a speculative lens. The novel reimagines New York City as a living entity with human avatars who must defend against an otherworldly threat. Like Lovecraft Country, it blends supernatural elements with sharp social commentary on race in America. The story explores themes of community, identity, and resistance against systemic oppression.
Shadowshaper
Daniel José Older
An urban fantasy about a young Afro-Latina artist who discovers a magical ability to bring art to life. The novel explores themes of cultural heritage, community, and supernatural power. Similar to Lovecraft Country, it blends supernatural elements with contemporary social issues. The narrative provides a vibrant, diverse perspective on magical resistance.
The Ballad of Black Tom
Victor LaValle
A Lovecraftian horror novella that directly confronts H.P. Lovecraft's racist legacy. Set in 1920s New York, the story follows a Black protagonist navigating supernatural and racial terrors. Like Lovecraft Country, it reimagines cosmic horror through a Black perspective. The narrative challenges historical racist narratives while exploring supernatural themes.
The Changeling
Victor LaValle
A dark fantasy that explores parenthood, race, and supernatural transformation. The story follows a father whose life is dramatically altered by mysterious events. Like Lovecraft Country, it combines realistic social commentary with supernatural horror. The narrative challenges expectations and provides a unique perspective on family and identity.
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger
Stephen King
A genre-blending novel that combines elements of western, fantasy, and horror. The story follows Roland, a mysterious gunslinger on a quest through a surreal landscape. Like Lovecraft Country, it mixes multiple genres and explores themes of journey and supernatural encounters. The narrative creates a unique, immersive world with complex mythological elements.
The Mere Wife
Maria Dahvana Headley
A modern retelling of Beowulf that explores themes of motherhood, community, and cultural conflict. The novel reimagines the classic epic through a contemporary lens. Like Lovecraft Country, it blends mythological elements with social commentary. The narrative provides a unique perspective on power, belonging, and transformation.
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