cover image Mall of Cthulhu

Mall of Cthulhu

Seamus Cooper, . . Night Shade, $13.95 (235pp) ISBN 978-1-59780-127-0

At a Delaware university in 1993, geeky folklore student Ted took out a nest of vampires with an axe and a Zippo, saving hot lesbian coed Laura. A decade later, he's still haunted by his supernatural experience, living off the hush money from the university while working as a barista and stalking Laura, now an FBI agent. When Ted learns of a racist cult plotting to bring back the Old Ones, the two friends investigate, and some supernatural shenanigans and carnage ensue. Cooper's characters verge on the whiny and adolescent, but the Lovecraft jibes never quite wear thin. Diehard fans of the short story “Call of Cthulhu” might not like the unflattering picture of their idol, but those with a passing familiarity will find the pages turning swiftly thanks to the silly action. (Oct.)