How do you follow up a book that was not only a huge bestseller but also a global phenomenon? If you’re Matt Ruff, you write THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS, a continuation of 2016’s LOVECRAFT COUNTRY.

"THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS has more of an epic feel to it than LOVECRAFT COUNTRY because of the personal journeys each character is on, both physically and spiritually."

This enthralling sequel is set in the summer of 1957. Sprinkled throughout are chapter and section headings drawn from various horror novels. The first is from THE KING IN YELLOW and introduces us to the latest journey of Atticus Turner and his father, Montrose. Montrose is the great-grandson of Nat Turner, and they’re journeying from Chicago to North Carolina to visit the territory of their legendary relative. Regrettably, they run into a racist face from their past who remembers his hatred of them. He turns their trip into a nightmare pursuit and a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Meanwhile, 2,000 miles to the west, Atticus’ aunt Hippolyta is traveling across Arizona on a mission given to her in Chicago. Her husband, George Berry, has been diagnosed with cancer, and she is gathering information for his publication, The Safe Negro Travel Guide. She is heading towards Las Vegas with her teenage son, Horace, and her friend, Letitia Dandridge. Eventually we learn that Hippolyta and Horace have another agenda, one that will put Letitia in unexpected peril.

George’s health issues are so bad that he does the unthinkable. He conjures the spirit of Hiram Winthrop and makes a devilish deal with him in a desperate attempt to save his life, potentially forfeiting his soul in the process.

THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS has more of an epic feel to it than LOVECRAFT COUNTRY because of the personal journeys each character is on, both physically and spiritually. At the heart of the novel remains the specter of prejudice and racism against Black people in 1950s America, which grounds the story with a historical perspective that is all too true. The way that Ruff explores this subject with elements of fantasy and horror is a wonder to behold, making this an important and extremely relevant series to digest and think about.