BOOK REVIEW: MANIAC GODS BY RICH HAWKINS

Almost every review of a Rich Hawkin's story mentions the words bleak, traumatic, and dark.  In many ways, the reviews for his fiction almost write themselves, such is the power of his style and writing identity.  Now that may sound like Hawkins is a one trick pony or has a limited style of writing, let me assure you that this is not the case, in reality  Hawkins has perfected the art of writing compelling, heartbreaking stories that eat away at your soul.  

Maniac Gods is no different, a tightly written novella that refuses to waste a single word during its gut-wrenching narrative, it will render you emotionally and physically drained by the time you turn over the last page.  

Hawkins has created within the confines of a novella structure,  a story that captures a real sense of cosmic horror.  The feeling of hopelessness that Albie Samways feels at the predicament he and his daughter are in is mirrored by the spirit of hopelessness and dread that the reader feels from being aware of the bigger picture.  

The motif of a father desperate to protect or rescue his daughter is a common and at times cliched one.  It is so overused that every single one of us has used that Liam Nesson meme at one point or another.  And yet Hawkin's use of it here still manages to feel real and genuine.  Perhaps this is a deep-rooted fear that the author has in real life, or maybe this is a part of the story that he wanted to focus on either way this element of the narrative is a potent component of what makes this such a momentous story.  

Another strength of this novella is in the use of the characters, Hawkin's has gone for the Dr Who approach.  I can hear you all squinting at the screen here, bear with me.  

Let's start with Albie's daughter Millie.  Millie is given very little to do in the novella other than regular Dr Who companion role of runaway and or get captured by the story's monster of the week.  Which is perfect for this story despite being the focus of the narrative this really isn't her story.  Maniac Gods is her father's story.  

Much like Millie, we aren't given that much of an insight into Albie as a character, but his strength of conviction and his compulsion to do right by his daughter allows us to put our complete faith in him as a character, the reader is swept along with the story, and for this book he becomes the Dr.  

Which brings to the villain of the book, Doctor Ridings and his followers are a glorious creation, driven, otherworldly and above all consummately terrifying.   Doctor Ridings is a charismatic and thoroughly evil foil to the straight and heroic Albie.  They are almost opposites of each other, and they work perfectly together in this story.  Hawkins' use of real-world terror such as the truth behind why Ridings is seeking out Millie mixed in with the existential otherworldliness terror of Flayed and other residents of the void gives this book an unrelenting sense of dread.  It's safe to say, and probably not a spoiler, that this is a book without a happy ending, although it is perhaps the closest that Hawkins has ever got to writing one.  

Maniac Gods can best be described as a four-act novella, Hawkins uses the first two acts to set up a haunting first half that lays a solid foundation for the final explosive two acts.  If I had one criticism, it would be aimed at what I call the third act while it is well written and full of great bloody action the confines of the novella length doesn't allow for a proper resolution of the consequences of what happens. Making this section feel a little isolated, and more like an intermission in the main thrust of the book.  A small bridging part between this and the showdown would have made for a stronger sense of cohesion. 

As for the final act, Hawkins doesn't pull any punches in an explosive and electrifying finale.  There is a subtle shift in Hawkins' style of writing that allows for a cinematic conclusion to the story will still keeping the overall tone of the novella the same.  You will be left breathless, broken and distraught by this fantastic finale.  

For decades we have been going on about Lovecraftian or Cosmic  Horror , in an ideal world we should be referring to it as Hawkinsian Horror such is Hawkins talent for writing cosmic horror that matters. 

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