On vous a menti sur toute l'histoire contemporaine. Durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, les nazis ont failli l'emporter grâce à leurs sacrifices humains et leurs évocations des puissances ténébreuses qui rôdent derrière la porte d'autres univers. L'informaticien Bob Howard (dont le nom semble inspiré du premier prénom de H. P. Lovecraft) a été engagé de force au Bureau des Atrocités, dit aussi la Laverie Centrale, parce qu'il a eu le malheur d'explorer des archives qui auraient dû être effacées. Et d'y apprendre la thaumaturgie mathématique. En effet, la Laverie, le plus secret des services secrets britanniques, veille à ce que certains théorèmes qui ouvrent l'accès sur d'autres univers ne soient jamais redécouverts. Elle enquête accessoirement sur tous les phénomènes étranges aux fins de les résorber. Ce qui n'exclut pas la bureaucratie la plus tatillonne. Howard est l'un de ses agents qualifiés action. Précisément, il lui faut aller aux États-Unis récupérer …
On vous a menti sur toute l'histoire contemporaine. Durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, les nazis ont failli l'emporter grâce à leurs sacrifices humains et leurs évocations des puissances ténébreuses qui rôdent derrière la porte d'autres univers. L'informaticien Bob Howard (dont le nom semble inspiré du premier prénom de H. P. Lovecraft) a été engagé de force au Bureau des Atrocités, dit aussi la Laverie Centrale, parce qu'il a eu le malheur d'explorer des archives qui auraient dû être effacées. Et d'y apprendre la thaumaturgie mathématique. En effet, la Laverie, le plus secret des services secrets britanniques, veille à ce que certains théorèmes qui ouvrent l'accès sur d'autres univers ne soient jamais redécouverts. Elle enquête accessoirement sur tous les phénomènes étranges aux fins de les résorber. Ce qui n'exclut pas la bureaucratie la plus tatillonne. Howard est l'un de ses agents qualifiés action. Précisément, il lui faut aller aux États-Unis récupérer un chercheur auquel semblent s'intéresser des terroristes. Une chercheuse plutôt, rousse aussi flamboyante qu'intelligente. Et Howard se retrouve sur la piste de l'Ahnenerbe, le plus mystérieux des organismes nazis, qui aurait survécu un demi-siècle sur un autre monde, dans un autre univers. Grâce peut-être à l'aide d'entités à côté desquelles Cthulhu est un gentil mickey. Issu d'un croisement improbable entre James Hadley Chase, Ian Fleming et H.-P. Lovecraft, X-Files et Men in Black, ce roman déplace les frontières entre genres. Et Charles Stross s'y montre désopilant autant que terrifiant.
Completely improbable mix between Lovecraft, X-Files and cyberstuff. Typically the kind of things I apparently just don't get. It does make me sad, but when I can't... well I can't. I do think that this is a good book, possibly a great one, but not my cup of tea.
Completely improbable mix between Lovecraft, X-Files and cyberstuff. Typically the kind of things I apparently just don't get. It does make me sad, but when I can't... well I can't. I do think that this is a good book, possibly a great one, but not my cup of tea.
The series was recommended by a friend. At very first I was groaning, ugh, what IS this? A hypercaffeinated public servant dealing with the beurocracy of summoning Lovecraftian horrors, whatever. Oh, look, some hilariously laboured popculture references for the 30-somethings. I never really understood the appeal of the Dunwich mythos and I despise being pandered to. Anyway. I slogged through - my friend would ask me about this and I should have a better grasp of what it was that I didn't like... And bugger me if it didn't get a lot better really quickly. I think it's the proper, deep and beautiful nerdery of the protagonist. The author knows nerds, he knows beurocracy and be damned (ahaha) if I'm not his exact target audience. Lovely stuff, after a fashion. If you're a 30 plus polymath who's ever had the delight of the public sector, get amongst it.
The series was recommended by a friend. At very first I was groaning, ugh, what IS this? A hypercaffeinated public servant dealing with the beurocracy of summoning Lovecraftian horrors, whatever. Oh, look, some hilariously laboured popculture references for the 30-somethings. I never really understood the appeal of the Dunwich mythos and I despise being pandered to. Anyway. I slogged through - my friend would ask me about this and I should have a better grasp of what it was that I didn't like... And bugger me if it didn't get a lot better really quickly. I think it's the proper, deep and beautiful nerdery of the protagonist. The author knows nerds, he knows beurocracy and be damned (ahaha) if I'm not his exact target audience. Lovely stuff, after a fashion. If you're a 30 plus polymath who's ever had the delight of the public sector, get amongst it.
Review of 'The Atrocity Archives (Laundry Files, #1)' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
This book is actually two related novellas about a British civil servant/operative who works at a secret government agency doing their best to keep Nameless Horrors from overrunning the earth. A good combination of comedy, horror, and spy thriller. I think Stross and Tim Powers are the best new author discoveries of the year - I've read a few books by both so far this year, and they haven't disappointed.
This book is actually two related novellas about a British civil servant/operative who works at a secret government agency doing their best to keep Nameless Horrors from overrunning the earth. A good combination of comedy, horror, and spy thriller. I think Stross and Tim Powers are the best new author discoveries of the year - I've read a few books by both so far this year, and they haven't disappointed.
