First published back in June of 1986, British author Brian Lumley’s seminal novel ‘Necroscope’ was the first book in which would later become an eighteen-book series.
Between 1992 – 1993 the novel was adapted into a comic book series by Mailbu Comics Entertainment, with the original five being combined into the graphic novel ‘Necroscope’ (1994).
DLS Synopsis:
Whilst the US and other such countries comprising the world’s powerhouses regarded extrasensory perception (‘ESP’) as somewhat of a ‘neat area’ for a small amount of exploration, the Russian’s had astutely recognised the potential of such abilities, and as such, had put far more resource into its exploration and exploitation. Ex-Army General Gregor Borowitz, the Head of the Russioan’s ESP-Branch, lead these highly secretive explorations.
Borowitz had a number of ESPers within his command, whose collective abilities ranged immensely. Borowitz recognised the most skilled of these individuals to be Boris Dragosani. This strange, arrogantly and unquestionably difficult man had become the necromancer to the Kremlin. A deeply ambitious individual who was able to steal secrets from the blood and guts of the dead. Secrets which the Kremlin used to their advantage.
However, whilst Dragosani may appear to be loyal to the USSR and indeed Borowitz’s ESP-Branch, the necromancer had his own ambitions which reached far beyond his current position. The Romanian had started returning to his homeland, seeking out a particular out-of-the-way spot within the cruciform hills. A spot where he had first acquired his abilities as a necromancer. A shadowy area, hidden by a canopy of trees, in which something ancient lay in the earth. An old thing which spoke with him, promising the secrets of the Wamphyri. An age-old knowledge which would make Dragosani powerful beyond his dreams.
But Russia weren’t the only ones to appreciate the potential of ESP. The British had been making large strides within the highly secretive field. When the Russian’s learn of this, the Kremlin know they cannot just sit and watch the British advance further in such an area. They have to act, or they will be overtaken. Something which Borowitz simply can’t allow.
However, Britian has a young prodigy who’s beginning to show abilities beyond anything seen before. Harry Keogh has found he’s able to speak with the dead. The boy is a necroscope. Unlike the abilities of a necromancer, who forces the secrets out from the dead, Keogh instead is able to speak with them, learn from them, and through doing so, acquire their otherwise lost knowledge.
A battle of powerful necromancy is about to play out. However, Dragosani’s drive for power has led to him drawing upon something far darker. History has hidden mankind’s ancient enemy. The threat of the near-immortal undead has been almost forgotten. Vampires are no longer feared. The passing of time has seen the Wamphyri cast into folklore and ancient hearsay.
But the Wamphyri are real. In the Romanian hills, such a restless beast longs for its time to return to renewed undeath. To walk the earth again. Through Dragosani this ancient Wamphyri seeks a way for its return. Although it cannot be trusted, Dragosani’s drive for power is strong. Maybe strong enough to eventually unleash the old thing he has spent so much of his life conversing with. The thing that known as the devil, the bat, and the dragon…
You don’t go intro reading something like Lumley’s highly revered ‘Necroscope’ books without being aware you’re about to embark upon an epic journey of immensely imaginative and elaborately evolved horror. Indeed, off the back of this first book, the story spawned a hugely successful and lengthy series of eighteen books. Novels which are often referenced and continually held in high esteem within the horror community.
Such acclaim is absolutely deserved. The book is an absolute masterpiece. A thrilling, breath-takingly elaborate, and insanely imaginative piece of horror, which takes the ideas behind vampirism and gives it a much darker and grittier second life.
This is not vampirism like seen in the Hammer Horror movies, or as romanticised within the nauseatingly bland ‘Twilight’ series. The vampires here are not cravat wearing, suave and sophisticated beings, seeking to dine eloquently upon one’s lifeblood. Rather, the undead here are powerful, demon like beasts, who’ll tear at your being and consume every living piece of essence from you
In fact, Lumley has taken the physicality of vampirism further. Redefined vampires as living parasitic organisms, infiltrating the flesh and blood of their unsuspecting hosts. Their legacy, their continuing existence, one of a wholly different reproduction than a mere bite and infection.
Then you have the necromancer – Boris Dragosani. Again, Lumley has redefined the mythical dark art for use in his far more vicious application. There are no ancient texts spoken in low guttural tones for bringing forth the voices of the dead. Instead, we have a brutal, psychotic, ferocious attack wrought upon the cold flesh and bone of dead. This is nothing short of a despicable assault upon the body of the deceased, clawing at the guts and tripe, smelling and tasting the dead insides to acquire the hidden secrets of the dead being. The result is violent horror, executed with a drive to unsettle, and served up by Lumley on a coldly calculated plate.
Despite its impressive page count, the pacing of the novel is also constant and utterly gripping. The story jumps from thread to thread, from Russia to England to Scotland to Romania, from character to character. Everything it all gradually converges, with Lumley leaving breadcrumbs throughout, which eventually provide an incredible vision of a whole new view of life, death and existence. This is further encased within a cunning framing device, involving an ESPer named Alec Kyle who works for the who acts for the British Secret Service, which bookends the entire tale. Again, how this particular thread is interwoven into the wider fabric of the book is as ingenious as it is effective.
However, the depth of the characters and the carefully and ingeniously plotted back stories is truly where the novel is nothing short of an absolute masterclass. Lumley utilises a healthy cast of characters, of which each has a history which paints a carefully fleshed-out picture of who they are, their motivations, their skills, abilities and their ambitions. We have lengthy family histories, lies and deceit brought out from the past, huge character developments and character arcs, all forming a rich base for the many threads of the novel to draw upon.
Due to the exceptional depth and expanse of the lore which Lumley has established within this first book; it’s honestly no surprise at all that such a large number of further instalments within this universe followed. Furthermore, the ingenious blend of science, maths, psychology and metaphysical theory puts further fodder towards a wider story which brought the potential to continue further and further, deeper and deeper.
There aren’t many novels which receive a perfect 10/10 DLS skulls. This absolutely deserves such though. The tale is nothing short of a masterpiece in intelligent, perfectly crafted and magnificently executed horror literature.
The novel runs for a total of 511 pages.
© DLS Reviews
