“While the novel places one foot in Lovecraft’s oeuvre, Mamatas revels in the unfurling tentacles of his narrative, which is a many-toothed, many-eyed beast all its own.”
—B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog, “The Best Horror Books of 2016”
“Mamatas is sharp but fair, never mocking Lovecraft fans, but pulling the veil reveals the complexities of fandom for the late writer.”
—The Verge, “The 11 best science fiction and fantasy novels of 2016”
“A great choice for readers who enjoyed Matt Ruff’s Lovecraft Country; those who liked the dark humor, mystery, and speculative elements in Ben H. Winters’ The Last Policeman trilogy; and anyone who has ever been part of a fandom. The story takes an honest look at Lovecraft’s troubling legacy of racism and sexism and how it comes into play during this current revival in his popularity, but you can also feel Mamatas’ true affection for the author and the larger community of misfit horror authors.”
—Booklist, starred review
“Just what I'd expect from Nick Mamatas: sharp wit, biting but humane social commentary, and, for the romantics among us, a faceless narrator decomposing at the morgue.”
—Matt Ruff, author of Bad Monkeys and Lovecraft Country
“Dark and hilarious. . .I am Providence is that murder-mystery-in-a-writers-convention you didn't even know you wanted, but (like the human skin-bound book which propels the plot) you really must buy.”
—Lavie Tidhar, author of Osama and The Violent Century
"The central murder mystery is enjoyable enough, but secondary to the laugh-out-loud skewering of convention culture, complete with mansplaining panelists, petty writer feuds in the dealer’s room, and the distinct odor of unwashed socially awkward nerds living in close proximity for a weekend celebrating their favorite (admittedly racist, overwrought) author. Mamatas doesn’t treat Lovecraft like a sacred cow and the ugly aspects of his worldview don’t get glossed over."
—Tor.com
“Mamatas provides a heartfelt homage to Lovecraft lore, perfectly captures the antics of conventioneers, and comments on the cutthroat politics of online publishing and the recent discussions of Lovecraft’s bigoted views.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Anyone who has ever skirted the world of obsessive devotees will find a lot to enjoy in this funny homage to horror and its leading practitioner.”
—Library Journal
“Mamatas knows his subject inside and out, and that makes I Am Providence all the more cutting. He's a fan himself, as well as a skeptic, and he turns his considerable authority and satirical skill toward skewering the subculture that's grown up around Lovecraft over the past century. . . . I Am Providence is pointed social commentary wrapped in a bilious in-joke—but one that's more than worth getting in on.”
—Jason Heller, NPR
“An astonishingly timely book . . . The murder-mystery-at-a-convention is a venerable subgenre. The best of them combine solid mystery stories anyone can enjoy with a dash of in-jokes, cameos, and thinly veiled versions of figures in the field to assume those in the know. I Am Providence is among those best.”
—Locus
“Its title taken from the epitaph on Lovecraft's gravestone, I Am Providence is vintage Mamatas: funny, compassionate, creepy, and satirical as it dramatizes the absurdities of fandom, publishing, and literary criticism.”
—East Bay Express
“This meta novel comes at the perfect time: Lovecraft is an author whose reputation has been under intense scrutiny lately, and it looks like a read that will be a perfect take on his legacy.”
—The Verge
“If you’re looking for a wacky summer beach read with a dose of horror and you love Lovecraft, I Am Providence will satisfy your abyss of cravings—with some hilarious and pointed jabs at Lovecraftian fandom.”
—Fangoria
“I Am Providence ended up being a smart, entertaining and truly one-of-a-kind experience, darkly funny and unexpected. Not to mention, very tentacle-y. I look forward to more from Nick Mamatas.”
—The Bibliosanctum
"Mamatas's latest book is dark and funny, a fantastic mix of horror and mystery. It pokes fun at tropes—both meta or otherwise—and successfully skewers some of the more ridiculous aspects of the publishing industry."
—LitReactor
“Such a smart and fun book . . . it is very chilling, but the mystery is solid . . . This is a book that you need to add to your collections."
—RA for All
"This is a book that you need to add to your collections and hand-sell A TON!!! It will be a crowd pleaser."—RA for All, Top 10 Horror Novels of 2016
“While the novel places one foot in Lovecraft’s oeuvre, Mamatas revels in the unfurling tentacles of his narrative, which is a many-toothed, many-eyed beast all its own.”
—B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog, “The Best Horror Books of 2016”
“Mamatas is sharp but fair, never mocking Lovecraft fans, but pulling the veil reveals the complexities of fandom for the late writer.”
—The Verge, “The 11 best science fiction and fantasy novels of 2016”
“A great choice for readers who enjoyed Matt Ruff’s Lovecraft Country; those who liked the dark humor, mystery, and speculative elements in Ben H. Winters’ The Last Policeman trilogy; and anyone who has ever been part of a fandom. The story takes an honest look at Lovecraft’s troubling legacy of racism and sexism and how it comes into play during this current revival in his popularity, but you can also feel Mamatas’ true affection for the author and the larger community of misfit horror authors.”
—Booklist, starred review
“Just what I'd expect from Nick Mamatas: sharp wit, biting but humane social commentary, and, for the romantics among us, a faceless narrator decomposing at the morgue.”
—Matt Ruff, author of Bad Monkeys and Lovecraft Country
“Dark and hilarious. . .I am Providence is that murder-mystery-in-a-writers-convention you didn't even know you wanted, but (like the human skin-bound book which propels the plot) you really must buy.”
—Lavie Tidhar, author of Osama and The Violent Century
"The central murder mystery is enjoyable enough, but secondary to the laugh-out-loud skewering of convention culture, complete with mansplaining panelists, petty writer feuds in the dealer’s room, and the distinct odor of unwashed socially awkward nerds living in close proximity for a weekend celebrating their favorite (admittedly racist, overwrought) author. Mamatas doesn’t treat Lovecraft like a sacred cow and the ugly aspects of his worldview don’t get glossed over."
—Tor.com
“Mamatas provides a heartfelt homage to Lovecraft lore, perfectly captures the antics of conventioneers, and comments on the cutthroat politics of online publishing and the recent discussions of Lovecraft’s bigoted views.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Anyone who has ever skirted the world of obsessive devotees will find a lot to enjoy in this funny homage to horror and its leading practitioner.”
—Library Journal
“Mamatas knows his subject inside and out, and that makes I Am Providence all the more cutting. He's a fan himself, as well as a skeptic, and he turns his considerable authority and satirical skill toward skewering the subculture that's grown up around Lovecraft over the past century. . . . I Am Providence is pointed social commentary wrapped in a bilious in-joke—but one that's more than worth getting in on.”
—Jason Heller, NPR
“An astonishingly timely book . . . The murder-mystery-at-a-convention is a venerable subgenre. The best of them combine solid mystery stories anyone can enjoy with a dash of in-jokes, cameos, and thinly veiled versions of figures in the field to assume those in the know. I Am Providence is among those best.”
—Locus
“Its title taken from the epitaph on Lovecraft's gravestone, I Am Providence is vintage Mamatas: funny, compassionate, creepy, and satirical as it dramatizes the absurdities of fandom, publishing, and literary criticism.”
—East Bay Express
“This meta novel comes at the perfect time: Lovecraft is an author whose reputation has been under intense scrutiny lately, and it looks like a read that will be a perfect take on his legacy.”
—The Verge
“If you’re looking for a wacky summer beach read with a dose of horror and you love Lovecraft, I Am Providence will satisfy your abyss of cravings—with some hilarious and pointed jabs at Lovecraftian fandom.”
—Fangoria
“I Am Providence ended up being a smart, entertaining and truly one-of-a-kind experience, darkly funny and unexpected. Not to mention, very tentacle-y. I look forward to more from Nick Mamatas.”
—The Bibliosanctum
"Mamatas's latest book is dark and funny, a fantastic mix of horror and mystery. It pokes fun at tropes—both meta or otherwise—and successfully skewers some of the more ridiculous aspects of the publishing industry."
—LitReactor
“Such a smart and fun book . . . it is very chilling, but the mystery is solid . . . This is a book that you need to add to your collections."
—RA for All
"This is a book that you need to add to your collections and hand-sell A TON!!! It will be a crowd pleaser."—RA for All, Top 10 Horror Novels of 2016
08/01/2016
Novelist Panos Panossian is attending the annual Summer Tentacular horror convention in Providence, RI, when he is murdered and his face sliced off. That doesn't keep him, however, from being one of the narrators of this satirical salute to horror master H.P. Lovecraft. The other is first-time attendee Colleen Danzig, who had been rooming with Panossian to save money; after his death, she begins investigating her fellow attendees. Could one of these barely socialized, zine-publishing, Cthulhu-obsessed fans be a killer? While a knowledge of Lovecraft and his work might heighten enjoyment of this novel, any familiarity with rabid fandom will do. The men (and a few women) who show up for the small convention may be easy to mock, but horror writer Mamatas (The Last Weekend) does so with an insider's understanding. Having Panossian's disintegrating consciousness tell half the tale draws out the suspense of the murder mystery, but it's Colleen's chapters that more effectively move the story along. VERDICT The reveal of the killer takes a while, but anyone who has ever skirted the world of obsessive devotees will find a lot to enjoy in this funny homage to horror and its leading practitioner.—MM
