Cannon Ball Read # 3- Johannes Cabal The Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard

This book was recommended to me by a friend. I am glad she did. This book makes a good follow up to Zombie Spaceship Wasteland as the setting of the book definitely qualifies as a Wasteland.
This is the author's first book and he makes it a memorable debut. His writing is funny but also beautiful. Howard also hearkens to other writers in his story including HP Lovecraft who definitely has influenced Howard's thoughts on humanity.

The book is loosely based on the fact Johannes sold his soul to Satan to learn the ancient secrets of Necromancy. I say loosely because it is so much more than just a story of Johannes making a new deal with Satan to get his soul back. Johannes travels at all lengths to do it. On a side not, does anyone else have a hard time picturing Satan as anything other than this:
South Park has pretty much created the visual of Satan in my head every time. This added to some unintentional comedy in the book though the book itself is pretty humourful.

The world the author has created is a vast wasteland that doesn't feel like our world but it is supposed to be. I still can't pinplace the exact locations but I think that is the point though I believe it supposed to take place in the UK. There is something very American about what Johannes wants in his life.

Satan gives Johannes a full year to get 100 souls so he can get his own back. It isn't really explained why Johannes wants his soul back other than he needs it. Johannes is gifted a Dark Carnival to gather the souls. Yes I know insert your ICP jokes here. The reader also learns about Horst, Johannes' vampire brother who really becomes the focal point of morality and humanity in the book. He provides the balance to Johannes' narcissism. I like the other person who reviewed this book do not want to give away the ending but suffice it to say, it is 45 pages of mindfuck!

Needless to say I am going to read the sequel to this book this year as well.
I give it a B+