The Old One and The Sea by Lex H. Jones, illustrated by Liam ‘Pais’ Hill

Sinister Horror Company, 2019

ISBN-13: 978-1912578160

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition

The Old One and The Sea introduces children to a now-famous author and one of his most famous creations, reimagining the childhood of Howard “Howie”  Phillips Lovecraft and his first encounter with the extraordinary. Taking place just after World War I, in the coastal town of Innsmouth, Howie’s father is missing in action, and he and his mother have a close relationship, although he is curious about the world around him and prone to take risks. With no other children and few other adults around he has preserved a fearless sense of wonder in the world that most older children and adults grow out of,. His only companion, Mr. Derleth, is a brusque former soldier who has seen terrible battles, and studies the sea and the stars, and the mysteries he sees in them. One night, when Mr. Derleth has noted that the stars are in an unusual alignment, a black stone pillar rises out of the sea, and Howie decides to explore it. Once he’s reached the top, he accidentally summons a great creature from the sea: surprised, he falls off the pillar and into the water. The creature saves him, and when Howie really looks at the creature, instead of seeing a monster, he sees the tendrils that saved him flowing from the round head of the creature, and black, endless eyes that reflect the stars. Howie names the creature Oolu, and a strange friendship begins between the lonely boy and the equally lonely creature that has risen from the sea. Both are grieving: Howie for his father, and Oolu for his friends in the city of Rlyeh, lost to the bottom of the sea. Jones’ depiction of grief here, especially the grief of a child, rings very true. It’s there, but without making the story entirely about grief.

Then sailors discover that Oolu has risen, and recognize him as Cthulhu, the Great Old One, a monster who destroyed their ship, and decided to attack him. Howie runs to Oolu, chased by his mother and Mr. Derleth, to face the sailors. Mr. Derleth, who still has his military skills, runs the sailors off, terrified. Mr. Derleth notes to Howie, “Fear can be a powerful motivator”. Howie makes a plan to use his imagination to write stories about Oolu, using the name Mr. Derleth used, Cthhulu, but to make the stories scary to keep people like the sailors from ever attacking his friend again.

This is not a frightenting book. It is a tale of friendship, loyalty, grief, love, and family that honors wonder and imagination.Lex H. Jones has given us a gift in this idyllic fictional portrait of Lovecraft, reminding us that he, too, was once a child with curiosity and imagination. There couldn’t be a gentler introduction to the Cthulhu mythos than this book. In fact, it is entirely possible for a child who has no knowledge of Lovecraft of Cthulhu or even any interest in horror to enjoy this delightful, fantastical story.  The illustrations by Liam ‘Pais’ Hill, in pastel colors with simple, cartoony line drawings, add to this impression. In all honesty, The Old One and The Sea is the most refreshing children’s book (and I read a lot of children’s books) I’ve read this year.

Jim McLeod of Ginger Nuts of Horror wrote a nice introduction to this book on when horror lovers can best introduce the genre to their children, and how, and on how much availabilty of children’s horror fiction (and fiction that uses horror concepts and tropes) has changed, It has changed quite a bit over the last 15-20 years, and that’s been exciting to see. Lex Jones has added a lovely title to that genre that I hope both librarians and parents will share with the children they encounter. Recommended.