The Jennifer Morgue, a part of the Laundry Files series by Charles Stross, follows the adventures of Bob Howard, a geek employed by a secret British government agency tasked with combating supernatural threats. In this book, Bob finds himself in a literal James Bond plot, where he must stop a megalomaniac billionaire from raising an ancient Eldritch terror from the depths of the ocean. The story combines elements of espionage thriller with Lovecraftian horror, humor, and references to both Ian Fleming's Bond books and HP Lovecraft's work. The writing style is described as fun, clever, and engaging, with a mix of humor, action, and geeky references that make it an entertaining read.

Characters:

Characters are well-drawn, with Bob Howard as a relatable protagonist and Ramona Random adding depth, while supporting roles provide humor and intrigue.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is clever and humorous, heavily layered with cultural references, delivering an engaging and fast-paced narrative.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot combines espionage with Lovecraftian elements, focusing on Bob Howard's mission to thwart a billionaire's plans that threaten to unleash an ancient evil.

Setting:

The setting combines a near-future bureaucracy with exotic locales, reflected in the contrast between espionage and supernatural horror.

Pacing:

Pacing shifts from slow beginnings to intense and swift movements, particularly in the latter half, balancing plot details with action.

THE GUYS FROM THE “A” AND “B” CREWS HAVE been sitting on their collective ass for five weeks, out in the middle of nowhere. They’re not alone; there’s the ship’s crew, from the captain on down to the ...

Notes:

The Jennifer Morgue is the sequel to Charles Stross's 2004 book, The Atrocity Archives.

It was published by Golden Gryphon Press in 2006 and has 313 pages.

The first 267 pages are dedicated to the titular novel, with additional content including a novella and an essay.

The book features high production quality, including an attractive cover art by Steve Montiglio.

It mixes themes from espionage and Lovecraftian mythology, involving governments aware of otherworldly threats.

Bob Howard, the main character, is a mid-level manager for a secret British agency called the Laundry.

The plot involves a billionaire trying to raise an ancient artifact from the ocean floor, risking war with underwater societies.

The story includes a character named Ramona Random, who is an assassin and not entirely human.

The narrative has a humorous tone and contains many in-jokes, especially about geek and spy culture.

The book explores themes of bureaucracy, technology, and ancient gods in a modern setting.

It contains a subplot involving virtual reality and gaming.

The writing style has been described as clever, fast-paced, and filled with humor and technical references.

Readers noted that while it parodies James Bond, it is not a strict deconstruction of that mythos.

The novella 'Pimpf' included in the book features a virtual reality setting.

The narrative addresses the complications of modern romance in a Lovecraft-infused espionage tale.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include references to sexual situations, inappropriate sexual references, and themes of mind control.

Has Romance?

The novel contains a medium level of romance, particularly between the protagonist Bob Howard and the character Ramona Random.

From The Publisher:

Bob Howard, geekish demonology hacker extraordinaire for "The Laundry," must stop ruthless billionaire Ellis Billington from unleashing an eldritch horror, codenamed "Jennifer Morgue," from the ocean's depths for the purpose of ruling the world…

Ratings (9)

Incredible (5)
Loved It (1)
Liked It (3)

Reader Stats (13):

Read It (9)
Want To Read (2)
Not Interested (2)

1 comment(s)

Cargide

Incredible

5 months

Más ingenieros (estoy en racha), posesiones demoníacas, cacharrería nivel James Bond y bastante humor. Totalmente recomendado a cualquiera que le gustara el primer libro.

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About the Author:

Charles Stross was born in Leeds, England, in 1964. He has worked as a pharmacist, software engineer and freelance journalist, but now writes full-time. To date, Stross has won three Hugo Awards and been nominated twelve times. He has also…

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The Jennifer Morgue

Charles Stross

Book 2 in the series:Laundry Files