“Far more self-aware and entertaining than The Da Vinci Code.” – Death Ray
Reporter Spencer Finch is embroiled in the hunt for a missing book,
encountering along the way cat burglars and mobsters, hackers and
monks. At the same time, he’s trying to make sense of the legacy left
him by his late grandfather, a chest of what appear to be magazines
from the golden age of pulp fiction, and even earlier.
Following his nose, Finch gradually uncovers a mystery involving a
lost Greek play, secret societies, generations of masked vigilantes...
and an entire secret history of mankind.
This tremendous modern fantasy is like The Da Vinci Code rewritten by the Coen Brothers. Already critically acclaimed worldwide
for both his SF and fantasy series, Chris Roberson is at the very
height of his powers. A lost classic, originally self-published by
Chris as Voices of Thunder back in 2001, this revised,
definitive edition, from the author’s preferred text, is published for
the mass-market for the very first time.
More praise...
“Book of Secrets incorporates
many of the author’s favourite tropes. The love for golden age pulp is
here as is the idea that books hold power, that ideas have weight and
shape and form. It’s a fascinating book, paced at breakneck speed with
a hard nosed first person narrative and some great offhand jokes. The
real star here is Roberson’s easy going prose, that carries some big
ideas along with elegance and grace and places the story in a unique
hinterland somewhere between steampunk and action thriller, weaving
Spencer’s life into ancient Greek literature and the pulp stories
written by his grandfather. A smart, literate thriller written by an
author whose love for the form is clear.” – Alasdair Stuart
“This mash-up of 1930s pulp fiction with dreams of a secret heritage
accessible only to the chosen is far more self-aware and entertaining
than The Da Vinci Code. Born of Roberson’s deep affection for
radio serials, comic strips and writers like Michael Moorcock and Gray
Morrow, this affectionate look at finding oneself and finally coming to
terms with one’s roots is accessible, entertaining and made two hours
whip past almost unnoticed. In line with the conventions of the genre,
girls are accessories here, but it would be churlish to take offence
when the story is so entertaining.” – Death Ray
“Effective and engaging” – Total SciFi
“Incredibly well done and is a book that has to be applauded for its
bravery in this new style of creation. Definitely a book that can spawn
a series and one that I hope will continue to expand with each future
release. Great stuff.” – Falcata Times
“Book of Secrets is a book of genres. In other words, it is
a celebration of the age of pulp with a meta-fictional slant. It moves
in two directions – a very readable first person narrative in the form of
a crime novel that progresses to the conclusion of the mystery and a
fantasy novel that moves in reverse to disclose the nature of the
universe. Roberson is just a damn fine writer. He writes a good
sentence; the novel is structured like a Swiss watch and paced like a
Tennessee walker... In the time of the post-Tolkienians and the novel as
brick, Book of Secrets is unique, refreshing, breezy, and fun.” – Red Rook Review
“This is a very enjoyable novel of speculative fiction. It’s a
rip-roaring read with a multi-layered plot and an original and
surprising conclusion. I can see myself re-reading it for pleasure in
future. What more can you ask of a book?” – SF Crowsnest
