I Am Providence

A horror-noir murder mystery set at a H.P. Lovecraft fan convention in Providence, Rhode Island. Two writers - newcomer Colleen Danzig and controversial figure Panos Panossian - become roommates at the event, but Panossian is found dead with his face removed on the first night. The narrative alternates between Colleen's investigation of the murder and the consciousness of the deceased Panossian, who observes the convention from a disembodied state. As Colleen pursues leads about a mysterious book bound in human skin, Panossian's ghostly presence reflects on his life, his opinions, and the convention attendees around him. The murder mystery inhabits the intersecting worlds of small press publishing, literary fandom, and convention culture. Both storylines examine the tensions within the Lovecraft community and the complex relationships between authors, fans, and critics. The novel explores themes of literary legacy, cultural gatekeeping, and the shadow that H.P. Lovecraft's problematic views cast over contemporary horror fiction. It serves as both a murder mystery and a meditation on how communities process their complicated relationships with controversial cultural figures.

Readers describe this murder mystery set at a Lovecraft convention as a satirical take on fandom culture, though many note it moves slowly and gets bogged down in inside jokes. Readers appreciated: - The authentic portrayal of convention dynamics and fan communities - Dark humor about literary scenes and conventions - The alternating narrative structure between a dead body and living detective - References that reward Lovecraft knowledge without requiring it Common criticisms: - Pacing issues, especially in the middle sections - Too many tangents and meta-commentary - Some characters feel one-dimensional - The mystery element gets overshadowed by satire Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 3.5/5 (50+ reviews) LibraryThing: 3.3/5 (30+ ratings) "Clever but meandering" appears in multiple reviews. Several readers mentioned struggling to finish despite enjoying the premise, while others praised it as "the best fictional take on conventions" they'd read.

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🦑 The title "I Am Providence" comes from H.P. Lovecraft's epitaph on his actual gravestone in Swan Point Cemetery, Rhode Island 🏛️ The Summer Tentacular convention in the book closely mirrors NecronomiCon Providence, a real biennial convention celebrating Lovecraft's works 📚 Author Nick Mamatas has written extensively about H.P. Lovecraft's influence on literature, including editing Lovecraft-themed anthologies 🔍 The novel's dual narrative structure - including chapters narrated by a corpse - pays homage to William Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying" 🏰 Providence, Rhode Island was Lovecraft's hometown and the setting for several of his most famous stories, including "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" and "The Haunter of the Dark"