The Erstwhile

The Erstwhile is the second installment in B. Catling's dark fantasy trilogy centered on the Vorrh, a vast and mysterious African forest. The novel continues the saga that blends historical events with supernatural elements in early 20th century Europe and Africa. The story follows multiple characters whose paths intersect as they navigate the boundaries between reality and myth. Angels known as the Erstwhile have awakened from their ancient slumber and begun to appear in London, setting off a chain of events that connects back to the primordial forest. The narrative moves between London's fog-filled streets and the depths of the African continent, exploring mankind's relationship with the divine and the unknown. Characters confront questions about the nature of consciousness, memory, and the blurred lines between human and inhuman. This complex work combines elements of horror, historical fiction, and mythology to examine themes of colonialism, power, and the tension between civilization and wilderness. The novel builds on the surreal atmosphere of its predecessor while expanding its philosophical scope.

Readers found this second book in The Vorrh trilogy challenging to follow, with many noting it's less accessible than the first book. The complex narrative structure and multiple plotlines left some feeling disoriented. Readers appreciated: - Rich, poetic language - Expansion of the mythology - Gothic horror elements - Historical figure incorporation Common criticisms: - Slower pacing than The Vorrh - Too many characters to track - Disconnected narrative threads - Requires rereading previous book "The prose is beautiful but the story meanders too much," noted one Amazon reviewer. Another reader on Goodreads wrote, "The historical sections work better than the fantasy elements." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (50+ reviews) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (30+ ratings) The book maintains a core following among experimental fiction fans but loses some readers who preferred the first book's tighter focus.

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🌳 The Vorrh, the mysterious forest featured in the trilogy, was inspired by Raymond Roussel's 1910 novel "Impressions of Africa," which was highly influential to the Surrealist movement. 🎨 B. Catling was primarily known as a performance artist and sculptor before publishing The Vorrh trilogy, with his works featured in the Tate Gallery and the Museum of Modern Art. 🎭 The concept of the Erstwhile angels draws from various religious mythologies, particularly the Watchers from the Book of Enoch - fallen angels who were tasked with observing humanity. 🏛️ Victorian London, a key setting in the book, experienced massive expansion during the 1800s, growing from 1 million to 6.7 million inhabitants, creating the exact kind of crowded, atmospheric backdrop depicted in the novel. 🖋️ The author wrote much of the trilogy in longhand, often working at night, and completed the first draft of The Vorrh (book one) in just three months despite being in his sixties when he began writing fiction.