Book Review: Gothica

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Gothica     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Steven R. Cowan
Class/Genre:   SF AND Fantasy   Horror
Southern Charm, Mar 2001, 294 pp.

When Calvin McLeish quit his day job at the power plant to become the great American author, his wife rolled her eyes up in disbelief. When Calvin spent several thousand on a computer when the family finances were already in deficit spending, she was stunned beyond belief. However, when he spends his entire waking moments in the chat rooms, Maggie says enough and files for divorce.

Writing his spouse off as "naggy Maggie", Calvin finds a chat room GOTHICA that excites him so he joins it as the Timetravellar in deference to his hero the Highlander. Over time, the Timetravellar and Calvin begin to live separate lives inside the same body with Calvin owning the daylight and Timetravellar owning the night hours. Calvin begins an online relationship with Panthera while Timetravellar starts one with Vampyra. Now the adventures begin in cyberspace where the undead rule.

GOTHICA is a weird tale that will please those readers who enjoy a dark fantasy in a modern setting. The story line is filled with action and plenty of graphic cyber-sex. The multiple personality compromise between Calvin and Timetravellar rings true, which in turn, becomes the underpinning of a ingeniously developed tale from the darkside that allows peeping readers to follow the chats on line. The pressure will be placed on Steven R. Cowan to provide the same level of quality with more modern takes on immortals in future novels.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner