Pyramid Pick
Mortal Coils (for Call of Cthulhu)
Published by Pagan Publishing
Written by Michael Cisco, John H. Crowe III, Dennis Detwiller, Jeff Moeller, Rebecca Strong, and John Tynes
Illustrated by Toren Atkinson, Dennis Detwiller, and Heather Hudson
208-page perfect bound soft cover; $20.95
Mortal Coils was the next release for Call of Cthulhu from Pagan Publishing after Delta Green and the "ghoulicious" The Realm of Shadows. It is, apart from the reprints of scenarios from early issues of their magazine The Unspeakable Oath, the only anthology that Pagan Publishing has released. There are eight scenarios altogether. All but two are set in the USA, with the earliest in 1900 and the latest in 1929. Although separate from each other, all are thematically linked -- each story is concerned with the players saving or investigating the loss of some poor soul's "mortal coil."
Considering the usual quality of Pagan Publishing's books, my expectations for Mortal Coils were certainly high. In terms of appearance and layout, it certainly does not disappoint. It looks dark and foreboding, with some really quite lovely artwork. Dennis Detwiller does much of the interior art, and stating that his are the best illustrations in Mortal Coils should in no way make light of the work by either Toren Atkinson or Heather Hudson.
[SPOILER ALERT!]
The book opens with "Vigilante Justice" by John H. Crowe III. This is set in turn-of-the-century rural Kentucky, but can be adjusted up until 1920. The daughter . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: September 28, 2001
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