I am very proud to announce the publication of my first book-length translation, Kthulhu Reich, by Asamatsu Ken, translated by Jim Rion, published by Kurodahan Press.
Official Blurb:
World War II was a world-spanning conflict that engulfed dozens of countries, a maelstrom that dragged whole nations, religions, and millions of people to their deaths.
But it was fought with more than merely guns and machines…
Even before the War was begun in earnest, Nazi Germany had sent expeditions to the darkest hiding places of the world: to shadowed Africa, to the towering peaks of Tibet, and even to the frigid wastes of Antarctica.
Their goal was to locate occult weaponry and “aid” for the glory of the Third Reich.
And they were successful.
But were those they sought truly allies? Or were they the old Gods themselves, waiting for their chance to remold the world of Man in their own image once again?
Ken Asamatsu presents another fantastic novel of the War, the Cthulhu Mythos, and humanity trapped in the middle.
(NB: This isn’t exactly what I’d call a novel. It’s a loosely connected set of individual short stories.)
The Author:
Born in 1956 in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Graduated Toyo University to work at Kokusho Kankōkai, famous in Japan as the publisher of Lovecraft and many other works of horror and fantasy. Debut work as an author was Makyō no Gen’ei (Echoes of Ancient Cults), in 1986. He continues to be active in a wide range of activities, including writing extensively in the weird historical and horror genres. While remaining extremely interested in the Cthulhu Mythos, lately he has been concentrating on weird historicals set in the Muromachi period (1333-1573).
In 2005 his Higashiyamadono Oniwa (Higashiyamadono Villa Garden) was a finalist for the annual award of the Mystery Writers of Japan, Inc. in the short story genre.
He has also made considerable contribution to Japanese fiction as an anthologist, proposing a number of collections successfully published in Japan. The Lairs of the Hidden Gods, which won high praise in the original Japan, is now available from Kurodahan Press.
This book was nutso to translate. It sits at the nexus of Indiana Jones, Lovecraft, and Japanese nonsense with just a touch of Philip K. Dick-level paranoia. There are shoggoths, deathless wizards, vampires, and Jack the Ripper. There are magic rituals, ancient demons, and the Lance of Longinus. There are heroic spies and bloody betrayals.
Content Warning: there are actual Nazis (and proto-Nazis) acting like Nazis in this book, although the text only mentions the holocaust itself briefly. In addition, there can be an uncomfortable space where Nazis are protagonists against otherworldly evil. The author is NOT in any way shape or form a nazi sympathizer. Neither am I. The book also depicts the murders of Jack the Ripper rather graphically.
For those looking to buy (THANK YOU! Kurodahan is a tiny publisher, and every purchase helps keep them pumping out hidden Japanese gems like this. And, of course, the author and I also appreciate the support as well.) Here are links:
Jim Rion - Translator & Writer 
You may be interested in my review of Kthulhu Reich just published on my blog Pretty Sinister Books. I enjoyed the book! Had I known you were out here in the blogosphere I would have asked you my questions about the translation. As it turned out Edward Lipsett was more than happy to answer them for me.
Purely through coincidence I have also reviewed The Shapes of Midnight by Joseph Payne Brennan which I saw reviewed on your blog.
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You may be interested in my review of Kthulhu Reich just published on my blog Pretty Sinister Books. I enjoyed the book! Had I known you were out here in the blogosphere I would have asked you my questions about the translation. As it turned out Edward Lipsett was more than happy to answer them for me.
Purely through coincidence I have also reviewed The Shapes of Midnight by Joseph Payne Brennan which I saw reviewed on your blog.
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