“A normal lake is knowable. A Great Lake can hold all the mysteries of an ocean, and then some.”
— Dan Egan, Author
This is one of five quotes that appear at the beginning of Weird Tales of the Great Lakes, setting the tone for the rest of the book. It’s also the one that resonated with me the most—and perfectly captures the collection’s wonderfully weird essence.
Author Aleco Julius delivers a fine collection of eerie fiction rooted in the long and often mysterious history of the Great Lakes. He’s in top form here.
According to the book’s description:
Each story in this collection is inspired by the legendary lore of the Great Lakes. These inland seas are home to a mythos of tragedy and beauty, where glaciers have carved out the contours of the land in ages past, and enigmas hide beneath the troubled waves.
Book Summary
Weird Tales of the Great Lakes explores the hidden and mysterious nature of the Lakes in a truly unique way. Ten short stories—set in both the past and present—take readers on a Lovecraftian journey to the edge of sanity and reason. From eldritch horrors lurking in the depths to strange visions and sightings on the surface, Julius proves himself a master of the Lovecraftian tradition.
History, horror, mythology, and fiction are seamlessly blended together in these ten stories. Each stands alone, though several connect to one another—particularly those centered on the doomed, fictional freighter SS Neptune. Creepy, eerie, and unsettling, they make perfect use of the Great Lakes’ deep, dark, and mysterious atmosphere.
The collection closes on a personal note, as Julius reflects on the Great Lakes and their undeniable, almost mythical power. In his way, he captures their spirit beautifully.
My Thoughts
I found a copy of this book at the library and was instantly intrigued. Initially, I didn’t read the description and thought it might be a collection of true stories. It quickly became clear that wasn’t the case—and I didn’t mind at all. I read creepy short story collections as a kid, so this felt instantly familiar. Nostalgic even.
Weird Tales of the Great Lakes held my attention from start to finish. Unusually for me, I read it in a single evening—I just couldn’t put it down. I’ve only gotten into eldritch horror in the past few years (I highly recommend Sherlock Holmes and the Shadwell Shadows by James Lovegrove), but I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. I’ll admit, though, I didn’t sleep very well after finishing this book.
Like at least one other reader on Goodreads, I found myself looking up which stories were based on real events and which were pure fiction. The sinking of the real-life SS Eastland in 1915 and SS Regina in the Great Lakes Storm of 1913 both feature prominently in two stories. Unsurprisingly, those were among my favorites—along with everything connected to the fictional SS Neptune.
If I had one small critique, it’s that a few stories favor atmosphere over plot. But even then, they’re so rich in tone and detail that I didn’t mind one bit.
Conclusion
As you’ve probably gathered, I loved this book. It kept me hooked from beginning to end and left me feeling distinctly unsettled—a pure Lovecraftian reaction.
Fans of eldritch horror will no doubt enjoy Weird Tales of the Great Lakes. But history lovers and anyone fascinated by the lakes themselves will find plenty to appreciate, too. And with Halloween nearly upon us, there’s no better time to pick up this book than now. It’s the perfect way to spend a cozy evening at home.
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