Khai Of Khem by Brian Lumley
01/03/2005 . Source: Paul Skevington 

pub: TOR. 320 page hardback. Price: $24.95 (US). ISBN: 1-765-31047-3.

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This book is a re-issue of a novel that is now nearly twenty-five years old and it maintains some of the sensibilities of horror writing from that period. Virtually every horror novel would guarantee a good few paragraphs of sex followed by lashings of violence perpetrated by assorted demons, ghosts, aliens and/or mutants. 'Khai Of Khem' does not disappoint these expectations. The pages of this book contain every single horror trope you can think of. Try all of the above plus magic, spiritual time travel, ancient Egypt and sexual deviancy.



The plot is absolutely barking and therefore quite difficult to summarise, so bear with me. It primarily concerns the actions of a man named Khai who comes from a land called, wait for it, Khem. In Lumley's book, this land is a historical precursor to Egypt and bears many similarities to the Ancient Egypt the reader is likely to be familiar with. Khai is the son of a wealthy architect who is in charge of the design and construction of the Pharaoh Khasathut's giant pyramid. This pyramid is apparently the progenitor of all those subsequently built and is far larger and more grandiose than anything known in this age. This is because the land of Khem was visited by 'little green men' in its infancy. Apparently, exceptionally randy members of their species proceeded to interbreed with the local populace, placing their offspring as overlords over the land and gifting them with fantastic technology, like bread-making machines and mp3 players. OK, maybe not that technology exactly, but you get my point.

As the result of a complicated plot twist, Khai's father is accused of treason and as a direct result Khai's family suffers a horrific fate, which only he manages to avoid. This is only because the Pharaoh wants to train up a new servant to aid him in all his tasks and to generally be his 'bitch'. After witnessing some truly stomach churning events, Khai manages to escape and so begins his long journey that ends with him as a general of the rival nation of Kush, fuelled by a desire for revenge. Along the way, Khai ends up captured and the 'Dark Heptad' (a group of evil magi) send his soul down the centuries to be reborn in another land as Paul Arnott.

Whilst I did enjoy this book, I have to state that I never found the setting entirely convincing. It is obvious that Lumley has gone to great pains in researching the book, providing much information about when certain items and technology were introduced into Egyptian society. This is actually quite annoying, as it is often presented in asides from the author, like an annoying mate carping on about their favourite subject. Whereas writers such as Anne Rice can present an ancient society and maintain its sense of exoticism and mystery, Lumley's Khem feels like a playground inhabited by twentieth century guys who happen to carry swords and wear armour. As a result of this the novel's characterisation is a bit sketchy and none of the inhabitants of this realm ever felt quite real to me. Lumley seemed to be in more comfortable territory when he was describing the modern world of Paul Arnott, which is by far the most believable section of the novel.

Despite this, there are plenty of things to like about the book. There is a sense of adventure to the piece that is reminiscent of Robert E. Howard's work in its exuberance and sheer vitality. Lumley's ability to invent and describe horrific situations and creatures is undeniable. Khasathut himself is a monstrous masterpiece. Lumley also manages to keep the readers interest throughout the book; he is an author with a keen sense of pace. It wouldn't be right either to undervalue the fun of reading this book, with its pulpy tone and its madcap mix of space opera and fantasy.

This is a book that will appeal to most of us on some level. I would recommend the book to Lumley fans, but as its been around for so long most of you will have purchased it already. I would also recommend it for the casual reader looking to pick up something lightweight to pass the time. This one is a definite holiday book, an ideal companion for long journeys and lazy days. It's also worth buying just for the incident involving the set of bronze false teeth. Owie!

Paul Skevington