As anyone who reads Brian Lumley knows. Reading one of his books is like clinging to the back of Evel Knievel's motorcycle. The second volume in this series sees a more mature hero with more intent and an elevated understanding of his abilities. Only now his abilities must used for the survival of not only his mind but the world it inhabits. Lumley comes crashing through the brush and is in your face in an instant. ( )

Richard Garrison's dream quests are my favorite parts of "Psychosphere" (and "Psychomech").

There has taken place in my consciousness an alchemical amalgamation which pertains to Garrison's dream world, David Lindsay's "A Voyage to Arcturus", Cervantes' "Don Quixote" (along with the works referenced in that work), Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series, and Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game" (Ender's computer generated quests)".

These have placed within me a thirst—a thirst that pertains to invisible wizards, necromancers, Knight-errantry, questing... These things are suddenly relative to me in my reality. More truth in fiction, they say...

Charon Gubwa was some villian—a "Negro", an albino, a hermaphrodite, immensely obese, ego-maniacal, a tranny lover, a woman mutilator, an ESP extraordinaire...

It's hard to forget the picture Lumley places in our heads of Gubwa ejaculating into the face of 1of 3 of his lovers. He goes about the scene not in an erotic manner, but a grotesque and horrible way—which is good because this is what needs be done with sex—show what a horror it is—anything but beautiful. Think what HR Giger has done for eroticism in art... Excellent.

Richard Garrison was betrayed by Terri in "Psychomech" and Vicki here in "Psychosphere". The London based Mafia who perpetually chased Garrison really voiced their thoughts on the usefulness of women. I'm anxious to read "Psychamok" to find out if there is a redeeming female character. Vicki was almost it, but failed at trustworthiness in the end. Suzy, Richard's black bitch, did not; and of course Richard did not have to give Suzy life for loyalty. Loyalty is the inherent nature of Canis lupus familiaris. Not so with all women, nor men.

Alas, I was a bit disappointed in the ending. It was pretty good, but it felt rushed and too compressed. I daresay it is the fault of some editor. Also, I can't imagine Richard and Suzy (of whom I'm very glad is still with Richard in the end) returning in the finale of the trilogy... I hope they do, but I cannot fathom any reason that they would...

Lumley may have come across here as a bit racist and sexist. I don't think so though. I think it was a true reflection of his time; and it makes for "more real" and interesting reading. I hope the Italians in his next book do nasty things to women too, and perhaps even throw in another albino negro hermaphrodite... hehehe

One really big draw for me here is the Nazi occult mythos. I am reminded of another book—"The Secret King: Karl Maria Wiligut, Himmler's Lord of the Runes".

I really am becoming quite fond of Lumley and cannot wait to digest his continuation of Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, as well as Lumley's other works. ( )