Song of Kali
Song of Kali is a horror novel written by Dan Simmons, published in 1985. Set in the city of Calcutta, India, the story follows American poet Robert Luczak who is sent on a magazine assignment to retrieve a manuscript penned by a reclusive Indian author. Upon arrival, Luczak, accompanied by his wife and baby, quickly becomes ensnared in a nightmarish plot involving cult worshippers of the goddess Kali. The city itself seems to embody the dread and rawness of Kali, the Hindu goddess of destruction and chaos, serving as a backdrop to the couple's descent into terror. The narrative explores themes of cultural clash, the supernatural, and the unknown, with Simmons' prose creating a mood that is as oppressive and stifling as the Calcutta heat. A complex and unsettling read, Song of Kali is memorable for its atmospheric tension and haunting imagery. It was the winner of the 1986 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.
Signed & Inscribed by Simmons on the title page: "To Mika Babcock — / A postcard from the city / of Dreadful Night / Dan Simmons."
Hardcover. First Edition, First Printing. Octavo, cloth boards. New York: Bluejay Books, 1985. World Fantasy Award winner (1986). Jones & Newman, Horror: The 100 Best Novels (94). ISBN: 031294408x. #10378.
Fine in fine dust jacket.