BROOKLYN KNIGHT
By C.J. Henderson
Tor Books 2010
335 pgs
Writer C.J. Henderson (December 26, 1951 – July 4, 2014) was an American writer of horror, hardboiled crime fiction, and comic books. His comics work includes books for Marvel Comics and Valiant Comics. His best-known work in the hardboiled genre was the Jack Hagee detective series and his supernatural detective Teddy London series, as well as many other short stories and novels featuring many characters from Lovecraftian fiction and Kolchak: The Night Stalker, as well as his own.
He was also a friend. Thus, after all these years, we picked up his two Piers Knight books of which “Brooklyn Knight” was the first. It is a terrific pulp adventure filled with many of the tropes Henderson frequented in his fiction. Knight is the curator of a museum in Brooklyn as the tale begins and in classic form, he is getting acquainted with his new assistant, a lovely redhead from Montana named Brigit Elkins. It reminded me of I.V. Frost’s first meeting with the sexy Jean Moray. Bridget is awed by the grandeur of New York as Knight gives her a whirlwind tour starting from the observation lounge of the Empire State Building. She little realizes she’s about to join him in a fantastic adventure that will determine the fate of all mankind.
An ancient evil entity desires to enter our world/dimension, but to do so it must find an ancient artifact known as the Dream Stone; which of course is located in the museum. When a group of mercenaries attempt to steal the stone, they are thwarted by Knight who just happens to be an occult magician possessing his own unique and powerful talent. In the battle, Knight comes face to face with his opponent; another practioner bent upon achieving the Elder God’s wishes.
The action is fierce and fast-paced while at the same time, Henderson’s characterization of both Knight and Bridget is somehow tender. There is sensitivity to these characters we’d not seen in his earlier works and found it totally endearing. Having only completed two Piers Knight books before his passing, we will be very eager to read and review the second; hopefully before the end of the year. Meanwhile, if you’re an old C.J. Henderson and have yet to meet Piers Knight, get with it.
