What is this? And what isn’t it?
The Destroyer of Worlds is a sequel to my 2016 novel Lovecraft Country. It is NOT a sequel to the HBO series of the same name.
Do I need to have read Lovecraft Country to understand the story?
No. I wrote The Destroyer of Worlds as a self-contained novel—it tells you everything you need to know about the characters and their histories. That being said, it will obviously be more meaningful if you’re already familiar with the previous book, so if you are at all interested in the complete saga, I’d recommend starting with Lovecraft Country.
What if I’ve only seen the HBO series?
In that case, I would definitely recommend reading Lovecraft Country first. I think the series is a great adaptation of my novel, but it does make significant changes to the characters and the storyline, particularly in the later episodes, and jumping from the season one finale to The Destroyer of Worlds would likely be very confusing.
Can you summarize the differences between the HBO series and the novel?
Doing so would take a long time and involve a lot of spoilers. But in hopes of enticing you to check out the book, I will mention one important difference: in the novel’s version of the story, Atticus, George, and Ruby are all still alive and have important roles to play. So if you liked those characters and wanted more of their adventures, I’ve got you covered.
I was very disappointed when HBO decided not to renew the TV series for a second season. Does the fact that you’re publishing this sequel mean that there will be a season two?
No, the HBO series and the novel are separate entities. I retain the literary rights to Lovecraft Country, which means I’m free to write more books, so long as I don’t use any of the new material created for the TV show. HBO, for its part, is free to continue the series—or not continue it—without any further input from me.
One other thing I’ll say about this: from what she has revealed publicly about her plans for season two, it’s clear that showrunner Misha Green intended to take the TV series in a very different direction than I plan to take the novels. The idea of two such radically different interpretations of the same story moving forward simultaneously—one on screen, one in print—strikes me as immensely cool and exciting, and it’s something I’ve never seen before. So I too am disappointed that the series wasn’t renewed. But I also know how lucky I am to have gotten even the one season.
Will there be more Lovecraft Country novels after Destroyer?
My plan is to write at least one and possibly two more books, carrying the story forward to 1964, when the passage of the Civil Rights Act will allow George to realize his dream of discontinuing The Safe Negro Travel Guide and rebranding his business as “the plain old Berry Travel Agency.” Though I still have a lot of thinking to do, I already know the ultimate fates of all the characters and I know what the final scene will be. Now I just have to figure out exactly how I’m going to get there. Stay tuned.