The Armageddon Rag
| Company type | Publisher |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
The Armageddon Rag is a 1983 novel by American writer George R. R. Martin that combines elements of mystery and fantasy. It was jointly released in hardcover format by Poseidon Press and The Nemo Press. The narrative intertwines subtle fantastical aspects with a murder mystery framework, serving as a commentary on the cultural impact and legacy of 1960s rock music as viewed from the mid-1980s. The story includes intricate depictions of the fictional rock group the Nazgûl, featuring detailed concert setlists and album track durations, while each chapter is introduced with notable rock lyrics that thematically align with the content.
Martin referred to this work as his most daring and experimental project, though he acknowledged it as "a complete commercial failure" that nearly jeopardized his writing career. Nevertheless, The Armageddon Rag earned a nomination for the 1983 World Fantasy Award in the Best Novel category and secured the Balrog Award for best novel. Despite its initial lack of commercial success, the book remains available in print.
Plot
Sandy Blair, a disillusioned ex-hippie and novelist, embarks on an investigation into the ritualistic killing of Jamie Lynch, a rock promoter found dead in a small town in Maine on the tenth anniversary of the dissolution of Lynch’s band, the iconic Nazgûl. Lynch’s body was discovered placed atop a poster advertising the Nazgûl’s final concert in West Mesa, New Mexico—the event where their lead vocalist, Patrick Henry "Hobbit" Hobbins, was mysteriously murdered.
The death of Lynch paves the way for a reunion tour of the Nazgûl, orchestrated by Edan Morse, a wealthy individual rumored to have been involved in radical left-wing activism during the 1970s. Following an arson attack that compels the surviving three band members to come together again, Morse presents a look-alike substitute for Hobbins as the new frontman, despite this replacement lacking both talent and stage presence. As Blair conducts interviews with the remaining band members and reconnects with acquaintances from the 1960s era, he assumes the role of press agent for the Nazgûl’s successful reunion tour amid an approaching supernatural event.
Blair grows increasingly suspicious that Morse intends to exploit the band as part of an occult ritual designed to unleash dark supernatural forces—an act of vengeance against a society that dismissed 1960s countercultural ideals—while he seeks to unravel the mysteries surrounding the murders of Lynch and Hobbins.
Reception
Although commercially unsuccessful, which led Martin to temporarily halt prose writing in favor of television scriptwriting, Algis Budrys commended the novel as "a powerful and essential fantasy" focused on an emotionally charged era rather than an individual character, praising its profound emotional depth despite its provocative subject matter.
Editions
Initially published by Poseidon Press (Simon & Schuster), The Armageddon Rag also appeared as a limited edition from Nemo Press that included a slipcase and artwork by Victor Moscoso. A mass-market paperback version was subsequently released by Pocket Books in 1985.
External links
- The Armageddon Rag at Worlds Without End