Jagannath is a collection of short stories by a Swedish writer, drawing on elements of pre-Christian and even pre-Norse mythology to turn modern incidents on their ear.
Jaganath, by Karin Tidbeck; 155 pages, published 2012

If you have a couple hours to kill, and you enjoyed H.P. Lovecraft’s brand of pandimensional horror, this will do for you. The stories range from psychological investigation with practically no supernatural occurrence to virtually “pure” science fiction all the way out to unhinged meanderings through almost entirely inhuman realms. Most have a solid whack of Swedish cultural tidbits blended in; some references seem to translate well, but some apparently do not, to the point where you’ll have to head to internet to begin to get the picture. And even then, event referenced won’t make much gut sense to someone who didn’t grow up with it – but these references absolutely add flavor, savor, and authenticity to the tales. The characters accept the events as real and natural, so why shouldn’t the reader? And I’m not just talking about the supernatural stuff.

And in the end, that’s what you get from this collection. There is nothing here that will change your life, but there is much that is colorful and evocative. The stories are well-crafted, the language precise and strong. The diversion is just right – this will entertain for a short time without either addicting or boring the reader. It was actually a struggle for me to not simply read the entire collection in one sitting; but at the same time, once I was finished, I didn’t feel compelled to seek out more. A most pleasant experience – in spite of the pandimensional and cultural strangeness. No Lovecraftian nightmares for me, thank you!
Please note that it is difficult to write with more specificity without spoiling too much, as the stories are quite short. Seriously, just request this from your local library and enjoy.