tamaranth | 2026/010: Dionysus in Wisconsin

2026/010: Dionysus in Wisconsin — E H Lupton

Kitty narrowed her eyes at him. “A bit pompous, aren’t you? To think you can find a solution to a problem that people have been working on for over a millennium?”
“That’s academia, baby.” Ulysses folded his arms across his chest. “Anything else I can help you with?” [p. 205]

Madison, Wisconsin: 1969. Ulysses Lenkov is a 'human lightning rod', a magician who can attract and talk to spirits, but can't decide a subject for his dissertation). Sam Sterling is a mild-mannered archivist who's moved back to Madison to be near his family, who he doesn't especially like. Warned by a fellow-magic user that something big is coming -- something connected with the god Dionysus -- Ulysses seeks out Sam and discovers that his first name happens to be Dionysus ... and that there's a strong mutual attraction between them.

Together, Sam and Ulysses ... well, they do fight ~~crime~~ demons and magical malfeasance, but that's very much background, alluded to rather than the focus of the story. Ulysses is determined to save Sam from being used as a meat-puppet by a powerful supernatural force: Sam is determined to discover his grandfather's role in imperilling him, and whether the immense good fortune enjoyed by the rest of his family is connected with his imminent doom.

I really enjoyed this. Lupton's 1969 is not quite ours. There's a war in Vietnam, race riots and rock music in America, but there is no obvious homophobia and perhaps less sexism / misogyny: magic works and is an acknowledged and accepted fact of life, but not everyone has ability or interest. Period details such as landlines, microfiche, vehicles and fashions all feel familiar. Ulysses and Sam are delightful characters, with very different backgrounds and families. (I want much more of the Lenkovs, with their Russian origins and various magical specialities. The Sterlings are a less appealing, but very interesting, bunch.) The central romance feels balanced, credible, warm-hearted. And I liked the college setting, and the theatrical productions, and the strong sense of place.

And it's January, when traditionally I dive into a new series and stay there until the midwinter slump has passed. There are three more novels (so far) in the Wisconsin Gothic series... Onwards!