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الكامن في الظلمة
رُجلان مُحترمان يقتُلان بعضهما بأشرف طريقة: بالنثر.
نتحدث عن الظلمات التي تقهر الأرواح، عندما أراد روبرت بليك أن يستخدم كِتابًا آثريًا محظورًا، لينعم بمزيدٍ من الخيالِ والأفكار، ففتح وزميله نافذةً بين الأبعاد، وسمحا للكامنِ في الظُلمة بالتُسللِ إلى عالمنا، ليتغذى على المخاوفِ والدماء البشرية، ويُحبسُ في ظُلماتِ الأرض، وتعُم الفوضى المجنونة.
طلب روبرت بلوخ من لافكرافت أن يستعير شخصيته في قصة، فيُظهِره بطلًا ويقتله فيها، ووافق لافكرافت، على أنه كتب قصة تابعة، استعار فيها شخصية روبرت بلوخ ثم قتله، ولم يعلم أنه أخر نصٍ يكتبه في حياته.
ثم عاد بلوخ ليُقدِر لافكرافت باعتباره أستاذًا للون أدبيٍ يُسمى الرعب الكوني، فكتب تتمةً يربط فيها القصص والعوالم الأدبية، ويستخلص من قصائد لافكرافت ما يستعصي على أفهام الكثيرين، ويختتم بنهايةٍ تسمح بتوسع العوالم اللافكرافتية، فهل تجرؤ على قراءة الأسرار التي أفقدت الكثيرين عقولهم؟ وقراءة أخر ما خاطب به لافكرافت بني جنسه؟
نتحدث عن الظلمات التي تقهر الأرواح، عندما أراد روبرت بليك أن يستخدم كِتابًا آثريًا محظورًا، لينعم بمزيدٍ من الخيالِ والأفكار، ففتح وزميله نافذةً بين الأبعاد، وسمحا للكامنِ في الظُلمة بالتُسللِ إلى عالمنا، ليتغذى على المخاوفِ والدماء البشرية، ويُحبسُ في ظُلماتِ الأرض، وتعُم الفوضى المجنونة.
طلب روبرت بلوخ من لافكرافت أن يستعير شخصيته في قصة، فيُظهِره بطلًا ويقتله فيها، ووافق لافكرافت، على أنه كتب قصة تابعة، استعار فيها شخصية روبرت بلوخ ثم قتله، ولم يعلم أنه أخر نصٍ يكتبه في حياته.
ثم عاد بلوخ ليُقدِر لافكرافت باعتباره أستاذًا للون أدبيٍ يُسمى الرعب الكوني، فكتب تتمةً يربط فيها القصص والعوالم الأدبية، ويستخلص من قصائد لافكرافت ما يستعصي على أفهام الكثيرين، ويختتم بنهايةٍ تسمح بتوسع العوالم اللافكرافتية، فهل تجرؤ على قراءة الأسرار التي أفقدت الكثيرين عقولهم؟ وقراءة أخر ما خاطب به لافكرافت بني جنسه؟
140 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1935
118 people are currently reading
2176 people want to read
About the author
H.P. Lovecraft
6,201 books19.3k followersHoward Phillips Lovecraft, of Providence, Rhode Island, was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction.
Lovecraft's major inspiration and invention was cosmic horror: life is incomprehensible to human minds and the universe is fundamentally alien. Those who genuinely reason, like his protagonists, gamble with sanity. Lovecraft has developed a cult following for his Cthulhu Mythos, a series of loosely interconnected fictions featuring a pantheon of human-nullifying entities, as well as the Necronomicon, a fictional grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works were deeply pessimistic and cynical, challenging the values of the Enlightenment, Romanticism and Christianity. Lovecraft's protagonists usually achieve the mirror-opposite of traditional gnosis and mysticism by momentarily glimpsing the horror of ultimate reality.
Although Lovecraft's readership was limited during his life, his reputation has grown over the decades. He is now commonly regarded as one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th Century, exerting widespread and indirect influence, and frequently compared to Edgar Allan Poe.
See also Howard Phillips Lovecraft.
— Wikipedia
Lovecraft's major inspiration and invention was cosmic horror: life is incomprehensible to human minds and the universe is fundamentally alien. Those who genuinely reason, like his protagonists, gamble with sanity. Lovecraft has developed a cult following for his Cthulhu Mythos, a series of loosely interconnected fictions featuring a pantheon of human-nullifying entities, as well as the Necronomicon, a fictional grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works were deeply pessimistic and cynical, challenging the values of the Enlightenment, Romanticism and Christianity. Lovecraft's protagonists usually achieve the mirror-opposite of traditional gnosis and mysticism by momentarily glimpsing the horror of ultimate reality.
Although Lovecraft's readership was limited during his life, his reputation has grown over the decades. He is now commonly regarded as one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th Century, exerting widespread and indirect influence, and frequently compared to Edgar Allan Poe.
See also Howard Phillips Lovecraft.
— Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 314 reviews
January 4, 2024
“The Haunter of the Dark,” the last original story written by H.P. Lovecraft, has an interesting history. Robert Bloch (author of Psycho) had published a story called “The Shambler from the Stars” (Weird Tales (September 1935) in which he killed off a character obvious based on Lovecraft. When a Weird Tales fan wrote a letter suggesting H.P. should return the favor, Lovecraft obliged, writing a tale in which a certain writer named “Robert Blake” dies of fright during an encounter with “The Haunter of the Dark.”
This is not only Lovecraft’s last story, it is also one of his best, most characteristic, and most personal. The view from the window of Robert Blake’s Providence apartment—a sinister old church located atop Federal Hill—is precisely the view which could be seen from Lovecraft’s own study. And the walks Blake takes through Federal Hill’s Italian district are walks Lovecraft took himself.
The sinister old church is based on a real church, now torn down: St. John’s, a Catholic church on Atwell’s Avenue. Its belfry was demolished by a lightning strike five months before Lovecraft wrote this story, an event which no doubt inspired the fictional electric storm which precipitates the conclusion of both “The Haunter of the Dark” and the unfortunate Robert Blake’s brief life.
This is one of my favorite Lovecraft stories. It features economical, atmospheric description, a subtle balance between humor and terror, and it ends with a memorable and chilling four word phrase.
All in all, a fitting conclusion to Lovecraft’s career.
June 9, 2023
Three Stars for Horror!
Robert was extremely curious about the neighborhood of Federal Hill and the mysterious buildings that propagated the area. He was fascinated by this one building in particular and decided he had to visit up close.
No one in the neighborhood would comment on the old black monolith, which used to be a church. A police officer advised him to stay away from it. He immediately ignored his advice and discovered a way into the building.
Now, he has awakened something. Something afraid of the light. Something that has caused the disappearance of many people, fifty years ago.
Something that is controlling him. Confusing him. Commanding and drawing him to the horrible, black abyss.
At least his curiosity is filled…
Three stars. ✨✨✨
Robert was extremely curious about the neighborhood of Federal Hill and the mysterious buildings that propagated the area. He was fascinated by this one building in particular and decided he had to visit up close.
No one in the neighborhood would comment on the old black monolith, which used to be a church. A police officer advised him to stay away from it. He immediately ignored his advice and discovered a way into the building.
Now, he has awakened something. Something afraid of the light. Something that has caused the disappearance of many people, fifty years ago.
Something that is controlling him. Confusing him. Commanding and drawing him to the horrible, black abyss.
At least his curiosity is filled…
Three stars. ✨✨✨
July 18, 2019
A very promising title leads into a fascinating story full of cosmic horror. Robert Blake, a writer and painter, is found dead in his chair looking outside the window. There was a power failure over town. But what frightened him? You hear about a dark church on Federal Hill, a decayed Cylopean building he thoroughly investigated. There he found among many black bound tomes a copy of the Necronomicon. In a dusty corner was a skeleton. Which cults of evil were performed within the church? You'll read about the Shining Trapezohedron, a gateway to... Well, another great Lovecraft tale full of reference to the Old Ones. What can I say? Read it and get you eerie shot of Lovecraft. This is spine tingling horror, nothing for the faint hearted. The dark church is masterly done and you reall feel the evil spirit through the pages!
November 26, 2018
Dark knowledge!
DARKNESS FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW
This tale is set in Providence, Rhode Island...
...and focused on the Church of Starry Wisdom,...
...where a secret society came into the possession of an old item of impossible angles,...
...which is able to show dark knowledge...
...about places beyond imagination but...
...to a too highly cost to pay.
DARKNESS FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW
This tale is set in Providence, Rhode Island...
...and focused on the Church of Starry Wisdom,...
...where a secret society came into the possession of an old item of impossible angles,...
...which is able to show dark knowledge...
...about places beyond imagination but...
...to a too highly cost to pay.
August 14, 2018
Notable for being Lovecraft’s last original story (written in 1935 and first published in 1936 in Weird Tales a few months before he would die of intestinal cancer) Haunter in the Dark is quintessential Lovecraft, counted as a part of the Cthulhu Mythos.
Atmospheric and brooding as is the best of his writing, this story has a unique backstory of its own as it is a sequel to Robert Bloch’s “The Shambler from the Stars”. Some fans may not know that Bloch, author of Psycho, was a friend and correspondent of Lovecraft, and in many ways the older writer served as a mentor to Bloch. ** Bloch published a third related story, "The Shadow from the Steeple", in 1950.
Set in Providence, Lovecraft describes the strange last days of Robert Blake (a pseudonym for Bloch presumably) in which he discovers the abandoned Church of the Starry Wisdom and the mystical Shining Trapezohedron housed within, where a portal to the chaotic and unknowable and unspeakable eldritch mysteries can be attained.
The final words of the story are a fitting end to Lovecraft’s great contribution to our literature: “"I see it-- coming here-- hell-wind-- titan-blur-- black wings-- Yog-Sothoth save me-- the three-lobed burning eye...".
Atmospheric and brooding as is the best of his writing, this story has a unique backstory of its own as it is a sequel to Robert Bloch’s “The Shambler from the Stars”. Some fans may not know that Bloch, author of Psycho, was a friend and correspondent of Lovecraft, and in many ways the older writer served as a mentor to Bloch. ** Bloch published a third related story, "The Shadow from the Steeple", in 1950.
Set in Providence, Lovecraft describes the strange last days of Robert Blake (a pseudonym for Bloch presumably) in which he discovers the abandoned Church of the Starry Wisdom and the mystical Shining Trapezohedron housed within, where a portal to the chaotic and unknowable and unspeakable eldritch mysteries can be attained.
The final words of the story are a fitting end to Lovecraft’s great contribution to our literature: “"I see it-- coming here-- hell-wind-- titan-blur-- black wings-- Yog-Sothoth save me-- the three-lobed burning eye...".
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July 23, 2018
No love for short stories have I. I never have liked them and I'm not sure I ever will, but Lovecraft seems to have them nailed to a T and I can't fault him.
Everything Lovecraftian exists in this story: Diary entries from someone very interested in folklore and the occult; strange, unavoidable pulls towards odd locations or items, excitable over-active imaginations that are all too obsessed with The Other, and countless others besides.
I personally think-and find that this accounts for my recently acquired fondness for Lovecraft-that his writing would never suite a novel-length piece of writing (she says not knowing if he did ever write a novel or not because she's too lazy to look it up). If he ever did, I hope I won't be disappointed but think I probably will be. The sheer wonder of what the imagination can come up with is spread thickly through this story, where we follow a man named Blake as he explores an old, rundown church in the Italian Quarter of a town.
It explores imagination beyond the ideal and finds that the mind can make of nothing absolutely everything. It is almost metaphorical, deep down, yet lathers up the occult and eldritch goings on to such a mass that the metaphorical becomes the absurd and the truth is then the unthinkable.
One thing I think contributes to the success of Lovecraft and his inimitable style is that Americans think 150 years counts as history. The idea of folklore being as recent as 50 years is quite ridiculous, and yet it works so well. These stories need that near distant memory, of someone knowing someone who's grandad saw something creepy happening. Or a father remembering something from his childhood but through the fog of life can't quite recall it clearly. Every little thing seems to rely on this recent folklore to create the intrigue and wonder that makes Lovecraft so bloody good. I think thinking 150 years as being a decent history is pathetic, but in the interest of these stories and the enjoyment of them, it works superbly well.
Everything Lovecraftian exists in this story: Diary entries from someone very interested in folklore and the occult; strange, unavoidable pulls towards odd locations or items, excitable over-active imaginations that are all too obsessed with The Other, and countless others besides.
I personally think-and find that this accounts for my recently acquired fondness for Lovecraft-that his writing would never suite a novel-length piece of writing (she says not knowing if he did ever write a novel or not because she's too lazy to look it up). If he ever did, I hope I won't be disappointed but think I probably will be. The sheer wonder of what the imagination can come up with is spread thickly through this story, where we follow a man named Blake as he explores an old, rundown church in the Italian Quarter of a town.
It explores imagination beyond the ideal and finds that the mind can make of nothing absolutely everything. It is almost metaphorical, deep down, yet lathers up the occult and eldritch goings on to such a mass that the metaphorical becomes the absurd and the truth is then the unthinkable.
One thing I think contributes to the success of Lovecraft and his inimitable style is that Americans think 150 years counts as history. The idea of folklore being as recent as 50 years is quite ridiculous, and yet it works so well. These stories need that near distant memory, of someone knowing someone who's grandad saw something creepy happening. Or a father remembering something from his childhood but through the fog of life can't quite recall it clearly. Every little thing seems to rely on this recent folklore to create the intrigue and wonder that makes Lovecraft so bloody good. I think thinking 150 years as being a decent history is pathetic, but in the interest of these stories and the enjoyment of them, it works superbly well.
August 13, 2022
In Providence, Rhode Island, Robert Blake, a young writer with an interest in the occult, becomes fascinated by a large disused church on Federal Hill which he can see from his lodgings on the city's Upper East side. His researches reveal that the church has a sinister history involving a cult called the Church of Starry Wisdom and is dreaded by the local migrant inhabitants as being haunted by a primeval evil.
Another of Lovecraft's final tales that emphasizes how much he grew as a writer. It's much more personal and his characters have a lot more depth to them. I wish he could've gone on to write for another 30-50 years. I can only imagine how amazing his stories could've became if he had another lifetime's worth of improvement.
***
If you're looking for dark ambient music that's perfect for reading horror, thrillers, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
Another of Lovecraft's final tales that emphasizes how much he grew as a writer. It's much more personal and his characters have a lot more depth to them. I wish he could've gone on to write for another 30-50 years. I can only imagine how amazing his stories could've became if he had another lifetime's worth of improvement.
***
If you're looking for dark ambient music that's perfect for reading horror, thrillers, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
February 14, 2017
This is an account of the death of a horror writer who stumbled upon something he couldn't fight.
The story starts with Robert Blake already dead, then it goes back piecing the story from his journal entries and newspaper articles.
For some reason Blake was drawn towards an abandoned church where the Church of Starry Wisdom used to congregate. The cult used an ancient artefact, the Shining Trapezohedron, to summon a being that required sacrifices for all the knowledge it gave them. People started missing and the church was abandoned, but nobody wanted to be near it any more.
Whether you like Lovecraft's writing or not, the atmosphere is always weird, eerie or terrifying and that's one of the reasons why I don't mind when it gets slow at times.
You can read it here.
The story starts with Robert Blake already dead, then it goes back piecing the story from his journal entries and newspaper articles.
For some reason Blake was drawn towards an abandoned church where the Church of Starry Wisdom used to congregate. The cult used an ancient artefact, the Shining Trapezohedron, to summon a being that required sacrifices for all the knowledge it gave them. People started missing and the church was abandoned, but nobody wanted to be near it any more.
Whether you like Lovecraft's writing or not, the atmosphere is always weird, eerie or terrifying and that's one of the reasons why I don't mind when it gets slow at times.
You can read it here.
March 31, 2016
Another short story by H P. Lovecraft, the plot is a bit typical (out of curiosity, a loner makes a shocking discovery, then he is hunted down by indescribable dark beings) but I do like the details about the Church of Starry Wisdom and the description of the scary abandoned church.
May 21, 2012
What can be said about Lovecraft or his writing that already hasn't been said? He is well respected, largely studied and often cited. It has been awhile, a long while, since I last read any Lovecraft. Though somewhat dated it is easy enough to follow. This is part of the roots of modern American horror.
I arrived at this story from reading Ryan Harding's GENITAL GRINDER who in turn is heavily influenced by Edward Lee who came recommended to my by Harding. After opening Lee's THE HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD the preface implored the reader to familiarize themselves with HP Lovecrafts' THE HAUNTER OF THE DARK first. And so I did and so I am a better reader for it.
This is as horror writing once was. It is not blatant. There is mood. There is suggestion. There is long forgotten uses of description. It all works to create an uneasy creepy feeling that you don't usually get from modern day horror. If you love horror you need to find some roots. Don't be afraid to read back in time. Most of it is manageable. Lovecraft included.
I arrived at this story from reading Ryan Harding's GENITAL GRINDER who in turn is heavily influenced by Edward Lee who came recommended to my by Harding. After opening Lee's THE HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD the preface implored the reader to familiarize themselves with HP Lovecrafts' THE HAUNTER OF THE DARK first. And so I did and so I am a better reader for it.
This is as horror writing once was. It is not blatant. There is mood. There is suggestion. There is long forgotten uses of description. It all works to create an uneasy creepy feeling that you don't usually get from modern day horror. If you love horror you need to find some roots. Don't be afraid to read back in time. Most of it is manageable. Lovecraft included.
July 12, 2011
If I had to choose only one author to read for the rest of my life, I think I would choose H P Lovecraft and be perfectly happy.
It took me a couple of attempts to get into Lovecraft initially, with his long sentences and slightly archaic prose style. Once bitten though, you are a Lovecraft addict for life - at least I am. What is so enthrallingly wonderful about Lovecraft, apart from his astonishing imagination, huge vocabulary, and his devotion to the antique, to the past, and the rich history of Rhose Island and New England, is that together his stories evoke a cohesive world. It is a world filled with the darkest shadows, unnameable horrors, forbidden knowledge, and edritch revelations which send men insane. It is a world haunted by the Elder Gods, those shadowy, alien, ill-intentioned beings who are always lurking just beyond the corner of your eye, or in the darkest depths of the sea. It is a world of thrilling fear and terrible wonder. It is a world that will draw you back, again and again, to share the secrets of Lovecraft's haunted outsiders.
For my money there is no greater author of supernatural fiction than Lovecraft, and the fictional world he creates, Arkham, is one of the most mysterious and thrilling literary creations I have encountered.
Favourite stories include "The Colour Out Of Space," "The Strange, High House In The Mist," "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward," and of course, "The Call of Cthulhu."
It took me a couple of attempts to get into Lovecraft initially, with his long sentences and slightly archaic prose style. Once bitten though, you are a Lovecraft addict for life - at least I am. What is so enthrallingly wonderful about Lovecraft, apart from his astonishing imagination, huge vocabulary, and his devotion to the antique, to the past, and the rich history of Rhose Island and New England, is that together his stories evoke a cohesive world. It is a world filled with the darkest shadows, unnameable horrors, forbidden knowledge, and edritch revelations which send men insane. It is a world haunted by the Elder Gods, those shadowy, alien, ill-intentioned beings who are always lurking just beyond the corner of your eye, or in the darkest depths of the sea. It is a world of thrilling fear and terrible wonder. It is a world that will draw you back, again and again, to share the secrets of Lovecraft's haunted outsiders.
For my money there is no greater author of supernatural fiction than Lovecraft, and the fictional world he creates, Arkham, is one of the most mysterious and thrilling literary creations I have encountered.
Favourite stories include "The Colour Out Of Space," "The Strange, High House In The Mist," "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward," and of course, "The Call of Cthulhu."
April 7, 2019
Interesting set-up and backstory. I wish the historical elements had been elaborated a little more, especially the part with the reporter. And the thing itself. I mean, does it have a motivation or does it just electrocute people out of general Evil? It was kind of anticlimactic.
Unusually for Lovecraft the "superstitious" Italians are not only
I was amused by the editorial note that the main character "Robert Blake" was a nod to a youthful Robert Bloch, who had killed Lovecraft-the-character in his story "The Shambler from the Stars." Years after Lovecraft's actual demise, Bloch wrote a sequel to Haunter of the Dark entitled "The Shadow from the Steeple."
Unusually for Lovecraft the "superstitious" Italians are not only
I was amused by the editorial note that the main character "Robert Blake" was a nod to a youthful Robert Bloch, who had killed Lovecraft-the-character in his story "The Shambler from the Stars." Years after Lovecraft's actual demise, Bloch wrote a sequel to Haunter of the Dark entitled "The Shadow from the Steeple."
July 4, 2017
Αδιανόητο ανάγνωσμα, ο 3ος τομος από τα Άπαντα του H.P. Lovecraft είναι η Απόλυτη Βίβλος της Γκόθικ Λογοτεχνίας. Το εναρκτήριο διήγημα, ο Ξένος, με άφησε με το στόμα ανοιχτό να κοιτάζω αποσβολωμένος γύρω μου, ενώ το Κάλεσμα του Κθούλου (που αποτέλεσε και το κίνητρο να ασχοληθώ με τον συγγραφέα) αποτελεί το πλέον μακάβριο ανάγνωσμα που έχει πέσει ποτέ στα χέρια μου, κείμενο που ομολογώ πως αν το διάβαζα στα 20 μου, μετά τις πρώτες 5 σελίδες θα διάλεγα είτε να το σταματούσα είτε να το συνέχιζα μονάχα μέρα και κατά προτίμηση υπό την παρουσία παρέας. Η λέξη Τρόμος, γίνεται αμέσως αντιληπτή μέσα από τις λέξεις του αξεπέραστου συγγραφέα με την θλιβερή ζωή την οποία πέρασε στη σκιά του θανάτου του πατέρα του ο οποίος υπέφερε από παραλυτική παράνοια και του γεγονότος πως δεν κατάφερε να πάρει το απολυτήριο από το σχολείο του για να γίνει αστρονόμος όπως ονειρευόταν λόγω νευρικού κλονισμού που υπέστη στα 17 του χρόνια. Έμπνευσή του, οι εφιάλτες του όπως ο ίδιος ειχε γράψει, δημιουργήματά του η διάσημη πόλη του Άρκαμ (με το γνωστό σε όλους μας Άσυλο του Μπάτμαν), το Πανεπιστήμιο του Μισκατόνικ και φυσικά το ανύπαρκτο βιβλίο με τον τίτλο Νεκρονομικόν του Άραβα Αμντούλ Αλχαζρεντ.
Μοναδική πραγματικά αναγνωστική εμπειρία, νομίζω αξίζει τον κόπο να ασχοληθεί καποιος και ας κάνει μετά να κοιμηθεί σαν άνθρωπος κάνα δίμηνο.
Μοναδική πραγματικά αναγνωστική εμπειρία, νομίζω αξίζει τον κόπο να ασχοληθεί καποιος και ας κάνει μετά να κοιμηθεί σαν άνθρωπος κάνα δίμηνο.
August 24, 2024
3.5 stars
March 7, 2021
آخرین داستان کوتاه رسمی لاورکرفت. واقعا هرچی تعداد صفحات داستان های لاورکرفت کمتر باشه با داستان بهتری طرفیم. جمله پایانی کتاب چقدر قشنگ حس و حال آخرین داستانی که لاورکرفت قبل از مرگش بر اثر سرطان نوشته رو می رسونه:
"I see it.. coming here.. hell-wind.. titan-blur.. black wings..Yog-Sothoth save me.. the three-lobed burning eye..."
"I see it.. coming here.. hell-wind.. titan-blur.. black wings..Yog-Sothoth save me.. the three-lobed burning eye..."
December 30, 2017
Something scares someone to death. We don't get to see it, and there are at best vague hints about it.
This, when liberally spiced with lurid adjectives, seems to be the heart of Lovecraft, and its pretty much all there is here. And, of course, everything is thoroughly mediated. We get this from a narrator who has access to the diaries of the victim. And just as the victim, at most, gets vague glimpses of the terror, we too get only vague glimpses of the diaries. It's sort of a commonplace that horror can be most effective when it leaves room for the imagination. Sometimes I feel like Lovecraft leaves huge tracts of land, acre upon acre. Sometimes it works; sometimes, as here, it feels just a bit more like an exercise in tacit suggestions.
This, when liberally spiced with lurid adjectives, seems to be the heart of Lovecraft, and its pretty much all there is here. And, of course, everything is thoroughly mediated. We get this from a narrator who has access to the diaries of the victim. And just as the victim, at most, gets vague glimpses of the terror, we too get only vague glimpses of the diaries. It's sort of a commonplace that horror can be most effective when it leaves room for the imagination. Sometimes I feel like Lovecraft leaves huge tracts of land, acre upon acre. Sometimes it works; sometimes, as here, it feels just a bit more like an exercise in tacit suggestions.
October 21, 2017
4.25 stars. This is one of Lovecraft's better stories. I'm happy to say that he has won me over again. Review to come.
January 3, 2025
Αν θέλετε να διαβάσετε ένα μόνο βιβλίο του Λαβκραφτ, θα σας συνέστηνα ετούτο, με έργα της ωριμότητάς του. Ένας "Αχέροντα του πολύσχημου διαβολισμού".
Κιαν θα έπρεπε να διαλέξω ένα μόνο διήγημα, θα ήταν Ο ΞΕΝΟΣ με ΤΟ ΚΑΛΕΣΜΑ ΤΟΥ ΚΘΟΥΛΧΟΥ πολύ κοντά.
Κιαν θα έπρεπε να διαλέξω ένα μόνο διήγημα, θα ήταν Ο ΞΕΝΟΣ με ΤΟ ΚΑΛΕΣΜΑ ΤΟΥ ΚΘΟΥΛΧΟΥ πολύ κοντά.
January 28, 2019
Great story for Lovecraft fans
One of Lovecraft's trademarks was to take the ordinary, the mundane and make it horrible by using strange, unusual and archaic descriptions and language. He does that here with a particular part of town and a large abandoned church located there. He adds hints of evil sects, lore and beings, leading eventually to the actual existence of such things. Looked at objectivily, in the light of day so to speak, there is really little horror here. But the mood created by Lovecraft is one of horror and fear. It does not work very well if the reader consciously resists it. If, however, one falls into the mood of the story it works. Lovecraft fans will like this one. Lovecraft detractors will not. Those whose idea of a horror story is one which hits the reader over the head with blood, gore and revolting occurrences probably won't like it either. I have liked Lovecraft since junior high so five stars from me.
Achtung T Shirt LLC offers an interesting t shirt of H.P. Lovecraft wearing an Edgar Allan Poe t shirt. The title on Amazon is: Mens Lovecraft Edgar Allan Poe Horror Mystery Writers Tee By Achtung T Shirt LLC
One of Lovecraft's trademarks was to take the ordinary, the mundane and make it horrible by using strange, unusual and archaic descriptions and language. He does that here with a particular part of town and a large abandoned church located there. He adds hints of evil sects, lore and beings, leading eventually to the actual existence of such things. Looked at objectivily, in the light of day so to speak, there is really little horror here. But the mood created by Lovecraft is one of horror and fear. It does not work very well if the reader consciously resists it. If, however, one falls into the mood of the story it works. Lovecraft fans will like this one. Lovecraft detractors will not. Those whose idea of a horror story is one which hits the reader over the head with blood, gore and revolting occurrences probably won't like it either. I have liked Lovecraft since junior high so five stars from me.
Achtung T Shirt LLC offers an interesting t shirt of H.P. Lovecraft wearing an Edgar Allan Poe t shirt. The title on Amazon is: Mens Lovecraft Edgar Allan Poe Horror Mystery Writers Tee By Achtung T Shirt LLC
January 1, 2013
Part of the
Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft
, which can be found formatted for Nook and Kindle on CthulhuChick.com.
Synopsis: The story takes place in Providence, Rhode Island and revolves around the Church of Starry Wisdom. The cult uses an ancient artifact known as the Shining Trapezohedron to summon a terrible being from the depths of time and space.
My Thoughts: This is the last story in the omnibus, so by extension it is the last story published by Lovecraft. I must say he was coming well into his own, so it's a real pity his work was cut short. This shows a maturity and self-confidence that is lacking in some of the earliest works in this book. Wonderful stuff. A voice that will be missed.
Synopsis: The story takes place in Providence, Rhode Island and revolves around the Church of Starry Wisdom. The cult uses an ancient artifact known as the Shining Trapezohedron to summon a terrible being from the depths of time and space.
My Thoughts: This is the last story in the omnibus, so by extension it is the last story published by Lovecraft. I must say he was coming well into his own, so it's a real pity his work was cut short. This shows a maturity and self-confidence that is lacking in some of the earliest works in this book. Wonderful stuff. A voice that will be missed.
May 14, 2019
While reading this story, I think I've finally understood one of the things that makes Lovecraft such a slog for a lot of people. He doesn't write good characters. His narratives are distant and objective, as if they were written for 19th century newspapers. Despite that, I liked this story for it's weird atmosphere and ideas, not that they are substantially different from those of other stories, but because they fit within the whole mythos.
August 10, 2023
El Morador de Las Tinieblas es el último relato escrito por Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Con él, finalizo la lectura de toda su narrativa, sobrecogido y emocionado.
La historia trata sobre un escritor y pintor, Robert Blake, que muere en extrañas circunstancias, aunque muchos no quieren ver más allá de lo evidente y se aferran a un racionalismo bastante sensato si se quiere preservar la cordura. Durante su última etapa vital, Robert estuvo obsesionado con la iglesia abandonada de Federal Hill, Providence. Su curiosidad lo llevó a investigar sus tenebrosos interiores, desembocando en las habituales consecuencias de vislumbrar los hórridos confines del universo.
No es uno de mis relatos favoritos, pero cabe destacar una serie de hechos que confieren a esta obra de cierta relevancia:
En primer lugar, este relato es una continuación de El vampiro estelar, escrito por Robert Bloch, discípulo y amigo de Lovecraft, a quien, de hecho, va dedicado. Seguramente esta historia sea más interesante conociendo el trasfondo original.
En segundo lugar, se observa la evolución de Lovecraft como escritor si la comparamos con obras tempranas, no ya de su narrativa, sino del propio horror cósmico. Se mantiene la esencia y personalidad de su estilo, con esas descripciones eternas y minuciosas, pero el personaje protagonista resulta algo más profundo. Quizás, al tomar a Robert Bloch como retrato y no a sí mismo (como intuyo que solía hacer) se esmeró más en su construcción, pero sin pasarse tampoco, porque no olvidemos que los protagonistas de las obras de Lovecraft no son sus personajes sino sus escenarios y horrores.
En tercer y último lugar, la atmósfera que se consigue durante la expedición a la iglesia es sublime. Nada a lo que no nos tenga acostumbrado el bueno de Howard, pero en esta ocasión siento que consiguió decir más con menos, describiendo un lugar totalmente siniestro, no sólo ya por la visión de su arquitectura y de los terribles objetos que contiene (libros prohibidos, restos humanos y demás parafernalia) sino también por las creencias populares que emanan de aquel lugar embrujado y de la reacción de los habitantes de Federal Hill a los sucesos acontecidos.
Ahora siento un vacío terrible, como si al leer este último relato hubiera muerto parte de la magia del mundo. Supongo que es el momento de atacar las colaboraciones que Lovecraft tuvo con otros autores, toda su poesía y las cartas que se hayan publicado.
La historia trata sobre un escritor y pintor, Robert Blake, que muere en extrañas circunstancias, aunque muchos no quieren ver más allá de lo evidente y se aferran a un racionalismo bastante sensato si se quiere preservar la cordura. Durante su última etapa vital, Robert estuvo obsesionado con la iglesia abandonada de Federal Hill, Providence. Su curiosidad lo llevó a investigar sus tenebrosos interiores, desembocando en las habituales consecuencias de vislumbrar los hórridos confines del universo.
No es uno de mis relatos favoritos, pero cabe destacar una serie de hechos que confieren a esta obra de cierta relevancia:
En primer lugar, este relato es una continuación de El vampiro estelar, escrito por Robert Bloch, discípulo y amigo de Lovecraft, a quien, de hecho, va dedicado. Seguramente esta historia sea más interesante conociendo el trasfondo original.
En segundo lugar, se observa la evolución de Lovecraft como escritor si la comparamos con obras tempranas, no ya de su narrativa, sino del propio horror cósmico. Se mantiene la esencia y personalidad de su estilo, con esas descripciones eternas y minuciosas, pero el personaje protagonista resulta algo más profundo. Quizás, al tomar a Robert Bloch como retrato y no a sí mismo (como intuyo que solía hacer) se esmeró más en su construcción, pero sin pasarse tampoco, porque no olvidemos que los protagonistas de las obras de Lovecraft no son sus personajes sino sus escenarios y horrores.
En tercer y último lugar, la atmósfera que se consigue durante la expedición a la iglesia es sublime. Nada a lo que no nos tenga acostumbrado el bueno de Howard, pero en esta ocasión siento que consiguió decir más con menos, describiendo un lugar totalmente siniestro, no sólo ya por la visión de su arquitectura y de los terribles objetos que contiene (libros prohibidos, restos humanos y demás parafernalia) sino también por las creencias populares que emanan de aquel lugar embrujado y de la reacción de los habitantes de Federal Hill a los sucesos acontecidos.
Ahora siento un vacío terrible, como si al leer este último relato hubiera muerto parte de la magia del mundo. Supongo que es el momento de atacar las colaboraciones que Lovecraft tuvo con otros autores, toda su poesía y las cartas que se hayan publicado.
July 23, 2017
-Dentro de la creación tan personal del autor en su tiempo, diferentes senderos narrativos.-
Género. Relatos.
Lo que nos cuenta. El libro El que susurra en la oscuridad (publicación original: The Haunter of the Dark, 1950) es una recopilación de varios relatos del autor, escritos y publicados a lo largo de un periodo de dieciséis años, representativos de diferentes momentos en la producción de Lovecraft y con variados contenidos, que no estilos, que tocan temas como una cripta oculta bajo una mansión, el arte hiperrealista e inquietante, las extrañas costumbres de una familia en un municipio de la costa este, los descubrimientos de los investigadores universitarios sobre algunas leyendas, los efectos de un meteorito en una granja, las consecuencias de un noviazgo poco recomendable y los increíbles poderes evocadores de algunas músicas.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Relatos.
Lo que nos cuenta. El libro El que susurra en la oscuridad (publicación original: The Haunter of the Dark, 1950) es una recopilación de varios relatos del autor, escritos y publicados a lo largo de un periodo de dieciséis años, representativos de diferentes momentos en la producción de Lovecraft y con variados contenidos, que no estilos, que tocan temas como una cripta oculta bajo una mansión, el arte hiperrealista e inquietante, las extrañas costumbres de una familia en un municipio de la costa este, los descubrimientos de los investigadores universitarios sobre algunas leyendas, los efectos de un meteorito en una granja, las consecuencias de un noviazgo poco recomendable y los increíbles poderes evocadores de algunas músicas.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
December 29, 2024
A very excellent and creepy closing story to Lovecraft's work. This is one of the more ambiguous and uneventful stories, told through a series of diary entries of a dead man, but the setting in this one (an old abandoned church) is probably the eeriest and most memorable location/setting of any of Lovecraft's stories. He has a way of taking any structure or building and describes it in a way that will send chills down your spine.
It's sort of bittersweet, reading Lovecraft's final story. I'm glad to have finally read all his work but also a little sad that he hadn't lived longer to write more.
Lovecraft was truly a unique and gifted writer that while, his style may not have been for everyone, he was one of a kind and the influence of his stories is immense.
Lovecraft is one of the greatest horror authors of all time.
Highly recommended.
It's sort of bittersweet, reading Lovecraft's final story. I'm glad to have finally read all his work but also a little sad that he hadn't lived longer to write more.
Lovecraft was truly a unique and gifted writer that while, his style may not have been for everyone, he was one of a kind and the influence of his stories is immense.
Lovecraft is one of the greatest horror authors of all time.
Highly recommended.
September 21, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Haunter of the Dark is classic Lovecraft—equal parts eerie atmosphere, rambling prose, and a cosmic monster you never fully see. The story follows Robert Blake, a curious writer who pokes his nose where it doesn’t belong (because in Lovecraft’s universe, curiosity is basically a death sentence). He stumbles upon a creepy church, an ominous artifact called the “Shining Trapezohedron,” and… well, you can guess how that ends. Spoiler: not with a happy picnic.
What I liked: the gothic setting is deliciously spooky, the sense of dread builds nicely, and Lovecraft nails that trademark “humans are ants compared to the universe” vibe. The slow burn tension and the way darkness itself becomes menacing is chef’s kiss.
What I didn’t like: it drags. Lovecraft’s tendency to over-explain and pile adjectives like he’s being paid per word makes parts of this a slog. Blake himself isn’t much of a character so much as a vehicle to show us “curiosity kills the cat, and also the writer.”
All in all, it’s an enjoyable short story for anyone who likes their horror more atmospheric than gory. Not his best, not his worst—just comfortably in the middle. Perfect for a stormy evening read, though you might want to keep the lights on.
The Haunter of the Dark is classic Lovecraft—equal parts eerie atmosphere, rambling prose, and a cosmic monster you never fully see. The story follows Robert Blake, a curious writer who pokes his nose where it doesn’t belong (because in Lovecraft’s universe, curiosity is basically a death sentence). He stumbles upon a creepy church, an ominous artifact called the “Shining Trapezohedron,” and… well, you can guess how that ends. Spoiler: not with a happy picnic.
What I liked: the gothic setting is deliciously spooky, the sense of dread builds nicely, and Lovecraft nails that trademark “humans are ants compared to the universe” vibe. The slow burn tension and the way darkness itself becomes menacing is chef’s kiss.
What I didn’t like: it drags. Lovecraft’s tendency to over-explain and pile adjectives like he’s being paid per word makes parts of this a slog. Blake himself isn’t much of a character so much as a vehicle to show us “curiosity kills the cat, and also the writer.”
All in all, it’s an enjoyable short story for anyone who likes their horror more atmospheric than gory. Not his best, not his worst—just comfortably in the middle. Perfect for a stormy evening read, though you might want to keep the lights on.
January 20, 2013
The final instalment of the three Lovecraft Omnibuses, this collects together his mid-length work. I think it's my favourite of the three books, mainly because there are so many good stories here. In fact, there are only three I didn't enjoy as much as I'd hoped: THE MUSIC OF ERICH ZANN is a little cliched, THE PICTURE IN THE HOUSE is middling, and THE SHADOW OUT OF TIME is downright dull.
The rest is excellence. THE OUTSIDER is an alien fantasy written in a fine grandiose style. THE RATS IN THE WALLS is completely disturbing and easily the strongest of the author's early works. It has it all: monsters, magic, cannibalism, and of course the ancient gods.
PICKMAN'S MODEL is a little obvious, but nonetheless brimming with atmosphere. Meanwhile, THE CALL OF CTHULHU is, in my mind, the definitive mythos story, a global epic that inspired countless imitations (Brian Lumley seems to have been particularly inspired by it) but few equals. THE DUNWICH HORROR, a period horror set in a small town, is more traditional but no less enjoyable for it.
THE WHISPERER IN DARKNESS sees the same plot elements being recycled one more time, but it still works somehow. THE COLOUR OUT OF SPACE, with its tale of a sinister meteorite falling from the skies, is another personal favourite, everything I love about the author contained in one single story. THE HAUNTER OF THE DARK is almost a pastiche and written in homage to Robert Bloch, an eventful and engaging little outing.
THE THING ON THE DOORSTOP builds from a slow start to a gruesome, Grand Guignol climax and has one of my favourite opening sentences in a story. THE LURKING FEAR features loathsome fungoid horrors so can't really go wrong, and THE SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH is so well known as to need no description; needless to say, it's a classic for a reason.
Everything great about Lovecraft is collected in this volume, and I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better assortment of writing in one place. It's the stuff of greatness!
The rest is excellence. THE OUTSIDER is an alien fantasy written in a fine grandiose style. THE RATS IN THE WALLS is completely disturbing and easily the strongest of the author's early works. It has it all: monsters, magic, cannibalism, and of course the ancient gods.
PICKMAN'S MODEL is a little obvious, but nonetheless brimming with atmosphere. Meanwhile, THE CALL OF CTHULHU is, in my mind, the definitive mythos story, a global epic that inspired countless imitations (Brian Lumley seems to have been particularly inspired by it) but few equals. THE DUNWICH HORROR, a period horror set in a small town, is more traditional but no less enjoyable for it.
THE WHISPERER IN DARKNESS sees the same plot elements being recycled one more time, but it still works somehow. THE COLOUR OUT OF SPACE, with its tale of a sinister meteorite falling from the skies, is another personal favourite, everything I love about the author contained in one single story. THE HAUNTER OF THE DARK is almost a pastiche and written in homage to Robert Bloch, an eventful and engaging little outing.
THE THING ON THE DOORSTOP builds from a slow start to a gruesome, Grand Guignol climax and has one of my favourite opening sentences in a story. THE LURKING FEAR features loathsome fungoid horrors so can't really go wrong, and THE SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH is so well known as to need no description; needless to say, it's a classic for a reason.
Everything great about Lovecraft is collected in this volume, and I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better assortment of writing in one place. It's the stuff of greatness!
April 23, 2024
Free download available at Project Gutenberg.
From BBC Radio 4:
Three years on from Heawood's dramatic disappearance at Pleasant Green, Kennedy has lost hope of ever seeing him again.
Following the dramatic end to The Shadow Over Innsmouth, she has travelled extensively, following apparent leads, and there is no trace of him. But then a mysterious man leaves a message on the Red Hook answerphone. Perhaps the story isn't over yet.
Kennedy Fisher and The Lovecraft Investigations podcast are back in Julian Simpson’s H P Lovecraft-inspired universe.
Cast:
Kennedy Fisher - Jana Carpenter
Marcus Byron - Ben Crowe
Eleanor Peck - Nicola Walker
Laura Gibson - Catherine Kanter
Written and directed by Julian Simpson
Music composed by Tim Elsenburg
Sound design: David Thomas
Production Assistant: Ethan Elsenburg
Producer: Sarah Tombling
Executive Producer: Karen Rose
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
Episode 1 of 10:
Three years on from Heawood's disappearance, Kennedy has exhausted all leads.
Episode 2 of 10
Kennedy and Byron are in Essex. Will Philip Gibson's storage facility yield some clues?
Episode 3 of 10
The trail seems to lead from Philip Gibson into current politics and Tory MP Ashton-Heath.
Episode 4 of 10
Can Aramis Levesque shed light on journalist Edwin Lillibridge and his connections?
Episode 5 of 10
Kennedy is in Suffolk following a lead on the 2010 Blake House disappearances.
Episode 6 of 10
All roads are leading back to the Blake House.
Episode 7 of 10
The team gathers to pool their clues.
Episode 8 of 10
To follow the trail or not to follow the trail?
Episode 9 of 10
Kennedy and Ness are in Dunwich.
Episode 10 of 10
Has the Lovecraft team finally found the Church of Starry Wisdom?
From BBC Radio 4:
Three years on from Heawood's dramatic disappearance at Pleasant Green, Kennedy has lost hope of ever seeing him again.
Following the dramatic end to The Shadow Over Innsmouth, she has travelled extensively, following apparent leads, and there is no trace of him. But then a mysterious man leaves a message on the Red Hook answerphone. Perhaps the story isn't over yet.
Kennedy Fisher and The Lovecraft Investigations podcast are back in Julian Simpson’s H P Lovecraft-inspired universe.
Cast:
Kennedy Fisher - Jana Carpenter
Marcus Byron - Ben Crowe
Eleanor Peck - Nicola Walker
Laura Gibson - Catherine Kanter
Written and directed by Julian Simpson
Music composed by Tim Elsenburg
Sound design: David Thomas
Production Assistant: Ethan Elsenburg
Producer: Sarah Tombling
Executive Producer: Karen Rose
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
Episode 1 of 10:
Three years on from Heawood's disappearance, Kennedy has exhausted all leads.
Episode 2 of 10
Kennedy and Byron are in Essex. Will Philip Gibson's storage facility yield some clues?
Episode 3 of 10
The trail seems to lead from Philip Gibson into current politics and Tory MP Ashton-Heath.
Episode 4 of 10
Can Aramis Levesque shed light on journalist Edwin Lillibridge and his connections?
Episode 5 of 10
Kennedy is in Suffolk following a lead on the 2010 Blake House disappearances.
Episode 6 of 10
All roads are leading back to the Blake House.
Episode 7 of 10
The team gathers to pool their clues.
Episode 8 of 10
To follow the trail or not to follow the trail?
Episode 9 of 10
Kennedy and Ness are in Dunwich.
Episode 10 of 10
Has the Lovecraft team finally found the Church of Starry Wisdom?
September 23, 2017
“Lights out—God help me.”
This is Lovecraft's last solo work of fiction. He wrote a couple of collaborations further, some poetry and an essay. He died with intestinal cancer on March 15, 1937 at the age of 46. I am so, so sorry it ended here for him. This is by far and away his best prose work. (I don't think I'm saying that because of the immigrants heroically holding up candles outside the desecrated church, either. That detail did make my heart soar, though.) I don't even think you need any background in his Mythos to enjoy this, as he finally keeps the Mythos touches light enough to flavor the story rather than explaining it. Go. Read. Enjoy. I did.
This is Lovecraft's last solo work of fiction. He wrote a couple of collaborations further, some poetry and an essay. He died with intestinal cancer on March 15, 1937 at the age of 46. I am so, so sorry it ended here for him. This is by far and away his best prose work. (I don't think I'm saying that because of the immigrants heroically holding up candles outside the desecrated church, either. That detail did make my heart soar, though.) I don't even think you need any background in his Mythos to enjoy this, as he finally keeps the Mythos touches light enough to flavor the story rather than explaining it. Go. Read. Enjoy. I did.
February 19, 2012
Lovecraft’s prose, with his lingering use of adjectives, is quite evocative and has a very pleasing ‘pulp’ style. This collection contains most of his best stories, namely: ‘The Call of Cthulu’, ‘The Dunwich Horror’, ‘The Whisperer in Darkness’, ‘The Colour Out of Space’, ‘The Thing on the Doorstep’, ‘The Lurking Fear’, ‘The Shadow Over Innsmouth’ and ‘The Shadow Out of Time’. If you’ve never read any of Lovecraft’s work, these stories are a good place to start.
November 22, 2019
Buen cuento.
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