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Running Wolf
Nothing stirred; the ripple on the lake had died away; there was no wind; the forest lay a single purple mass of shadow; the yellow sky, fast fading, threw reflections that troubled the eye and made distances uncertain. But there was no sound, no movement; he saw no figure anywhere.
Set in the Canadian wilderness and featuring a spectral native American werewolf.
Set in the Canadian wilderness and featuring a spectral native American werewolf.
48 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 1920
1 person is currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Algernon Blackwood
1,417 books1,212 followersAlgernon Henry Blackwood (1869–1951) was an English broadcasting narrator, journalist, novelist and short story writer, and among the most prolific ghost story writers in the history of the genre. The literary critic S. T. Joshi stated, "His work is more consistently meritorious than any weird writer's except Dunsany's" and that his short story collection Incredible Adventures (1914) "may be the premier weird collection of this or any other century".
Blackwood was born in Shooter's Hill (today part of south-east London, but then part of northwest Kent) and educated at Wellington College. His father was a Post Office administrator who, according to Peter Penzoldt, "though not devoid of genuine good-heartedness, had appallingly narrow religious ideas." Blackwood had a varied career, farming in Canada, operating a hotel, as a newspaper reporter in New York City, and, throughout his adult life, an occasional essayist for various periodicals. In his late thirties, he moved back to England and started to write stories of the supernatural. He was very successful, writing at least ten original collections of short stories and eventually appearing on both radio and television to tell them. He also wrote fourteen novels, several children's books, and a number of plays, most of which were produced but not published. He was an avid lover of nature and the outdoors, and many of his stories reflect this.
H.P. Lovecraft wrote of Blackwood: "He is the one absolute and unquestioned master of weird atmosphere." His powerful story "The Willows," which effectively describes another dimension impinging upon our own, was reckoned by Lovecraft to be not only "foremost of all" Blackwood's tales but the best "weird tale" of all time.
Among his thirty-odd books, Blackwood wrote a series of stories and short novels published as John Silence, Physician Extraordinary (1908), which featured a "psychic detective" who combined the skills of a Sherlock Holmes and a psychic medium. Blackwood also wrote light fantasy and juvenile books.
Blackwood was born in Shooter's Hill (today part of south-east London, but then part of northwest Kent) and educated at Wellington College. His father was a Post Office administrator who, according to Peter Penzoldt, "though not devoid of genuine good-heartedness, had appallingly narrow religious ideas." Blackwood had a varied career, farming in Canada, operating a hotel, as a newspaper reporter in New York City, and, throughout his adult life, an occasional essayist for various periodicals. In his late thirties, he moved back to England and started to write stories of the supernatural. He was very successful, writing at least ten original collections of short stories and eventually appearing on both radio and television to tell them. He also wrote fourteen novels, several children's books, and a number of plays, most of which were produced but not published. He was an avid lover of nature and the outdoors, and many of his stories reflect this.
H.P. Lovecraft wrote of Blackwood: "He is the one absolute and unquestioned master of weird atmosphere." His powerful story "The Willows," which effectively describes another dimension impinging upon our own, was reckoned by Lovecraft to be not only "foremost of all" Blackwood's tales but the best "weird tale" of all time.
Among his thirty-odd books, Blackwood wrote a series of stories and short novels published as John Silence, Physician Extraordinary (1908), which featured a "psychic detective" who combined the skills of a Sherlock Holmes and a psychic medium. Blackwood also wrote light fantasy and juvenile books.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 21, 2021
Un racconto decisamente inquientante e ben scritto, ambientato nella regione canadese dei mille laghi.
Il senso di pericolo che crea la narrazione, l'atmosfera di pericolo impalpabile che a tratti ricorda quella di alcuni romanzi western di Louis L'Amour, quelli dove l'elemento weird è più presente, intendo, beh, quell'atmosfera qui è ripresentata a un livello superiore.
Intrigante.
4 stelle
Il senso di pericolo che crea la narrazione, l'atmosfera di pericolo impalpabile che a tratti ricorda quella di alcuni romanzi western di Louis L'Amour, quelli dove l'elemento weird è più presente, intendo, beh, quell'atmosfera qui è ripresentata a un livello superiore.
Intrigante.
4 stelle
September 3, 2019
An interesting Native American twist to an otherwise unremarkable yet atmospheric story. Not really full-blown horror, more like suspense. Oh, and I still have no desire for solitary camping.
January 2, 2018
A man on a solitary fishing holiday is haunted by the presence of a large 'timber wolf' who lurks and prowls around the vicinity of his camp. After realising that this animal means him no harm and in fact has strange human-like mannerisms, he follows it deep into the forest.
Upon reaching the base of a huge redwood tree, the wolf begins to dig and slowly aiding him a skeleton is discovered. This skeleton is that of a young man (the Running Wolf of the title) who was cast out of his tribe after killing a wolf, a sacred animal. He died alone without every entering the Great Hunting Lands. The protagonist burns his remains and the wolf disappears.
Short, mysterious with a wonderfully evocative sense of the environment and flair for description.
Upon reaching the base of a huge redwood tree, the wolf begins to dig and slowly aiding him a skeleton is discovered. This skeleton is that of a young man (the Running Wolf of the title) who was cast out of his tribe after killing a wolf, a sacred animal. He died alone without every entering the Great Hunting Lands. The protagonist burns his remains and the wolf disappears.
Short, mysterious with a wonderfully evocative sense of the environment and flair for description.
August 30, 2024
4.5⭐
The story Running Wolf has a hotel clerk named Malcolm Hyde on holiday following a large timber wolf which houses the spirit of a young Indian brave who had killed a wolf. This is taboo and strictly forbidden, since the wolf was the totem animal of the tribe. Because of this action the brave was killed and his bones scattered. Malcolm follows the wolf to the location of a skeleton which needs a proper burial ceremony in order for the Indian spirit to find rest.
The story Running Wolf has a hotel clerk named Malcolm Hyde on holiday following a large timber wolf which houses the spirit of a young Indian brave who had killed a wolf. This is taboo and strictly forbidden, since the wolf was the totem animal of the tribe. Because of this action the brave was killed and his bones scattered. Malcolm follows the wolf to the location of a skeleton which needs a proper burial ceremony in order for the Indian spirit to find rest.
May 25, 2021
This gave me chills. Wonderful writing and surprisingly creepy
September 24, 2013
As with many other tales, Blackwood makes the most of his descriptive narrative to set the stage for a labyrinth of emotions, situations and an unsuspected ending. Although not a scary tale, more suspense than anything else, Running wolf quickly absorbed me in the the ambiance of the place and the mindset of the character.
February 20, 2016
Great story although I'm disappointed that it's not scary or creepy like other Blackwood stories I've read.
December 18, 2016
Nice but kind of boring, to be completely honest...
August 7, 2016
Not his best, but still managed to send a slight chill up my spine.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews