Lovecraft | The Hound | Gothic Horror Story of The Occult for a Winter Night | Mini Audiobook
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- āđāļāļĒāđāļāļĢāđāđāļĄāļ·āđāļ 10 āļ.āļĒ. 2024
- Welcome to another mini audiobook of horror. Thank you for watching and/or listening. The Hound by H P Lovecraft is a short story written in 1922 and published in the February 1924 edition of Weird Tales. Its narrative contains the first mention of Lovecraft's fictional text, the "Necronomicon, the Book of the Dead."
"What thing might not come out of the centuried earth to exact vengeance for his desecrated tomb? And should it come, who can say what it might not resemble?" Lovecraft once wrote in a letter. From this fanciful notion, "The Hound" was conceived and created.
As a horror story, it is perhaps not one of his best. But I rather like it! Despite the repetitive use of the "Gigantic Hound" phrase throughout. (I believe I've compounded that little issue with the overuse of the distant howling in my take here.) My apologies, but any excuse to add an appealing sound effect (and the more, the merrier!)
There is more than a nod and a wink to great writers of the past, Poe, Doyle, and Bierce, and the story is worthy if only for the debut of one of Lovecraft's enduring creations: The Necronomicon of the mad Arab Abdul Alhazred!
Imagine how much fun it would be to learn how to make a fantasy Necronomicon? Perhaps it's better to leave such things well alone!ðĪ
A bite-sized biog of Lovecraft:
Howard Phillips Lovecraft, often abbreviated as H.P. Lovecraft, was an American author of weird fiction and horror. He came screaming into this world on August 20, 1890, in Providence, Rhode Island, and died on March 15, 1937.
Cosmic Horror:
Lovecraft is best known for pioneering the cosmic horror genre, which emphasizes humanity's insignificance in the face of vast, unknowable cosmic forces. His stories often feature ancient, powerful entities that defy human comprehension.
Cthulhu Mythos:
Lovecraft created the Cthulhu Mythos, a fictional universe populated by ancient and otherworldly beings, including the iconic entity Cthulhu. These creatures have become staples of horror literature and popular culture.
Early Life:
Lovecraft's writing was deeply influenced by his difficult upbringing. He experienced family tragedies, and his father was institutionalized for psychosis, which had a lasting impact on Lovecraft's work.
Writing Style:
Lovecraft's writing is known for its archaic and elaborate language, which adds to the eerie atmosphere of his stories. He often used first-person narration to immerse readers in the experiences of his characters.
Pseudonyms:
Lovecraft wrote under various pseudonyms in his early career, such as Lewis Theobald, Humphrey Littlewit, and Ward Phillips. He used these aliases for his contributions to amateur and pulp magazines.
Literary Influence:
Lovecraft was heavily influenced by the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Lord Dunsany and the emerging science fiction genre. He also corresponded with and influenced other prominent writers like Robert E. Howard and Clark Ashton Smith.
Limited Success During His Lifetime:
Lovecraft's work gained little recognition during his lifetime, and he struggled financially. However, he had a dedicated following among fellow writers and fans of weird fiction.
He was, however, able to achieve significant posthumous recognition. Lovecraft's reputation as a seminal figure in the horror genre grew significantly after his death. His works have been reprinted and adapted into various media. His influence can be seen in the output of many contemporary horror writers and filmmakers.
Controversy:
Lovecraft's legacy is marred by his racist and xenophobic views, which are evident in some of his writings and personal letters. This aspect of his life and work is a matter of ongoing discussion and debate among scholars and fans.
While Lovecraft's work has received criticism for its problematic aspects, his contributions to the horror genre and the enduring popularity of the Cthulhu Mythos are undeniable.
Thank you once again for watching or listening and we'll catch up soon on the next one ðââïļ
Cool that you referenced Wormwood by Poppy....a great tale in its own right.
Yes indeed, I always found that one particularly unnerving...like so much of Poppy's work. Thank you.
This is has to be your deepest into horror. I am an artist, these paintings are amazing and my world is literature. This is pure cold unromantic fear, where life is evil, beastly with no emotion that makes womankind worth living. This is as cold as the earth that keeps the body six feet under for eternity. This is your best for interpreting pure cold dripping evil.
Yes, the creep factor is undoubtedly heightened in Lovecraft shorts compared to the more subtle and cerebral tales of James, Benson, etc. I get the impression that the writer enjoyed himself while writing this. It's very dark, and the teller of the tale is disturbing enough himself!ð Who in their right mind would choose that "hobby" to alleviate boredom and "devastating ennui"!
Thank you once again for your kind comments. I've made a list of stories to work on for the festive season, and another Lovecraft piece is on that list.
I love your description; "This is as cold as the earth that keeps the body six feet under for eternity." That is beautifully writtenð.
@@scarystoriesbythefiresideThank you. We are so lucky to live in a world of âspeech soundâ and able to âread and write the written wordâ of communication. The cu-configuration of perspective. I look forward to your next spooky representation. The film that scared me so much when I was a kid, is the 1963 black & white film starring Julie Christie, âThe Hauntingâ. I do not know where you get your visuals, but this is one of your best so far and your âwordiestâ
"The Haunting" is still one of my favourite horror films! I can remember staying up to watch it when I was a kid and being so creeped out that I bottled seeing it through to the endðĻ. I watched it again, years later, as an adult, and found it remained frighteningly powerful and effective. Shirley Jackson's seminal exemplar of the modern horror novel has never been rendered better since. The cinematography is perfect, and the location, Ettington Park, is inspired.
I screened "The Innocents" (another favourite) on Saturday night for the first time in years. That was filmed two years earlier, and it is still a beautiful and disturbing example of the genre. The opening credits and song had me shuddering from the get-go! ðŽ
When I started, I used stock images and footage for the visual content and then converted them using design software. I'm relying more on "text to image" AI tools now. The results seem much better. It feels like "cheating" sometimes, but some skill is involved in describing the image style and effect needed.
Another E F Benson is coming sometime this week. I'm still trying to improve my efficiency. I'd love to be able to upload once a week.ð
Thank you as ever for your encouragement and support. ðĪ
â @@scarystoriesbythefireside Nothing you are doing here is Cheating. We all look for simpler ways to achieve things. It is just unfortunate that AI exists now and its ramifications. As for the film the Haunting, I know I said it scared me as a kid, well for years into my adult life it creeped me out So much I dared not go upstairs on my own after watching it! ð! That creepy wall paper with the male voice murmuring and the doors BREATHING and Julie dancing around by the statuettes and that door to the childâs nursery when it is OPEN! WoW! what cinematography and sound! I have a problem trying to find your channel. When I type âScary Storiesâ.. there are many other Scary Stories titles that come up on TH-cam and I think your title is probably preventing you from being seen as much as you deserve. Keep up the good works. ðïļðĢïļðĪ
The Haunting certainly leaves its mark and stays with you and I can empathise because I have similar feelings of unease whenever I watch it againâĶwhich is rarely for that reason alone!ðĻ It is such an atmospheric piece of cinema. It was the film Robert Wise made in between West Side Story and The Sound of Music!
You are right, I should have named the channel more imaginatively. Scary Stories is way too generic sounding and I keep wondering about renaming it.
Thank you, Iâve been working on a new one and would have had it uploaded last week but I came down with a stinker of a bug/head coldðĪ§. Hopefully it should be going live by Thursday. Fingers crossed.ð