"Imprisoned with the Pharaohs" by H. P. Lovecraft / A HorrorBabble Production
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ค. 2024
- "Imprisoned with the Pharaohs" is a short story written by H. P. Lovecraft in collaboration with Harry Houdini, which first appeared in the May-June-July 1924 edition of Weird Tales Magazine. Told from the perspective of Houdini, the tale tells of the escape-artist's unwitting adventure, beneath the Great Sphinx of Giza.
0:00:00 - Introduction
0:01:04 - Part One
0:36:08 - Part Two
1:15:25 - Further Listening
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Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble
Music and production by Ian Gordon & Jennifer Gill
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This is an ORIGINAL HorrorBabble Production. - บันเทิง
I had no idea that Lovecraft collaborated with Houdini. That's freaking awesome! Great story too.
It was based on events Houdini claimed had happened, but given the Lovecraft touch.
"Facing financial problems, J. C. Henneberger, the founder and owner of Weird Tales, wanted to associate the popular Harry Houdini with the magazine in order to boost its readership. Following the introduction of an "Ask Houdini" column, as well as the publication of two short stories allegedly written by the escape artist, Henneberger sought out Lovecraft in February 1924 and commissioned him to write the tale of a supposedly true experience that Houdini had had in Egypt. Lovecraft was paid $100 (approximately $1492 in present-day terms) to ghostwrite the story,[4] at the time the largest sum he had ever been given as an advance. This was a major factor in motivating him to take the job[5] as, after listening to Houdini's story and researching its background, Lovecraft concluded that the tale was completely fabricated and requested permission from Henneberger to take artistic license. After receiving clearance from the editor, he began his writing by spending considerable time researching the setting in books issued by the Metropolitan Museum of Art as well as by frequently visiting the museum's Egyptian exhibits"
From Wikipedia.
love your name ! i can't agree more it is freaking awesome !
Facebook can also kiss it. 💋 🍑
I'd hardly call it a collaboration.
Once you hear antediluvian you know you're in a Lovecraft story. Another good one.
Or “overhanging gables” 🤣
Cyclopean
Squamous
“Decadent”
Prodigious
Ian, your voice is right up there with Sir David Attenborough, Vin Scully and Morgan Freeman in my book.
@Corvus Morve Indeed, but Ian and Baldermort do narrates in different ways. Mr Gordon does a more professional take, and have to tangle with lovecraftian words like "C'hlaytgh" and other such random nonsense. Baldermort on the other hand is truly inspiring in his narration, with a passion for the subject that is hard/nearly impossible to find anywhere else.
"Redolent of aromatic putrescence" - some of that classic Houdini prose.
As a lover of anything in relation to ancient Egypt, I've re-read this special Lovecraft story for many times over the years. But it feels like I'm encountering it for the first time with this superb narration.
Immensely enjoyed it. Thank you so much.
This is by far one of my favorite Lovecraft stories. The undead legions seem to be organized rather than chaotic, and the overall mood is that of constant escape. To boot, my favorite person from history colabs with my favorite author!
‘The overall mood is that of constant escape’ - love the way you put that!! I absolutely loved this story and the completely gripping way Ian reads it!👍🥇
Sometimes I wonder if Mr Gordon feels insulted when all of us tell him his work helps us fall asleep quickly lolol
Nah, I think he feels flattered more than anything.
His voice is very soothing and I often fall asleep listening... I wonder what all that horror is doing to my subconscious..Eek
I've wondered that too, I'm one of the many. However I always relatedness until I finish the story.
omg! i am lucky to get through 20 mins before drifting off into the dreamscape to join all the horrors and beauty of the multiverse. i think its definitely flattering to know that your voice is the last thing many listeners will hear before they fall asleep lol
Soothing voice, solid readings so I'm not annoyed at the quality... Combined with stories I often know and love (some I don't)... And Lovecraft and the others save me from my own, much worse, nightmares.
That "ancient egyptian duel" is the most British thing ever 😂
Okay, then what would you call it smart guy?
@@jonathanwells223 I was referring to the way Lovecraft, an English man, described this "old ritual". He obviously was heavily influenced by his own culture and I bet never even visited egypt.
@🏺Normapollo🏺 It's time to du-du-du-du-du-du-du du-du duel !
@@jonathanwells223 - BS by the 'guide' to lure Houdini.
@@couchpotatoe91 - Unless the phony guide was lying to Houdini.
“The nethermost caverns,” wrote the mad Arab, “are not for the fathoming of eyes that see; for their marvels are strange and terrific. Cursed the ground where dead thoughts live new and oddly bodied, and evil the mind that is held by no head. Wisely did Ibn Schacabao say, that happy is the tomb where no wizard hath lain, and happy the town at night whose wizards are all ashes. For it is of old rumour that the soul of the devil-bought hastes not from his charnel clay, but fats and instructs the very worm that gnaws; till out of corruption horrid life springs, and the dull scavengers of earth wax crafty to vex it and swell monstrous to plague it. Great holes secretly are digged where earth’s pores ought to suffice, and things have learnt to walk that ought to crawl.” A excerpt from the festival by h p Lovecraft
As quoted by Brian Lumley in Lord of the Worms.
Good times... good times...
So it is basically saying, the worms that eat a wizard's deceased body become possessed by the wizard's conscious or spirit, and massively amalgate into the form of a human body? I remember this excerpt from "The Festival", the protagonist at one point also says that as he brushes up against the hooded figures their elbows feel weirdly soft and their bellies feel "pulpy".
I just gave the 1000th thumbs up! I love this channel, the original Lovecraft stories are my favourites. Keep up the awesome work!
The more I listen to this channel, the more I appreciate the tone and cadence of the horrific tales of Lovecraft. And, as I listen further with an eager, yet unsatisfying appetite, I’m learning the only thing greater than these grotesque writings, is the love and ferocity of this particular fan base. Thanks for cultivating and promoting these amazing stories.
God damn that whole description of old Cairo around 8:00 is insane. One of the most eloquently written authors I’ve ever read
Much of what he wrote about Cairo and the stifling hot atmosphere of the pyramids is absolutely true. My mother went there on a trip in the mid ‘60’s and explored the pyramids before they had air conditioning and safety railings and lighting. She went down those narrow confusing alleys and had a wonderful Bedouin (forget the name-will have to ask her again) that guarded her by sleeping outside her room. Her room had no lock, and being a younger woman alone was an incredibly brave and unsafe thing to do in that place. So the gentleman slept outside her room and told her to be careful and not wander the alleys alone and especially not at night. Women disappeared especially often. She was from Czechoslovakia, and it wouldn’t be hard to imagine a lone tourist just disappearing, never to be seen again. She had many adventures in distant places. This story is similar to one my father read about a Czech (I believe) researcher who stayed the night in a pharaoh’s tomb and spoke about the experience. He wouldn’t even say the worst things he saw and heard in that hellish place. If I’m not mistaken his hair was white by morning. Those places are not places that any normal person would want to stay overnight in. Egypt was a notoriously dark pagan culture with terrifying dark gods and rituals that would be best forgotten. Lovecraft is absolutely correct in that regard. Those people we’re obsessed with death and death pervaded their entire existence. Even now people who collect ushabti and Egyptian relics have problems with demonic spirits and such, and the curses from that time have survived countless centuries, just ask Howard Carter and the guys who found Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. Many call it coincidence and just fanciful imagination, but if you truly read the accounts, you’ll understand that there was something behind it. Something evil.
This story and The Shunned House are the two Lovecraft stories that tickle me the most. You get up to the denouement, and there's this exquisitely detailed description followed by 'And *that* was just its [insignificant body part]!'
Thank you doing this story! I found it yesterday by another narrator but it was unsatisfactory; I couldn't get halfway through his narration. Now my wish has come true! A terrific story read by my favorite narrator!
Bravo Ian. I haven't enjoyed a story so much as this one for awhile now. I loved the extraordinary detail and suspense. Thank you. Keep these coming♡
This is by far the strangest crossover I've ever seen.
I'm so happy to see you at 103K. !!!! FINALLY, FINALLY Our H.B. family is growing....Congratulations !! Can't wait to hit our 1st million. Y'all more than deserve it, 2 best voices on u - tube.
Personally, my scariest story. Worst nightmare to be trapped under such an enormous structure. LOL
Time to rekindled the nightly routine. Always enjoying the content Ian.
You've done more for me than you will ever know. Thank you for everything you do. Keep up the entertaining and high quality work.
Excellent another amazing lovecraft story thanks Ian!👍
Ive been waiting for this one fir so long now. Its amazingly narrated and kept me on rhe edge of my seat. Thank you H.B. I couldnt sleep without you
Love these recordings, truly appreciate you and everyone that makes this channel possible
I've read this story, and want to thank you for your excellent narration which really brings it to life.
Ian your voice is wonderful ! It's slight drawl reminds me of Richard O'Brien, although i think your voice has a deeper more mellifluous timbre, it's truly perfect for the horror genre. Thank you for all your hard work and a merry Christmas
I love this story! You're definitely making it justice; your voice is perfect for Lovecraft!
I have been hoping you would do a recording of this at some point. I'm so excited! Thank you, Horrorbabble
So what voice actor/voice over artist do you look up too.
Me : Horrorbable
Love it! Cheers mate!
I had no idea that Lovecraft collaborated with Houdini. Fantastic story. Thank you Horrorbable !
Lovecraft created an opportunity he couldn’t get out of. Maybe he held his cat hostage. HH was driven to debunk all mumbo jumbo. I got to wonder if he knew the depth of The mythos? Can I try on that straight jacket, please?
Superbly read - loved listening to the story!
Glorious. I have been waiting months for this. Excellent work as always!
Really great work.Thanks Mr. Gordon.
Absolutely marvelous
Awesome!💣💥👊 thank you so much. Just about to take a nap, I can't wait to hear this. While I enjoy fantastic dreams of pyramids, sphinx's, mummies, and don't forget THE OLD ONES LURKING INSIDE THESE ANCIENT STRUCTURES.😁
Took a little break now I’m back, now I have lots to listen too! Nice to see you keeping up the good work!
Absolutely phenomenal
As always, great job, Ian! Thanks for narrating this story.
This is one of my favorite stories. I love everything that takes place. There is no dull moment! The descriptions of architecture and inner chambers are amazing. The descriptions of mummified beings and the story of the evil queen. I always wanted to know more about the "tour guide".
Certainly more terrifying than I remember it being.
Amazing reading to my favoriot hudini story ;-)
Perfect!
Awesome!
Wonderful recording, very well paced.
Amazing video as always!!🤘🤘
Been a decade since I read this, and I can see why this is a favourite among readers.
Great narration as always!
That was awesome
A new Lovecraft story that I havent heard of. Good, this should help me fall asleep later today.
I know before having listened, this is going to make my day
This is the one that got me into Lovecraft
AWESOME
Great story
Thank you guys. Shared.
Find and listen to the Dark Adventure Radio Theater version of this story.
Sounds like the work of Gnarly-Hotep, the Hang Ten God
Some Lovecraft scholars do think that Nyarlathotep was likely the narrator’s guide who betrayed him.
A great story, which manages to recount a brief encounter with a “Shoggoth”, clamouring out of the pit, in the depths of the Pyramid….
Yayy !
Giza look at this then !!
Been awhile, my favorite flavour
Perfect! When I read it, I read it twice just for the feeling of horror and the careful selection of words by the great son of Providence.
Right on brother 😉
"I wanted to be incognito but some amateur just had to make me show him up"
😆😁 He Real HAD to show him up😋
Lovecraft would of loved yugioh.
I would not be at all surprised if he had inspired most of it.
@Howard Lovecraft failing no simp September
"Would have" or "would've".
"Would of" is incorrect.
Lovecraft would be so disappointed.
Lovecraft likely would have adored season 0 (because the notion of an ancient Pharaoh's spirit coming back to render horrific and sadistic judgement on degens and scum would have appealed to him immensly) and liked the Duelist Kingdom Arc mainly for the Millenium Items and their role in the season. Hell I can even imagine Lovecraft working the Millenium items into his mythos, which Takahashi would probably be flattered by. Imagine if the two of them actually got along and their works referenced each other, we'd have better Lovecraft-themed Yugioh cards than we currently do that's for sure.
I imagine his next favourite would have been the final arc, and he would likely have explained Yami Bakura as being Nyarlathotep in one of his countless disguises. The Atlantis arc coming a close third, given how it features in some of Lovecraft's lesser known works as being an ancient Silicon Valley of dark secrets and eldritch knowledge, so Dartz and Leviathan would be right up Lovecraft's alley.
Harry Houdinis real name was Erich Weiss.And the man was constantly training his breath control,and spending hours submerged in ice water.etc, etc. There is an excellent book called THE SECRET LIFE OF HOUDINI. He may have been a spy, because forbidden travel countries invited him to challenges.good book.love your choice of material
Hey how'd Houdini get here what the heck
He's a slippery fellow
@Gary Lorette what???
@Gary Lorette who the hell are you talking to? I was just amused by Houdini working with Lovecraft and I made a joke.
So, the five heads were actually giant toes, and the "rigid tentacles" that came out of the "heads" were giant claws?
Good deduction. I hadn't understood. I thought it was a five headed entity. Thanks for the clarification.😅
❤
When I visited the pyramids at Giza, I got overcharged for some postcards and missed the coach back to the hotel. I think that I got off lightly compared to this story!
Great narration. Thanks for the upload. The 'normal' speed is a bit too slow; the breaths and the pauses. I put it at 1.25 and it was better, but it was at 1.5 that I could enjoy the reading.
👍🏼👍🏼
Happy Halloween 🎃 2022
I would love if some of Poe's work was read on this channel. Fall of the House of Usher would fit in well for sure.
Here's a link to our Poe playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLeNNKRLWxwoPt-kZP-QxmUjvj3LtWKbvk.html
👍👍👍👍
No way?!?! This is so cool. Also First lol
Love this reading, thanks Ian. And a great Lovecraft story (as usual, if you ignore some of the racist language… HP sure did love comparing non-whites to savages). But wow, the imagery near the end is riveting and horrific. He really was a unique voice in fiction, and though a product of his time, laid much groundwork for future combinations of sci-fi and horror. When you think about it, the unknown inherent in science fiction is perfect territory for horror.
as a nonwhite person i keep forgetting how uncomfortable it is to enjoy the horror made by a xenophobic, chronically depressed, chronically terrified of everything that wasn’t himself, person and an equally nutty magicianman. but damn your voice is nice.
Typical Houdini, ever the skeptic! Comes face to face with the supernatural and convinces himself it must have been all a dream 😅
Under the circumstances, wouldn't you? Especially without evidence?
@@julietfischer5056 probably. I was just amused because it fits well with what I've heard about him. That's all.
Ok had to cook breakfast dinner rewind
Dead less than two years later. Sad.
I was just watching Yu-Gi-Oh with my kids and thought the Egyptian theme was a real good one, I didn’t know hp actually dabbled in it. Nor did I know that he wrote something with Harry Houdini, really? He always mentions Egypt in passing to say how old his gods are but this is neat. Your channels is very educational on his material, i’ve been entertained and learned so much.
Oh right, it was just a dream. And dreams are harmless as we know.
You need to start a podcast channel
55:00
A random inspiration that popped into my head while listening: "What dire horror prompted the archaeologist to seal again the tomb away from humanity? And what vile necessity prompted him to do so *from the inside?*"
...and a random chuckle at the names given to the donkeys at 25:52. :P
Turin? On to something
I want to record a "You Fool, Warren is dead"
Not sure if it's ironic but it's funny to hear a Lovecraft "character" bemoan "This country is too full of Western/white influences!" Lol.
Freeky
Again Warren? I guess it's a good thing you figured the Konami code out.
Yuo*
Excellent reading, not one of my favorite Lovecraft stories but well done. Lovecraft's collaborations have more often than not, felt a little uninspired to me.
I like the stories he ghost wrote where he takes the simple storyline, makes short work of it, and then goes on for 6 hours doing whatever the heck he wanted, like The Mound
@@bobbymarcum772 - For 'The Mound' he was given the two Native American ghosts and the burial mound. That was it.
@@julietfischer5056 precisely what I like. He kind of made fun of the Binger residents (incidentally binger is an hour from here and hometown of baseball hall of fame catcher Johnny Bench lol) when they said the sentry was a ghost or ghosts, but you know it is a really intriguing idea which he developed
Omg I'm so hyped, somebody punch me in the stomach!
Re: Lovecraft and Houdini- apperantly they had, prior to the latter's death, planned to collaborate on an exposě of the blatant and cheap charlatanisim of the 'spiritualist'' movenemt which was popular at the time- seances, ouiji, ghosts, etc, with Houdini debunking their con-artistry, it's methods and fakery, and with Lovecraft contributing the writing of such.
Unfortunately, Houdini's premature death and Lovecraft's lack of widespread fame and marketability at that time put an end to the proposed project. There is some evidence of such a project as it existed in its formative stages preserved in Lovecraft's correspondence. Lovecraft, like Houdini, despite their careers and interests which seemingly embraced the paranormal / supernatural, were profoundly materialistic and utterly atheistic- in particular when it comes to their categorical dismissal of the popular, contemporary 'Spirtualism' as exemplified and spread by A.C. Doyle, seances, ghost-hunting,. etc: but Houdini died: Thus, the aformentioned projected collaboration was lost to the vagaries of chance.
It's something I would loved to have read- a 1930's era James Randi style exposě, written by H.P.L, of all people, with HOUDINI!. (As long as HPL could've kept his rampant xenophobia jn check, which is doubtful, TBH.)
Sounds like someone had a bad trip, and then got excessively eloquent about it
They should've titled it ENTOMBED with pharaohs. Geez.
I think this story might be made up.
I'm sorry. You did your best Mr Gordon. But nothing can make the phrase "Licked it's chops" scary. Sounds like something out of a book for children! :P
(I still like you though)
I love Horror Babble, and in particular Ian's narration. However when it comes to Lovecraft stories, I struggle to deal with the obviously racist remarks Lovecraft makes in many of his tales, (e.g. his remarks about the bedouin, and use of the term 'native' which, at that time at least, was frequently used in a derogatory sense). I do recognise the important contribution of Lovecraft to the horror genre, and whilst I also know these are historic viewpoints not shared by the makers of or contributers to Horror Babble, I do think, that it would be appropriate in 2020 to edit out those parts of the story, for, surely, we want to celebrate his craft in horror story telling, not his divisive cultural or political views.That said, Horror Babble remains one of my top channels and I do particularly like having access to the older horror masters and Ian's own contributions. Thankyou for your entertaining work its been a haven for me in this present time.
Why would you want to alter classic works of art because you have a problem with the way certain words are used?
If you edited out all parts of classic or famous authors' works that had been found objectionable by various subsequent generations, there wouldn't be much left to read.
You can't amputate a work of a part of its content, and then pretend to present the original.
People are informed and mature enough to form their own opinion, and entitled to read/hear the complete work - including the objectionable parts.
I want to read the real thing, not what some rando decided i should be allowed to read/hear.
I didn't notice any racism. He didn't appreciate the native culture sure that's obvious. But it isn't racist. And who are you defending? Why are you offended? You're a native to a place and culture someone doesn't like. Is that person racist too?
If censoring authors has not been appropriate for thousands of years, why would 2020 suddenly be the exception?
Listening or reading a book does not mean you agree with everything the author thinks or that you "celebrate" everything the author or the book.
Don't you have the ability to ignore the parts and ideas you do not like?
How come readers have been able to cope with authors they disagree with for hundreds of years of our history but suddenly this has become an issue now?
Doesn't this mean that readers today have *lost* an ability that previous readers have had?
If people can't handle light adversities such as reading a book that has content they don't like, they are lacking skills needed in life in general.
Overly protecting people is a fool's errand and not good in the long run. I'm saying this as someone who suffered from an overly protective childhood...
(The word "struggle" reminded me of this newer phenomenon, which requires people to have a certain mindset that thinks "people, even adults need to be protected from subjectively objectionable content (either intended or not) by any means necessary, even censorship". This is an extremely inefficient "nanny" type of system, where everyone needs to always think of how anyone else might feel about something. The fruits of this has not been good so far IMO. When you find out you can't control other peoples' thought and ideas, it can lead to elevation of intolerance and hatred towards them.)
@@darcyshaw4938 As much as I stand by my earlier post, I must say that I find your remarks disingenuous, almost appearing to be deliberately obtuse.
Lovecraft's remarks, repeated in numerous stories, referring to non-Anglo-Saxon people (in other words, most of the human race), are pretty much the definition of racist.
I seem to recall words like 'half-caste', 'mongrel', 'dark, teeming masses' and other ominous, contemptuous or animalistic vocabulary used to describe non-Anglo-Saxons.
I don't recall it all of course, but would definitely be able to check.
These kinds of words, expressing a clear distaste, fear (yes, a lot of fear), contempt, distrust and hate, as well as distance towards other races, ethnic and social groups, ideological groups - were very much part of published discourse, of the nationalistic/communist zeitgeist of the 20's and 30's. Lovecraft's adult years.
He was indeed not outstanding or remarkable in his views and vocabulary - it was shared by most of Western civilization. (Other civilizations not being at all immune from "othering" (sorry about this terrible word), diminishing and dehumanizing others: the Hindu caste system, the Muslim believer/non -believer (with non-believer being "less-than"), slavery in most civilizations, human sacrifice of the Aztecs znd Phoenicians), and so on.
But i must say that quite independently of any of the latest "SJWs", public and personal sensibilities have very much evolved in the Western world since Lovecraft's time, so much that that i find many press articles, essays or books of the period quite unpalatable. And so do most people today.
(As a very high-level example, check out Louis-Ferdinand Céline, for example)
The overweening contempt of others, the hateful and or/condescending way of talking about others contained in gvese writings is not something i can personally stomach for more than maybe half a page.
So no, it's not about Lovecraft "not liking" certain groups or cultures - he couldn't "not like" American Indian cultures for example, for the simple reason that he didn't know anything about them.
And what he did read was very probably the usual negative projections mixed with ignorance and bad faith that constituted "knowledge" about them for most people.
This ignorance clearly didn't stop him from considering them beneath his investigating and understanding efforts
Such an attitude is pretty much the definition of prejudice and racism.