uffesjokvist

"But what am I, without being a study of science?" Get used to reading variations of the above quote if you want to read the Shuttered Room by August Derleth (despite being quoted as a co-writer, he had very little to do with the actual book. Every story in the book is reflective of the each other, the two last. The first story, the Shutter Room, is probably the longest of the six stories written for this book. It is also the most Lovecraftian a young man leaves his cosmopolitan for the lonely hamlet of Dunwich (the setting for not just one, but two of the stories of this book). When he arrives he is warned by the locals to beware what his grandfather had inside the house that the young man was staying in. He ignores this as crazy superstition even though he admits he has no better idea of what's going on, so he tries to take the scientific process into his exploration of the situation, because there is no way any thing crazy could be going on. And then a giant fish man tries to eat him so he runs away. Congratulations! You now don't have to read the next four stories!Well, minus the fish man. But really, Witches Hollow, The Horror From the Middle Span, and The Shadow in the Attic all follow the same process of The Shuttered Room. That being: 1.Man from civilization goes into a secluded, dark place. 2. Strange happenings and/or locals warn him to beware.The man ignores it though, as he is a man of the new scientific age. 3.Man explores for a while. 4. Man gets attacked by elder gods/old ones, barely escapes/becomes food for Cthulhu. And that what the first four stories represent. The fifth story, The Fisherman of Falcon Point, is the story about a very lonely fisherman who then becomes a fishman, tying in greatly with The Shuttered Room. The Dark Brotherhood, final story of the book, is the most unique. Because it involves several alien Edger Allen Poes coming down and trying to impregnate our women. Sadly, I found it to be in fact rather dull, and it wasn't really as well written as the other stories. Yes, the book is in fact well written! August Derleth is, in my opinion, a very goo writer. Only problem is, that he also only knows how to write one type of story. Which is sad, because I think it would be amazing to read other types of stories, as his work seems to be atmospheric and moody, but constantly work off of notes of the departed Lovecraft, I feel, just served to hold him back as a writer. Overall, if you've never read Lovecraft before, and are interested, go a head and read a story to get a feel for the mythos with out having to start memorizing names of elder gods. Otherwise, I wouldn't really bother if you're either a long time fan or are just not really interested. Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!

2022-11-14 13:58