Review of “The Graveyard Rats” by Henry Kuttner: Halloween Countdown

For October 1:

Plot:

Old Masson became the caretaker of one of Salem’s oldest and most neglected cemeteries after the former caretaker inexplicably disappeared. Generations ago, abnormally large rats migrated up to the burial ground from the wharves. Masson decided they had to go, but the usual measures failed.

Every so often, the gravediggers uncover their unusually big burrows. A man could fit in them. The old people whisper about something worse than rats: the rodents are mere go-betweens. The legend of the Pied Piper “is a fable that hides a blasphemous horror.”

Masson doesn’t pay any mind to this talk. He tries to hide the existence of the rats. If the townspeople peer too closely, they might see things Masson would prefer to keep private.

Thoughts:

Lovecraft’s influence shows through in this story. Kuttner portrays an atmosphere of lingering ancient, unseen evil, even if the things Cotton Mather chased down are gone.

And the rats. They’re not natural. They’re the size of cats. Masson tries trapping them, poisoning them, and, when all else fails, simply shooting them. They come back in greater numbers.

Kuttner depicts horror not as cosmic but as localized and personalized. Masson gets his just deserts.

I didn’t care for this story and those like it, whose main attraction is ICK, but that’s a personal preference. The suspense builds nicely, and there is some humor, but I’m still not crazy about it.

Bio: Henry Kuttner (1915-1958) was an American author of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. An early admirer of Weird Tales and H. P. Lovecraft, he corresponded with the author and had some stories published in the magazine. He was married to author C. L. Moore (“Shambleau”). The two often collaborated. Kuttner used many pseudonyms, including Lawrence O’Donnell and Lewis Padgett. Kuttner’s work influenced sci-fi writer Ray Bradbury, among others.


I couldn’t find a source that was both legible and trustworthy for the text. However, text is included with audio below.

The story can be listened to here: (30:31)



Title: The Graveyard Rats
Author: Henry Kuttner
First published: Weird Tales, March 1936