Tag Archives: Weird tales

Review of “The Gorgon” by Clark Ashton Smith: Halloween Countdown

For October 13 Plot: Traveling after the death of the only woman he loved, the grieving main character in this short tale comes across an odd character in the crowded streets of London. The old man reminds him of Charon, ferrying souls to the Underworld. The modern-day Charon locks eyes with him. “I can seeContinue reading “Review of “The Gorgon” by Clark Ashton Smith: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Feast at the Abbey” by Robert Bloch: Halloween Countdown

For October 7 Plot: Traveling through a forest to meet his brother, the narrator is caught in a storm and takes refuge in a monastery he happens across. A short, rotund abbot admits him and summons two servants (whom he refers to with the unfortunate term “blackamoors”) dressed in “great baggy trousers of red velvetContinue reading “Review of “The Feast at the Abbey” by Robert Bloch: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Call of Cthulhu” by H. P. Lovecraft: Halloween Countdown

For October 6 Plot:While going through the effects of his late uncle, George Gammell Angell, professor emeritus of languages at Brown University, Francis Wayland Thurston discovers a small bas-relief depicting a creature, an amalgam of “an octopus, a dragon, and a human.” He further describes it: “A pulpy tentacled head surmounted a grotesque and scalyContinue reading “Review of “The Call of Cthulhu” by H. P. Lovecraft: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Thing in the Cellar” by David H. Keller: Halloween Countdown

For October 2:Plot:From his earliest days, Tommy Tucker seemed uneasy in the kitchen, especially if the door to the cellar was open. The cellar was larger than one would expect for the size of the house. The entrance was a “stout oaken door,” more suitable for an outside door. The author tells the reader theContinue reading “Review of “The Thing in the Cellar” by David H. Keller: Halloween Countdown”

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

Review of “The Night Wire” by H. F. Arnold Halloween Countdown

17) The Night Wire by H. F. Arnold Plot:Told by a night manager at newspaper in a western seacoast town, this is set in the days when news came in by telegraph. The narrator describes John Morgan as a “doubler,” that is, someone who can listen to two feeds and type their contents on twoContinue reading “Review of “The Night Wire” by H. F. Arnold Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Dunwich Horror” by H. P. Lovecraft

6) “The Dunwich Horror” by H. P. Lovecraft Plot: Dunwich, Massachusetts, is a backwoods town settled by refugees from the Salem witch trials. Most people dislike it and avoid it now, though they couldn’t tell you why. Lavinia Whateley, the deformed and emotionally stunted daughter of Old Whateley, becomes pregnant and gives birth to WilburContinue reading “Review of “The Dunwich Horror” by H. P. Lovecraft”