"A:B:O." / A Classic Weird Tale by Walter de la Mare

[@JasonJason210]

I used to be well into classic horror and ghosts stories back in the 1990s, and now in these darker times, I find it comforting to turn to them once again.

[@Tekel-Upharsin]

I love the way Walter de la Mare took the concept of a character giving their first-hand account of a story to the reader, without doing any introspective or retrospective analysis. He's just telling you what he heard, what he saw, what he smelt, what he said, and what he did. He doesn't retrospectively explain the logic or reasoning behind his actions, nor does he really even offer an introspective analysis of his actions. This style of writing (and reading 👍) makes for a pretty intense bit of storytelling despite the elements of humor laced throughout.

[@manfredarcane9130]

This story is a first class nightmare fuel. I also like how weirdly hysterical it is, compared to how restrained and subtle de la Mare's latter weird stories are. Keep up the good work, so few of his stories are available in audio (BBC recordings from some years ago are BRUTALLY abridged).

[@paulcateiii]

there are so many good stories in the public domain and Horror Babble makes great use of them

[@jjvladimir6070]

First "The Riddle" and now "A.B.O." So happy to see you covering Walter de la Mare. Ian's voice is the perfect instrument for this material.

[@donaldmccleary9015]

Wow! This is a well-written story. Your narration, as always, is peerless. Your narrations have opened my eyes to many wonderful writers. Many newer stories lack the depth of these great examples of storytelling. I am kept guessing at the backstory and future of the creature. This is the type of story I wish had a sequel! This is a fantastic story! Thanks for making this great author known to us! I have to find more of his stories!

[@davidbailey5231]

My thanks to you, Ian, both for searching out this treasure and for lending to it your superb narrative skills. I first encountered it many years ago in a collection checked out from a public library, and ever since have had it teasing at my brain like an unscratchable itch. Listening to your reading of it tonight has made me very happy. Somewhere very far away, I believe de la Mare is smiling... DB

[@HorrorBabble]

You're welcome David - it had me intrigued from the start! Glad you enjoyed it. Ian

[@HorrorBabble]

"A:B:O." is a short story by Walter de la Mare, written under the pen name, Walter Ramal. The story first appeared in The Cornhill Magazine in the late 1890s. It tells of the discovery and excavation of a strange, metallic chest. Thanks again to David Bailey for the suggestion! Chapters: 00:10 - Introduction 00:54 - A:B:O. 42:48 - Credits Bandcamp link: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com/album/a-b-o Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble Music and production by Ian Gordon Support us on Bandcamp or Patreon: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com www.patreon.com/horrorbabble HorrorBabble MERCH: teespring.com/stores/horrorbabble-merch Search HORRORBABBLE to find us on: AUDIBLE / ITUNES / SPOTIFY Home: www.horrorbabble.com Rue Morgue: www.rue-morgue.com Social Media: facebook.com/HorrorBabble instagram.com/horrorbabble twitter.com/HorrorBabble

[@Folker46590]

Ok, I have NO idea what the hell is going on with this story. They open the chest, find something inside, lose their minds, then plan on killing it even though it has apparently harmed no one, then the story ends. Wtf?

[@blixten2928]

THis is both hilarious, original, and disturbing. This is really, really great, and PERFECTLY read. Thank you so much!

[@jonjosephbarnes]

Love De La Mare! Thanks for the upload!

[@joz6683]

I am having a Horrorbabble day, this is now my 4th story, great way to spend a rest day. Listened to this on Spotify. However, I came over to KZbin to thank everyone for all the hard work.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks again, Joz!

[@FIONA21ful]

You never fail , this is such a great story and I haven't read it in years . I keep telling people that you and your Horrorbabble are an absolute treasure trove of top quality. You never let us down Ian. 😘

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks Fiona - always great to hear from you. :) Ian

[@FIONA21ful]

HorrorBabble Same here! 😘

[@tikkidaddy]

Yes...we tell everybody...because...HORRORBABBLE...DAMMITT😂 Reminded me of Lindybeige AKA Lloyd...his armorer asked what sort of helmet he wanted made for his new suit...they were talking about some Italian or French piece...Lloyd says... No I don't want that (insert name here)...Well...I'm British.....dammitt😂!!!! I absolutely ROLLED! Classic!

[@RelativelyBest]

Man, those guys have a melodramatic way of speaking.

[@nicholasgerrish6022]

Yes, they were Victorians………

[@Chezbo]

I really enjoy this story. It's funny and creepy at the same time, and your narration is just the cherry on top. I'm listening to it for the second time right now I paused it to make this comment. I think I might have to listen to it for a third time, so I can try to figure out the answers to the questions I still have.

[@michaelchitwood389]

What a gem is this one! Thank you so!

[@jamiecameron7615]

Brilliant, thank you for this dark gem. Perfection as always Ian!

[@plhebel1]

wonderful stories, narration top notch. Thank you to who has created , read, produced and most important uploaded them to KZbin for our entertainment. I enjoy them very much and I can rest my eyes now, that helps alot.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks Paul - it's always nice to be appreciated! Ian

[@Coyote-qs6fs]

Love this! You guys go so above and beyond when it comes to finding material sometimes, instead of pulling stuff from random 4chan threads where you get that "#15" stuff you actually search for decent stories to provide quality over quantity. Love this channel!!

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you again - I'm glad you enjoyed this one! Ian

[@charlesReed239]

What a wonderfully strange story, thank you for another great reading

[@Mi-yc3oy]

That opening interchange was brilliant 😄. Thank you for another excellent reading 👍🥃

[@robertwalker-smith2739]

I remember reading this when I was too young to understand the horror of it. This was a wonderful reintroduction to it.

[@susanhepburn6040]

I have just listened to this mere yards away from where De La Mere lived in Ledbury, Herefordshire. Thank you very much - I hadn't come across this one before! As soon as that 'pipe' was mentioned, I was thinking, ' Don't do it..'...

[@gerry5134]

Enjoyed this story. The description of the begger eating is hilarious !

[@feralbluee]

i found it a comment at how famished the beggar was - eating like it would be taken away from him at any second - not believing he actually had food. how differently people see things. . .

[@michax109]

Very enjoyable gem from the past.

[@teresahillin783]

Opps! I meant to say thank you for reading the story. You have a good voice for reading out loud. Enjoyed listening to you read .

[@texasbadger3586]

Thank you for bringing this classic lit to life!💀

[@teresahillin783]

The reader did a great at reading the story. Thank You

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks for listening, Teresa. :) Ian

[@johnbryant8603]

Wonderful, thank you 🙏🏽💙

[@ConTrollerNorth2]

Both funny and scary. Great narration for a great story.

[@AnAmericanComposer]

Ian, your content is fantastic and I love discovering new authors and stories from you. I still shudder at least once a day now remembering "The Human Chair"! Would you be willing to read "The White People" or "The Great God Pan" by Arthur Machen? Every audiobook of it I have found is subpar, even the NAXOS recording! Thank you.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you! I'm thrilled you're enjoying the content - and always great to hear from a fellow musician. The Human Chair is particularly memorable; you can thank a couple of our subscribers for introducing us to that! As for The Great God Pan, it is already here on the channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3rEiY19maZgeaM AND, I have also recorded The White People, though it has yet to be edited. :) Thanks again for listening! Ian

[@Folker46590]

@@HorrorBabble A.B.O. Abnormal Biological Object?

[@lacyhart2043]

The white people is very good.

[@shrontvaniel7796]

@@Folker46590 Alpha Beta and Omega

[@jjvladimir6070]

I wonder if you would consider reading "Seaton's Aunt" by de la Mare? The unsettling feeling it produces lingers like an old woman's perfume.

[@jamesb.8940]

JJ Vladimir That’s a good one. It must be ages since I read it, but I remember it.

[@HorrorBabble]

Yes - a little longer that one, but much easier to get our hands on. I'll put it on the list for future reference! Thanks JJ! Ian

[@pblagojevic1987]

BBC actually produced a reading of that one, tho it was abridged with a sledgehammer and a chainsaw - some 2/3ds of the story were cut off, and that is something you should never ever do especially in the case of such a story, where so much attention was given to details. I still kinda like that series of narrations, as their reader did a pretty good job with the material. Like, in "A Recluse", he made the titular character sound like Tim Curry which is really a touch of pure genius (I am now unable to imagine him in any other way lol).

[@feralbluee]

i love the way you say ‘door’. 🙃

[@feralbluee]

i was wondering if you'd ever read Walter de la Mare -and . . . a new one to me -thanks for all your research :}

[@Pentapus1024]

I love this story and my mind keeps coming back to it lately. It's so... strange. I'd love to know what ever gave him such an idea. Was it inspired by a dream? Is it purely allegory? How much of this tale is a product of its time? WTF?! I can't find anything much about this particular story in my searches. Maybe this narration will get A:B:O noticed out there and people will begin to devote forum threads and blog posts to analysis. I'll give up the search for now. But maybe in a couple years more will have listened/read this totally unique story and be as mystified as I.

[@HorrorBabble]

It's a complex story this one - I too am still baffled by certain aspects of it! Ian

[@trishbirchard1270]

Love the name Walter de la Mare.

[@mjrchapin]

Looked this up, I wonder what ABO stands for? I know one of the characters takes a passing guess, and yet...

[@thriddoctor]

Wonderfully read. Any chance of you doing Guy Endor's Day of the Dragon?

[@littlebrowndog66]

I think these guys were overreacting. It just wanted to snuggle up by the fire and take a nap. 😊 Excellent narration as always.

[@JK-xz6mj]

What happened in the end???

[@Folker46590]

They want to kill it because it's ugly, that's pretty much it apparently. In so many horror stories ugly is evil and pretty is good is a pretty constant theme.

[@TheybyBaby-c9m]

Damn it Dougdale.

[@Chezbo]

What's the story made me LOL a couple times

[@ms.happydiehappy9018]

Oh, more de la Mare readings, please! Any would do, but a rarer one such as 'The Tree' would be nice.

[@badas45]

This is why I'm pro-life

[@sissyblackwidowspider7529]

Great story thnx🕷🖤👌👍❗🕶🕷🕸

[@tikkidaddy]

Well...I'm here...again😂 Only thing is...I wish I had a "magnificent nose"...come to think of it I didn't know they existed...well you learn sumptin new every day😂😂...now to find a chunk of prime Welsh lamb, me...I'm hungry... Very well done...just not the lamb, ok?