"Settler's Wall" / Tales of the Mythos

[@HorrorBabble]

Be mindful of spoilers in the comments section, folks!

[@arthur_goodnessache]

"while the camera may not lie,some first class liars are very adept at working with camera's" Genius writing from Robert A.W. Lowndes

[@feralbluee]

Yes, I was struck by that, too. You should have so many reactions to this. It’s very surprising. Have a great day :) 🌲🌺

[@charlesdexterward7781]

This might be the best non-HPL Mythos story I've heard. With every cosmic horror tale it's very difficult to strike the balance between too vague and too revealing. Almost every other story can't resist the urge to show us the monster. Cosmic horror should also straddle being incomprehensible (how can we understand the Old Ones any more than ants understand humans) and yet also follow a certain internal consistency. This story succeeds.

[@ProjectTenva]

I'm inclined to agree, it's definitely up there with the best of cosmic horror. I think this story will stay with me mainly just because of the final line. Just the idea of a piece of some incomprehensible greater whole protruding into our dimension. It conjures some of the feelings of the better Brian Lumley stories e.g. the night the sea maid went down, but is a much more subtle take on the same sort of theme.

[@zeromt3577]

I agree, this is a very good one. I also really like your proposed delicate balance of external incomprehensibility and internal consistency. Can you suggest any other non-HPL Mythos stories that are in this same ballpark? I'd suggest maybe Hounds of Tindalos by Frank Bellknap Long, Hydra by Henry Kuttner, Far Below by Robert Barbour Johnson, The Red God Laughed by Thorp McClusky, Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell Jr., at least a few of Bloch's tales (maybe Fane of the Black Pharaoh or The Shambler from the Stars?), and at least a few of Clark Ashton Smith's stories too (maybe The Hunters from Beyond or The Dweller in the Gulf?). Also, modern stuff from Peter Rawlik, William Meikle, Victor LaValle, Caitlín R. Kiernan, and P. Djeli Clark are pretty great too. Even the script of Stranger Things (the show on Netflix) is, arguably, Mythos (it's heavily DnD influenced, but DnD was heavily HPL influenced) and they do a pretty good job of remaining internally consistent even while their cosmology as a whole becomes incomprehensible.

[@michaelkottler]

Precisely. And nice username, Mr. Ward!

[@tomtom86004]

Flagstaff, Maine was a real place that was flooded in the 50s. Adds an air of real life wonder to it. As a bonus I live in Flagstaff, AZ unrelated but still fun.

[@spoonsareoccasionallymadeo5728]

The ending was perfect. Nothing too crazy, but just unsettling enough to give you chills. And of course, another excellent narration.

[@reaper67309]

What an astounding tale, leaving me with no more closure or reassurance than the characters in the story, but an even greater thirst for the discovery of the Walls' secrets. Perhaps it is best left a secret. A gift in which I might never understand the worth, yet experience its reward each and every day that passes with my sanity intact. Thank you Horrorbabble for bringing this writing to life.

[@MadCow64]

I second this thought exactly! Great story.

[@justifan]

Actually, I got a good somewhat satisfied laugh at the end. There are references to hyper-dimensional entities in Lovecraftian mythos. The idea that it was some living creature, and not some strange construction by who knows who to prevent looking "at the other side". It appeared to be there for approximately 100 years, when conditions were right for it to arrive and leave. That cold blooded thing, for when they touched it they sensed a coolness, was just "resting" there for a time, minding its own business. It could have been a manifestation of Yog-soth-oth or some other outer god. Even many known animal species have seasonal migrations: north in the summer, south in the winter. Obviously this unquantifiable dimensional thing, was just here because "the time was right", until it moved on by its inscrutable motives, maybe even by instinct. I just hope it did not leave any eggs to spawn... :)

[@cepopeye]

I know of a strange wall IRL Not the same exactly but I’ve traced it back to accounts early Kansas City It was always there Now it’s underneath a parking garage in downtown KC adjacent to the convention center and visible from the highway

[@cepopeye]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2PElnp9iLecaqc

[@traviscassidy4717]

@@justifan THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I GOT!! it was one of the great old ones. Not subject to our physics and delving too far into its depth/breadth will leave you mad.

[@TimTylor]

Like the heroes, I'm surprised not to have heard of the Wall before. A great, quietly unsettling story, and the last line's perfect. And thanks for a perfect reading.

[@stevejeffery3112]

...I hit that line just I read your comment. And I think my heart skipped a beat!

[@3X73RM]

What did he actually say on the last line? I didn't quite catch it ^^`

[@3X73RM]

@@Thomas_Name Okay. Well. What?! A 10ft tall brick wall swam away? TF does that mean? xD

[@lead.farmer]

@@3X73RM exactly, wtf does it mean????!

[@traviscassidy4717]

@@3X73RM means that it was a living entity that decided to leave. At least that’s what I got

[@jasonscarborough94]

59:53 Was I the only one expecting him to just start descending from sky after climbing into the hole they blasted into the wall?

[@davidwhite7294]

I think you might be …..l did,nt and lve read so many Mythos stories that l should have done…😂😂 well done.

[@KensN2History]

8/10 enjoyed this one a lot.

[@shollister3009]

As soon as I hear Ian's voice, I immediately begin to relax. What a gift.

[@Blue_Jasmin]

"dynamite" the absolute madman.

[@AJScraps]

Lets go, on time for another HorrorBabble Cthulhu mythos 🙏👹

[@nsob8897]

I hope the last two stories are as good as the first three. I love the mythos stories. I've never been a fan of horror or mystery but ill be damned if the stories of Bloch, Lovecraft, Howard and everybody already knows all of their names...anyway I'm surprised at myself for how easily I fell into these stories and haven't a single regret save one. I wish I had started reading or listening to these stories a long time ago. Thank you Ian and horror babble for making me a fan of these stories. The first time I listened to the mound I was hooked. I could ramble all day about the things I like about this and giving thanks but I'll just quit jabbering. Well done again, sir.

[@jeffashley5512]

Wahoo!!! Horrorbabble is on!!! Starting to have withdrawals. Let's go!!! 💀 Oh I remember party line phones. My grandfather had one here in rural Tennessee.

[@0therun1t21]

My kitten picked this video, he has good taste!

[@paulcateiii]

Good Evening Ian

[@johannageisel5390]

Wall: * wants to be left alone * Humans: * blow hole into wall * Wall: "Can you maybe not!?" * swims away after healing*

[@GodOfPlague]

A couple of fun references in here. Necronomicon, Miskatonic, lovecraft. Was a fun story

[@justinjacobs1501]

There's also references to what is almost certainly Yog-Sothoth and the wall being tied to it in some way.

[@exoblivione6086]

Ian Gordon keeping the mythos alive in its purest form.

[@magicbulletdancers]

It's only noon - twelve bells - where I am. "Evening listen" can't come soon enough ... I may have to go for a nap to catch this !

[@michaelkottler]

In some ways the finest HPL mythos tale ever: Epically foreboding, completely without fault and featuring a devilishly clever three-word finale. Thank you HB for producing yet another fine adaptation of a wonder-filled tale of the mythos, this one from Robert Lowndes for the Fall 1968 issue of Startling Mystery Stories. Excellent again, HB!

[@CrowSkeleton]

Yes! This! I listened to this awhile back and it rejuvinated my love of cosmic horror like a shot in the arm. Subtlety, cute rather than cheesy Mythos nods, none of that "evil thing is evil because something, woo scary!", it's great. Came back to comment and feed the algorithm here after being deeply disappointed by an hour of 'The Guardian of the Book', because look! Doomed curiousity that genuinely involves the reader's mind with the need for one...more...prod, that baffling last line, the notion of things vast and unknowable to which we (and dynamite) are background annoyances at most, quiet daylight horror...all these things make me do the happy chirrup. Thank you for reading it so I could listen whilst working, I appreciate it.

[@EndOfSmallSanctuary97]

This is one of my very favourite stories covered on this channel. It reminded me a bit of House of Leaves.

[@SavageBites]

Love this one - also, loving the use of Ai cover art Ian - the subtle vagary of this type of art is disturbingly creepy, and just perfect for this application :)

[@HorrorBabble]

Great to hear from you, sir! Midjourney is proving to be a lot of fun, but of course it is very limited.

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

Never heard this one before. Unusual ideas...bazaar and thought provoking...Thank you so much.

[@manuelplatino1926]

*SPOILER* The most interesting aspect of this story is that the main characters are not occultism nerds but military fratboys, and they approach the unusual situation as such: instead of investigating the problem to reach to an explanation, they try to blow it up

[@AcornElectron]

Ah! I needed this tonight. Had an unsettled feeling all day and this may be the exact prescription for sleep. Keep up the good work Jen and Ian and, as always, stay safe!

[@joehockley2610]

What a story and Narration WOW It had me hook line and sinker I couldn’t walk away from it I had to hear every single word. This beats any movie or shows this is why I haven’t watched TV for 7yrs ….

[@davidwhite7294]

I don’t think a film of this would work…..or at least it would be difficult to make it visually interesting because of it’s understatement of the actual horror. I listen to this regularly as a bedtime story, like Lovecraft,s The Strange High House in the mist or The Cats of Ulthar. They’re somehow comforting,kinda like The Three Bears for grown ups.

[@dondawson2174]

Love the thumbnail art....

[@soulreaver1983]

Outstanding 💯 as always many thanks Ian hope you're keeping well 😎👍👍👍

[@joz6683]

Great I love these longer stories, just in time for bedtime. Thank you very much for this and as always thanks for all your hard work.

[@blurryface9597]

This is definitely one of the best stories! Thanks for your excellent narration as always!

[@Blayze1017]

Love me some HorrorBabble

[@ssshhhjjj192]

Me too 😊🤪 I luvs me some HorrorBabble! 👻🤪

[@chrismaclean3108]

Yes. I guess the wall could be an outer god/ancient one. Maybe Yog Sothoth? Or possibly Nyarlathotep? Killer tale indeed! Can't wait til the next one!

[@thomasturner2007]

This is the first story that I heard you preform. Added your channel immediately after finishing.

[@gumbytheonetheonly9089]

Absolutely an amazing job Thank you ! ....

[@MrsCaranAmy]

This was an outstanding story today. It was full of mystery and suspense. Your narration was great. I really enjoyed this one. Thank you. Have a wonderful day 🥰💖🤗🌟

[@hillaryclinton1232]

"Settler's Wall" by Robert Lowndes Startling Mystery Stories, Fall 1968 "This wall has never hurt anybody, but some folk have hurt themselves trying to pry into its secrets." "My Idea for a Story" It is 2022 and America's Lack of Insects in a Scary Reality that is not a Obscure Tale, not at all, Ask any OTW Trucker he'll Tell You the Millions of Dead Bugs that use to Be All Over the Truck. The Terrorist that has murdered our Bug Population Monsanto Round-Up Ready! Monsanto & Bayer Crop Science are BANNED in Russia and Most all Europe. So America Military has deliberately plotted a Proxy War leading Ukrainian with $Billions & $billions to Destroy Mother Russia whose wheat and barley has No Monsanto Insect murder chemicals. You can think this is Obscure Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos Episode 3: "Russia's Wall" terrorist attacks to extermination of Healthy Insects, Honey Bees, and replace with Monsanto / Bayer Round-Up-Ready and Why? Population Culls. to Kill Off Useless Eaters, as in 1984 book: we shall see the "New Age Order" unless ....Oh Please ...China Joins in fellowship with Mother Russia to Destroy the Mad Mass Murder American Empire! This would make a great story, however it is a Remembering of John Hershey's Book "White Lotus" I read in 1964, a book about China's Domination of U.S.A. and Taking Slaves home. The Protagonist is a young coloured gal from Georgia or Mississippi who Taught Her Masters about Civil Rights and Jim Crow in America. She shames the Chinese that they are same ass holes as the Americans they easily beat and annihilated . They wasn't no better then the Weak Sissified Americans who were easily defeated.

[@ianmcguinness5029]

Absolutely love this story. Thank You so much for this.

[@friedricengravy6646]

That is such s great image. Horror Babble, always with the best art. 🤘🏻🥳

[@angel22893]

I love these stories that really get your imagination going. Thanks ❤

[@colemarie9262]

A new one to me! I’d love any of these you can find.

[@ElderJack-ye7sb]

Wow, loved this one, potentially one of my favorites done by someone touching on the mythos

[@donaldmccleary9015]

Great story and narration. I love the nod to "Miskatonic Univeristy," and Lovecraft, although it was not explicitly stated.

[@hillaryclinton1232]

Settler’s Wall by Robert A.W. Lowndes First published: 1942 as ‘The Long Wall’ by Wilfred Owen Mosley, in Stirring Science Stories March 1942' Two revised versions appeared in Startling Mystery Stories #10 in 1968, and in Crypt of Cthulhu #62 in 1989. In the countryside near Flagstaff, Maine, there is a wall ten feet high, dull, and has been there for as long as anyone can remember. There is no other side. If you try to climb over it, you will find yourself on the same side as you started. If you try to walk around it, you will get back to where you started. Objects thrown over are later found lying in the grass on your own side. Naturally, the protagonist’s friend becomes obsessively determined to find out what is on the other side. This is not a good idea, especially when dynamite becomes involved. A simple idea played effectively and entirely straight. You may have seen such bizarre architecture in stories before, but by making it the focus of this story, it reminds you just how conceptually creepy such a thing would be. Settler’s Wall by Robert A.W. Lowndes Availability: Print only Word count: 7,500 First published: 1942 as ‘The Long Wall’ by Wilfred Owen Mosley, in Stirring Science Stories March 1942 Two revised versions appeared in Startling Mystery Stories #10 in 1968, and in Crypt of Cthulhu #62 in 1989. Where to find it: The Necronomicon, edited by Robert M. Price, 1996, Chaosium Fiction

[@nikolaihanuschak191]

Hey Ian, just wanted to let you know that I absolutely love this new series of Cthulhu Mythos tales... and I have a few suggestions for this series." The scourge of B'Moth" by Bertram Russell ( weird tails may 1929) and" spawn of the green Abyss" by C Hall Thompson ( weird Tails November 1946). Cheers mate keep up the great work..... Nikolai from Providence, Rhode island, home of the great H.P.L

[@tom13stone59]

Great playlists Nikolai, thank you!

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks Nikolai! The series is already recorded, but I CAN tell you that one of your suggestions is amongst the remaining episodes...

[@nikolaihanuschak191]

@@HorrorBabble well that's outstanding news Ian. It would seem my prayers to the horror babble gods have been answered! LOL. Not that they've ever let me down before, cheers to you and the horror babble crew my friend!

[@nikolaihanuschak191]

@@tom13stone59 well thank you very much Tom!

[@casard5235]

Very enjoyable in a mind-bendy way. I've saved it for future listening. Thanks for the narration.

[@kkdd3844]

Superb reading as always! The concept of an abnormal space is really unsettling.

[@silasben-zoheth2639]

I remember reading this story many years ago in a collection of Lovecraftian tales by Mythos. It has stayed with me for decades. Thank you for this.

[@williamfawkes8379]

An astonishing work for sure, this one deserves to be recalled.

[@Sn4fu]

Love these new thumbnails!! looking forward to listening to this one tomorrow at work. Been really enjoying the mythos tales!

[@feralbluee]

great story - really intriguing..Thanks, Ian & co. :) 🐍

[@pheerstringer]

Great mythos story . Left just enough of the illogic mixed in with the logic to keep you wondering. Well balanced.

[@adamscrivner30]

Fabulously dry. Had me smiling to myself frequently. Thank you.

[@1000FeatheredOwl]

That last line…. It did WHAT 😭 oh no

[@shawnpleil4699]

Excellent story! 👍

[@JayChampagne]

Presumably, "A.A." refers to "Al Azif", the Arabic name for the Necronomicon.

[@johannageisel5390]

Oh, thanks for that info! I was wondering...

[@benjaminirwin1988]

I very much enjoy this channel; I'll wile away an entire day off listening to episodes and consider it a day well spent. Thank you.

[@Rob-jk8gp]

First time I've heard an ad in the middle of a horrorbabble.. end of an era ☹️

[@-Reagan]

Excellent selection and wonderful reading!

[@FosterYourAffinity]

This one! Yes! Thank you!

[@raffleslovecraftfriends8375]

This may sound like a selfish request but can you possibly look into "Lair of the star spawn" by August Derleth and Mark Schorer? I would love to hear you guys read the story. It came out in 1932 so I imagine the story is public domain.

[@nikolaihanuschak191]

Great story!

[@hillaryclinton1232]

Episode 3: "Settler's Wall" by Robert Lowndes Startling Mystery Stories, Fall 1968 "This wall has never hurt anybody, but some folk have hurt themselves trying to pry into its secrets." "My Idea for a Story" It is 2022 and America's Lack of Insects in a Scary Reality that is not a Obscure Tale, not at all, Ask any OTW Trucker he'll Tell You the Millions of Dead Bugs that use to Be All Over the Truck. The Terrorist that has murdered our Bug Population Monsanto Round-Up Ready! Monsanto & Bayer Crop Science are BANNED in Russia and Most all Europe. So America Military has deliberately plotted a Proxy War leading Ukrainian with $Billions & $billions to Destroy Mother Russia whose wheat and barley has No Monsanto Insect murder chemicals. You can think this is Obscure Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos Episode 3: "Russia's Wall" terrorist attacks to extermination of Healthy Insects, Honey Bees, and replace with Monsanto / Bayer Round-Up-Ready and Why? Population Culls. to Kill Off Useless Eaters, as in 1984 book: we shall see the "New Age Order" unless ....Oh Please ...China Joins in fellowship with Mother Russia to Destroy the Mad Mass Murder American Empire! This would make a great story, however it is a Remembering of John Hershey's Book "White Lotus" I read in 1964, a book about China's Domination of U.S.A. and Taking Slaves home. The Protagonist is a young coloured gal from Georgia or Mississippi who Taught Her Masters about Civil Rights and Jim Crow in America. She shames the Chinese that they are same ass holes as the Americans they easily beat and annihilated . They wasn't no better then the Weak Sissified Americans who were easily defeated.

[@johnkuhlman9729]

Yy7ytyu

[@rneustel388]

I don’t know about anyone else, but the wall is giving me the heebie jeebies!

[@fraggyDendron]

This was outstanding

[@scottmitchell1974]

Very good one!!!

[@jasoncookman3158]

That was just awesome thank you

[@zunipus]

Hey, whoever, living or algorithm. Thanks for erasing my extremely well thought out and complimentary comment from tonight! You are insane. Not appreciated. Erase this one too, of course. - - Ian, you and this story production are GREAT! Why anyone would take down my elaboration of that point boggles the mind. The agents of Cthulhu hate me, bless their tentacles.

[@HorrorBabble]

This comment, too, was withheld for some reason! Not sure what happened there.

[@Boneworm852]

I love mythos stories that imply HPL was actually mixed up in occult shenanigans

[@justinjacobs1501]

Sounds like the references reference Yog-Sothoth and the wall hurting no one who leaves it alone and having space and dimension warping attributes seem all but confirm its link.

[@Alex-nb7on]

very reminiscent of Junji Ito's the Enigma of Amigara Fault, maybe inspired?

[@rayanderson5797]

You know, this reminds me a lot of the SCP foundation. The different things they try could be the same as what the Foundation might try if they had this wall in containment. I wonder how many SCP authors have read this exact story.

[@jlworrad]

What a great tale!

[@ianboyd1734]

That last line hits like a truck! wow.

[@skug9bob]

Nice one! Personally, I think Nyarlathotep did it just to screw with people's heads, but that's just my immediate headcanon.

[@johannageisel5390]

Sounds perfectly reasonable.

[@awarningtothecuriouswerewolves]

Ah good, a farmin' story! Cheers Warren, who use to be a barefoot Prairie boy before he turned into a tentacled..ah, nevermind! And I'm not dead either!

[@Neeckin]

I adore this story, it's a shame there is no physical copies aparently

[@tishahouse846]

Listening from the ukwales❤

[@samwirls6853]

Great story!

[@DrBrothBaist]

Loooooove the Cthulhu Content ❤️

[@ellkat3]

I wonder, is a one-sided wall considered non-Euclidean? Thank you for the reading!!

[@miarencrowsdaughter6434]

As much as a one-sided piece of paper. ;)

[@dexterisabo3137]

Oh well. I guess based on everyone else's comments, I'm on this limb by my lonesome. But that said, I still felt robbed. BTW, that not a criticism on you Ian. You could make Green Eggs & Ham or the Tax Code sound good. You're a master at this stuff. Though saying that it would be interesting to know your top 10 favorite, and top 10 least favorite stories that you have read to us. I mean they can't all be Silver Key good

[@ImCarolB]

This reminds me of the Great Rock Wall of Texas, in the aptly named town of Rockwall. No weird events attached to it, however.

[@JasonJason210]

Warning: If you fall asleep to this story, it will mess you up. I did and I loved it.

[@johannageisel5390]

Did you dream about a hole that goes on forever and about losing your flashlight?

[@JasonJason210]

@@johannageisel5390 No thankfully not. I dreamt we were at that wall and someone climbed over the wall and disappeared into another dimension - for good.

[@johannageisel5390]

@@JasonJason210 Oh, yeah, that can happen of course. But only if you manage to bend yourself perpendicular to all of our three space dimensions.

[@studentjohn]

Very much my speed: Nothing as easy to analyze as an enemy or disaster. Just a record of an encounter with something very, very strange...

[@kevingluys3063]

The Wall, with the power to run faster than the average wall.

[@lacyhart2043]

I need more of the stuff my dearest friend

[@moseyburns1614]

This would make a good movie.

[@zunipus]

One more time: This specific story, as presented by Ian, has stayed with me. I think of creative productions as being higher art when they reward the observer with each repeat experience. I want to know 'Settler's Wall' by heart. Bravo to Ian and to Robert A. W. Lowndes, the author! . . . . KZbin won't let us post links outside of their domain. But if you search, you can find an early version of the story online under the title "The Long Wall". The website source is [censored in order to avoid Google's hatred of my previous attempt to provide it, not in HTML form. (o_0) ]

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks for listening! KZbin doesn't like posts that include links. But yes, the 1942 version can be read here: archive.org/details/Stirring_Science_Stories_v02n01_1942-03/page/n53/mode/2up

[@JasonJason210]

Is it possible to get large screen versions of the thumbs? Some of them, including this one, have been amazing.

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

This one I quite like, weird, but not evil.

[@senacht]

I thought more could have been done with the ending while still leaving the unknowable mystery behind it intact., as Lovecraft handled so nicely with the enigmatic and ominous “Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!” finale in Mountains of Madness. As this story’s ending is written, it’s basically a variation on the old surrealist line that goes: “The only conclusion to be drawn was there was no conclusion to be drawn.” A conclusion I always felt was a bit of a cop out. But maybe that’s just me. Still, this episode was a good story either way. I just wish the ending was a little more fleshed out. Because it sort of felt rushed. Which is something I’ve seen in a lot of Lovecraft inspired fiction lately.

[@Eris123451]

Well I loved the ending and just for the record I think the wall was most likely some kind of Shoggoth ?

[@johannageisel5390]

I thought it was some kind of higher- (or lower-) dimensional eel. A lifeform not from our 3D space.

[@feralbluee]

Response to ending :) Well, of course it did. Makes sense. Sure it does. Wait! What?! Interesting story to say the least :)

[@Boomer_Dual_Sport]

Although road signs are plentiful in New England these days the locals still prefer the aforementioned way of direction giving.

[@robertwalker-smith2739]

Oh joy, oh bliss, oh rapture unforseen!

[@angelaverbowski995]

#556-✅👍🏻 What if the wall was actually like those mud fish that buried himself in mud and then when it rains they wake up again.. only an ancient species! 👀🧐😉

[@johannageisel5390]

Yes, possibly. Just from another dimension.

[@nathanielgrey4091]

The hell does that last line mean?!? That changes everything!!

[@Eris123451]

Big Beastie woke up and swam away again. Apparently they do that.

[@johannageisel5390]

Never heard of the wallfish?

[@akizeta]

Do I detect a Midjourney-generated image? Very atmospheric.

[@bigsarge2085]

✌️

[@MathewRenfro]

Möbius strip Edit: Nevermind @1:05:05

[@scottmitchell1974]

Slick way of the author to express his annoyance with written out accents or pidgin.

[@galacticnightmare]

Finally 🎉

[@70schild420]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ftdefiance1]

Didn't see any of that coming