"The Beast in the Cave" by H. P. Lovecraft / A HorrorBabble Production

[@HorrorBabble]

"The Beast in the Cave" is a short story by H. P. Lovecraft, first published in the June 1918 issue of the amateur press journal The Vagrant. The story tells of an individual on a tour of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, who unfortunately becomes lost. Chapters: 00:15 - Introduction 00:53 - The Beast in the Cave 16:15 - Further Listening Bandcamp link: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com/album/the-beast-in-the-cave 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

[@12201185234]

It's amazing to think that a 14 year old wrote this... Even a 14 year old Lovecraft.

[@danielfountain2370]

Wasn’t he 18? I could be wrong if so that’s amazing

[@debacofzomb9889]

Seriously 😳

[@LMAccount1]

It’s amazing how even when young, Lovecraft was able to write with the same skill and tone of his later works

[@wrathofatlantis2316]

Yes, this completely surprised me... 14 years old... Amazing.

[@DrewperttheGnome]

he might have revised it a bit if he published it over 10 years later

[@niverian7789]

I used to live in Kentucky and been to Mammoth Cave. This reminds me of the darkness within the cave. Incidentally it also served as a church and as a base for the Confederacy during the civil war.

[@donaldmccleary9015]

Amazing he wrote the story so early in his life. I like this story tremendously. Many people with advanced degrees in English and writing do not write in a style as captivating. This was one of the first Lovecraft stories I read, and I was instantly intrigued by his crafty use of words. Great story and narration. Thanks, Ian!

[@HorrorBabble]

I'm rather fond of this one, too.

[@claytonjames-stagg7780]

Thanks, HorrorBabble. "The Beast in the Cave" is absolutely one of my most favourite stories in horror fiction. I recount a time when I was recovering in a hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba; and on my bedside table, I had two colossal collections by Lovecraft. I read those tomes every minute to combat utmost boredom, and nethermost despair; I still reminisce of "The Beast in the Cave".

[@nicholaskotelensky9277]

Excellent. This was the first Lovecraft story I had ever read. It was wonderful to revisit it again through your reading.

[@philippel.9086]

That man was born to write! Great narration Ian, as always!

[@Craig_Tucker48]

This story terrified me in a way no other story ever has. It is just so relatable and suggestive and at the end, once you feel safe, it stabs you in the gut with that terrible twist and inference. It is my favourite of Lovecraft’s stories.

[@karehhartig7287]

Ian , you are a masterful storyteller.

[@LiLi-or2gm]

Wow, that was great, Ian! Your voice is perfect for Lovecraft (and of course, for so many other authors of similar genre)! 🖤🖤

[@jamiecameron7615]

Yay!! More H.P, thank you very much!!

[@zekenotech]

This is Lovecraftian Horror. It doesn't need giant space gods, no tentacle monsters. Just a poor soul that could have been anyone of us, lost in a cave. The true horror is that of the unknown. Not knowing where you are. Not being able to see. Not knowing what is making that growling sound... Not knowing what is making those footsteps... Not know if it's even human... But worst of all... Not even knowing if anyone even knows your gone... Oh now that's true Horror...

[@Craig_Tucker48]

Hit the nail on the head. To me, this is his most scary story.

[@zekenotech]

@@Craig_Tucker48 It's so grounded, yet unthinkable at the same time.

[@Laffy-ix5xy]

Wow! What an amazing story. So beautifully written. And so atmospherically read.

[@Kikilang60]

Thanks. I thought I knew Lovecraft. I listen to other people's opinions, and confused them with my own. One of the aspects of your channel is, you introduce things, I never knew. I can imagine people reading this store at the time it was written, and to think it was composed by a boy of fourteen.

[@gar7reever754]

Amazing narration, provides such great tone the story. Lovecraft....a writing prodigy. His prose at such a young(and older) age is a pleasure to listen to .❤️🇨🇦🙏

[@mattleofric1766]

This, ironically enough, was the very first H.P Lovecraft story I ever read.

[@Nanosuit37]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@briandiadem]

That ending! 😵‍💫

[@Nhurgle]

Only H.P. Lovecraft could pull a sentence like "... cautiously advancing we gave vent to a simultaneous ejaculation of wonderment..."

[@gunnlod-e1]

Your voice is perfect for this story.It's always been one of my fvourites and this makes me love it even more. Thank you

[@FreeLatveria]

Great reading of a great short story.

[@nuclearjanitors]

I visited Mammoth Cave at about the same age. Been burning through your H.P. vids. "The Lurking Fear" is probably my favorite with "The Shunned House" a close second.

[@jasemalvis2140]

YESSSS FIRST STORY OF HIS I EBER READ AND IT STILL FREAKS ME OUT!!!!

[@johnoliva5153]

Excellent reading.You are my favorite narrator of stories,I love your work.Thank you.

[@samriddhisingh5340]

Can we just stop for a second and admire the fact that he was just 14 ?!!

[@6974]

this was the story that got me into Lovecraft

[@highgoat6474]

I've always liked this story.

[@mikem2771]

Poor Floyd Collins. Also, I did not know Jabba the Hutt lived in Mammoth Cave. Lol. Great reading. Lovecraft was a top notch writer.

[@rayvance5999]

Good to here a story featuring my home state. I live abt 12 miles from the National Park, its a quite impressive marvel.

[@HorrorBabble]

The next time we're in the area, Ray, we'll know where to find a guide. ;)

[@rayvance5999]

@@HorrorBabble yes indeed...be glad to take you folks down under!

[@travisbackpacks]

Yes!! Thank you Ian

[@hoverpantsz262]

Much thanks good history.

[@davidmeloche3563]

Mammoth caves is a yearly field trip for most kids in Kentucky. I didn't like the idea of my daughter going there before hearing this story...

[@StarboyXL9]

"We gave vent to simultaneous ejaculation of wonderment." That's an image I didn't need in my head.

[@williamensinger8996]

Written when HP was 14 years old he was a peculiar little kid

[@donaldchapman6161]

That is probably the definition of the term Understatement..

[@olafisashark5105]

Great work, my friend! keep it up.

[@sweetiesquad4lyfe582]

Nice!

[@blacklotus3965]

Excellent night cap

[@TheChuthos]

I'm a recent subscriber to your channel and find it seriously entertaining. Thank you!

[@MrsCaranAmy]

Great tale and being Lovecraft's first, quite remarkable.

[@thekeytothegate]

This is a great story.

[@rhettsopolisrabbit7634]

Okay as soon as you did this I had to comment. More importantly because it was the first lovecraft I read, and to this day it was a story I wasn’t expecting. Though of his juvenilia we find a level of professionalism that will only get better with Dagon. In this we have ideas of self analysis, exotic locale, and ideas of degeneration. We even see characters that may appear later, particularly The Lurking Fear and Shadow Over Innsmouth. Reminders of how we are only so little away from our primitive ancestors in the flow of time. And more importantly we have a short fall away from degenerating back into that land of savage eden. That all being said I did love how you gave justice to this piece of early fiction, which barely anyone will touch. Like that day, I believe I was 16 at the time, I imagine outside the door of my room was that cave. A soft light leaking into the cave to slowly give revelation of an entity lives within it. Intelligence a distant memory as the creature served only its savage hunger and lust. We the intellectuals in our ability to analyze still won’t save us from the answers we hope not to speak. Intensity, like the description of the cavern, was also about to continue this tone. As we hope not to answer the question of our hunter and if a hunt is its motive. And in a time pre Cthulhu and Pre Dagon as well as Mi-Go and Yiffian, this was the most feared at this point. This also served well to remind us that outside the creatures of the necronomicon there were still many other creatures that wish to take our dreams. And one of the most feared is our own degeneration of humans. Again I’m happy to listen to this Ian, I look forward to more and it was a great honor to listen. And remember, don’t let yourself devolve in your isolation. You are cared for.

[@Wraithfire27]

Beautifully put rabbit

[@rhettsopolisrabbit7634]

Happy you enjoyed this Wraith. I do try and do justice to both writer and narrator. Because if anything we create what’s important to us and it’s not for me to take it into my world view and to see these new alien landscapes only to say “good story”. To me it’s always a bit dismissive. Someone pours their heart out to you I feel I have to give as much back

[@shadowgun22]

I can not only tell that Lovecraft had written this, but that he was young as well. Aiming in the pitch dark, and getting lethal shots with some stones? Still An amazing story.

[@karehhartig7287]

Wow ! 14 year old Lovecraft ....... A born word smith 😎

[@rain8222]

I love that

[@billsummy2412]

Super Duper Show ! :-)

[@RCCarDude]

I always wondered if "The Beast in the Cave" was related to "The Damned Thing" by Ambrose Bierce.

[@drkinferno72]

Gollum

[@jasonsantos3037]

So this is lovecraft grass 1st story

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

Is it a wendigo then?

[@effseven87]

The beast died from a rock throw?

[@lisaguthrie174]

🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🌹

[@taranaylor31]

I feel like the dislike is just an algorithm. Please speak up otherwise.

[@fawnrhoads3939]

I often wonder about these dislikes. No matter how great the video, there are always dislikes with no comments to explain them.

[@howard1beale]

1:00

[@1998ichigokurosaki98]

He was 14 at the time. These days people who are over 40 can barely construct meaningful sentence ...

[@coopercoats8953]

first!

[@DickGothard]

Not that I'm happy about an add but I'm pleased to see that you appear to be monetized. Congratulations I hope. Keep up the amazing and enjoyable content!

[@taranaylor31]

I wish I had 🤣extra money 🤣 to help all of the wonderful a artist I enjoy so much.

[@Flood520]

I wouldn't count on it. From everything I've seen over the years YT is perfectly happy to throw ads into demonetized videos, it's just that that keep all the revenue, rather than just some of it. I'd like to be wrong, but...

[@tekelupharsin4426]

Get used to the ads on every channel. KZbin has made some changes to the platform and will soon slowly begin showing ads even on channels not yet monetized through their partner program (supposedly something KZbin will justify by the fact they're hosting the video and providing the bandwidth for free). I'm guessing it'll eventually lead to it becoming more difficult to become a KZbin partner since KZbin will have less incentive to do so since they'd have to share the profits. Thankfully I'm on KZbin Premium so don't have to worry about it. Even though it sucks to know it's coming, I'm a bit surprised they haven't done so sooner. Hell I wouldn't be surprised if eventually content creators would have to pay KZbin to NOT show ads on their videos. 😤

[@blowitoutyourcunt7675]

Very well done! Loved it! Cheers mate!

[@mudbutt234]

I wonder if this inspired that movie The Descent?