"The Black Stone" by Robert E. Howard / A Cthulhu Mythos Story

"The Black Stone" is a Cthulhu Mythos story by American author, Robert E. Howard, first published in the November 1931 edition of Weird Tales Magazine. Notably, it marks the first appearance of the fictional work, the Unaussprechlichen Kulten, by Friedrich von Junzt.
The story tells of an occult researcher's pursuit of a curious, sinister monolith in the mountains of Hungary.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
00:51 - The Black Stone
44:39 - Further Listening
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Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble
Music and production by Ian Gordon
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[@HorrorBabble]

How about some Lovecraftian artifacts? shop.vermilion.cc/collections/cthulhu?ref=HorrorBabble Pocket Watches, Playing Cards, Enamel Pins ... even an Umbrella! (The link above is an affiliate link)

[@ottervonbismark7614]

I sit on my back porch at night. Eating blackberries, and drinking hot chocolate, listening to horror babble.

[@daisysoup158]

Lucky you.

[@elafimilo8199]

Are you a fae?

[@themk4982]

Now that’s wholesome

[@sarge4455]

Me too except smoking gras

[@mzeewatk846]

Once again, i finish catching up on the news, and go back to horror-babble for some comparative sanity. :)

[@feralbluee]

jeez - i just did the same darn thing! :) Keep safe - wherever you are. . .

[@coltonjones6191]

@@feralbluee "first time?"

[@the1jmacify]

This is certainly easier to believe and more palatable to digest.

[@feralbluee]

Pink Brain first time? nope - over a year.

[@GoatOfTheWoods]

Yeah, works like a charm for the superb 2020

[@johnmatthews723]

Listening in Central Tilba NSW Australia. Love Horror Babble!

[@17Watman]

Robert Weinberg and E. P. Berglund, in their 1973 book The Reader's Guide to the Cthulhu Mythos, stated that "The Black Stone" was "the best Mythos story not written by Lovecraft himself."

[@TsukiumisGuy]

And I agree!

[@josephperkins4080]

They are right...😒Fight me

[@danielrowan4716]

I’d place this story tied for that honor with The Fire of Ashurbanipal.

[@murrfeeling]

I think Bloch's Notebook Found in an Deserted House and Blackwood's The Willows are my tops. NFiaDH has a well written child's perspective and The Willows has a perfect transition from joy and wonder to fear and confusion. They start with likable, happy characters, which is a weakness of several of Lovecraft's works. Too many of his protagonists start the story normal miserable and unpleasant and become supernaturally miserable and unpleasant. Not a lot of stations on that train ride, you know.

[@thepsychicalliance]

I'm inclined to agree, with Bloch's "Notebook Found" and King's "Jerusalem's Lot" as close seconds.

[@turtleanton6539]

Robert E Howard was such a beast.

[@danielrowan4716]

I listen to this about 3-4x per year and the novelty never wears off. The atmosphere and mood of the short story is so brooding and menacing, and it fits so perfectly into the Cthulhu mythos. Great read.

[@cowboy0776]

Robert E Howard is my one of my all time favorite authors. I first discovered his work in my early teens when my cousin gave me a collection of his Conan stories. It was love at first sight. I’ve since read the vast majority of Howard’s works and am of the opinion that his non-Conan stories are amongst his best works, especially his horror stories.

[@bobbymarcum772]

"There was a problem with your payment method" says KZbin Premium, and then assails me with ads. I first fix the problem, so I can listen to The Conan The Barbarian Author Howard on Horrorbabble in peace, and then scream at the KZbin technocrats, "I PAY MY WAY WITH STEEL!!!"

[@tamlandipper29]

I laughed far too hard at this.

[@Shastavalleyoutdoorsman]

Here here brother!

[@bobbymarcum772]

Tamlan Dipper by CROM, people need to laugh more often anyway

[@zechariahbryan1568]

unless you care about the youtube red originals you can get a free adblocker like adblock to deal with those

[@onlyonewhyphy]

Cheese and pickle sandwich, coffee, smoke & HorrorBabble 😊

[@blacklotus3965]

Noice.

[@Slic_Nuts]

Don’t smoke crack🧟‍♂️💨🌫

[@2476bunny]

what a good choice nothing better except a new castle brown ale or two lol

[@quacksackerthegreatstarfir6996]

Cheese and pickle sandwich? Hmmm, might have to try that

[@onlyonewhyphy]

@@quacksackerthegreatstarfir6996 Branson Pickle, btw 😉

[@CJM-rg5rt]

It's pretty rare for these things to actually scare me. Mr. Robert E. Howard couldn't rest until he got everyone.

[@eleftheriaeleftheria3302]

Probably the best horror story by R.E.Howard!

[@cam5816]

Pigeons From Hell??

[@tobypack6328]

Monolith? 2020? Kubrick? 2001: A Space Odyssey 🤔 monoliths are very auspicious

[@Glory-to-Him37]

More to that than you would probably like to know or, believe…. Black stone,cube,monoliths are deeply occultic and associated with each other May the Lord be with us.. Take care

[@henrywebster9529]

Absolutely brilliant writing and superb storytelling and narration by a true artist of horror.. wonderful work. Thank you.

[@doctorpicardnononono7469]

44:34 good question.

[@CJ-uf6xl]

The best story telling on the internet.

[@Hashtag_Laser]

That last sentence was very profound. Awesome story. It was kind of sad, but very mysterious and chilling!

[@illmade2]

Thank You, Thank you, Thank you, this is one of my all time favorite Howard horror stories, and your narration does it real justice...

[@MrsCaranAmy]

That tale was a horror story. I did like the setting. It was incredible. Your voice was so pleasant to listen to this evening for me since my back is hurting tonight.Thank you very much Ian. Stay healthy ♡

[@MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI-1]

Hooray a Robert Howard story!

[@johnoliva5153]

One of my favorite authors.Thank you so much for reading this story.

[@samsonsoturian6013]

This story highlights why so many people (like me) love the archaic. Sometimes it is more interesting to get hints of a people that existed close to us in space but are so far removed from us in time they might as well been from another planet.

[@mattkemerait]

This one escalated quickly.

[@blacklotus3965]

Robert E. Howard forever

[@heretic997]

I'm feeling a strong 7 to a light 8 on this story

[@Wombats555]

Beautiful. I enjoyed reading this the first time but your narration brought it to life. The Tale of Satampra Zeiros, The Black Stone and The Whisperer in the Darkness would make a Tsathogua / Xhothaqua themed play list - love to see more Clark Ashton Smith as much as I'd love more Robert E Howard :)

[@elizabethlyons8539]

Love my HorrorBabble!!!!!!!!

[@blowitoutyourcunt7675]

Fabulous offering! Enjoy your time off! Cheers mate!

[@jasonsantos3037]

Robert E Howard know how to make good horror stories

[@remcomettrop6366]

This was a marvelous one! Really enjoyed immensely

[@jameshanshaw516]

Excellent!

[@joshuaperkins4565]

Highlight of my day! I can enjoy this as I wash dogs at work!

[@lucasshaw6934]

I absolutely love this story ❤😍 absolutely beautiful job one this one.

[@aspookyfox]

Better stories to enjoy in quarantine, I cannot imagine. I want more.

[@jamiecameron7615]

Perfect for tonights bedtime story, thank you very much!!

[@baldeagle5297]

Thanks Ian.

[@ironsnowflake1076]

Sometimes I get the distinct impression that one of the nameless old ones has slithered out of the ether, and once more tightened an unmentionable tentacle upon our world 🐙 heh heh heh ;) love your channel 💓

[@polywags]

This is a great one! I love Howards Conan stuff. Its cool to see he did a Lovecraft story.

[@MadCow64]

Always the best way to relax the stress of the mind. Thanks for the sanity points HorrorBabble.

[@laurelwells-georgia7124]

I could almost picture everything, spooky

[@patrickmcpherson97]

Another wonderful reading by Ian of a great horror classic. Much appreciated.

[@oakwyrd5558]

Wonderful series of readings. Definitely a haven from the insanity that’s less like reality than these books seem to be coming 😂 keep on with your fantastic mission. 🤟🏼🤘🏼🍀🙏🏼😁

[@brandonsexton6738]

Awesome!

[@pharaohanakaris]

absolutely thrilled to hear you doing this one, been waiting :)

[@paulcateiii]

one of my favorite tales - thanks Ian

[@danbreeden1801]

Excellently done

[@LTPottenger]

Love it!

[@jamesedwardclard]

I like the continuity Howard has going on

[@danbreeden68]

A wonderful channel and full of fascination

[@altasheridan7815]

Another great story you made even more enjoyable with your narration. Thank you

[@urbanlegend9788]

I’m excited to listen to this

[@BigBatto]

Nicely Done!

[@Haerleif]

Awesome story , love the reading! thanks a lot

[@tonlito22]

I've been waiting for this one.

[@Dominator046]

An excellent introduction to the Wolfshead collection.

[@steff.7028]

Thank you so much!

[@jctrevi89]

Floored by this one, Ian. I felt every bit like a ruling elite on one of the solstices. Definitely needed a palate cleanser after this one. Absolutely brilliant reading!

[@billl2903]

Hellz yea it has been some time since you had an addition to the Cthulhu mythos. Fantastic reading as always.

[@ORLY911]

A great story, I see this story does not have much documentation on mythos wikis, The being being described sounds a lot like Tsathaggua, toadlike and gluttonous for sacrifices. The description of the race of men performing the ritual is like neanderthals, or whatever equivalent the hyperborean tales may have, this story feels very much like its hinting that connection to Smiths work.

[@cha5]

A stupid question here, It’s been forever since I’ve read Robert Howard’s stories and I was wondering if anyone knows if either of his characters Conan or Solomon Kane ever had an encounter with a Lovecraftian sort of Cthulhu Mythos type of creature?

[@jamescampbell39]

The footfalls within Solomon Kane story.

[@cha5]

James Campbell Thanks, I appreciate it. 🙂

[@arlem525]

Oh thank you for this! One of my absolute favorites.

[@MichaelLaneMonkeywrench]

Ah this is a favorite

[@jamescam04]

A great story, this :) Howard at his best.

[@billsummy2412]

AWESOME .. JUST ..... AWESOME ! :-)

[@madderhat5852]

Wonderful

[@batmanson3619]

EXCITED!!

[@michael-dannsstebenne4011]

Awesome work :-) cheers from quebec, canada

[@robbabcock_]

Wonderful! 🙌🔥🐙

[@tamlandipper29]

My third listen.

[@Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmjahnee]

I’ve always wondered why someone even as educated as Lovecraft, not to mention numerous writers andSubsequent riders keep referring to the book by VONJUNTZ as “nameless Colts” when the literal translation is actually “unspeakable cults” comments?

[@0therun1t21]

I'd love a book like that! I wonder what it smells like, maybe the iron smalls like blood, it sure wouldn't be like a normal, nice old book scent.

[@sunzenmind677]

Listening to this whilst designing a logo :D

[@auail5594]

Can't wait for Roberty howard

[@itzybitzyspyder]

Harkening back to a time when Warren still lived...

[@MinscFromBaldursGate92]

Robert Howard creator of Conan the Barbarian.

[@babalon7778]

I hate it when toad- like things squat on stuff.

[@biggrundo6667]

I really enjoyed where Conan kills the cult of Dagon.

[@abzalamangos2049]

What is the name of that story?

[@biggrundo6667]

@@abzalamangos2049 I was just kidding, it's because Robert E Howard wrote conan the barbarian.

[@abzalamangos2049]

@@biggrundo6667 actually, I have checked the Mythos Wiki and have found that Conan really killed the cult of Dagon in "the Devil in iron".

[@biggrundo6667]

@@abzalamangos2049 Lol, well fancy that.

[@beverlyamarantes9775]

Sleepy bedtime in Massachusetts.

[@joelusmaximus7720]

where was conan when all of this was happening?

[@MaxArturo]

Perfect Hungarian accent : )

[@HorrorBabble]

I imagine not, but thanks either way! Ian

[@blakmajk3512]

🐐 + 🐐 = 💥

[@aidanfarnan4683]

This, "Shadow over Insmouth", "the White People" and "Robbin Redbreat" are possibly some of the first examples of "folk horror" in the modern sense.

[@dave2313]

Is it possible the poet Justin Jefferies is loosely based on HPL?

[@Trashcansam123]

My only complaint is that Boris Vladinoff is not a very Polish name. Boris Wladinow maybe…

[@vermilion7777]

Why is it called "Unaussprechliche Kulte" (Unspeakable Cults)? Because no englishspeaker can pronounce it. Oun-ous-shpraech-liesh-ae coul-te

[@andreasbuehler1821]

Funnily enough, it is Unaussprechlichen Kulten, with the bonus of being grammatically wrong, though I suppose the full title might be Von Unaussprechlichen Kulten.

[@andreasbuehler1821]

Funnily enough, it is Unaussprechlichen Kulten, with the bonus of being grammatically wrong, though I suppose the full title might be Von Unaussprechlichen Kulten.

[@vermilion7777]

@@andreasbuehler1821 Nope, it's just "Unaussprechlichen Kulten", but your right, the title really is grammatically wrong. But hey, it's Lovecraft we are talking about... I doubt he would've buggerd getting german right, as everyone. but english academics, are degenerated, uneducated, outer god worshipping bastards living in caves... :D

[@blixten2928]

@@andreasbuehler1821 They always like to screw up the German, for some reason. Add more consonants than necessary. Lucky it wasn't an extra sylllable or two. But not THAT difficult to pronounce - oon awsprech-liche koolten?

[@matthewschlieben5398]

How old are you Mr. Gordon?

[@Wombats555]

He is 20 something going on 64

[@HorrorBabble]

An odd question, indeed!

[@Wombats555]

@@HorrorBabble it's the eldritch horrors from the dawn o time that man should not wot of, y'see. Comes with a good storytelling voice and the faint smell of mothballs / hounds of Tindalos.

[@GothicBarbarian]

Has this episode disappeared from Spotify for anyone else?

[@HorrorBabble]

If you're referring to the podcast, Spotify only displays the latest 100 releases.

[@Thomas-wn7cl]

👍

[@volcanicred9078]

conan vs cthulhu

[@0therun1t21]

I don't even know what to say about this story, it's all kinds of messed up!

[@bobbymarcum772]

As it will be pronounced henceforth....lololololol

[@paulwallis7586]

Good to hear someone speaking like they have a vocabulary, isn't it? Got any Robert Bloch?

[@HorrorBabble]

Here you go Paul: kzbin.info/aero/PLeNNKRLWxwoO-3p9IIVhTxvtazpWcBk5I

[@tikkidaddy]

Ok...who wants a piece of the stone for an index finger ring😃🐍🐍🐍??? Might go well with a replica of the Shining Trapizohedron.

[@stephensinclair3771]

Horrible and brilliant. Always liked this one. Don't give me that old time religion. No one could write like these guys. Maybe just as well.

[@FirCorred]

If I were a cat, I'd purr in satisfaction (:

[@snowylocks4684]

If a pince-nez could talk, it would sound like this guy.

[@blixten2928]

Beautiful reading as always! But (and I am sorry, this is the first and last time I'll do this) the material is not worthy of it. Racism (Lovecraft) OK. Sadism / sexism (stories of women getting tortured) sort of OK. But this has *everything*, both racism and then, as a climax, a voyeuristic orgy of "girls" bound, dancing, whipped by men, bloody, slobbering kisses on a monolith (*could* this be a phallic symbol? surely not), babies brained, and I don't know what. What these guys would do to get readers (young male ones one has to assume). - But the rendition is, of course, impeccible.

[@malsiddas9960]

He painted a picture of horrors that is still horrifying today

[@GamingMediocrity]

I'm going to butcher this name now. Was the thing "Sathoghua"?

[@OssamabinKenny]

It was posted 2 minutes ago. How could you have given it a thumbs up already? What if the last minute was all profanities about your mother? Let us all wait till we have heard the thing to the end before passing judgment 😡

[@parkeaudio1338]

Because I've already read this story, but this time Sir Ian is reading it ha ha

[@blowitoutyourcunt7675]

Nope no need! Whatever gem Ian has picked out will no doubt be entertaining and exceedingly well read!

[@blacklotus3965]

Because, it's Robert Ervin Howard!!

[@illmade2]

Howard knew my mother????

[@jaredfrost3548]

Relax OssamabinKenny :) Also, your mother sucks.

[@sepharad58]

Amazing how with all the trash they turn into films, not to mention how they remake remakes of remakes, That no one has managed to make a quality movie of this story. Too intellectual? I suppose if they tried they would just ruin it.

[@oem42]

Why not just learn how to pronounce the name?