"The Lurking Fear" by H. P. Lovecraft / A HorrorBabble Production

[@datatsushi2016]

So basically he's the bravest main character in a Lovecraft story ever. He seeks out the horror. Has a creature basically lying on top of him in the house and loses two bodyguard companions there. Loses yet another companion weeks later in the cabin who gets his face chewed off. Has an encounter with a creature in the tunnel beneath the house and realizes there's more than one, yet he goes back to the house AGAIN and witnesses hundreds/thousands of those things crawling from the hole. He then even shoots and kills one. Escapes the house and hires a team of people to blow up the mansion, trees and holes in and around the area with dynamite... And he doesn't off himself or go insane on the end. He just takes some morphine when the there's a thunderstorm. What a badass.

[@serijas737]

True, probably all happend on a thursday for him.

[@CountingHouse]

Good summary, never thought about it that way

[@leesnyder9144]

I read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first and this was the second Lovecraft story I read. It set up familiar and thwarted expectations of his work for me.

[@Xbalanque84]

Not sure he's all together in the head by the end, but yeah, he has bigger stones than most Lovecraft protagonists.

[@juanpunchman5484]

I didn't really understand why he went back in the second time. If that was me, I would have left the house or blown it up instead of going back in.

[@deadletteroffice9356]

I have always had a voice in my head that narrates as I go about my daily life--at this point, I’m 99.99999% sure it’s Ian.

[@CJVS995]

Either him, Anthony Hopkins, or Morgan Freeman

[@tomcurran1538]

The thunderstorms are real up there. On a trip from the Philadelphia area to Biston, when I was 7, my dad choose a route through the Catskills and in particular Bear Mountain. It was night and what a terrific storm! We had to stop in a Bates like motel. We stopped at a roadside dinosaur land where I got a collection of minerals, which I still have at age 63.

[@Xbalanque84]

Love shops like that.

[@southernjustice9127]

I think I know exactly where you speak of

[@johnsears6077]

Bear mountain, a true scout hill

[@kathryncastaldo2580]

I live by bear mountain I love this area it's beautiful but do you know what kind of animal is in abundance around here though ........,............................cats lots of 🐈😺 cats people just let them go up here when they are unwanted

[@Xbalanque84]

@@kathryncastaldo2580 Sad. Those cats deserve homes, and cause all kinds of problems for indigenous wildlife when they're allowed to run feral.

[@rachweatherilll69]

This one of H.P Lovecraft's would make a great movie. Visually terrifying. Great narration Ian.

[@K_M_21]

there actually is a movie very loosely based on this. Its called "Hemoglobin", I think.

[@chroniclex863]

There’s also one under the same title, it’s more of an action movie as I understand it

[@ORLY911]

@@chroniclex863 theres another thats a much more faithful adaptation but its practically 0 budget, haha. Like a college film project. Real charm to it though.

[@datatsushi2016]

Anybody played the game Scratches? It's not exactly the same, but the devs were inspired by this story.

[@jaycesullivan8512]

a tip : you can watch series on Flixzone. Me and my gf have been using them for watching a lot of movies during the lockdown.

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

Lovecraft is the master of horror. His stories would make great movies if they kept to the original writing, settings and time periods.

[@Lm0956]

I always think that, I picture them but every adaptation falls short. A almost word for word transcription of his stories as a black mirror like TV show is my ultimate dream

[@NightAngelus]

Listening to this durning a thunderstorm.

[@Martial-Mat]

Wish there was a heavy thunderstorm here. I love them.

[@terrybeal2252]

Perfect 😁

[@Itried20takennames]

I miss thunderstorms. They almost never happen where I live now.

[@martinl6133]

Hi Ian. This story brought back memories from the early 90's. It was a text adventure, The Lurking Horror, by the long gone, but loved, Infocom. Infocom games have a place in computer game history. They we're the master of the text adventure. The practically kickstarted it. In this game, the creature was hardly seen. Just once, just in the form of a tentacle. But the game was frightening! That was 35 years ago. Many thanks.

[@HorrorBabble]

Sounds like something I should be aware of!

[@martinl6133]

You'd love it, & other Infocom games. Hard copies (discs and fantastic boxes are prett etc are now hard to come by. But they're avaiailable on the net, along for the amazing boxes, and included notes and related objects. For example, their Hitchhikers Galaxy (written in conjunction with Douglas Adams) even had a small, empty, bag of "No tea"). 🤗

[@Vates104]

This is among my top five favorite H P Lovecraft stories. Thanks for the broadcast.

[@eleftheriaeleftheria3302]

One of the best and most scary stories of all times! Hello from Athens Greece!

[@feralbluee]

Hi from New York - I have relatives near Athens. at the turn of the century (19th - 20th), they had a farm near there. Three Geranios brothers came to america via New Orleans. so I'm a quarter Greek. There are Geranios people around San Francisco somewhere. stay safe 🌷🌱

[@eleftheriaeleftheria3302]

@@feralbluee Hello to New York! Stay safe too!

[@feralbluee]

@@eleftheriaeleftheria3302 :) 🌷

[@CFkatehudson]

i play games while you narate wonderful stories. it makes life possible. thank you sir.

[@jeremyallen5974]

It definitely makes grinding for souls in Aria of Sorrow INFINITELY less tedious

[@HorrorBabble]

"The Lurking Fear" is a horror short story by American writer H. P. Lovecraft. Written in November 1922, it was first published in the January through April 1923 issues of Home Brew. This reading is dedicated to Christopher Moloney. Chapters: 00:15 - Opening Credits 01:00 - I. The Shadow on the Chimney 14:42 - II. A Passer in the Storm 27:40 - III. What the Red Glare Meant 41:26 - IV. The Horror in the Eyes 55:20 - Closing Credits Bandcamp link: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com/album/the-lurking-fear Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble Intro music and production by Ian Gordon Music 'Relentless Part One' by Glenn Alexander: glenalexander2.bandcamp.com/album/relentless-berlin-1975 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

[@itswhatyoumakeit6950]

Thank you! You are appreciated!

[@--enyo--]

Is this supposed to be pinned?

[@konstantinoskaragiannis1596]

"The Lurking Fear"(1928) is a horror story masterpiece, and probably this is the most scariest story by H.P.Lovecraft!

[@davuvnik]

I really like your work and the slight but surrounding ambiance music and sounds you use... They really bring the story altogether

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks, David!

[@sterlingcampbell2116]

Some channels really over do the music. Horror bab gets it just right

[@davuvnik]

@@sterlingcampbell2116 exactly, he understands how to "cook" his presentation properly.

[@weescamp]

Another excellent reading. Thank you.

[@Nanosuit37]

Thank you Mr. Gordon and Horror Babble. Excellent as always.

[@heatrayzvideo3007]

Thanks for helping me through another lonesome night shift.

[@Kerbesk]

Fantastic narration, thank you for sharing such an enthralling story

[@Scarter63]

I am very much enjoying going back to the old stuff.

[@adamleclerc4892]

Absolutely stunning work 🙌🙏

[@NGorso1]

"sit back, relax and enjoy" yes sure " relax with hpl

[@dtg610420]

NGorso1 i know i am

[@rattlejaw9976]

Helps me fall to sleep.

[@sakurashounen]

Almost nothing he writted about sounds actually terrifying by today's standards. Even Ctulhu isn't scarier looking than a monster from a japanese 'kaiju' movie. His heritage to the horror genre is undeniable but this is like soft literature compared to horror references we have been exposed to since.

[@NGorso1]

@@sakurashounen I completly agree. EXCEPT Pickmans model. that one allways haunted me

[@mauricedavis2160]

Another excellent reading Sir, as always thank you!!!🙏👌👻❣️

[@joshsmiley4127]

This was amazing from beginning to end, I loved the build up and couldn't wait for him to go back and explore that mansion. Theres nothing better than horrorbabble!!

[@whit2642]

One of Lovecrafts best spine tinglers for night time reading. I am loving listening to them on audio now. Such a different experience between reading them and listening to them. Both howber are equally pleasurable.

[@johnsears6077]

Uiuiuu

[@robertivany5334]

Thanks!

[@HorrorBabble]

That’s very kind of you. Thanks!

[@XelionGraves]

This has become my new favorite Lovecraft tale to fade to sleep with, thank you Ian!

[@soulreaver1983]

Absolutely awesome thanks Ian.

[@VictorReynolds]

I like how this story has a slight slow burn and then picks up. That ending was a surprise! Thanks for sharing a great story!

[@raidersoutlawstruckingmini1922]

Another one of my favorite Lovecraft stories. Stellar performance again

[@MrZooBreak]

Congratulations, Ian! A truly superb reading of this remarkable classic. It has long been my favorite Lovecraft story, and it's a thrill to hear it read with such well-studied comprehension and interpretation.

[@FailedBard]

I always felt that "The Descent", and more specifically the sequel to it, took some of the elements of this story for its own. The end of the sequel makes much more sense if you think of a certain character, which I'll leave unnamed, as a visually uncorrupted member of the Martense family. As for the reading itself, excellent as always. I expect I've heard your readings of HPL often enough now any time I read them myself it will be your voice that forms to the words in my head.

[@terrybeal2252]

There was a sequel to the Descent? What was it called?

[@stevepalpatine2828]

The Descent 2

[@julietfischer5056]

Stories of murderous, inbred, hidden people pre-date Lovecraft. The genre got a boost around the time he wrote, when the various tropes took form.

[@kittybaby4288]

Ian, I believe this is the best reading I've ever heard you do! The passion was absolutely nerve wracking as it rose to the crescendo !! What I love is that I come back & rediscover what I might have missed before, a word here , a phrase there, and receive such immense pleasure again . Y'all don't know the excitement I feel when I see you post, esp. A long one, I know I'm ready for a thrill, no matter what it is, you always choose such excitement !! Thank you both for all the joy you bring an old lady.... 💙💙😸

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks KB - it wouldn't be the same without your feedback! I'm glad you enjoyed this one - it was a lot of fun to produce! But as is quite obvious, I particularly enjoy narrating Lovecraft. :) Ian

[@kittybaby4288]

HorrorBabble Thanks guys 😁. That's a nice thing to hear !! 👍. & SOMEONE HAS TO BE ENTERTAINMENT.. 😸😸💁

[@kittybaby4288]

Mildly Amusing Channel Thank you , kind SIR !! ( is it sir or madam ?) I'm glad to give you a smile ....😸💙✌ I hope you had a wonderful Holiday .....!

[@kittybaby4288]

Mildly Amusing Channel Thank you Good SIR , THEN LOL

[@nathanmulroy8313]

So chilling...Thanks for the upload

[@elizabethlyons1066]

THE Christopher Meloni?

[@davidwhite7294]

Excellent reading mate , this has become my third favourite just behind The dreams in the Witch House and the Horror at Red Hook......The Furkin’ leer.......Splendid.

[@andrewkoastephens210]

Those alliterations in his descriptions were a very specific kind of poetry!!

[@sankturban291]

Great work, Ian.

[@chabololdayh7106]

I'm so happy I found this channel! This is great! Thanks a lot for the amazing content.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you for stopping by Chabol! Ian

[@thejudgmentalcat]

Me too! Just subbed. Great voice and diction, Lovecraft would approve.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks Linda! Ian

[@MrMartechi]

Fantastic reading, wonderfully atmospheric! This is such a beautiful way to enjoy these stories.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks for listening Martechi! Ian

[@gerry5134]

Enjoyed that amazing story 👍😊👍

[@cybernautadventurer]

If there is one HP Lovecraft story that would make a truly terrifying horror movie, it's the Lurking Fear. Think of it: an abandoned mansion in the middle of nowhere. Falling apart. Caked in darkness. Unkempt for decades. Seems like it has been left behind with time, like some aged relic. All that lurks inside are grotesque deformed blasphemies of nature, which are out for your blood.. and each other's. There was a great game I played a few years ago that reminded me a lot of this story. It is called ''Haunted Memories: Welcome Home''.

[@MC-zr6gc]

[@magisterapophis8714]

It seems I forgot to turn on notifications for the channel. Certainly was a pleasant surprise though to hear another lovecraft telling. Brilliant work as always Ian I thoroughly enjoyed this one; although it did clearly illustrate how it was a different time when they wrote a lot of these tales. Can't wait for the next upload. :)

[@HorrorBabble]

Always good to hear from you Myles - glad you've got those notifications sorted! Thanks as always for listening. Ian

[@magisterapophis8714]

Aslong as you two keep uploading you'll have me as a listener. Best wishes to you both!

[@Anthony-gh5yu]

As always Ian amazing read thank you for sharing your amazing voice

[@deesneezy]

It’s been some time since I’ve last commented, but I’ve been listening. You do such great work! Thank you Ian!

[@paulcateiii]

very nicely done

[@weezman1984]

Great stuff Ian. Thank you!

[@anindk2049]

Thanks for another great narration of a good horror story!

[@strideknight]

Great story. I wonder if there's an origin or "first" in the whole "people devolved into underground creatures" style of stories... you can certainly see how modern script writers have certainly taken cues from stories like these.

[@martywood8543]

Another one from Lovecraft that I really enjoyed...Thank you HorrorBabble.

[@xXSKAVENXx]

Absolute bliss...this guys voice is golden!

[@realcygnus]

superb as usual

[@babalon7778]

I always crrack up at "what a claw!"

[@thefisherking78]

Awwwwww yeah

[@feralbluee]

it’s always great when i come across a new one to listen to. not realising (in amurica it’s ‘realizing’ and these days sometimes my spellings, and sometimes my phrases cross the ‘pond’ :) - so not realising it was a Lovecraft, i listened. this is a good one. i was really caught up in your very dramatic reading - thanks Ian. :)

[@TanyaM.-jq8kn]

Thank you very much! I've listened to it many times! It's so good! It's my favorite! Please read Medusa's Coil. It's great and there is no such recording on the KZbin. And good luck on your own book! All the best!

[@codex3048]

"a loathsome, night-spawned flood of organic corruption, more devastatingly hideous than the blackest conjurations of mortal madness and morbidity..."

[@nancyworsley5057]

That was excellent!!

[@robertivany5334]

Amazing narration as usual

[@jamiecameron7615]

One of my favourite H.P stories. Thank you very much!

[@HorrorBabble]

And thanks again for listening Jamie! Ian

[@ELTITOS89]

Awesome 👍👍👍

[@StickEBallz]

should be "sit back, relax, and enjoy terrifying vistas of reality"

[@tonybonano2952]

Stick E. Ballz I misheard it as "Sit back, relax, and endure."

[@chrisnmayor]

Lovecraft really seems to love the word 'eldritch'...!

[@gregoryturner9530]

as well as cyclopean

[@feralbluee]

chris mayor he just loved all kinds of weird words :} it’s an alliteration. LOL

[@Martial-Mat]

Lovecraft loves any hyperbolic language. He had a great imagination but he told stories like a 12 year old creative writing student.

[@Martial-Mat]

@@feralbluee How is "eldritch" alliteration?

[@RobertEWaters]

You've noticed! :)

[@tomcurran1538]

Great trout fishing in the famous Beaverkill. Never saw the demon or those mongrels when I fished it, lol.

[@1971thedoctor]

This is definitely one of the more descriptive stories that Lovecraft has written. I picture this monster from hell looking similar to DC comics Etrigan the Demon.

[@RafikiMan]

Love your readings! Such a good voice for reading horror stories and bringing them to life! Would be awesome if you did The Shadow Out of Time :=)

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks for listening Torgeir! We'll be recording The Shadow Out of Time in January I believe! Ian

[@whit2642]

Yes!

[@myster.ejones1306]

Personally Ian, I loved it, thanks. ☺. ( but it has been voted that I have to use headphones at night time from now on)

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks Mr. Jones. I have to say, most of our readings are meant for headphones, so no bad thing! Ian

[@howardlovecraft750]

Yeah I know what you mean.

[@stevensalemi6395]

Some Lovecraft Scholars don't think much of this story, but I think it's terrific!!!

[@lauratanner8475]

Man he's tearin' though the sidekicks.

[@Flood520]

This is a *seriously* messed up story. Suffice it to say, it's in my top 10 from HPL.

[@Flood520]

@exe cutiee the Colour Out of Space is my absolute favorite by a huge margin. Call of Cthulhu would be my 2nd favorite, followed by At the Mountains of Madness. The Temple and Dagon are enjoyable shorter works. The Thing on the Doorstep. I even like Horror at Red Hook despite a really appalling amount of xenophobia.

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

Even knowing the plot, this story is remarkably solid. Is this what people think of that even Lovecraft's dutchmen are evil?

[@BrentDelong1253]

HPL always adapts into the best RPGs.

[@mitroxidegaming846]

Great job Ian. Just a heads up im about 40-50% done with my first novel, Of Ash and Void. And I would have no other readers than you two to display it to the world.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you! Intriguing, be sure to keep us posted. Ian

[@walterfechter8080]

As I heard the description of the creature, I thought, "Tom Savini must have read this story." Good old ravenous, "Fluffy."

[@justinreynolds7081]

I was just informed that my mother's grandfather was from the region and had the last name of Martin, which is a different spelling, but I still had to come here and share that piece of data. I just think it's neat.

[@bobbymarcum772]

I love the phrase "digging idiotically"

[@mystick93]

Nice bedtime stories for junior.

[@souljahjustice7715]

I deadass just realized after literal decades of reading this very story, despite how many deem them "man eating moles", listening just now I feel they may infact be wendigos.

[@HorrorBabble]

Interesting idea!

[@oxalisphlox1]

Christopher meloni the actor from oz and svu???

[@RSEFX]

Lovecraft was still developing as a writer when he put this down on paper. To me, this is right on the edge of being its own parody, and a parody of his own writing habits, though the idea is interesting and fairly well-developed (just an opinion). If he'd have had the mind to, would've been great if Lovecraft thought to go back some years down the road and tweak-edited his earlier works....I mean maybe instead of writing so many letters, but what's the use of wondering about how that would've turned out? Letter-writing was his sustenance.

[@tobypack6328]

At first I thought this was an autobiography about my boss

[@amazinghayes1]

Not Mr.Meloni of Law and Order: SVU fame surely? Also, what a great tale to read, tonight's bedtime story for sure.

[@MrJedimedic]

Francis Haze I always think of him as being from “Oz”.

[@HorrorBabble]

Not this time Francis! This is a 'Moloney'. Hope you enjoyed the reading! Ian

[@Torgo1001]

"Lore and Chaos: Spectral Victims Unit"

[@thespecialguy12]

I think the monster was in love with the main character lol

[@chrisfisher2469]

Top notch governor top notch

[@jerryjohnson8485]

The turn of the screw, story par exelaunte

[@nuclearjanitors]

This is the one

[@shannonholt5343]

❤️❤️❤️

[@SlippyTip]

Christopher Meloni from law and order?? Lit

[@fredrikbrohall1422]

As always awesome reading! Do you have any plans on doing “the thing on the doorstep” anytime soon? Thanks again for all the great readings and I’m looking forward to more :)

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks again Golden pants! Yes, The Thing of the Doorstep is part of our work-in-progress Cthulhu Mythos series. It'll probably be recorded in January or February. Ian

[@fredrikbrohall1422]

Awesome, looking forward to it! That’s one of the first books that made me feel scared and uneasy.

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

And that one is one of my favourites.

[@feralbluee]

i’m sorry, but those alliterations at the end were hilarious, even though you read them so well. or maybe because you read them so well. LOL 😋🐲

[@kevingluys3063]

I've been enjoying most of these stories but my one real issue is that sometimes the descriptions go on for so long that I lose track of what's being described. But I suppose I've heard that to be a common issue with lovecraft's works.

[@elephant_888]

Does anybody know how Warren is doing?

[@MrSambollet]

Not Chris Maroney of Mars Anomalies?

[@fredriko.zachrisson9711]

Time stamps: *2* 14:42 *3* 27:40 *4* 41:27

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks Fredrik, but the chapter times are all listed in the pinned comment and video description.

[@fredriko.zachrisson9711]

@@HorrorBabble ok cool. I didnt see that. :) I got interrupted all the time when i listened to it, so i did it for myself but if someone else can use them its cool too

[@Katuulu]

Is there anywhere I can get or listen to the ambient music that's playing in this one and the mountains of madness reading?

[@HorrorBabble]

There's a link to it in the video description/pinned comment (by my good friend Glenn Alexander). As for At the Mountains of Madness, it features a drone very fleetingly.

[@Katuulu]

@@HorrorBabble thank you

[@Katuulu]

Sorry to bother you again, but the synth at the very beginning is yours right? Not a part of the Glen Alexander Relentless score? @@HorrorBabble

[@HorrorBabble]

@@Katuulu No trouble! Yes, the intro is mine. Again, it's not currently available unaccompanied. I'll have to think about putting a collection together for Bandcamp.

[@chrisfisher2469]

Are u using a rush intro as background ambience ? Temples of syrinx? If so it fits perfectly let me know if im right or wrong cheers

[@HorrorBabble]

No... but I do love a bit of Rush! Ian

[@chrisfisher2469]

@@HorrorBabble hahhaaha. Thanks funny how the mind works when ya get lost in lovecraft

[@Babbleplay]

Hmm, Wonder if we're distantly related... Then again, I'm more GoofyBabble than horrific. Oh well, all that matters is that Lovecraft's works are amazing at developing a beautiful tension.

[@HorrorBabble]

A fellow babbler! Always a pleasure.

[@Babbleplay]

@@HorrorBabble Quite so! I am not a horror specific channel, but, I do dabble, and I have specific followers who specifically watch my delves into the realms of terror specifically because I'm a babbling goofball. Clowning around may break the tension, but, that's what some people need. More than once I get comments along the lines of 'I'm too jumpy for horror but with you goofing around, I can watch you play it.' Some consider it antithetical to the tone of the games, but, it reaches people it otherwise might not, and games like Dark Corners of the Earth deserve all the adulation they can get.

[@HorrorBabble]

An interesting approach - and one I can appreciate. Horror and comedy work surprisingly well together.

[@Babbleplay]

@@HorrorBabble Well yes, when played right, Horror builds the tension, and humor is the pressure release valve. Problem is, it takes care to balance this, and most aren't going to put in that effort. Black/gallows humor is a guilty pleasure, when done well. This is why, for example, in Dead Space games, telekinesis beam + random corpse = saucy puppet show!

[@Babbleplay]

If you ever want to collaborate, yes, I'm mostly a gaming channel, but, there IS that new Call of Cthulhu game on the market, and a well informed co-host would mean less references were missed. Kind of hard to keep all those gibberish-named horrors straight in one;s head when focused on playing. CoC, or, really ,any horror game worthy of the title, that goes beyond BOO! I SCARED YOU, HAHA! levels of building atmosphere.

[@chriskappauf6331]

Sounds like Malcolm Mcdowall

[@ZephaniahL]

"Marston" is close to a metathesis of "Martense," so perhaps Stephen King and others were indebted to Lovecraft -- in fact I think it is a sure bet, even if through intermediaries. Coincidence or not, the dark pervert Marsden Hartley, whom Massachusetts reprobates are now not surprisingly trying to rehabilitate, lived up in Massachusetts and painted in Lovecraft's time.

[@apollyonkatastrefia1586]

tell Elliot that Olivia misses her partner

[@Gogypoggy]

Bookmark, 24:37