THE NAMELESS CITY by H. P. Lovecraft (2017 Recording)

This is the 2017 HorrorBabble recording of TNC
"The Nameless City" is a horror story written by American writer H. P. Lovecraft in January 1921 and first published in the November 1921 issue of the amateur press journal The Wolverine.
Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble
Music and production by Ian Gordon
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This is an ORIGINAL HorrorBabble Production.

[@HorrorBabble]

This is the 2017 HorrorBabble recording of TNC. 2023 recording: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5KnhGaKmNt5mLM

[@rayanderson5797]

It often kind of amuses me that the big scary moment in many Lovecraft stories is: "And they weren't human!!!" It makes a lot of his work more interesting than scary. I'd love to visit an ancient city of pre-human creatures. How cool would that be!

[@grimgrahamch.4157]

This is why it's hard to recreate what Lovecraft did. It actually says a lot about his influence since most people these days have come to accept what back then would be considered existential dread.

[@Terminalsanity]

Because its about the horror of the existential dread that comes from knowing how insignificant and ephemeral the whole of human existence, knowledge truly is these reptile like beings endured for a billion years reached a higher level of knowledge and technology than humans have ever known and likely will ever know and yet they are reduced to angry bitter resentful wraiths what does that portend about the future prospects of humanity? I mean you laugh but the existence of such beings would literally collapse in one fell swoop the belief systems and world view of like 70% of the people on the planet and their respective religions sure you can intellectually handle that but can those billions? Given how the better portion of them reject evolution I kind of doubt it.

[@clan741]

as amusing as the protagonist of "At the Mountains of Madness" finding albino penguins as existentially horrific as the shogoths. He makes a great mythos but his eccentricities from being a near recluse can be pretty funny.

[@mikesands4681]

I wonder what Lovecraft would think about Star Trek?

[@SlartiMarvinbartfast]

I'd describe Lovecraft's works as unsettling rather than scary. He builds something tangible which nobody has been able to faithfully recreate in film (or computer game). Lovecraft's descriptive texts have power for those prepared to immerse themselves.

[@marekstanczak5449]

I'm going to listen to all the Lovecraft starting here.

[@ryleeguy2763]

Me and my wife are at work

[@dianen407]

Exactly my thought lol

[@treeross]

Did you finish those errands?

[@MrJuliankilla]

Did you finish those errands?

[@marekstanczak5449]

@@MrJuliankilla hi how are ya. Yes I've done it. EVERYTHING.

[@digitalcoin333]

I love all the Lovecraft I fall asleep listening all the time!

[@nathankox190]

Hehe, I do also! It is impossible not to like his work, it is so descriptive you can fully immerse yourself in the story.

[@mistergiraffe9425]

Lol. Then you dream of the story while your sleeping... The horrors.

[@yarugatyger1603]

@@mistergiraffe9425 I kinda dream of his story yet as if I were in it and it's slighly different and not so much horror but more curiosity that fill me during those dreams.

[@johnhallam4714]

Me too

[@turtleanton6539]

Nice dreams 👾👾👾👾👾🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@cinnamonroffles]

Thank you Ian. This is the second work of Lovecraft's I read after Dagon, It has driven me to appreciate Howard's careful and steady approach to unveiling the existential uncertainty that the vastness of time presents.

[@howardlovecraft750]

Extraordinary imagination. Lovecraft was far ahead of his time.

[@ikawolf2857]

What imagination?

[@dahlia8534]

He most certainly was, when it comes to imagination- however that same sentiment cannot be applied to many other aspects of his personality.

[@dahlia8534]

@Gary Lorette No, I don't think a normal person could have created cosmic horror as Lovecraft did. However he also held extremely ignorant prejudices that cannot be brushed away. He had incredible ideas, but was a terrible person.

[@dahlia8534]

@Gary Lorette You jump to arguments and crude insults so quickly, in the defense of what? I am not challenging Lovecraft's incredible writing, only his awful racism. It's important to recognize the negativity these creators brought before idolizing them. Calm down and we can have an actual discussion.

[@buukute]

@@dahlia8534 here come the woke culture find it way to here

[@kristadisgumundsdottir3658]

I love the ambiance in this one, the fire-alarm in my apartment block just went off around the 20 minute mark and I though it was part of the ambiance... then I went to check on things to find the fire department and police sorting things out, such interesting things happen when you are listing to a good audio book.

[@HorrorBabble]

Sounds like a major incident Krista - at least I hope not!

[@kristadisgumundsdottir3658]

Nothing serious, my Polish neighbors forget to turn of the stove after they cooked their sausages. It was kinda funny to see that one burned sausage in the pot this morning.

[@HorrorBabble]

Moral of the story - never trust a sausage.

[@tilde5884]

I love this exchange.

[@MalcolmBrenner]

I started off listening to this story read by another writer, who shall remain nameless. When I saw that a version by Ian Gordon was available, I switched to it, and immediately realized why: he reads Lovecraft with (apparently) genuine fear in his voice! The other guy sounded awful. As they say it LA, "You've got to have sincerity. Once you can fake that, the rest comes easy!"

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks for the kind words, Malcolm!

[@MalcolmBrenner]

@@HorrorBabble They are well-deserved, I assure you! (Speaking for YOG-SOTHOTH)

[@docbrown7916]

Fantastic Ian, I have read this one, you did a great job bringing it to life.

[@jamiecameron7615]

It's wonderful to have this treasure back, thank you very much!!

[@jjwhittle8873]

Holy sh*t, only just discovered this channel - cannot wait to get stuck in. Thank you for doing this.

[@omegaprime6693]

Me to I find this channel today

[@howardlovecraft750]

@@omegaprime6693 listen to all of Lovecraft's works, you won't be disappointed. Horrorbabble is the best site.

[@DickGallo-dk7wi]

These are the types of stories that made me fall in love with the Lovcraftian style, in my youth. Thank uou HorrorBabble. 🖤💀🦇🕷

[@rtt1961]

Great reading of an underrated Lovecraft tale.

[@alias40anon]

In Lovecraft universe which is eerily very close to our, the fear resides in the past and is hunting humanity for ever and ever. What an original and deep writer of human psyche and cosmos

[@Flood520]

I dig this one. Sure it's a re-post but I'm more than happy to listen to it again.

[@thefisherking78]

Such a classic. Every time YT recommends it, I queue it again. Every time, I enjoy it just as much.

[@linebeckthejohoe4876]

Now I’m scared and wanna hug someone Edit: I’m still scared but thank you for the heart

[@WhoCares69]

A favourite.Have you thought of reading “ Prophet of the Black Hadj” by Aaron Vlek. How Al Hazred came into being.

[@justafallperson2108]

Just noticed the sound of wind in the background. Nice touch!

[@philipclay8531]

Terrific reading as always! One of Lovecraft's favorites, and I can see why!

[@drincogni]

Ian gordon your good a good voice,horror babble thank you this is my 1st H.P lovecraft.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks for listening!

[@scleroctenophore]

Yo cool it's a miniature Mountains of Madness

[@michaelchitwood389]

I always imagine this city being buried in the Rub Al Khali, because listened to "music from the empty quarter" when i first read this story long ago...in a different timeline

[@DrChaunceyBlevins]

Love this one 🙏🏻

[@Tazirai]

HP had his problems but man he can write a story!

[@jjwhittle8873]

The more I read of his the more I realise he pretty much invented modern horror.

[@Shapes_Quality_Control]

Joseph Whittle Mmm.... is say Poe was more influential in that respect or even the real life story of men like Ed Gein. Lovecraft was certainly inventive and his imagery unique but thematically you can see the influences of Poe and further beyond then that Milton and Dante.

[@unclesham5507]

His grandfather named the God damned cat! Can we drop it now?

[@Aroundthesquarebowl]

Thank you ❤

[@yanais88]

This is so much nicer than me and my boyfriend reading to each other 😆💕

[@Corsbyy]

This guy is a Treasure

[@helenwhite2066]

This is her majesty the queens favourite narrative,outlining the original breeding grounds of her ancestors.

[@zearalyth]

LMAO

[@ShaggyDabbyDank]

19:14 My bookmark for this video, don't mind me.

[@12DAMDO]

if this were a movie without a narrator, you'd basically see this guy stand at the same spot for maybe about 5 minutes, then walks a few steps, then stand at the same spot once again for maybe 3 minutes, only for that cycle to continue, until he enters the labyrinth and then his torch goes dark... after that he's just walking in the dark until he sees a glow and walks towards it and sees reptillic monsters... you're about 30 minutes into the movie and finally some action is about to happen... nevermind he just stands there and talks to himself... then he starts staring at the paintings on the wall... okay sure, 4 to 6 minutes of wall paintings, nice! maybe with a good director, that could be replaced with a 10 - 15 minute flashback... after that, he slowly walks trough a hall and enters another room where he once again just stands there... then he becomes schizophrenic and freaks out over lizard people, until he enters yet another room where he once again just stands there... 1 hour into the movie, and finally, you're near the end of the movie, it has to happen... a sound in the distance, okay here we go, don't just stand there and do something interesting... okay something is lurking from the shadows and getting closer, it's gonna happen... he looks at his watch for whatever reason, and then he's getting tense... alright, you know it's gonna happen, the climax scene... he screams madly at the lizard creature that's getting closer... but he just stands there... he literally just stands there to try and make sense out of what he's looking at... and then when the creature is finally shown on screen, the movie ends... either that, or the writers just write something that's only based on the story but not an exact retell of the story! but still, this is literally just a man standing and observing! nothing much happens really..

[@irony373]

It's more about the world not the characters with lovecraft.

[@12DAMDO]

@@irony373 i know.. but i still find it an interesting concept to think about what this book would be like if there was a movie adaptation

[@pavan_kumar556]

@@12DAMDO Stanley Kubrick would easily direct it?

[@anticom6099]

When you tell a story about something that happened to you, do you do it all in real time, or do you elaborate more on certain things and perhaps skip others?

[@12DAMDO]

@@anticom6099 fair point.. very very fair point indeed...

[@CartoonHero1986]

So my guess is Lovecraft got the willies when he looked at Sobek imagery and idols from Ancient Egypt... lol

[@hangingwithmatty9465]

I believe these tales to actually be real! Secret tales released as fiction. Also, notice: everything ALWAYS leads to the underground

[@ulmo1737]

Under Egypt under Mount Shasta under many places the world's bigger and stranger than we lead to believe

[@bittybitty8233]

So happy for you !! Almost 20k !! You'll be at your 1st million before you know it....😸. 😘💜💚💛💙😳 Y'all deserve so much more , Best channel on u - tube IMHO...! TY for tonights vid , can never hear too much Lovecraft...👍 YOU AND JENNIFER ROCK !!💜

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you KB! :)

[@aboturki5111]

it was inspired by iram of the pillars the ancient city in the arabian peninsula

[@MoonTone]

Oh nice I think I listened to a reading of this one recently, I'll probably enjoy your version more though

[@Babidi111]

- Such a classic! Great job as always

[@wolfarchetype5046]

Had to visit this story a second time

[@gerardjagroo]

This Nameless City sounds like a tourist trap. Nevertheless I'd love to visit sometime. All that gold, gems and mystery metal sound enticing.

[@jerichohill487]

I once met a guy that had been to this place. Did some work for him and his family. Had a strange crown he had found there. Family name was Cabot. I wonder what happened to him??

[@gregoryturner9530]

Love the new thumbnail

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

Unusually exceptional narration on this one, had you drunk a glass of whiskey just beforehand?

[@turtleanton6539]

Love this story and all his writings and your Readings are good to.

[@polywags]

I think this is my favorite HP story

[@CJM-rg5rt]

Reminds me of the Ubaidian (5500 BC) lizardmen figurines from (pre) Sumaria. They were found at the very first real city named Ur, very weird creatures/dolls. I think they may have inspired him to write this.

[@haroldkeearns3497]

So very well done. One of my favorites

[@olafisashark5105]

Jesus this is creepy, holy frick!

[@rogerjrusa]

Well done!

[@jimmyshrimbe9361]

"Academaniacal" Wow!

[@PureVikingPowers]

After *The Mound* that is number 1 *The Nameless City* is number 2 and *The Shadow over Innsmouth* at 3rd but i love them all

[@landenstewart4289]

This was the first h.p lovecraft story I read. Not the best but definitely a good introduction.

[@yayodank882]

Subscriber count 66.6? Hmmmm

[@ProjectFlashlight612]

A nightmare written down

[@pavan_kumar556]

7:40

[@hkhjg1734]

this city deserves a name, what should we call it?

[@Flood520]

hk hjg Susan

[@gargoyles9999]

hk hjg Florida

[@MultiNacnud]

hk hjg Milton Keynes,because once your in you can never get out.

[@orangeiceice12]

hk hjg cprupru

[@CountingHouse]

Sandy McSandface

[@Melvinshermen]

Great

[@jimmymash5520]

i miss the second piano intro

[@anujhe]

Does inhabitants of nameless city still exists in the story ???

[@garysuarez9614]

Sounds like Dallas.

[@grahamturner1290]

🐙

[@micahfoley9572]

I love the read on this one. i feel like i can hear your day-to-day voice just a tiny more than usual. it gives the piece a slightly intimate feeling. GJ homie. keep it up. The Nerd Lobby appreciates your hard work. :) ps: i was listening here early on and found one, a lovecraft, i think, that featured something like a mysterious city hiding in fog (or something), in a village full of skeptical, closemouthed people (Europeans, i think...maybe italian or some such). i didn't get to finish it, and i can't find it again. anyone got any clues for me? it was cool... i think it was a slightly longer one.

[@amaryllis604]

You have probably long found it by now...but it might have been the shadow over Insmouth.

[@micahfoley9572]

@@amaryllis604 i never did! it was a little European town, and I don't remember any watery vibe, so i don't think it's innsmouth. It's been so long I don't really remember any details lol, but I think he was looking for something and no one would help him. The people weren't rural or fishermen either I don't think. I sorta remember an old world vibe, but that's coming my memory, not the source material. But thank you for trying, I really appreciate it. Eh, suppose I'll have to listen to them all again. :)

[@amaryllis604]

@@micahfoley9572 Aw, that's too bad! Unfortunately your description doesn't ring a bell, but I'll keep my ears open in case I'll find it by accident.

[@micahfoley9572]

@@amaryllis604 that's very kind of you. thank you. :)

[@captaindiabetes4244]

so this is the first part of cathulu ?

[@HorrorBabble]

Yes. It follows the mythos according to Lin Carter's "Lovecraft: A Look Behind the Cthulhu Mythos".

[@tobypack6328]

It’s almost as if Lovecraft was peering into the ether, What demoniac monstrosities he saw there!

[@THESLOWDEATHHOOKS]

nice

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

13:19 Lovecraft: hehehe Me: hehehe

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

Huh, I intended to press The Black Stone Statue. Nevermind, I'll listen to this instead then.

[@heatedturtle659]

21:27

[@weedingaloud7891]

I need to get with you HorrorBabble im a writer and have several books in progress that i could cut a scene here or there. Add a beginning and end to it and would make great shorts for your channel ill email you or contact you on your web page. Can send you a sample.Just a heads up most are still in first draft but mostly puncuation not dialog or setttng that needs to be finished.There what i would consider extreme horror or violent horror in the murders point of view in most cases. One in the victim and most are stories of serial killers, post apocalyptic, Tales of lizard people from under the earth that were just waitng for us to die off again. I use alot of conspiracy theories to add in to some stories to connect with readers. Alot of alien shape shifters in the government. comment if your interested at all i will be contacting you soon interested in getting some of my stories out as shorts befor i publish the full novels .I draw most of my inspiration from HP Lovecraft, George rrMartin,King,Wells,and Niel Geiman thanks for your time.

[@HorrorBabble]

Got your message via the website - responded there. Ian

[@teyanuputorti7927]

It sounds like they were the serpent people

[@banterj]

Ok this is an original Lovecraft…because I don’t understand the collaborations you all do on here ,if someone can explain those to me,my confusion takes me out of the narrative a lot because…

[@jeffkirchberg]

Ildodc Old schoolk

[@konthewondercow811]

I've been spending some time reading and listening to Lovecraft and this one...just didn't tickle my interest at all? I wonder why.

[@skug9bob]

The protagonist takes way too long to recognize the obvious, but I suppose we should give him a pass: after all, he hasn't had the benefit of a century of SF and horror trope-building. 😋

[@180dagger]

When you love the story but the author is... problematic.

[@VicariousReality7]

16:16 This is a prime example why Lovecraft is a bad writer