"The Outsider" / Lovecraft's Dream Cycle

Lovecraft's Dream Cycle (14 of 17)
"The Outsider" is a short story by American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. Written between March and August 1921, it was first published in Weird Tales, April 1926. In this work, a mysterious man who has been living alone in a castle for as long as he can remember decides to break free in search of human contact and light. "The Outsider" is one of Lovecraft's most commonly reprinted works and is also one of the most popular stories ever to be published in Weird Tales.
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Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble
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[@sayak4253]

I'm a software engineer from India. I loved reading books specifically horror stories in my teens. Now, when I'm working 45+ hrs a week, I don't l get much time to read. I'm indebted to this channel for their audio books. They've been really helpful in my destressing process.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks Sayak - great to hear from you, sir. :)

[@howardlovecraft750]

They're many opinions of the man Lovecraft, but one thing's certain he was a writing genius.

[@munderpool]

The language was so rich and not a syllable was bereft of meaning, This was one of the finest short stories ever written. That narration gave it the life it deserved as well.

[@autystycznybudda5012]

Very accurate comment. In spite of being short, this is one of the best literary works, among such a brick-like epic novels like War and Peace.

[@joea.9969]

A lot of modern people say Lovecraft is too verbose and difficult to follow, O enjoy coming across words that you have to look up snd finding an oddly specific meaning( like “eldritch”)😊.

[@briangreen1781]

This is one of my favorites and I especially love the perception motif.

[@ScooterzTubezor]

You're too good at reading these wonderful tales! Will keep sharing them with everyone I know

[@thefoxchronicles1232]

I had my suspicions that it was a mirror!! This is actually really great! Thanks!!!!

[@uncannyposthuman]

Never have I related more to a story, and this is the definitive reading of it. Thank you, HorrorBabble.

[@Orourkebanjo]

My favorite Lovecraft story. Thank you for posting.

[@donaldmccleary9015]

This is a fantastic and well-written story. The details flow a d so mich detail is conveyed in a short time. This is one of the first Lovecraft stories I read, and it remains one of my favorite stories in general. This is a true work of art. Your narration of this literary treasure is fantastic. Thank you for narrating this tale! The image on the screen for this recording is amazing! I love it! Thanks!

[@RepublicConstitution]

It is just unfair how good you are. It's like wanting to be a good running back and watching Barry Sanders. Makes you want to give up before you start.

[@vali6717]

One of my favorite among Lovecraft’s stories. Definitely subscribing.

[@MrZooBreak]

The reading of this Lovecraft classic is absolutely brilliant. The tone, the meter, the grittiness--simply superb. Bravo!

[@Bbergster]

The Dream Cycle is my go to for R & R, and for whatever reason I had never really listened to this thoroughly. Must have been passing out before it. Dream-quest of Unknown Kardath has become a lullaby for my night brain. So, Im pretty hyped to find a new piece of the crazy intense puzzle that is old HP's work. Love the slimy, cold, dank stone climbing parts. Always with the aged crumbling masonary.

[@robbabcock_]

This is one of my absolute favorite short stories! Thanks!🙏👻👍

[@Anon26535]

In the dark of the night I was tossing and turning I was having a nightmare as bad as could be It scared me out of my wits A corpse falling to bits Then I woke up and saw that the nightmare was me!

[@jamiecameron7615]

A brilliant tale wonderfully told!!

[@slimeballz]

Treat after treat 😀 I feel spoiled. Greetings from Skåne Sweden 💜

[@joeomalley2835]

Great reading style. You give the story the ambience and atmosphere it deserves. Thanks !

[@rabbitrhett4954]

I feel like I need to express this. Me and my dad listened to this once and we definitely consider this reading only inferior to the famous Roddy McDowell reading. But here is the main difference. The voice brought into this brought in a sense of age and self reflection where as McDowell brought a sense of regret. These are things that people need to ask themselves as people look at multiple versions of the same story. And it is as simple as what you brought to the narrative. Either way this is a great reading. One thing I find interesting is the idea of what this place is. What is this world under the church that the outsider lives. Is it just a memory hidden within a tomb, or a dream only noticed by the one who lived within it. A question to ask as later it’s described that the Outsider can’t just return. Because now his sense of isolation and normality is gone. Another thing I enjoy is the references that Lovecraft gives to Shelley’s Frankenstein. The Outsider you can say is similar to the monster as he reads Milton’s Paradise Lost. Learning of god’s creation of man and man’s new ability to lie. Was the outsider made from a “father” like the monster was, or is this something that was self done? Creating his own birth and life in a world of isolation? Either way I still find this one a curious story and depending on who read it I find myself contemplating what is being said. I see why it was greatly enjoyed when it was first published in Weird Tales. I appreciate you sharing this and I look forward to hearing more =D.

[@HorrorBabble]

Wait a minute... there's a reading of this by Roddy McDowall?! I have to hear it... Thanks for sharing the intriguing thoughts Rhett. I've often pondered the implications of this one. Ian

[@rabbitrhett4954]

kzbin.info/aero/PLXydPYSFM3WJY0Elbfyt0DoimnRUggur2 Here it is. It’s right here on KZbin and it also has his reading of “The Hound” another classic! It’s a shame there isn’t more from what I can see since this was ripped from a record. But at least it’s something =D. Though as a joke I sometimes imagine him reading the stories while he is one of his characters from Fright Night, Black Hole, or planet of the apes. But as for Outsider I’m glad to know others have similar thoughts on the subject. Now I do find it interesting how others relate this story to the “Dreamland Stories”. But we always first need to see this stuff in isolation, appreciate them for what they are in the moment. They’re connection to greater stories should always be more of an addition. And I feel lovecraft, as well as the other weird fiction writers, understood this as this isn’t a chronology he made up but rather a world he lived. Did Lovecraft attend such a party at one point, and caught a glimpse of the outsider confused at his fear of him? In my mind I think he had, which only makes the power of the writing more obvious. Your audience can’t believe unless you do.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks Rhett - I'll save that for later! Peter Vincent has to be one of the greatest horror movie characters of all time! All stories worth their salt have to stand alone in my opinion - it is then that we can truly appreciate references to them in subsequent works.

[@rabbitrhett4954]

Oh god I can talk Peter Vincent and Fright Night for a while. The cliffnotes is that it is in the top ten of all time classics and one every writer should watch to get into the mindset that the impossible is possible. And you are truly correct Ian. That is how the greatest stories are cemented in memory while others remain wallowing in obscurity. All for the simple fact that it doesn’t know what to say. Not to take up your time, but I used to review the work of “Amateur” Novelists, a term I use to represent status and not quality. And the problem they always have is that they genuinely don’t feel their own story. Beginning it in places that have no relevance, ending it in a place that feels misdirected and even linearly giving information as obvious as a high school blog. Its a shame as I give them direction and input, but they truly wanted was validation as they plan the 27 sequels to the first novel. Not joking this person has two long novel series planned and haven’t properly articulated the first one. I won’t argue if this person wishes to ignore me and over complicate their audience. But I guess that is why I stopped caring for them, and instead journeyed to the worlds we have previously talked about. I guess the very line you read makes it obvious “Unhappy is he to whom the memories of childhood bring only fear and sadness.” And that is what happened, the memories of childhood were corrupted by a world of false belief. Again always honored to have these exchanges Mr. Ian. -Rhett

[@HorrorBabble]

It's just the perfect eighties horror movie. Love it! Well, I'm not much of a critic, but I *am* (or pretending to be) a writer. It has always been my belief that writers in a hurry to put something out will suffer in the long run. I can imagine being a reviewer is a tough assignment! Keep 'em coming! Ian

[@Esotericgemini]

Wholeness and balanced vibrations thanks for the upload

[@litaholic4572]

Gripping, spiritually and mentally ingratiating and exuberant prose that fascinates and horrifies you all at once. By far one of my favorite Lovecraftian tales and it is a shining example of his unique and captivating writing talent. Somehow this story resonated with me a lot more than I initially thought and felt more connected to Lovecraft the man as it ran its course.

[@rachweatherilll69]

I can't seem to come up with anything intelligent so I'll just say "Bravo" loved that one ;)

[@timeaesnyx]

I suspect that this story was inspired by Lovecraft's mother telling him that he was so ugly that he would scare the other children.

[@HorrorBabble]

I hope that wasn't the case!

[@timeaesnyx]

HorrorBabble his mother was emotionally abusive and I know it happened, as for whether or not there was a causal relationship for this story, that is speculation on my part.

[@HorrorBabble]

Terrible. I'll be reading up on the subject soon.

[@NikolaiWowe]

Hey I’m a Hellenic pagan too!

[@karensmith2204]

This is one of my favorites

[@xXLunatikxXlul]

One of your best narration's!

[@badas45]

Yep.I feel that way at party's as well

[@brbosen]

I forgot how good this was.

[@markwilliams428]

Wonderful

[@jaredgunkle1562]

my friend read this out loud in the back seat of my car in the dead of night while i was dropping him off and the twist hit so hard

[@wolfarchetype5046]

Lovecraft was far ahead of his time

[@mrjroc318]

I love the picture used for the video

[@packleaderstealthcamping1808]

Maybe his greatest story ever. Definitely my favorite. I've listened to your Lovecraft readings several times each. Thank you for the wonderful narration. What is your pen name? I remember you mentioning that you authored a few short stories.

[@johnbryant8603]

Thank you again, is not easy to find something new, so oft. I think that you’ve been through this story before, or haps a past work. The pace is different t’wixt the two. The former being, as I recall a little slower, while this reading leant itself to a quicker pace. It was appropriate, in both manners. Thanks so much. Is a great education on many levels 🙏🏽🎩❤️✌🏽🇲🇽

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks John - the old version has been immortalised here: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com/album/the-outsider-15

[@kristadisgumundsdottir3658]

Some one just took a look in the mirror...

[@Saheeb138]

Yup. He was a ghoul like Pickman in The Dream Quest. He climbed up a passage between dream and the waking world. Being a ghoul he remembered some of life and thus retained his urge to....go to a cocktail party....like you do.

[@pamela-vi7rp]

On the tip of my tongue

[@Brantendo64]

**SPOILERS** When I first read this story, I imagined the outsider being a zombie who crossed over from death back to life. It's how I rationalized his vague recollection of human interaction and his ability to read. The hole he crossed into the real world from was his grave. However, I'm not seeing this interpretation from anyone else. Anybody read it the same way?

[@thSubliminalCriminal]

No....zombies are gay

[@sethkrueger5472]

He's a Ghoul their dog people with mange and they have hooves rather feet look them up their dope

[@storycollectorpodcast3282]

This is how it feels to have a day off on a weekday.

[@CJM-rg5rt]

Ride with the mocking and friendly ghouls on the night-wind. Enticing right?

[@gomro]

I never considered OUTSIDER to be a Dream Cycle tale. It's one of his most Poe-like stories, but I don't read anything that indicates it is not in our world.

[@JohnSmith-eo5sp]

A very morbid story, keeps you guessing whether this 'Outsider' is in Purgatory or trapped in a nightmare world. Beyond that, it is reflective of the author himself: Alienated from the real world, living in a mausoleum of old wealth, and his father dies at a young age from Syphilis, which leaves the victim scarred in hideous ways. Lovecraft's mother died in an asylum, she went mad, perhaps from Syphilis that she contacted from his father. No wonder H P Lovecraft inspired such corrupt souls as Rod Serling, Stephen King, and Dean Koontz

[@Topdoggie7]

Corrupt? Ha. This was him trying to be Poe. Bradbury and Crichton make the list of brilliant beings on this list. No corruption here.

[@6Haunted-Days]

@@Topdoggie7 him trying to be Poe? 🤣😂🙄 christ you've GOT to be 12 or done nonsense to say THAT.....LMFAO

[@6Haunted-Days]

You clearly know LITTE about Lovecraft ......if you think he had ANY $ or was in some old wealth mausoleum of a house....like wtf?? And don't even mention tipsy hacks in the same sentence .....Koontz is the absolute dreck....King? 🤮

[@Topdoggie7]

@@6Haunted-Days This was him trying to be Poe. I don't remember which book has an AN about it but that was his influence for the story.

[@noehirschi1367]

This is the saddest thing i've ever heard.

[@jameswatrous2109]

A fun and creepy story by Lovecraft. Out of curiosity anyone know who did the illustration of the creepy castle? It's a good illustration.

[@HorrorBabble]

See the video description, James!

[@jameswatrous2109]

@@HorrorBabble Thanks.

[@olafisashark5105]

If this is the one with the man who lives underground? I don't want to spoil anything but I love this short story, so much and this story inspired a Cannibal Corpse song called disfigured one of my favorite metal songs of all time. Hp lovecraft really did change the world of science fiction horror and beyond

[@HorrorBabble]

I believe it is the one you're thinking of Olaf. :) Ian

[@olafisashark5105]

HorrorBabble such a wonderful reading. Hey when my business is up and running I'll gladly sponsor you.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks again, sir!

[@aurthertheearthmandent7655]

Check out PG Wodehouse too. Yin to the Yang yo.

[@johannagonzalez8895]

Puedes leer desde tu dispositivo móvil descargando la App El Libro Total. Espero te ayude bastante ¡Saludos!

[@BNK2442]

Let's be honest, If you like this tale you probably identify with the ending. :-P

[@CJM-rg5rt]

A huge proportion of people have probably retreated from society. Shit's too lame to randomly come back unchanged.

[@frydfish4934]

Me knowing the twist of the story: :( :( :( :(