"The Repairer of Reputations" by Robert W. Chambers / King in Yellow (1/10)

[@tyranid13]

A 122 year old masterpiece. Thank you for the amazing narration.

[@HorrorBabble]

And thank you for listening! :)

[@feralbluee]

OMG - when i was a girl, the 1920's weren't so far back! so 1910 was only about 60 years ago. now someone is saying it's a hundred and 22 years ago for this story, which seems like sooo long ago. for me the long time ago of my life span were the 1890's when my grandparents were kids. my Dad was born in 1915, Mom 1916 - me at the end of the War. i know i'm an antique, but jeez, i don't feel like it!!!

[@Typingoctopus]

The translation of the opening phrase is as creepy as it is profound . In English it is " do not mock the insane , their madness lasts longer then ours.That is the only difference "

[@glass4breakfast]

The Reel with Greenhill damn.... Absolutely! That resonates with me very much, since I know that reality is in part at least illusion, n definitely relative. It's very much interpreted n created by us n forces we barely understand that we can not separate ourselves from. The only absolute in reality is physics n science which is indifferent n can be used as a tool for shaping it as well. This understanding makes those words more profound. I've had several trips on shrooms n acid where I was terrified of losing my sanity n feared never regaining it. It is I think the deepest fear in a sense bcuz it's like making everything unknown n impossible to grasp or at least meaningless. Thanks for sharing that translation, that's really cool.

[@colemarie9262]

The Reel with Greenhill Thanks for the translation, it definitely adds to the mood!

[@feralbluee]

@@glass4breakfast hi - you forgot mathematics - you can't have physics without it. :}

[@bobbymarcum772]

Alexa Penn yep

[@benny_tys1644]

She butchered that pronunciation though....

[@charumathis5029]

Cannot help but keep coming back to this phenomenal rendition of the iconic weird story. Ian's narration nails the unreliable narrator concept. You feel the pathos but also the cosmic and political horror depending on your perspective. A double treat served with impeccable and haunting narration.

[@robertwalker-smith2739]

When I first read this, decades ago, I was unfamiliar with the concept of the Unreliable Narrator. If you read this assuming that Hildred is perfectly sane and that his description of things is correct, it's a very different story.

[@joearnold6881]

That’s the joy of the unreliable narrator. Just because they are unreliable, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not telling the real story. Probably he was mad… but maybe not. It’s delightful.

[@hansjuker8296]

Spoiler alert douchebag

[@jjvladimir6070]

It's time for a fan letter. Horror Babble is my favorite channel. There are so many things you do right. First off, your selections are superb. Again and again you find that rich vein where horror meets fine literature. Secondly, the voice work is top notch. It's not only that the diction is flawless, it's the sheer range of voices. There is an enormous breadth of presentation between the various characters, so that the listener truly feels as if they are watching a movie with their ears. Lastly, there are all the tiny touches, like having the initial poem and quotations read by Jennifer and the narration proper read by Ian. It is obvious that you have an affection for the material that matches my own. Thank you for all that you do, Horror Babble, and please keep up the good work.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you for taking the time to 'pen' this JJ! We're humbled by the support we constantly receive from you guys. It's this kind of enthusiasm that drives us forward. Thanks again for the kind words, Ian & Jennifer

[@billybees3796]

JJ you're right H babble is great,check out Beyond Creepy as well

[@judithwatson6859]

Oh, hear, hear!! I agree with you in all points! I'm so impressed. I love this work, and they did it absolute justice! I'm so pleased!!! 💙

[@mattlora608]

Ok ok. I've been lulling myself to sleep with the godsend that is horror babble habitually for a while now. I love it.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you Matt! Great to hear from you. Ian

[@atomseahuze2687]

I do the same

[@lonewolf_punk]

I remember reading this story a little over a decade ago never finished the entire story until the True Detective references brought me here. Thank you for sharing with everyone a horror gem of a story.

[@SpadeRZA]

The variety of your accents is quite extraordinary. Mr Wild sounds like George W Bush, while at other times it sounds like a New York accent. Nicely done!

[@vickiejandron620]

Hillariously disturbing. Love this adaptation of Chambers' masterpiece. Thank you!!

[@magisterapophis8714]

This is the first time I've even heard of this series of stories and I for one am glad I heard it first here!

[@DonnyBaker45]

This is the best narration I've heard on an audio book.

[@HorrorBabble]

Very kind of you to say so Donny! Thanks for listening. Ian

[@glass4breakfast]

It's true! :)

[@tikkidaddy]

But wait...THERES MORE....CALL NOW!!😃

[@GoatOfTheWoods]

One of the best novels ever written by an unsung genius of literature.

[@jarodshaffer9969]

Just found this gem of a series. Gonna go through the entire king in yellow series. Thanks for your narration, love the channel.

[@deesneezy]

Thank you HorrorBabble, and Ian, for expanding the library in my Mind Palace!

[@HorrorBabble]

And thank you for continuing to listen to our productions Beau! (I quite like the concept of the 'Mind Palace' by the way) Ian

[@deesneezy]

I can't take full credit for the Mind Palace, I first heard it in the BBC show Sherlock; which is a fantastic show, and comes highly recommended. But I liked the idea and ran with it, now I have a Palace of my own.

[@HorrorBabble]

Jennifer is a huge fan of the show - I'll have to catch up!

[@RantingRagingRelks]

I just want to say that I absolutely adore the work done at HorrorBabble. The selection of literature is fantastic, and the readings are always engaging and vivid. Be it a short story or the complete Cthulhu mythos (my personal favorite), the production quality is always superb. May your path continue to be excellent, your skies always pleasant, and your days peaceful and fulfilling

[@HorrorBabble]

Wow, thank you!

[@look-yonder]

Woah. This narrator is captivating and ridiculously immersive. I discovered this book by a KZbinrs entreaty of "don't read this book," and I immediately went to "read this book." The forewarning is that I may be led to the brink of madness. noice.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks for stopping by, Saya!

[@iaindebernitz6003]

He who shall not be named. Now that’s a catchy name.

[@jeantyler9059]

Iain Debernitz ---you mean Prince?

[@Astrithor]

Mr. Riddle certainly thought so.

[@Kirke182]

Chambers's shortstory "The Harbormaster" is the origin of HPL's "Shadow Over Innsmouth."

[@JohnDoe-ob5jj]

This story reminds me of what it was like being up for seven days high on stimulants.

[@HannahSaturnX]

I love this. More King in Yellow!

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you Jeanette - we'll be back with THE MASK next Wednesday!

[@HorrorBabble]

The King in Yellow Part I - "The Repairer of Reputations" "The King in Yellow" is a book of short stories by American writer Robert W. Chambers, first published in 1895. The book comprises ten individual tales, several of which are thematically linked by a controversial play with which the novel shares its title. Chapters: 01:25 - I 21:31 - II 47:23 - III Buy The King in Yellow on Audible: www.audible.com/pd/B076HZH573 Narrated by Ian Gordon & Jennifer Gill for HorrorBabble Produced by Ian Gordon Music "Relentless 2 (Berlin 1976)" by Glen Alexander: glenalexander2.bandcamp.com 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

What a great story, I had never heard or read it before. Top notch narration as always, very well-done Ian!

[@johnbryant8603]

This is a wonderful section, of the King. Thank you

[@chesterstevens8870]

It was a dog-eared copy the Chambers work that initially piqued my interest in Lovecraftian horror, and Mr. Gordon had masterfully brought it to life. I'm looking forward to binge-listening to the complete set in the coming week.

[@Astrithor]

Interesting that we call it "Lovecraftian" when he himself was inspired by Chambers and Machen...hmmm. Guess it's more about who masters the art rather than the muse.

[@MFgreatest]

I think this is my favorite short story ever

[@Hybridman7]

I am still in part 2, but I wanted to say I find your work remarkable :) Thanks!

[@paulbarker5535]

Another great story, flawlessly narrated yet again. I 'he waited for all seven, tone ready, so I can listen tp the whole series in one go. Well worth it, thank you once again for, your hard work. Horror babble is my favourite channel for this genre.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks again Paul - we're thrilled you enjoyed this one! And thanks for the kind words. Ian

[@thefisherking78]

Another HB classic I keep coming back to 🎉

[@johnmoran8520]

I read this a number of years ago and was surprised how good it was. Now I am blown away how much better it is when narrated by Ian and Jenn. Funny how the novel is not more well known.

[@Little_Shadow_]

Late to this, 7 years late! Excellent! 👌 Excellent work👏

[@kittybaby4288]

those ears are freakin me out !!! 💞👂😸

[@HorrorBabble]

Mission accomplished. ;)

[@kittybaby4288]

HorrorBabble 😸❤✌👍

[@tikkidaddy]

Can you ear me now?? Is this thing on😃😃

[@joel5274]

Have you seen the yellow sign?

[@desdinovaincarnate9703]

yes,I drew it on my Geometry book

[@theeldritchpen5599]

It's just urine

[@notinspectorgadget]

go go gadget No face? *NO FACE!*

[@zarlsalamandersspacemarine302]

"Have you seen the yellow sighn?" Such a fraze sounds so benign. But this such fraze is so much more. To it shall open an eldritch door.

[@pifkingmail5584]

I can safely say even before reading that I will enjoy this. This channel is the best. Will be making some contributions when possible 👍

[@ImCarolB]

As a retired history teacher, I am "enjoying" the alternative view of the future.

[@antwan1357]

Beautiful narration , thank you very much.

[@giggetygoo9823]

Time is a flat circle

[@shivanivashi9053]

Is it just me, or does anyone else want to read the king in yellow (the book mentioned in the story not just the one written by Robert W. Chambers)?

[@HorrorBabble]

If only we could get our hands on a copy...! ;)

[@cha5]

@@HorrorBabble Sanity is so overrated. 😉

[@donaldmccleary9015]

Great story and series! Fantastic narration! Thanks!!

[@jorgehughes9685]

BRAVO! BRAVA! HORROR BABBLE is my spirit animal.

[@feralbluee]

Second listen. Knew the story, of course, and your reading was so good. i could hear his character in his voice from the start and noticed as it ascended to the final scene. so, knowing the story, i appreciated the reading so much more.🌷- and -spoiler - this time i realized the cat was ok, which cheered me up about the ending, which i obviously didn't "get" last time :) 🐈

[@listerjne]

omg hildred probably loves metal pipe falling on the ground

[@RAC00NFANGIRL]

Just found you.. you sir have voice that is beautiful!! I’m glad I look up book I wanted too listen too.

[@durere]

6:23 ''that fall from my horse four years before'' has a very melodic sound to it.

[@antoinedoinel153]

Thanks so much I love the channel

[@HorrorBabble]

And thank you very much for listening!

[@levprotter1231]

It is time to lose a lot of sleep in the coming weeks.

[@HorrorBabble]

I hope you enjoy this one Lev!

[@migueldemaria3830]

Marvelous story and marvelous narration.

[@absoluteCatastrophy]

have you seen the yellow sign? no seriously, has anyone seen it? i seem to have lost my copy.

[@hindleygj]

Thank you.

[@mcapprotti]

Wow, who did that super cool artwork you used for the cover photo? 😉

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks for identifying yourself Mike! Our friends over at Rue Morgue selected the thumbnails - I'll be sure to credit you in the video description immediately! (I'll provide a link too: capprotti.deviantart.com) Ian

[@theprinceelector745]

I love how he anticipated a war with Germany :) how nice

[@user-hu3iy9gz5j]

He arranged the world's future ;-)

[@LU-nc6oy]

This would make a great TV adaptation. Jeff B do this !

[@LU-nc6oy]

What I got a HEART from horror babble !!??!! Love your work y'all and all the love for you from Canada !! Thanks for putting me to bed for the past 3 years 😴

[@turtleanton6539]

FANTASTIC WRITTEN And awesome reading.

[@TheGreatCharlie123]

How he changes from british to american accent xD well done

[@TheHawkbam]

Very well done!

[@joearnold6881]

I always get a depressed chuckle out of the paragraphs of horrific bigotry, expelling Jewish and black people etc., followed by the line about how a conference of religions eliminated bigotry from these shores. It’s such a good story, even still.

[@fredrikgranstrom6743]

fantastic story mate.

[@Galahad_Du_Lac]

1000th upvote!

[@timfreckman5227]

Love your American accent! Another great video. Any chance you folks might consider doing "Carmilla"?

[@HorrorBabble]

Hi Tim, and many thanks! We will indeed tackle Carmilla eventually - thank you for the recommendation. FYI, I briefly worked on a screenplay based on the book, so I'd love to jump into it again. Ian

[@glass4breakfast]

What is Carmilla? Is that another Chamber's story about Carcosa, the Yellow King or Hastur? Or an A. Bierce story, cuz isn't he the one that originally came up with it?

[@timeaesnyx]

glass4breakfast en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmilla

[@timeaesnyx]

His American accent seems more diaphragmatic and nasal than typical.

[@thli8472]

I would do Carmilla but I don't think she's into me

[@mmafiemc]

I love the word lunatic

[@Nyan_cat_likes_to_eat]

Ooooh spooky😨😨😨

[@noahswanigan9350]

Lot of Roberts in years past... Robert Chambers, Robert Howard, Robert Bloch

[@BrianLancaster]

Who else is here because of True Detective, season 1?

[@micahfoley9572]

The Xanthous King? Who else thinks of that mushroom head constantly throughout parts of this story? It can't just be me...

[@AwakeAgainAtLast]

xanthous king is definitely a reference to this

[@mikeluss6213]

Hoping some tale foundry fans find this

[@1Hol1Tiger]

50 minutes in and I straight up do not understand what the hell is going on in this story or what the repairer of reputations has to do with anything or who the King In Yellow is

[@lordzaboem]

I just realized someone odd. One of the warships listed at the 42:00 is named the Osceola. That was the name of a Seminole war chief who waged war against the U.S. military in Florida. This story was published in 1895. I would nit have thought that a U.S. Navy warship at that time would be named after an enemy from merely a few decades earlier. I think Chambers might be trying to confuse us again.

[@anaphysik]

The capture-via-deception-under-a-flag-of-truce of Osceola galvanized a lot of public support/fame for him. He died a celebrity, and in the decades after there really were a few US naval ships named after him: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Osceola (including a couple that Chambers could've heard of). Interestingly, although Chambers couldn't have predicted it, there was even a USS Osceola in service (as an armed tug) during the approximate timeframe that The Repairer of Reputations is supposed to take place in (25 years in the then-future 1920s).

[@lordzaboem]

@@anaphysik I stand corrected.

[@anaphysik]

@@lordzaboem I only researched it because you questioned it -- thanks for helping me learn something new :)

[@anaphysik]

@@lordzaboem For some synchronicity weirdness, though: the USS Osceola that would've been in service at the time was previously (although still constructed post-1895) a commercial ship named the Winthrop -- sharing its name with the fictional US President that Hildred mentions in the Repairer of Reputations.

[@GreenTeaViewer]

It just shows you that we can make assumptions like "in 1895 it was eccentric speculation that white Americans would ever honor Native Americans" when in reality, at the time there was plenty of admiration for their recent foes.

[@MintRaven.0]

Ah, I love cosmic horror

[@anvilhammer9026]

Very lovecraftyian.

[@Astrithor]

No no no, my friend. Lovecraft is very Chambersian. This came before Lovecraft, you see.

[@statingbusiness]

Fantastic work. Can we get it in podcast format?

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you for listening! We don't produce a podcast, though the complete reading will eventually be available on Bandcamp and Audible. Ian

[@nightknight8556]

Anyone happen to know where I can find a complete volume of The King in Yellow with all ten stories?

[@HorrorBabble]

We have all 10 stories in audio here: kzbin.info/aero/PLeNNKRLWxwoPHWxhwPs0ZOLB-N9FfeYoR

[@Astrithor]

Horrorbabble has all of them in audio form, and I believe the whole work is public domain, so you can likely read it anywhere online.

[@henrycorpman2596]

Time stamps for me: 51:12

[@praisejeebus7544]

*Mack Wilda* there are like a dozen videos deleted from one of your playlists. Why?

[@HorrorBabble]

We relabelled some content / removed some duplicate videos.

[@MintyCow101]

aah perfect for sleep :3

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

A bizarre story. It reminds me of the works of E.T.A. Hoffmann.

[@MichaelRomeroDuran]

Hmmm confusing story line 🤔 i must be too crazy to think all these characters were nuts?

[@williambennett7935]

I wish the echo was not so loud; it's sometimes hard to hear...

[@HorrorBabble]

A fair point, William. We've been thinking about putting out a reworked version that's a little easier on the ears.

[@williambennett7935]

HorrorBabble I like the echo, it sets a good mood, I just had to rewind to listen more closely. I have enjoyed all your presentations so far, thank you

[@HorrorBabble]

@@williambennett7935 We liked to soak everything in reverb back in the early days...!

[@dixieflatline9772]

Steam Punk Futurama

[@twindrill2852]

Question: How did he die in the asylum? Did he kill himself, or did someone else do the deed?

[@Kirke182]

Wonderful! Have you done "The Prophet's Paradise"?

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you! Yes, it's part of the same playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLeNNKRLWxwoPHWxhwPs0ZOLB-N9FfeYoR

[@feralbluee]

this is a really weird story - Spoiler: *** it sounds rather like it was written by an 'insane' person. i'm listening, but not sure i really like it. the cat is part of the uncomfortable weirdness.

[@darrenHokage4842]

I feel like the intro would have been better without having the effects behind the voice. Her voice was ferry smooth and subtle, personally I feel the whispers and eco's took away from the atmosphere rather than add.

[@FrankAtanassow]

Is this the actor who did the VO for Darkest Dungeon?

[@HorrorBabble]

That would be the excellent Wayne June.

[@FrankAtanassow]

@@HorrorBabble And is this Wayne June?

[@HorrorBabble]

No. Most of the stuff here on HB is narrated by myself (Ian Gordon).

[@rumatadestora]

It's a masterpiece, for sure, but at the same time I find it oddly unfinished and incomplete. Lucky for us all, Lovecraft took on King in Yellow and developed him to his full potential

[@Ambivalence18]

Trixie Glimmer Smith anyone?

[@dixieflatline9772]

Chapter 2 is hilarious. It's like a Cum Town bit.

[@whatisthisaccountlol-c8s]

2:45

[@tricks177]

19:00

[@oliverroe9932]

13:58

[@risingofthethorn1197]

I'm not a fan of Lovecraft, but for some reason I love Chambers, what does that say about me? anyway, very good narration.

[@vengefall]

Rising Of the Thorn it doesn't say anything about you. Basing one's identity on desires and preferences is folly.

[@rubenzavala2084]

Chambers is a better writer, a more efficient writer with more talent. Lovecraft usually tried to use his most monotonous voice to narrate in order to seem as if his writings were coming from objective eyes. Chambers is more classic in his description.

[@micahfoley9572]

​@@rubenzavala2084 Lovecraft is more disciplined. That definitely does sometimes have the same impact as less efficiency. I can see it either way. Better...is kinda subjective with writers after a certain point. Talent is, of course, a personal taste thing. No one writes under the same sword. :) I like them both. Different snacks for different cravings. Have you read the dream cycle? It changed my impression H.P. a LOT. I honestly though of him as just a high-spec pulp novelist until i read those. They're...quite beautiful. In the classical sense. It's prose poetry as much as narrative fiction. More so at times. Flowing and fully flowered. It's difficult to compare it to something like The King in Yellow. It some ways it reminds me of religious texts. As if it's poetry is taunting me that only a thick fool would read it literally. 'XD To me it feels like he had the fun and easy yog-sothery/cthulu stuff that paid the rent and expressed his arcane nerd side, and dream cycle stuff that he did for himself, as if he wished to exorcize his own mind If that's a relatable way to put it. No idea if that's true, but it wouldn't't surprise me one bit.

[@necrophage5248]

Visiting again, It strikes me as a fun exclamation that the death chamber was placed in the public square on the 13 of May. Leaving the reader if well versed to speculate it was Friday the 13... Known so as the day the last TEMPLARS WERE HUNG AT THE GALLOWS, by the Catholic Church, or should I say the Pope's orders

[@thefisherking78]

The Pope at the time was basically a puppet of the French king tho

[@constantin3886]

38:00

[@janetsimpson2624]

54:00

[@janetsimpson2624]

1:03:00

[@FirCorred]

@Horrorbabble - may I make a nuisance of myself again? To shorten the forever a slight bit? Aldones, the Lord of Light (hello, George!) and father of Hastur, is a Spanish name, it appears to be spoken [al-DO-nés], the é like the 3rd one in "excellence". Do shut me up, please, if I get to annoying ☘

[@HorrorBabble]

We'll always be guilty of mispronunciations-our sources are varied and often subjective. Other times, we just make good old fashioned mistakes. That said, we're always looking forward to the next challenge!

[@FirCorred]

@@HorrorBabble you're very kind, but please, promise to tell me when it gets annoying! I've changed to the complete recording of "The King in Yellow" now, the things you can do with your voice are amazing! ♥️

[@stevem.o.1185]

This is basically WKUK's "We Live in Garbage" sketch

[@StarboyXL9]

Wait, so did Vance r__e Constance? Was that supposed to be how she was to be prevented from marrying?

[@lordzaboem]

Nah, just before the 1:04:00 mark, Castain says that signs his first death warrant. He sent Vance to murder her.

[@ryanpatrickwhite97]

☠️💀☠️👁👁👁

[@leoalex2344]

We need these "lethal chambers" now.

[@Astrithor]

We shouldn't be encouraging suicide, mate. We should be helping the people who think it sounds like a good option.

[@leoalex2344]

@@Astrithor The right to die is as basic as the right to live.

[@corbinbennett938]

Now owned by Disney

[@davidalvarez4736]

I hear a vocal filter lmfao

[@dianenefcy4719]

How does a new moon shine? It is blocked completely by the Earth, and reflects nothing from the sun. Is this part of the unreliable narrator? Interesting that sparks of light from water and mail are entrancing and spellbinding to the narrator's eye when from the sun, but not when from the "light" of this new moon.

[@Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmjahnee]

If I might make a suggestion/constructive criticism? Please try to find someone who can at least pronounce, if not speak four languages. To those of us who speak and or understand them, hearing them badly pronounced is as painful as reading bad writing.