"The Shadow Out of Time" / Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos

Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos (10 of 14)
"The Shadow Out of Time" is a novella by American horror fiction writer H. P. Lovecraft. Written between November 1934 and February 1935, it was first published in the June 1936 issue of Astounding Stories.
Chapters:
0:00:00 - Introduction
0:00:44 - Part I
0:19:26 - Part II
0:37:36 - Part III
0:57:52 - Part IV
1:27:02 - Part V
1:44:48 - Part VI
2:08:16 - Part VII
2:24:40 - Part VIII
2:47:58 - Credits
Bandcamp link: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com/alb...
Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble
Music and production by Ian Gordon
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This is an ORIGINAL HorrorBabble Production.

[@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)

[@JoeyMulvaney]

9

[@ronmercer9052]

I find the idea that there canonically will still be a human empire of some sort in 5000AD to be a shocking ray of hope in Lovecraft’s universe, given the number of world-ending cosmic horrors around.

[@jlworrad8555]

That’s a really good point.

[@cmw7]

What a shallow, half baked opinion. Good try though I can hear your brain trying to work

[@13579zod]

@@cmw7Is there a point to your comment beyond showing how much of a twat you are? So you disagree, good for you. Have a cookie. There’s no need to be rude about it.

[@tishie42]

​@@cmw7who hurt you bro?

[@Boogie_the_cat]

​@@cmw7your lack of foresight astonishes me. That or your blind optimism. Do you not notice the escalating erosion of the natural world, or do you live in a bubble? You don't believe anything you don't want to believe, maybe? Also, very harsh response to a random stranger. Way to go, instantly jumping on someone you disagree with by an insult. Really classy of you.

[@dewayneweaver2744]

Leperous, gibenous, fungeloid Moon light. Got ta love the way ole Lovecraft unpacks his adjectives.

[@insignia9989]

Kind of wish it wasn't always the same words though. I mean I've probably only seen something I would describe as 'cyclopean' once in my life. But apparently, Lovecraft's characters can barely move for all of the cyclopean structures and bas reliefs they run into.

[@lucadreier22]

@@insignia9989 Lovecraft had brilliant concepts but he writes super pretentiously

[@HkFinn83]

Envay it’s not pretentious it’s style.

[@coltonloney302]

@@HkFinn83 its... pretty pretentious

[@thetowerofbabble6307]

Its style

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

Just a small thing, those typewriter sounds in the beginning. Never change it, its perfect for this channel. So soothing, and so immersion building.

[@MatthewCharmanadventures]

I always felt that Professor Dyer must have been some sort of glutton for punishment. He got chased around a ruined Old One city by an annoyed Shoggoth and then, knowing everything about Peasley's story, he's like "ruined alien city in the middle of nowhere? Yeah cool, what could go wrong?" Also excellent reading!

[@ryleeguy2763]

“Surly it couldn’t happen a second time”

[@galinatabikhanova6034]

Could you tell me wich story is that? I'd love to read it

[@Xbalanque84]

​@@galinatabikhanova6034 _At the Mountains of Madness._

[@galinatabikhanova6034]

@@Xbalanque84 thank you :)

[@robwalsh9843]

Lovecraft really had a knack for the recurring theme of ancient ruins made by non-human civilizations that are largely dead and abandoned, yet something still remains. Whether its the Nameless City in the Middle East, the Elder Things capital in Antarctica, or the underground Yith archives in Australia, you can practically feel like you're there just by reading. Cosmic horror-meets-haunted house atmosphere.

[@thewal1ofsleep]

Possibly the most horrifying final pages of any Lovecraft story. What a masterpiece.

[@brandonpostow6029]

I always come back to this one. One of my favorites. I just think it’s so haunting and horrifying. A creeping horror. And am I the only one who thinks this would make an amazing movie?!

[@poolsofbloodinyourstomach]

Yes

[@ThePunisher-si8ex]

@@poolsofbloodinyourstomach tell yo mama ill be over later josh

[@futurecat]

This and Mountains of Madness are the ones I've read the most. ~50 times+

[@force10guy26]

@@futurecat The Mountains of Madness would be a good movie.

[@joshuacarpenter5997]

A lot of his stories would make good movies in theory, it’s just most in execution aren’t very good

[@12201185234]

The best thing about Lovecraft's aliens is that they are all so very... Well... Alien.

[@kyle857]

Vegetable squid usually

[@PlayNiceFolks]

Cheating is lame

[@Joe_Potts]

Such great listening while lying in bed at the dim hours of night. A month of listening to Ian's expert readings and only one slight nightmare. I shall keep listening, at least untill I access the abyssal depths of R'lyeh.

[@Joe_Potts]

On to "The Mound" Muahahaha

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks Joe - 'only one slight nightmare'... sounds ominous! Ian

[@adamwelch4336]

Wrong story you're only going to have dreams of your Yith life!

[@robertwhittick6427]

I keep falling a sleep and then having to find where I remember until the next day ahaha

[@billy6044]

Do it during the day. I have way more vivid dreams if I sleep during the day when I’m not really tired.

[@turboretard9555]

This has to be my favorite Lovecraft story... The mystery, the totally original premise, the sense of the vastness of time, the ultra detailed weird lore, the vivid imagery, the full-circle ending, this is one I get lost in. Yith/10

[@hudsontoo1212]

Seriously though. The guys talking about quantum mechanics (and like getting it) in the freaking 30’s? That’s nuts. And, it like totally plays into the dimensions and themes in his stories. He was a mad genius!

[@stephenhensley5631]

Me too and I loved all the Randolf Carter stories . Herbert West re-animator is another. The hideous moon beast and the Shoggoths. The Ghasts and the ghouls who lived below the streets and cliffs and the dholes who squirmed under the bones.

[@Eightbollz]

​@@hudsontoo1212 Quantum mechanics was developed in the middle of the 1920's so it's not so surpring in hindsight. When this book was was published the majority of people didn't about it[quantum mechanics] so must have been quite an out of this world experience to read it.

[@wildmanz8233]

Great story and awesome reading. I love how this story can be horrifying without any overt hostility, gore or violence.

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

The shadow out of time ... well that's me at 5 in the morning missing the bus to work innit ...

[@SuperChoronzon]

Ye be walkin' the plank ye scurvy-swab !!!

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

@@SuperChoronzon Nay, deckhand - methinks ye'll be kissing the gunners daughter afore two bells.

[@SuperChoronzon]

@@whynottalklikeapirat ahar, that I be Capt'n, but nay a word to tha gunner if ya be so kind, or he'll 'ave me spleen fer breakfast... lol, thx dude... cheered me up that has :o)

[@unlimitedchanworks7769]

Been there my dude

[@spaceytracey1237]

@@SuperChoronzon the pair of you have just done the same thing for me lol..cheers

[@FirCorred]

40 min into the story, sunset through the window, my cat watching from the sill... perfect.

[@ThePinnacleSFA]

what's your cat's name??

[@CatEnthusiast-gr3cv]

Got em.

[@strangetimez]

Ian, i really love how your voice sounds so ancient it suits the stories perfectly.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks, Rena!

[@misterwakeupcall]

I wholeheartedly agree, it's so much better than listening to a senseless robot

[@Bassist-Beneath]

Thank you so much for introducing me to this story Ian, it instantly became my favorite of Lovecraft's work. His concept of mind-switching throughout time and space is absolutely brilliant, I can't imagine what people thought of it in his time lol.

[@futurecat]

Big influence on Tim Powers, whose stories often have mind switching. There are scenes in Powers' Anubis Gates clearly inspired by the nightmare pits in Charles Dexter Ward.

[@mjpowell6614]

The only man with the voice to soothe out all those mental aches pains n sorrows..have fallen to sleep many anight listening to him ... enjoyed all read so far and thats most on this channel .....

[@colefranklin27]

If only Ian could narrate my day-to-day life...

[@SeattleMarc]

Would he take a lot of inappropriate pauses and say every sentence in the same sing-song intonation?

[@callumleask9186]

Please don't go losing your mind though, however it does make a great story lol

[@rosem8581]

Ian, with his lovely, refined voice: "this weird b*tch is st*ned again"

[@Cp2020_animations]

@@rosem8581 "she walked to the refrigerator, as she had done many times before, on her late night escapades that would sometimes bring her deep into the waning hours of the morning . But as she opened the refrigerator door, her eyes were met with such horror, the likes of which she had never known. A sight too horrifying and unexplainable to understand!"

[@imnotsupposedtobehere2692]

Arlem Ferrisgun THE PICKLE JAR WAS GONE, AND IN ITS SINGULAR SPACR OF OCCUPATION, WAS A CAN OF SPAM.

[@adrianw.8410]

I was wondering why my dreams have been weird lately, then I remember I’ve been listening to the Cthulu mythos as I fall asleep every night. Guess that explains it

[@estebanlara3702]

Dreams of ancient cities in Antarctica and impossible horrors?

[@adrianw.8410]

@@estebanlara3702 Pretty much, but with an added sense of existential horror

[@oopsallbecki]

Everyone in the comments is here so pleased with the video & i just woke up with this playing from KZbin's autoplay 🤷🏻

[@heheheiamasuperstarcatgirl8485]

SAME

[@danmorris5498]

Same

[@whitewolf2868]

Finally a narrator that does great justice to great work. Your voice adds much resonance and depth. Thank you.

[@matthewweng8483]

Can you imagine someone reading his ah*t back in 1930... They must’ve thought he was batshit crazy 😝 It’d be like reading ‘Naked Lunch’ to Queen Victoria... good times.

[@darkkrafter]

the low sound of sliping rock,s made my hairs stand up on end

[@CSPace-km8ms]

One of my favorite, if not absolute favorite, Lovecraft tales. Excellent reading, Ian. Thank you.

[@daveshrum1749]

This is just pure Bliss. Thank you very much! 👍😎

[@jamiecameron7615]

Brilliant, I'm so happy you did this one. Flawless narration as always. Thank you very much!

[@DenWell-SeedsOfChaos]

Thank you for your incredible storytelling skill, talent and ability. You bring H.P. Lovecraft's work and vision to life for me and I appreciate it so very much.

[@HorrorBabble]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@ozymandias1758]

Perfect voice for this. The intonation and cadence of an academic. Comparable to Richard Burtons narration in Jeff Waynes WAR OF THE WORLDS.

[@dogshark9]

Very well read. You have a great sense of drama & conjure up the creeping horrors without overdoing it. Thanks!

[@banjarqueenee]

Ian, you're the best! I only listen to Lovecraft read by you. Thank you. Peace, Love and Good Vibrations, BanjoQueen

[@Kinekaomi]

This is hands down my fave Lovecraft story. Read it years ago in just the right mood and it got me.

[@stephenhensley5631]

I also loved the Randolf Carter stories with the Ghouls who lived below the streets. And Herbert west Re-Animator.

[@avrahamishshalom1799]

Thank you so much! One of my very favourite Lovecraft stories and excellently read, as always.

[@a.j.manning5313]

🌻 😉 I guess I "TRULY", cannot express how much these stories nd ur voice has HELPED ME, too rest again.....!!!! THANX soooo.... Very,Very much..!! 😴 💞 😘 💋 😇 xoxoxo

[@Bassist-Beneath]

Weird ass

[@donaldmccleary9015]

Great story and narration! I forgot Dyer was in this! Awesome! I love how he describes various races and beings in this story. I find myself rewinding and listening to segments again and again! This is almost like an encyclopedia of some things mentioned in Lovecraft's other stories. Thank you so much for recording this.

[@calebpincente5304]

You’re channel is amazing please keep making these they get me through work

[@GoatBeach]

Listened to this with my granddaughter; "Granpa, is this true?"

[@bobbymarcum772]

Ah, hah, ha!!! So cute,and in the future years, Weird.

[@nikolamilinovic1230]

😂😂😂 Great feeling must it be

[@GoatBeach]

@@nikolamilinovic1230 at 12 years old, all i can say is, "Paighton, it very well could be"

[@nikolamilinovic1230]

@@GoatBeach God bless her. I consider a crime to destroy child's imagination. I enjoyed every moment of my unrealistic thoughts and voyages😊

[@Eris123451]

Yes dear, every single word of it.

[@Draekor1]

Sensational work once again Ian, can't encourage you enough to keep on going!

[@sarahthesarah2850]

These readings are such a long lasting and valuable experience and gift. Thank you for making these. I experience amazing lucid dreams falling asleep listening to these.

[@ianv.1470]

You guys are the best. Please never stop!

[@CallumRickard]

I'm listening to all the Horror Babble Lovecraft audiobooks, to accompany me as I work though my Barnes & Noble "Complete Cthulhu Mytho" book. This is absolutely one of my favorites so far. It captures the "essence" of what I feel Lovecraft is about. It's among the most Lovecraftian Lovecrafts 😂✌🏻️ 🐙🐙🐙 Thanks for recording these! Such a joy to listen to :)

[@maledikt]

Ahh, my favourite cosmic librarians/historians.

[@joedredd1168]

Love the connection there with Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age with Crom-Ya in the story.

[@christinamyway5438]

have been loving every singlereading!!! thanx tons great GREAT channel.

[@robynmarler3839]

Truly awesome. I didn't want it to end.

[@joshamac10]

You sir are a savour as someone with dyslexia reading lovecraft is nigh impossible, you have allowed me access (for better or for worse) to this expensive cosmic horror

[@joshamac10]

I know he hearts most of these but it still made me giddy

[@SchleimKeim77]

@@joshamac10 I imagine that reading positive comments like yours makes him giddy too.

[@peetey897]

These recordings are just so fantastic. I’ve been working my way through the mythos in quarantine and it seems so perfect. All other recordings seem disappointing in comparison to these!

[@journeyofjmfan1401]

A classic. Thanks y’all

[@michaelkottler]

A wonderful adaptation of an epic and often revisited Lovecraft tale w/a memorably disturbing finale. Thank you for the effort and care that clearly went into this superior production. Excellent again, HorrorBabble.

[@The.Crawling.Chaos.]

This is one of my favorite HPL stories. and this version is amazing. Thank you :)

[@cyndytower1263]

I think Lovecraft had an incredible imagination. Amazingly his works are still popular today. He must have been a wonderful conversationalist at parties. I find I would have been one of those gathered around to catch every word he spoke. There are a couple of his works that have been so insightful to the race of men and their musings, fears and fantasies. All in all he is not to be dismissed. God bless you all.

[@jgr7487]

"... before the utter end" is the most terrifying line of this story. not even the Great Race can escape the End.

[@bfm1q2w]

Perhaps one of my favorite tales of all time!

[@glass4breakfast]

So glad u guys did this! I'm reading along in my big hardback cover of HPL's mythos collections. It's the last story i have left by him!!! So exciting yet final n sad...i wish her lived longer n there were more! Although i do still have the colab stories he wrote with others! Neway thank u! My experience of this story is greatly enhanced by reading along to your narrating!

[@realcygnus]

Priceless content here ! This is one of my favorite Lovecraft stories, so far anyway, as I doubt I'm even familiar with more than half of his works. All quite well read too imo. Thanks for posting. 👍

[@LastNihlist]

Love your lovecraft/cthulu reads.

[@ShojoBakunyu]

I had a 14 hour day today and I've been binging these videos! They've turned a dull and tedious day into a joy!

[@anthonyeder8360]

I enjoy this channel with great enthusiasm. I have mentioned it to several colleagues with high enthusiasm. It has been noted that my linguistics have reached a higher degree of eloquence and sophistication. I merit the content and narration of this channel for such a sumptuous promotion in dialogue.

[@Bassist-Beneath]

Stop

[@akilanderson]

Dope!! You guys never miss. Narration so good, I hear Ian's voice in my head as I read things. Well done!

[@Lillian2167]

One of my favourite of Lovecraft's stories. Thank you for reading it so wonderfully. :3

[@jasoncookman3158]

SOOOO GOOOD. MUCH APPRECIATED

[@bittybitty8233]

2.48 HRS ?? THANK YOU SOOO MUCH...Is was wondering if I was gonna find anything decent tonight , 1st G.M. DANIELSON , NOW YOU !! IT JUST DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER ..!!!!! 💕

[@deesneezy]

What a lovely, early birthday present! Thank Ian!

[@HorrorBabble]

Happy belated birthday to you! Ian

[@deesneezy]

HorrorBabble it's actually today! Thank you very much!

[@johnbryant8603]

Brilliant piece. Time trave, intuition and paradox. Thank you so much 🙏🏽🔝🎩

[@HorrorBabble]

I'm glad you enjoyed this one John! Ian

[@misterwakeupcall]

Ahh, what a relief to hear a real man narrate this story, instead of a fork-in robot. Thank you

[@snippycutwell9878]

Enjoyed as always

[@zaphhood4745]

Maximum love, subbed.

[@darrenhenley2258]

This one is definitely a gem among his work! Excellent addition to your own narration work! Thanks Ian!

[@gda295]

desk with pens and ink...somethings never change

[@dainaleeperreault855]

Love love love this so much.

[@codelicious6590]

One of my top three Lovecraft faves- so evocative and atmospheric.

[@onlyonewhyphy]

Another gem

[@sithyq3480]

This is one of my favorites.

[@Elivous91]

Man thank you for this recording

[@jamesstanislaw1803]

This was as much scifi as horror. A masrerpiece

[@miserableoutcast]

Great reading as always! Love listening to these before falling asleep. I have a suggestion for you guys ; Clive Barker's Books of Blood. Would definitely love to hear those stories read by Ian

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you! I think you just missed our recent limited reading of The Midnight Meat Train? We'll be discussing options with Clive again in the near future, so do watch this space! Ian

[@miserableoutcast]

HorrorBabble Oh that's awesome, one of my favorite stories by him! That one slipped under my radar, I'll be sure to listen to it! I'll definitely keep an eye out, thanks Ian!

[@SoLDMG]

My favorite Lovecraft story!

[@pook2781]

In my opinion Call of Cthulhu is better.

[@adamwelch4336]

It's one of the few creatures that aren't completely evil!

[@rhondadills8275]

Thank you!

[@owenshebbeare2999]

Easily one of Lovecraft's best. Wish there had been more like this.

[@TurinInquisitor]

Thank you! Great quality reading and one of my favourite Lovecraft stories. Probably because it explaines a lot how his monsters work.

[@jacksonquinn6008]

Thankyou for your work sir

[@jozf8163]

You just got me through 3 hours of art homework - thank you so very much!!!

[@revengefullobster4524]

So glad I came across you. Another great reading. As I stare at the cyclopean walls of my cubicle, I can only ponder alternate realities, thinking... nay dreaming, that there may be nothing better than the madness that is Lovecraft to get me though the impenetrable blackness of the abysmal chasm that is the horror of the work day. (as read by you). Thanks!

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you for listening! This is one of my favourites. :) Ian

[@ldwright5752]

Bravo!!

[@mikereilly7629]

It's a shame that so many writers today lack the eloquence of language of the old authors.Because of the density of vague adjectives,and the little known scientific theories of the time make it difficult to both pronounce the words and appropriate vocal inflections. I grew up with these,and the gothic horrors,and fate magazine. I enjoy the grammar, still.Well read.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks, Mike.

[@javedsultan4830]

yes and a lot of eloquent explicit racism also..

[@ProjectFlashlight612]

The final masterpiece

[@OxbowisaMstie]

This is the first Lovecraft story I read all those years ago that ushered in my love for cosmic horror and Lovecraft. You read it so well. Thanks, HorrorBabble, rest assured I really enjoyed it. :D

[@stephenhensley5631]

Make this into a movie !

[@cyclpiancitydweller9517]

Saw this in my recommendations. Thanks KZbin algorithm.

[@MrsCaranAmy]

Wow! I finally finished it . The story was a super fantastic epic and was super narrated by you, Ian. Thanks so much.

[@HorrorBabble]

Excellent! I'm glad you enjoyed it, Amy.

[@karehhartig7287]

Ian , you are a helluva gifted man ! I enjoy you channel liberally, lol!

[@PritchDringle]

I'm only 10 minutes in but this is fabulous. Thank you!

[@PritchDringle]

Hey. It's you in the future. I just wanted to let you know that you've got thousands of miles of walking and running ahead of you but when you turn 40 you'll be in better shape than ever. Oh yeah, but next year is going to be very difficult and life-changing. Sorry.

[@rodellenger1829]

Great rendition my friend, lovely tone's and Tomé's

[@ProjectFlashlight612]

Superb

[@Luisthewise99]

Great reading, y our voice matches perfectly with lovecrafts writing style, even though it's an American in the stoey, I think the British tone works better for immersion, Good show!

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you Luis! Ian

[@ZnenTitan]

The New England accent still has a great deal of it's British roots in it'

[@Pommy1957]

I'm English and find this bloke's voice so monotone.

[@leejerrett8268]

@@Pommy1957It’s an audiobook, not a radio-play.

[@gregchaney2004]

Thank you

[@swamplight79]

Ive just discovered your excellent work. In my humble opinion- the quality of your reading of H.P. Lovecraft is on the level of Alexander Scourby's reading of the King James Bible. I am truly grateful for access to talented work like yours. Thank you.

[@glass4breakfast]

Wtf...odd. Your a Christian who enjoys Lovecraft? That's rare n surprising. No matter how good the reader i will most likely never waste time with that awful atrocious "book" ever again. Holy & written by god my ass. Lol Still...what are your other interests? I can't even guess.

[@an1l381]

Thank you as always, these have been such a treat for me and you do it in such professional manner, too. I know Lovecraft tends to leave things vague but this is the only one so far whose ending is a blank for me. I didn't understand how he made it out at all.

[@danbreeden1801]

Great time travel story by the master of providence

[@clownclown5843]

Everyone's talking about Cthulhu, the stars being right, Azathoth waking up... I just want to mind switch for yog sothoth's sake

[@earthcat]

"I tried to view the mattress as philosophical as I could..." Been there and done that.

[@msue62]

This is my favourite!

[@danielmeredith4222]

This is my second time listening to this wonderful and slightly scary but more interesting i really love how all the stories start connecting after a time. Your voice paints each and every scene to perfection. Ive even learned to read better thanks to you. Your fan Daniel Meredith

[@MatthewsPersonal]

great work as always!