"The Shining Pyramid" by Arthur Machen / Artifacts of Horror

Artifacts of Horror
Episode 4: The Shining Pyramid
Penned by Welsh writer, Arthur Machen, The Shining Pyramid tells of mysterious stones that begin to appear in unusual arrangements on the edge of a man's land...
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
00:58 - One: The Arrow-head Character
14:56 - Two: The Eyes on the Wall
26:36 - Three: The Search for the Bowl
31:56 - Four: The Secret of the Pyramid
39:56 - Five: The Little People
Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble
Music: "Red Limbo Spread" by Ian Gordon
Image used with the permission of mgkellermeyer (mgkellermeyer.deviantart.com)
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[@jamiecameron7615]

How spoilt we are with such a long tale, written by a master and read by one too!! Thank you very much!!

[@davidbailey5231]

Two stories by Arthur Machen in just a few days, what a treat! My thanks to you, Ian, I enjoyed this one immensely. No one writes of the darkness of faerie like Machen, and no one reads these tales like you. I felt as though I'd been transported to the English countryside of the 1890s. The Artifacts of Horror is fast becoming my favorite HorrorBabble series. I'm sure I'll be revisiting this one soon.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks again David! I figured I'd couple them together in the schedule, before we serve up massive doses of Lovecraft next week! Ian

[@chipbipple2593]

That feeling when you realize that H.P. Lovecraft was the kindest and most sane of the early horror writers...

[@lordzaboem]

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha

[@nonamethedude5051]

That’s a great joke

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

*glance at Horror In Red Hook*, excuse me what?

[@HorrorBabble]

Artifacts of Horror Episode 4: The Shining Pyramid Penned by Welsh writer, Arthur Machen, The Shining Pyramid tells of mysterious stones that begin to appear in unusual arrangements on the edge of a man's land... Chapters: 00:24 - Introduction 00:58 - One: The Arrow-head Character 14:56 - Two: The Eyes on the Wall 26:36 - Three: The Search for the Bowl 31:56 - Four: The Secret of the Pyramid 39:56 - Five: The Little People Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble Music: "Red Limbo Spread" by Ian Gordon Image used with the permission of mgkellermeyer (mgkellermeyer.deviantart.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

[@TorinMizenko]

Excellent! Would love to hear a narration of The Inmost Light as well!

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks Torin! It's on the list! :) Ian

[@stephensinclair3771]

From under the rocks, That hang black in the high places, From under the lonely hills, Those ones still linger. Those who fled before the fathers of our fathers fathers and before their fathers, They fled from the good iron swords held aloft for terrible strokes. Iron is their bane. They linger like shadows at twilight's end. Beware the the babies cry is not that of their changeling. Old West Highland poem.

[@prince-solomon]

I recommend for anyone interested to read "The Secret Commonwealth; of elves fauns and fairies" by Robert Kirk from the 17th century.

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

I thank you for your recommendation, and have bookmarked the title.

[@jamescam04]

Thank you for reading this :) I like the outdoors feel of his stories.

[@manfredarcane9130]

Would you be too annoyed if I offered a recommendation? It is kinda connected to this story, since the tale in question deals with "little people" and shows some Machen influence. "No-man's-land" by John Buchan. It is also more than a little reminiscent of REH's stories that deal with the same subject, in that it goes for a more "naturalistic" approach to "little people" (it draws on the same folklorist theories that were thought respectable back then, ie fairies = degenerated Picts). You like both REH and Machen, so you might like this one too. In any case, there's precious few of Buchan's weird and horror stories available in audio form, compared to his popular novels.

[@HorrorBabble]

Hi Manfred - please submit your request (including a link to the story) for our consideration here (helps us keep track): www.horrorbabble.com/contact Thank you! Ian

[@rayswoop4947]

Manfred Arcane yes YES!! I too have read Buchan, was that the story in The Watcher By The Threshold?? it's one of my favorites, and actually learned a lot of Scottish and of the Pictish people😀 Sir Thomas's rime was another great one from that book☺

[@robertwalker-smith2739]

Excellent dialect work between the two character's voices! It was easy to distinguish which one was speaking.

[@wayneralph945]

I've come back to this one a couple of times now. Really enjoyed it.

[@johnbryant8603]

You’re on fire amigo. I’ll catch this tonight with my most favorite reader. Thank you.

[@Esotericgemini]

Wholeness and balanced vibrations thanks for the upload

[@Esotericgemini]

Clyde Waite kzbin.info/www/bejne/jna8m2yAgdKAgKc

[@cypresswillow2591]

It's like, a dark version of Snow White meeting the dwarves.

[@nicholassudov2299]

Thank you so much. Beautiful written language and beautiful English pronouncing by the reader.

[@rayswoop4947]

one of my absolute favorites that involves the fey folklore😁😁😁

[@johnbryant8603]

Jesse Ard , 🙏🏽❤️ thanks for the encouragement 🎩🌙

[@rayswoop4947]

John Bryant thanks!!! I've noticed that you have the king of the wood story on ur channel, lol which is crazy cool cause not too long ago I've learned about Nemi! have you heard of how they supposedly named Hollywood after Nemi? as with the holi tree? I'd so love to visit that place😁

[@traceycrossman1295]

Such a great story, well read . Excellent.

[@michaelkottler]

Machen Machen Machen! (w/apologies to The Brady Bunch) Thanks HB for another fine adaptation of his works. Your The Great God Pan production is flawless and this narration is similarly superlative. Excellent as always, HorrorBabble.

[@MelancoliaI]

Now HERE is an author in need of a rediscovery. Machen was one of a kind. Excellent writer and a huge influence on the Great One, HP Lovecraft.

[@zenarcher_awats]

Gorgeous voice, and strange. I'm now in a trance. Arthur Machen really brings the turbulence of Gwent. Terror. Pity. Fantasy. Here's my Celtic twilight. We all owe him.

[@WarDogMadness]

There is a connect of a ancient Egyptian princess in buried in Ireland.

[@joshwhalen17]

For my money this is Machen's best work. Two lessons for any writer: Show, don't tell Brevity is the soul of wit (said some hack a long while ago) Still creeps me out to this day.

[@zachthewombat]

Loved the subtle camp fire pop in the background.

[@Tipi_Dan]

Great story. Great delivery.

[@donaldmccleary9015]

Awesome story and great narration! I really like the picture you have posted during this video. It is awesome!!

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

I love the subtle music.

[@jerryrichardson2799]

Thanks for this.

[@jamesb.8940]

Even the title is eerie :)

[@skinnybub5237]

I really liked this one I don’t know why it don’t have more views!?

[@GunterThePenguinHatesHugs]

Thumbnail is very Goblin Slayer, noice 👌

[@vali6717]

I do not know the length of the tale but I would like to suggest the story ‘Who Goes There?’ by John W. Campbell if you haven’t covered it previously. It was a piece of weird fiction penned in 1938 that I believe bears no need for introduction. While I am aware ‘Horror Meets Sci-Fi’ has concluded, I do believe it would be a remarkable fit for this channel.

[@HorrorBabble]

Hi Vali - this has been requested several times, but unfortunately it doesn't appear to be in the public domain. For future ref, please send any requests via the contact page on our website: www.horrorbabble.com/contact Thank you! Ian

[@vali6717]

That is truly unfortunate. I would have loved to hear it, but I suppose I should just go back and read it again myself.

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

Pity, it is a great fit for the channel

[@auail5594]

Eye of a Chinaman, on a house? Arthur Machen predicted the Chinese real-estate speculation!

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

Excellent story, but I've always thought it callous of Dyson not to have brought reinforcements or at least been armed since he suspected that the girl was involved in the mystery. He could have rescued her from the little people.

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

Dyson, actually *do* something about the primordial horrors around him? You mean actual agency, and a willingness to take risks for his fellow people? Perish the thought.

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

Seriously though, this is the exact problem with the Three Imposters, he never actually does anything.

[@nathanharper5670]

Did ye nay hear the man's reasoning, Duchess? After having spent a full fortnight amongst those Lilliputian and terrible beings from time immemorial, the poor lass' mind would be so far gone that death would be as a release from the ageless and damning evils she witnessed.

[@prince-solomon]

52:32 "the wretched girl" ... i understood, that he thought the (wretched) girl willingly went into the underworld and therefore needed no rescue.

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

@@prince-solomon That isn't what he meant. He was referring to her situation not her character.

[@Kojoanna]

I really like the white on black etchings used as screen art for some of your tales. They should be for sale👍

[@HorrorBabble]

We have Mr. Kellermeyer to thank for allowing us to use them: mgkellermeyer.deviantart.com/

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

They are modt excellent.

[@jakederanged7295]

Excellent

[@LyonsArcade]

This appears to have been written in 1923, which would be not too long after "The Hound of the Baskervilles", a Sherlock Holmes book (the best one?) that briefly touches on the suggestion of the supernatural, I think this book was heavily inspired by the Sherlock Holmes stuff, i'm not sure if any of Arthur Conan Doyle's other works had supernatural elements though.... Sherlock was almost always very straight laced and rational :)

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

Lot 137 I think it was called, there is one. I think I an narrated it, the Lovecraft protagonist is actually the villain and not-Watson is the hero.

[@maryhanley7017]

Good story

[@lindsayhilden7840]

Love it

[@lordzaboem]

This is a very interesting narrative. The protagonist is a detective acting in a very logical and procedural manner but mired in an illogical and supernatural scenario, like Sherlock Holmes vs Dracula. We don't ever learn much about our detective nor his sidekick (sort of like Carnackie the Ghost Finder in that way). This reads to me much like an episode from a series of adventures by these two British gentlemen. Did they appear in any other Machen stories?

[@HorrorBabble]

I'm not entirely sure Scott - I'll have to look into it. I do very much enjoy these 'supernatural detective' stories. Our upcoming John Silence readings should be a lot of fun: books.google.co.uk/books/about/John_Silence.html?id=vbdUswEACAAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y

[@revengefullobster4524]

This reading in particular, your voice reminded me very much of Hitchcock. Esp the intro. Or perhaps Richard O'Brien. ;)

[@HorrorBabble]

I love Mr O'Brien - I'll take it! Ian

[@tweakiepop]

Cheers H.Babs! 33:00

[@AnneAndersonFoxiepaws]

I liked this one even better than the White People and it was really good too. I think it's maybe because they both ring true to me because I come from a place surrounded by standing stones and weird midnight bonfires lol!

[@cb2291]

Reminds me of those stones in Clive Barker's Undying

[@PieterKleij]

You continue to keep up the good works ! Thanks for all the wonderful stories !

[@HorrorBabble]

Great to hear from you Pieter - and thank you!

[@PoffinFresh]

A drawing was made low on a wall in total darkness. I would have guessed someone kneeling with a lantern. This guy thought it must be a dwarf with night vision.

[@TheLoneSentinelMusic]

Cuando esté cuento fue escrito aún no existían las linternas...Ni si quiera Nikoka Tesla había llegado aun a comenzar con sus exposiciones. Pasarían años después de ser escrito este libro para que Thomas Edison inventase la bombilla, así que hablar de linternas en esta historia es como hablar de Smartphones en una película de los años 80...No tendría sentido.

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

I will always quote Director Krennic when it comes to Machen's stories, "We were this close to greatness." There is something in these stories, all they need is more developed characters, or no characters at all, in the vein of some Lovecraft stories.

[@jimjohhnston9992]

This there a print or poster of the illustration for this story available for purchase ?

[@HorrorBabble]

Hi Jim! I'd recommend you visit Mr. Kellermeyer's DeviantArt page: www.deviantart.com/mgkellermeyer Or, you should be able to contact him here: www.oldstyletales.com/contact

[@rowanmorrison7022]

Brilliant reading, loved the subtle accent change between characters and narrator. Background music was perfect too. The only criticism i'd have is just to go a fraction slower in places in the reading, other than that, really great, thanks for this, loved it.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks Rowan! I like to think that I've calmed down a bit over the last year or so. :) Ian

[@blakmajk3512]

🐐

[@winterhaydn5640]

Have you ever read Dr. Seuss's 'Cat in the Hat' to toddlers in that voice?

[@HorrorBabble]

I'm suffering from palpitations just thinking about it...

[@vali6717]

The concept of the story of the pair of pants that wonders on their own being read in that voice nearly doubled me over with laughter.

[@AcornElectron]

Hahaha, it’s literally exactly how I used to read just that story. And green eggs and ham. We looked and we saw him step in on the mat, We looked and we saw him the cat in the hat, And he said to us “why do you sit there like that?” “I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny, but we can have lots of good fun that is funny.”

[@stalinlovsciafbifakemsmzio6674]

No no noooooo Seuss is CANCELED - more HuWHITE supreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemaciezezez

[@robwalsh9843]

I thought faeries were........you know, nice....

[@justafallperson2108]

Not originally

[@Isaac-hm6ih]

NO... not nice. Not until quite recently. The term "Fair Folk" is supposed to flatter them so they won't be offended and take revenge, like the Greek Furies being called the "kindly ones". This is fairly in line with old fairie stories.

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

The Novel of the Black Seal by the very same Arthur Machen explains the logic and setting of these stories. Excellent spookiness, so much tedious narration beforehand however.