Omnibus: At the Mountains of Madness and Other Novels of Terror No. 1 (H.P. Lovecraft Omnibus)

by H.P. Lovecraft | Horror |
ISBN: 0586063226 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Phedredelauney of Leeds, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on 10/23/2007
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15 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Phedredelauney from Leeds, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Probably the only book that I wanted to cross that fitted the Halloween Horror theme for the York Meetup tonight.

I read several of the stories in this book including 'At the Mountains of Madness' and found them ok but they weren't as suspenseful as some of my favourite horror stories. I think they also suffered from the fact that i'm not a huge fan of short stories in general.

H P Lovecraft in general has received really good reviews and some of my friends really enjoy his stories so I hope that someone else picks this up and enjoys it.

Journal Entry 2 by Mai-day from Leeds, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, October 26, 2007
How long did you have to keep trying to register this before you got one that started 666? Very impressive!

Journal Entry 3 by wingshnedwardswing from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Picked up off the PIN bar shelves at the Leeds meetup.
"At the Mountains of Madness" is one of the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, so I'm making it one of my 1001 bookrings for 2009.

Mailing order (subject to change):

stubee + KT-J, UK
elissamay, US (NY)
rockyhorror1978, Canada (ON)
EmgeeNL, Netherlands
Danielle23, UK
perfect-circle, UK
Rach-489, UK
kingfan30, UK
mafarrimond, UK
bookowl1000, UK
shnedwards, UK <---here
Jozebedee, UK
Bookworm-lady, Spain



Journal Entry 4 by wingshnedwardswing from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, October 15, 2009
Finished the first story last night. I found it built up the tension quite nicely. There were moments of "No! Don't go in there!" but I found the academic-sounding prose quite dry. I suppose this was in keeping with the narrator's voice, but it made it difficult to concentrate at times, and sometimes I had difficulty visualising what he was describing. Plus he kept repeating certain words and phrases, which got irritating after a while.

Interesting though, and made me want to read more. But I'm sending this out on a bookring first. I'll read the other stories when it gets back. Will send this on to stubee and KT-J later today...

Journal Entry 5 by wingshnedwardswing from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, October 16, 2009
On its way to stubee and KT-J to start the bookring

Journal Entry 6 by stubee from Bury, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 21, 2009
It's arrived, thanks shnedwards. I'm just reading Vernon God Little at the moment but I'll read this next.

EDIT: 26th October 2009 - Started it this morning on the way to work but only managed to get through August Derleth's introduction.

EDIT: 4th November 2009: At the Mountains of Madness. I thought this was an interesting piece for the time. I studied Geology at college (a long, long time ago ) so I appreciated the beginning of the story but can imagine others will be put off by the detail. However I do feel Lovecraft kept the tension and suspense up quite well during Dyer’s re-telling of his and Danforth's journey, I won’t say I was scared by the story but I was definitely intrigued by it.

EDIT: 11th November 2009: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. I enjoyed this more than At The Mountains I suppose because I find the occult a more interesting subject. Lovercraft again drip feeds the information which keeps the reader in suspense throughout the tale, I however find it strange that Theodore Ward didn’t do anything earlier to prevent the events which took place.

EDIT: 13th November 2009: The Dream In the Witch-House and The Statement of Randolph Carter. I thought Dreams was quit interesting; I liked the image of Brown Jenkin I had in my head. The references to dream worlds and their physical manifestations on the real world is topic of real interest to me. The Statement is a good introduction to the character of Randolph Carter who appears in the remaining stories of this collection it's a nice brief statement of an interesting episode of Carter's life.

EDIT: 16th November 2009: The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. At first I found this difficult to get into primarily because there was no break points in the 123 pages. However I soon got into it, Randolph Carter explored through some marvellous places in this dream world from the enchanted forests across turbulent seas to high onyx mountains! These places were filled with many different creatures and races from differing cultures of which I especially liked the Cats. The fantasy world created by Lovecraft in this story is amazing and it reminded me in parts of Neil Gaiman, I suspect Gaiman took a lot of inspiration from Lovecraft. I enjoyed this novella and I look forward to reading the remaining two stories in this collection.

EDIT: 19th November 2009: The Silver Key & Through the Gates of the Silver Key. These are both interesting tales relating to protagonist Randolph Carter. Carter discovers a key to unlock the space time continuum and as a result is able to experience multiple dimensions. I found both very enjoyable with the exception of racist elements in Through the Gates.

I must say I’ve enjoyed reading this collection of Lovecraft tales and will seek out more of his tales. I’ve passed this on the KT-J to read now thanks Shnedwards for sharing once again.

Next: Banana Yoshimoto - Kitchen (1001 book)

Journal Entry 7 by KT-J on Thursday, November 19, 2009
Received from Stubee, thanks! I've got a few books ahead of this one (really don't know where they've all come from) but with some juggling around I'll hopefully get this one started shortly!

Journal Entry 8 by KT-J on Thursday, December 31, 2009
Well I have to admit I really struggled with reading this and only got through the first story (At the Mountains of Madness). I'm not sure if it was because I was reading the book only a few pages at a time but I found the story took a while to get into. I did enjoy the way the story built up to create suspense but I thought it took too long to get anywhere and as I'm not really a sci-fi fan I didn't get much out of the story.

Overall another one off the 1001 list so thanks shnedwards for sharing! We've got elissamay's address so will send this on next week.

Journal Entry 9 by stubee at Brooklyn, New York USA on Monday, January 11, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (1/11/2010 UTC) at Brooklyn, New York USA

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On it's way to elissamay! Enjoy.

Journal Entry 10 by elissamay from Brooklyn, New York USA on Sunday, January 24, 2010
Arrived safely from the UK yesterday. Thanks! I know I've read some of these stories before scattered about in other places, but I'm looking forward to a concentrated dose of Lovecraft. Or maybe it will drive me mad? WHO'S TO SAY!?

Journal Entry 11 by elissamay at Brooklyn, New York USA on Thursday, September 2, 2010

Released 13 yrs ago (9/1/2010 UTC) at Brooklyn, New York USA

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My EXTREME apologies for how long it took me to read this book... I have to admit that I picked it up and abandoned it several times since it arrived, but I needed to tackle this mountain of Lovecraft. The combination of the dense style, the extreme scenic detail, and the metaphysical aspects of these novellas kept me bogged down for months, only able to read a page or two at the time. I'm very glad that I read this.... and I think I'm pretty much done with Lovecraft for the foreseeable future. In the mail to Canada as of this morning.

Journal Entry 12 by rockyhorror1978 at on Wednesday, September 8, 2010
This book arrived today. I look forward to reading this after I have finished my current book. Thanks for passing this book along! :)

Journal Entry 13 by rockyhorror1978 at on Saturday, October 9, 2010
Wow, finally finished this omnibus of HP Lovecraft's novellas. I joined this bookray since this book included 'At the Mountain of Madness,' which is on the 1001 Books... List. It took me a while to get into the stories in this book. At times I found them a bit dry. Once I was able to get past the extreme descriptions of everything, I started to enjoy the stories more. Lovecraft is definitely a master of descriptive language. For example, the ample description of the caves and rooms in 'The Mountain of Madness' were more than enough for me to be able to imagine the images. It was occassionally difficult to get beyond the science jargon.

As an aside, it is interesting to note that Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) is rumoured to do the movie version of "At the Mountain of Madness." I am curious to see his interpretation
of the book and the descriptions. There is also very little dialogue in most of these stories and a large part of the book is descriptions of horrifying experiences and landscapes.

EmgeeNL has been asked to be skipped so I will be posting this book to Bookworm-Lady in Spain.

Journal Entry 14 by rockyhorror1978 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Saturday, November 27, 2010

Released 13 yrs ago (11/28/2010 UTC) at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom

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Being released to danielle23, the next reader in this bookray. I hope you enjoy this book! :)

"Anyway -- because we are readers, we don't have to wait for some communications executive to decide what we should think about next -- and how we should think about it. We can fill our heads with anything from aardvarks to zucchinis -- at any time of night or day."
— Kurt Vonnegut

Journal Entry 15 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Monday, December 13, 2010
The book has arrived safely today and I look forward to reading this one I do have several other rays before this but the holidays are coming so plenty of free time Thanks for sharing xx

Journal Entry 16 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Monday, December 27, 2010
I struggled a little with this book and found parts of it hard to get through. The discovery of the camp really had me on tenterhooks though and I would have appreciated a little more suspense throughout the rest of the story. I also wish I knew what Danforth saw in his mirage although maybe my imagination works best there.

Thanks so much for sharing and I'll get this posted to perfect-circle the next time I visit the post office xx

Journal Entry 17 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Saturday, January 8, 2011

Released 13 yrs ago (1/8/2011 UTC) at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom

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Of to perfect-circle, the next in line. Enjoy and all the best for 2011 xx

Journal Entry 18 by perfect-circle at Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Arrived safely this morning and straight to the top of the tbr pile.

Journal Entry 19 by perfect-circle at Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Friday, February 4, 2011
I actually read this a couple of weeks ago, but remembering to journal slipped my mind. I only read the title story and I found it a very slow burner but very intriguing.

Bookowl1000 has asked to be moved further down as she's not currently in the UK, so this went in the post to Rach-489 earlier today.

Journal Entry 20 by Rach-489 at Woking, Surrey United Kingdom on Monday, February 7, 2011
Looking forward to reading some horror on these gloomy England days! Thank you for sending this... I have one book in front but will get to it very soon.

Journal Entry 21 by kingfan30 at Corby Glen, Lincolnshire United Kingdom on Monday, March 21, 2011
Book has arrived safe and sound, I will get to it as soon as I can, thanks for sharing.

8 April 11 - on the back of the book it states that these are nightmare stories from the land of total fear, this made me glad it came to the top of the pile when my husband was home for a week (not keen on reading horror when he's away!). However apart from The Dreams in the Witch-House and The Statement of Randolph Carter which were slightly creepy, I did not find the others scary at all. I found the writhing style quite hard going and gave up on The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath. Just waiting to hear from the next person and I will get it in the post.

Journal Entry 22 by kingfan30 at Bourne, Lincolnshire United Kingdom on Monday, April 11, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (4/11/2011 UTC) at Bourne, Lincolnshire United Kingdom

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On its way to the next reader

Journal Entry 23 by mafarrimond at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Thursday, April 14, 2011
The book has arrived safely. Thank you.

Journal Entry 24 by mafarrimond at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
I enjoyed the first two stories but I must admit I found the The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath long and a little tedious. It took quite a bit of perserverence to get to the end!

Journal Entry 25 by mafarrimond at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (4/28/2011 UTC) at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom

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Posting on to bookowl1000. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 26 by bookowl1000 at Chepstow, Wales United Kingdom on Thursday, May 5, 2011
Got back from a couple of days away to find it waiting for me. Thanks for sending it my way.

Journal Entry 27 by bookowl1000 at Chepstow, Wales United Kingdom on Sunday, May 15, 2011
At The Mountains of Madness:
At the beginning of the story there was a lot of technical geological detail. I found it very in keeping with the characters because as scientists it is the way that they would describe what they were experiencing. As I have studied geology it did help me to picture the landscape, though I can see that for someone who had no idea what those terms meant, it would bog down the story. Once they discovered the 'city' I expected it to turn into a slasher fest, and was pleasantly surprised that it was more subtle than that. The weakest part of the plot for me was that I don't see how they could have learnt so much from wall pictures in such a short amount of time, also it was then like skimming through a whole novel in itself.

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
I found this one more hard going as the style of writing is so dense and descriptive that I found the story to be very slow paced at times.

I will be continuing on with the other stories.
This is not a style of writing that you can enjoy or appreciate by dipping in and out, thus need time to concentrate on it.

The Dreams in the Witch House
Somehow I got to the end of the story and did not know what it was about; I must have been going through the motion of reading without actually taking anything in.

The Statement of Randolph Carter
I enjoyed this short story. As it was so short it did not get sidetracked by too many descriptions. Great last words.

edited 23 May: still waiting for the address of the next person.

Journal Entry 28 by wingshnedwardswing at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, June 6, 2011
It's back! Thanks bookowl1000 for sending this on. I'll read the remaining stories and pass it on to another reader soonish.

Journal Entry 29 by wingshnedwardswing at bookray/bookring, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (8/2/2011 UTC) at bookray/bookring, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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I decided I couldn't be bothered to read the remaining stories in this collection. This is now on its way to Bookworm-lady in Spain.

Hope you enjoy it!

Journal Entry 30 by wingBookworm-ladywing at Madrid, Madrid Spain on Friday, August 12, 2011
Got it! Thanks a lot for sending it on, Shnedwards, looking forward to reading these stories!
Eva

Journal Entry 31 by wingBookworm-ladywing at Madrid, Madrid Spain on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Reserved for Cat207, for the WishList Tag Game.
I will read it first..

Journal Entry 32 by wingBookworm-ladywing at Madrid, Madrid Spain on Friday, August 3, 2012
Currently reading it.

Journal Entry 33 by wingBookworm-ladywing at Madrid, Madrid Spain on Monday, August 20, 2012
Well... not easy to read, extremely descriptive and almost no dialogues. I was quite disappointed, as I had been looking forward to reading this book, and then I found it quite cumbersome, sometimes I just "plodded" along...
The first novella, which gives title to the book, was particularly difficult for me, with page after page of description, sometimes hard for me to understand. I agree with Bookowl, it takes a stretch of our imagination to learn about how a civilization worked and evolved based on some broken down statues and ancient wall paintings.
"The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" was slightly better, though it could have benefited from some less pages too. The film "The Haunted Palace" (see pic) was loosely (very loosely) based on this, so I kept seeing Vincent Price as the main character.
Now, short stories are something else, I definitely loved them! "The Dreams in the Witch-House" is quite scary, in the best tradition of horror stories, and so is "The Statement of Randolph Carter".
Thanks for sharing this book with all of us, Shnedwards. It will soon be on its way to Cat207, as a tagged her with it in the WishList Tag.

Journal Entry 34 by wingBookworm-ladywing at Madrid, Madrid Spain on Monday, August 27, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (8/27/2012 UTC) at Madrid, Madrid Spain

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Sent today to Cat207, in Australia.
I tagged you with this book... and off it goes, with a "little extra someting" from Spain.
Enjoy! :)

Journal Entry 35 by cat207 at Gladstone, Queensland Australia on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Arrived in today's mail. Thank you Bookworm-lady. Love the fan. I'm sure I had one very similar when I was a child.

Journal Entry 36 by cat207 at Picture Perfect Hair in Wallsend, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, August 13, 2016

Released 7 yrs ago (8/12/2016 UTC) at Picture Perfect Hair in Wallsend, New South Wales Australia

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