エピソード

  • 68 - The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, Chapter 5: A Nightmare and a Cataclysm (Part 2).

    68 - The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, Chapter 5: A Nightmare and a Cataclysm (Part 2).
    2026/10/16
    68 - The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, Chapter 5: A Nightmare and a Cataclysm (Part 2).
    The Case of Charles Dexter Ward is a horror novella by American author H. P. Lovecraft, written between January and March 1927 and first published posthumously in serialized form in the May and July 1941 issues of Weird Tales. Set primarily in Lovecraft's hometown of Providence, Rhode Island, during the early 20th century, the narrative centers on Charles Dexter Ward, a young, affluent antiquarian whose fascination with 18th-century colonial history leads him to investigate his distant ancestor Joseph Curwen, a notorious figure accused of sorcery and necromancy in the 1760s. This obsession draws Ward into a web of occult secrets, blending historical research with supernatural dread, and culminates in events that endanger his family and sanity. At approximately 51,500 words, it stands as Lovecraft's only full-length novel, marking a departure from his typical short fiction toward a more expansive, detective-like structure.
    The story unfolds through the perspective of Dr. Marinus Willett, Ward's family physician, who recounts the young man's intellectual pursuits, behavioral changes, and eventual disappearance while sifting through historical documents, eyewitness accounts, and arcane discoveries. Lovecraft draws heavily on Providence's real colonial architecture, graveyards, and folklore—such as the historical persecution of Curwen, loosely based on an actual 18th-century figure—to ground the tale in atmospheric authenticity, emphasizing themes of genealogy, the perils of resurrecting the past, and humanity's vulnerability to cosmic forces beyond comprehension. Unlike many of Lovecraft's works featuring extraterrestrial entities, this novel focuses on human sorcery and alchemy, exploring how intellectual curiosity can unleash malevolent legacies.
    First appearing in an abridged version in Weird Tales, the complete text was published in book form in 1943 by Arkham House, cementing its place in Lovecraft's oeuvre as a pivotal exploration of historical horror. The novella has influenced subsequent weird fiction and adaptations, including audio dramas and comics, for its intricate plotting and vivid evocation of New England gothic elements.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/horror-stories-by-howard-phillips-lovecraft--7455588/support.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    35 分
  • 64 - The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, Chapter 3: A Search and an Evocation (Part 2).

    64 - The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, Chapter 3: A Search and an Evocation (Part 2).
    2026/10/16
    The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, Chapter 3: A Search and an Evocation (Part 2).
    The Case of Charles Dexter Ward is a horror novella by American author H. P. Lovecraft, written between January and March 1927 and first published posthumously in serialized form in the May and July 1941 issues of Weird Tales. Set primarily in Lovecraft's hometown of Providence, Rhode Island, during the early 20th century, the narrative centers on Charles Dexter Ward, a young, affluent antiquarian whose fascination with 18th-century colonial history leads him to investigate his distant ancestor Joseph Curwen, a notorious figure accused of sorcery and necromancy in the 1760s. This obsession draws Ward into a web of occult secrets, blending historical research with supernatural dread, and culminates in events that endanger his family and sanity. At approximately 51,500 words, it stands as Lovecraft's only full-length novel, marking a departure from his typical short fiction toward a more expansive, detective-like structure.
    The story unfolds through the perspective of Dr. Marinus Willett, Ward's family physician, who recounts the young man's intellectual pursuits, behavioral changes, and eventual disappearance while sifting through historical documents, eyewitness accounts, and arcane discoveries. Lovecraft draws heavily on Providence's real colonial architecture, graveyards, and folklore—such as the historical persecution of Curwen, loosely based on an actual 18th-century figure—to ground the tale in atmospheric authenticity, emphasizing themes of genealogy, the perils of resurrecting the past, and humanity's vulnerability to cosmic forces beyond comprehension. Unlike many of Lovecraft's works featuring extraterrestrial entities, this novel focuses on human sorcery and alchemy, exploring how intellectual curiosity can unleash malevolent legacies.
    First appearing in an abridged version in Weird Tales, the complete text was published in book form in 1943 by Arkham House, cementing its place in Lovecraft's oeuvre as a pivotal exploration of historical horror. The novella has influenced subsequent weird fiction and adaptations, including audio dramas and comics, for its intricate plotting and vivid evocation of New England gothic elements.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/horror-stories-by-howard-phillips-lovecraft--7455588/support.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    22 分
  • 55 - The Dunwich Horror, Parts 1 - 4.

    55 - The Dunwich Horror, Parts 1 - 4.
    2026/10/16
    The Dunwich Horror, Parts 1 - 4.
    The Dunwich Horror is a seminal cosmic horror short story written by American author H. P. Lovecraft in 1928 and first published in the April 1929 issue of the pulp magazine Weird Tales. Set in the isolated, decaying fictional town of Dunwich in rural Massachusetts, the narrative explores themes of forbidden knowledge, ancient occult rituals, and the intrusion of incomprehensible otherworldly entities into human existence.
    The story centers on the reclusive Whateley family, particularly the grandfather Old Whateley and his daughter Lavinia, whose unholy experiments with the Necronomicon—a fictional grimoire of eldritch lore—lead to the birth of Wilbur Whateley, a hybrid being who matures at an unnatural pace and exhibits grotesque, inhuman traits. Seeking to expand his occult pursuits, Wilbur attempts to steal a rare edition of the Necronomicon from the library of Miskatonic University in nearby Arkham, but he is killed by a guard dog during the attempt. This event unleashes the story's titular horror: an enormous, invisible, tentacled abomination sired by the cosmic entity Yog-Sothoth, which rampages through Dunwich, devouring livestock and humans alike before being exorcised by a trio of university scholars—Dr. Henry Armitage, Professor Rice, and Dr. Morgan—using incantations from the forbidden book.
    As a cornerstone of Lovecraft's shared fictional universe known as the Cthulhu Mythos, The Dunwich Horror exemplifies his philosophy of cosmicism, emphasizing humanity's insignificance in the face of vast, indifferent forces beyond rational comprehension. The tale's vivid depictions of rural degeneracy, supernatural mutation, and sensory dread—such as foul odors signaling otherworldly presence—have influenced generations of horror writers and filmmakers, cementing its status as one of Lovecraft's most iconic and adapted works, including in films, comics, and role-playing games.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/horror-stories-by-howard-phillips-lovecraft--7455588/support.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    40 分
  • 54 - The Call of Cthulhu. The Madness from the Sea.

    54 - The Call of Cthulhu. The Madness from the Sea.
    2026/10/16
    The Call of Cthulhu. The Madness from the Sea.
    The Call of Cthulhu is a seminal horror short story by American author H. P. Lovecraft, written during the summer of 1926 and first published in the February 1928 issue of Weird Tales magazine. Presented as a posthumous manuscript compiled by Francis Wayland Thurston from the papers of his deceased grand-uncle, Professor George Gammell Angell, the narrative unfolds through three interconnected sections detailing an investigation into disturbing dreams, a bizarre clay bas-relief, a suppressed cult ritual in Louisiana, and a harrowing maritime encounter with an impossible non-human city risen from the Pacific. The story introduces the cosmic entity Cthulhu—a vast, octopus-like being of extraterrestrial origin that lies dreaming in the sunken cyclopean metropolis of R'lyeh—along with the associated cult worshiping "Great Old Ones" who await the stars' realignment for their return, and it famously opens with a meditation on the fragility of human sanity in the face of incomprehensible truths.
    Lovecraft's tale exemplifies his philosophy of cosmicism, which posits humanity's ultimate insignificance within an indifferent and vast universe devoid of divine purpose or anthropocentric meaning. The fragmented, documentary-style structure—built from notes, interviews, newspaper clippings, police reports, and a sailor's account—creates a sense of authenticity while disorienting the reader through ambiguity, nonlinear revelations, and descriptions that resist full comprehension, mirroring the limited capacity of the human mind to process forbidden knowledge. This approach, combined with recurring motifs of madness, existential dread, and the psychological toll of glimpsing cosmic reality, has established the work as a cornerstone of the Cthulhu Mythos and a defining example of weird fiction.
    Although initially published in a pulp magazine with limited circulation and not immediately recognized as a sensation, the story gained enduring influence through later reprints in major collections and its role in shaping modern horror, popular culture, and the broader mythos that Lovecraft and his correspondents developed. The manuscript is preserved at Brown University, underscoring its scholarly value within Lovecraft's oeuvre.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/horror-stories-by-howard-phillips-lovecraft--7455588/support.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    33 分
  • 62 - The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, Chapter 2: An Antecedent and a Horror (Part 2).

    62 - The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, Chapter 2: An Antecedent and a Horror (Part 2).
    2026/10/16
    The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, Chapter 2: An Antecedent and a Horror (Part ).
    The Case of Charles Dexter Ward is a horror novella by American author H. P. Lovecraft, written between January and March 1927 and first published posthumously in serialized form in the May and July 1941 issues of Weird Tales. Set primarily in Lovecraft's hometown of Providence, Rhode Island, during the early 20th century, the narrative centers on Charles Dexter Ward, a young, affluent antiquarian whose fascination with 18th-century colonial history leads him to investigate his distant ancestor Joseph Curwen, a notorious figure accused of sorcery and necromancy in the 1760s. This obsession draws Ward into a web of occult secrets, blending historical research with supernatural dread, and culminates in events that endanger his family and sanity. At approximately 51,500 words, it stands as Lovecraft's only full-length novel, marking a departure from his typical short fiction toward a more expansive, detective-like structure.
    The story unfolds through the perspective of Dr. Marinus Willett, Ward's family physician, who recounts the young man's intellectual pursuits, behavioral changes, and eventual disappearance while sifting through historical documents, eyewitness accounts, and arcane discoveries. Lovecraft draws heavily on Providence's real colonial architecture, graveyards, and folklore—such as the historical persecution of Curwen, loosely based on an actual 18th-century figure—to ground the tale in atmospheric authenticity, emphasizing themes of genealogy, the perils of resurrecting the past, and humanity's vulnerability to cosmic forces beyond comprehension. Unlike many of Lovecraft's works featuring extraterrestrial entities, this novel focuses on human sorcery and alchemy, exploring how intellectual curiosity can unleash malevolent legacies.
    First appearing in an abridged version in Weird Tales, the complete text was published in book form in 1943 by Arkham House, cementing its place in Lovecraft's oeuvre as a pivotal exploration of historical horror. The novella has influenced subsequent weird fiction and adaptations, including audio dramas and comics, for its intricate plotting and vivid evocation of New England gothic elements.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/horror-stories-by-howard-phillips-lovecraft--7455588/support.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    17 分
  • 17 - The Temple by H. P. Lovecraft.

    17 - The Temple by H. P. Lovecraft.
    2026/10/13
    The Temple by H. P. Lovecraft.
    "The Temple" is a short story by American author H. P. Lovecraft, written in 1920 and first published in the September 1925 issue of the pulp magazine Weird Tales. The narrative is framed as the recovered logbook entries of Lieutenant-Commander Karl Heinrich, Graf von Altberg-Ehrenstein, captain of the Imperial German Navy submarine U-29 during World War I, detailing his commander's experiences after sinking an enemy vessel and discovering a peculiar ivory artifact from a deceased sailor. As the submarine becomes disabled and drifts uncontrollably southward into the North Atlantic, the crew grapples with escalating psychological disturbances, mutiny, and eerie marine phenomena, culminating in the commander's solitary confrontation with an ancient underwater ruin.
    The story unfolds through dated log entries spanning from June 18 to August 20, 1917, beginning at coordinates 45° 16' N, 28° 34' W and progressing to uncharted depths near 20° N latitude. Lovecraft employs a first-person perspective to immerse readers in the narrator's rational yet increasingly fractured mindset, highlighting the isolation of submarine warfare amid wartime nationalism and the intrusion of the inexplicable. Key events include the artifact's hypnotic influence, unnatural oceanic currents, and visions of submerged architecture suggestive of a lost civilization, all contributing to the crew's progressive demoralization and demise.
    Central to The Temple are Lovecraft's recurring motifs of cosmic horror, where human arrogance and scientific hubris yield to the indifferent vastness of the universe and the sea's hidden terrors. The narrative explores themes of obsession and madness, as the commander's initial disdain for superstition evolves into an irresistible compulsion toward the unknown, amplified by wartime trauma and sensory deprivation. Imagery of the ocean's depths and ancient monoliths evokes a sense of sublime dread, underscoring humanity's insignificance against primordial forces. Written shortly after World War I, the tale reflects Lovecraft's fascination with naval history and German militarism, though it transcends contemporary events to embody broader existential unease.
    As one of Lovecraft's early published works in Weird Tales, The Temple marks a pivotal entry in his oeuvre, bridging his pre-war tales of psychological unease with later mythos explorations of submerged horrors. Its epistolary structure, drawing from maritime logs, enhances verisimilitude and has influenced subsequent sea-based weird fiction. The story's emphasis on atmospheric tension over graphic violence exemplifies Lovecraft's style, prioritizing intellectual horror and the erosion of rationality.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/horror-stories-by-howard-phillips-lovecraft--7455588/support.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    38 分
  • 16 - The Other Gods by H. P. Lovecraft.

    16 - The Other Gods by H. P. Lovecraft.
    2026/10/13
    The Other Gods by H. P. Lovecraft.
    The Weird Fiction of Fantasy Fan Magazin by Various Authors.
    The Fantasy Fan was a fanzine edited by Charles D. Hornig that featured exclusive works by many seminal figures from the golden period of weird fiction including H. P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, R. H. Barlow, Robert Bloch and many others. This collection seeks to compile together all the fiction published by The Fantasy Fan during its two-year run, excluding Clark Ashton Smith whose Fantasy Fan works have previously been published in Fantasy Fan.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/horror-stories-by-howard-phillips-lovecraft--7455588/support.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    12 分
  • 15 - The Shunned House by H. P. Lovecraft.

    15 - The Shunned House by H. P. Lovecraft.
    2026/10/13
    The Shunned House by H. P. Lovecraft.
    "The Shunned House" is a horror novelette by American author H. P. Lovecraft, written in October 1924 and first published in the October 1937 issue of Weird Tales magazine.
    The story centers on a long-abandoned colonial house on Benefit Street in Providence, Rhode Island, whose unhealthy atmosphere and grim history of causing wasting illnesses, anemia-like conditions, mental deterioration, and premature deaths among occupants since the 1760s have earned it a local reputation as cursed or unlivable.
    The unnamed narrator, fascinated by the house since childhood due to its decaying exterior, foul-smelling cellar filled with grotesque phosphorescent fungi, and persistent rumors of unnatural misfortune, joins his uncle Dr. Elihu Whipple—a physician and antiquarian—in a thorough historical and scientific investigation of the property's past.
    Their research uncovers a pattern of tragedy beginning with the house's first inhabitants, the Harris family, and extending through successive tenants, with no healthy children ever born there and many residents succumbing to progressive physical and mental decline. The trail leads back to an earlier occupant, French Huguenot refugee Etienne Roulet, whose family was linked to disturbing occult associations and folklore reminiscent of vampirism or lycanthropy, including connections to historical figures accused of similar crimes. Rejecting purely superstitious interpretations, the protagonists develop a rational hypothesis positing an extradimensional entity or modified vital force that feeds on human life energy, manifesting through fungous growths and emanations that drain vitality from those nearby.
    This approach exemplifies Lovecraft's fusion of Gothic haunted-house conventions with emerging cosmic horror elements, treating the supernatural as a potentially explicable phenomenon rooted in unknown aspects of reality rather than traditional ghosts or demons. The tale draws direct inspiration from a real 18th-century house at 135 Benefit Street in Providence—where one of Lovecraft's aunts briefly lived—and from 19th-century New England vampire panics, in which communities exhumed bodies to combat tuberculosis attributed to the undead. As a transitional work in Lovecraft's career, "The Shunned House" bridges earlier influences from folklore and Edgar Allan Poe with his later Mythos framework of indifferent, otherworldly threats, and it is often noted for its vivid depictions of decay and its unusually hopeful resolution compared to much of his fiction.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/horror-stories-by-howard-phillips-lovecraft--7455588/support.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 時間 15 分