"The Space-Eaters" by Frank Belknap Long / A Cthulhu Mythos Story

Рет қаралды 95,251

Күн бұрын

"The Space-Eaters" is a short story by American writer, Frank Belknap Long. It first appeared in the July 1928 edition of Weird Tales. The story explores the concept of the 'ultimate horror', as viewed from the perspective of a short story writer, and his closest friend.
Chapters:
0:00:00 - Introduction
0:00:51 - Part 1
0:55:57 - Part 2
1:00:57 - Part 3
1:14:27 - Credits
Bandcamp link: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com/alb...
Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble
Music and production by Ian Gordon
Intro music 'Relentless Part One' by Glenn Alexander:
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Пікірлер: 156

@HorrorBabble 2 жыл бұрын

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)

@charlesReed239 2 жыл бұрын

Listened to this one a few years back while on night shift. One of my co-workers snuck up and scared the hell out of me. Great reading.

@doktorwyvern2883 6 жыл бұрын

When you low-key insert Lovecraft as a character...10/10 reading as always, hadn't heard this before.

@slacknhash 5 жыл бұрын

Low-key? That veil's so thin it's practically non-existent!

@Anthropomorphic 4 жыл бұрын

Seems like many of his friends did. He pops up in at least two of Bloch's stories.

@fredrikgranstrom6743 4 жыл бұрын

@@Anthropomorphic Cool and funny concept imo.,

@rumpleforeskin5698 3 жыл бұрын

I never knew this either, thought that was pretty cool.

@Xbalanque84 2 жыл бұрын

Not really that surprising. Lovecraft eventually collected a group of weird writers (Long, Bloch, Howard, Smith, etc.) who would freely collaborate and borrow elements from each other's stories. This ultimately laid out the skeleton for what would become the Cthulhu Mythos as we know it. And part of this involved them playfully inserting caricatures of each other into their stories (typically with gruesome results). Another example of this phenomenon can be seen with Lovecraft himself. In several stories, Lovecraft alludes to the Atlantean high priest, Klarkash-ton. This was actually a personal nickname he developed for his good friend, Clark Ashton Smith, during their many years of correspondence.

@robertwalker-smith2739 4 жыл бұрын

I remember reading this decades ago. The moment when the doctor sees. . . whatever he sees inside the poor victim's skull and exclaims that he's 'not a healer of devils!' stuck with me. The artistry of not showing the reader what the doctor saw was something I didn't realize until much later.

@JAZZHOBO 5 жыл бұрын

OMG remember reading this as a mere child, maby 1959, I loved these Fantisey and Science Fiction and Arkkham tales, even as a 9 Years old.

@Gunkwave 3 жыл бұрын

Bad

@rayswoop4947 6 жыл бұрын

please please more of these kinds of Eldritch madness 😁

@anthonygrizzel4168 6 жыл бұрын

I have literally waited decades to hear this brought to life...an excellent presentation!

@Falsh125 2 жыл бұрын

This one is of the best classic tales of horror of the time.

@frohickey 5 жыл бұрын

It's one of my fave stories in spite of its faults. The atmosphere is compelling and frightening. Also, Howard says "forsooth!"

@prettygoodactually 4 жыл бұрын

Hey I just wanted to say thanks for all the great stories. Your way of reading and the great novels have gotten me through some really hard times in my life. After a head injury it really means a lot to have access to such great books, as reading is now more difficult for me. IDK if you guys will read this but thanks for making this accessible.

@steve-ocreep7434 6 жыл бұрын

Her eyes are gonna light up when I show her this Ian! Thank you so much!!

@nethercords 4 жыл бұрын

my introduction to frank belknap long and i am utterly speechless

@melindalayden1693 5 жыл бұрын

I really liked this, but I laughed out loud every time dude screams, "THEY'RE EATING MY BRAIN!!!"

@GamingMediocrity 4 жыл бұрын

I thought that was really scary.

@Xbalanque84 Ай бұрын

Remember, these beings get a stronger foothold in our reality the more we try to assign a form to them, draw analogies about them, or understand them in any capacity. Very likely, they were doing something to their victims that conveyed both their motives and methods, as the victims' comprehension would simply let them dig deeper into their psyche/brain and accelerate the process. It would be utterly sadistic if said beings understood the concept (and dwelling on that question too much would probably only give them another way in). Further, *_that loud exposition was also planting the conceptual seeds necessary to spread his condition to everyone in earshot._* By crying out in horrifying recognition of what was happening to him, Henry Wells was widening the portal they were opening through his head. And that realization was probably half the pain.

@TheImmortalDivine 11 ай бұрын

This story has a very unique concept: that giving form and clarity to a horror makes it more dangerous. Most horror writers (including Lovecraft) follow the opposite principle, believing that explaining a lot about a thing takes something away from it, and rather use our most primal fear - the unknown - in their favor by keeping things murky. Here, Howard's character was targeted specifically because he gave the thing definite form through his articulation of it.

@beverlyamarantes9775 20 күн бұрын

Holy cow! That was a crazy story! I was biting my lip the whole time. I love this channel, Thank you Horrorbabble.

@chumaktv5386 Жыл бұрын

I’ve discovered this channel and binge watched lovecraft mythos series when I was in the hospital on morphine, it was an amazing experience, great stories and amazing narration! Especially the screaming

@michaelkottler Жыл бұрын

"It's my brain it wants!" Excellent again, Horrorbabble. You are the masters of adaptations classic and contemporary & good to your listeners in perpetuity, providing perfectly-produced narrations w/a special focus on HP Lovecraft's amazing mythos and this fine tale, "The Space Eaters", is no exception.

@blixten2928 3 жыл бұрын

Gorgeously read. Your voice, cadence and pacing - as always, perfect. THANK YOU.

@BlaqueCzar 3 жыл бұрын

I remember listening to this story before going to bed for almost two months straight. I had very poor internet where I was and had this one qued up and ready to go and would fall asleep from exhaustion despite listening intently. Its so well written and masterfully narrated. I came back to hear it one more time and its still my all time favorite.

@bobbymarcum772 Жыл бұрын

Am currently experiencing that phase of your life you described. It’s a great story to be stuck on.

@TorinMizenko 6 жыл бұрын

Excellent narration! I have an original Arkham House print of The Hounds of Tindalos - intriguing collection of stories indeed.

@confusedwolf7157 5 жыл бұрын

excellently horrific rendition of this classic. there are few narrators on KZfaq that can portray tales from this Mythos with such credible fear. Listen to this with a torch to hand!!

@laurelwells-georgia7124 6 жыл бұрын

I thought I would have to stop this and watch a kid TV show. Bravo!

@donaldmccleary9015 10 ай бұрын

Another fantastic story and narration. I like this one. Frank, Howard, and Wells! I like how Frank Belknap Long threaded the three into his stories. He has some great ones! Once again, some of the dialogue makes me laugh! 44:58 "A malicious trick, that. To deliberately drug me. Had I known that glass of water... You drug me and then asked me to walk? Frank, you're as unreasonable as an artist!" When I was a kid, Dr. Smith was the name of my doctor. Thanks again!

@frohickey 5 жыл бұрын

My fave moment in the story is when Dr. Smith says, "Uuuncleeannn!" You provided a good voice for him, BTW.

@joshsmiley4127 5 жыл бұрын

Wow, this was one of the best stories I've listened to in the last year. I thoroughly enjoyed the Willows maybe it's because I have this fascination of haunted forests and things of that nature and this novel delivered in Spades, thank you mr. Gordon for once again delivering an amazing performance.

@HorrorBabble 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks as always Josh!

@sterlingcampbell2116 3 жыл бұрын

Hey, Josh...I liked this one a lot and I LOVED the willows. Since you and I have similar tastes is there anything in particular you recommend that's similar?

@johnbryant8603 6 жыл бұрын

1. “...Lo, I should contrive a new language [to express myself], my dreams....” 2:45 to 4:00. Newtonian. Loving this, thanks. 2. Coupled with the relationship with the Trog, by inherent / genetic memories, are how anthros / mythologists are coupling literature. Edge of my seat, will require a few bites, so thank you 🙏🏽🌙🎩🌹 vis. Joseph Campbell, “Hero with....” these concepts, writes the author of this story, employs the same ideas in form, aspect and all the above. As a timeless piece. These anthropologists, are calling this genetic memory. It takes a real special kind of author wrap himself around both Greek and pregreko models. Thanks again 🎩✌🏽

@GamingMediocrity 5 жыл бұрын

I always come back to this one. So atmospheric, and so ambiguously terrifying.

@jamiecameron7615 6 жыл бұрын

I've never heard of this one. I'm so intrigued .That name alone has me excited, what a treat to unwind with after a long day. Thank you very much!!

@chrisu7022 3 жыл бұрын

I cant believe i havent listened to this before now. This was an amazing story and i love the voices youve done in it. I could feel the fear and everything else in it. Thank you

@patrickmcpherson97 5 жыл бұрын

A great reading of one of many of my favorite Cthulhu stories.

@justanotherdreamer.8669 5 жыл бұрын

So I had started listening to this reading yesterday night, but halfway through I decided to stop because oh boy did it terrify me. The way you narrate is beautifully haunting and I shall now attempt to listen to the second half. Wish me luck EDIT: Absolutly wonderfully read and Frank Belknap Long you did indeed managed to write a Horror Story like no other one. Magnificient.

@AlexanderGarcia-og9cr 5 жыл бұрын

@Eepah_Peepah 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this read. I was listening to this when I was traveling to Kansas. Scared me good! " MY BRAIN! THERE EATING MY BRAIN!"

@dave-ish8098 5 жыл бұрын

This story was damn good (narration was excellent as always). I'm glad to have stumbled across it.

@robertfliss2584 11 ай бұрын

Read this at fourteen…….. scared the SHIT out of me!

@TheProtronic 6 жыл бұрын

I saw a similar short story to this in an old anthology series called "Monsters." The episode centered around a scientist and his friend and the victim he studied was missing his brain entirely.

@rickmaurer8726 5 жыл бұрын

I believe it was Tales from the Darkside. Hole in the head was the give away. Only difference is the two protagonists are doctors and the action takes place entirely in the house.

@Melvinshermen 5 жыл бұрын

Robert Sanders is Adaptation that short story

@darkkrafter 2 жыл бұрын

Wow it has already been 3 years Still a amazing story especialy when its cold and foggy outside

@czcrossman 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I listened to this when Ian first published it, then it came up again this morning on my recommendations and I couldn’t be happier. 3 years apart and just as terrifying!

@rayswoop4947 6 жыл бұрын

your voice I just know would be AWESOME for Algernon Blackwood's H.S.H this is another great one for ur perfect narration Ian😁

@Esotericgemini 6 жыл бұрын

Wholeness and balanced vibrations thanks for the upload. Great performance

@semiengima Ай бұрын

As terrifying as this story was ,it was really really funny. Howard is such a rescue

@blackhillsbirder881 6 жыл бұрын

Fantastic work as always, Ian. I especially liked the echoing quality in the further-away voices on this one.

@merlapittman5034 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, he killed off Lovecraft! Long wrote some great stuff. I hadn't run across this story before. Thanks very much for this!

@greatpower6063 4 жыл бұрын

I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes i saw the sign. Life is demanding without understanding. I Saw the sign and it opened up my eyes, i saw the sign.

@auntiesocial1229 3 жыл бұрын

An utter joy. Thank you.

@otterrivers3765 5 жыл бұрын

Space is surprisingly high in carbs.

@otterrivers3765 2 жыл бұрын

Ha! I wrote that 2 years ago!? I have no memory of it.

@JamieJohnson-eh4pc 3 жыл бұрын

When you start thinking about the implications and realize you can't stop thinking about the implications... I was enjoying a bomb pop before the message hit and foolishly got a brain freeze at the reveal. For future listeners enjoyment really let your mind wander while you do for maximum thrill. As always thank you Ian, I'm going to resist illustrating this beastie.

@feralbluee 3 жыл бұрын

this was the best Cthulhu story i’ve ever heard. great reading. all the others i’ve heard go on snd on describing the “thing” without much action or story! thanks :) 🌷

@JonnOfMars 6 жыл бұрын

Been a long time since I read The Space Eaters, this was a great way to reacquaint myself with the story, thanks!

@andilucas6926 6 жыл бұрын

Woohoo! You made my day. I've always loved this story, even the ropy TV adaptation.

@HorrorBabble 6 жыл бұрын

I found out about that yesterday - I think I need to watch it!

@andilucas6926 6 жыл бұрын

There are some significant changes and the special effects are terrible, but it's certainly worth seeing. Btw, I have several rare paperbacks of Belknap Long's stories including the novella 'The Horror from the Hills', and could make some scans if needed for recording purposes. 'The Space Eaters' and 'The Hounds of Tindalos' are certainly the best and most Lovecraftian of the short stories, but his work is always highly imaginative and interesting.

@HorrorBabble 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the offer Andi - we have to be careful with FBL as not all of his works are in the public domain. Much appreciated, either way. Ian

@myster.ejones1306 6 жыл бұрын

Hi Ian, I hope you mean chronologically youngest, because although growing Old is Mandatory, Growing Up is Optional ! 😊

@skywyzeparanormal7934 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent story.

@Kinder-zr3zm 4 ай бұрын

:) love this story, thanks

@gregoryturner9530 2 жыл бұрын

One of the most entertaining entries in the yog-sathothary

@Boogie_the_cat 2 жыл бұрын

This is an amazing story. Please more Frank Belknap Long! Excellent narration and pronunciation as always. Howard, Frank, Smith, and Wells, hmm? Curious character names. Curiously familiar.

@thetyrantx5782 11 ай бұрын

I Think Henry Wells may actually be in refence to Henry H Wells aka Mayor Henry Wells of Brewster NY, as he mentions travelling from Brewster, but I'm doing more (admittedly difficult) research on this. There's scant information about him on the interenet. How did I come to this conclusion you ask? I grew in Brewster Ny, lived near Wells St, where the Well's House was and went to Henry H Wells Middle school, named after this Mayor I'm trying to find more info about

@milessumida6770 Жыл бұрын

Kinda ballsy to have character tell a story and then have "not" H. P. Lovecraft spend paragraphs talking about how he could never write something so scary.

@adamfox1669 4 жыл бұрын

Content excellence- thanks so much

@troynelson6740 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for reading, you did an excellent job!

@HorrorBabble 6 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you enjoyed it Troy - great suggestion, thanks again. Ian

@andrewward7265 6 жыл бұрын

I love how characters begin to adopt Lovecraft's literary voice as they are exposed to eldritch forces. As if an external, mondterous force is trying to impose a Lovecraft story onto the world

@jctrevi89 6 жыл бұрын

Story summed up: Narrator: "Stories of horror are all the same and I've become jaded to them. Now here's mine.."

@Makaan 6 жыл бұрын

The Trail of Cthulhu would be a great addition.

@HorrorBabble 6 жыл бұрын

Not in the public domain I'm afraid Makaan! Ian

@clfcchris1 4 жыл бұрын

Loved it awesome 😎

@strideknight Жыл бұрын

Well that was ridiculously creepy, thanks for the reading :)

@lucasshaw6934 2 жыл бұрын

I love this channel ❤💕♥

@fredrikgranstrom6743 4 жыл бұрын

fantastic

@jackalina91 3 жыл бұрын

♥️♥️♥️ Your stories.

@feralbluee 4 жыл бұрын

yikes!!! so totally ridiculous, but so real in the telling. just enough scariness. (if that’s a word :) great reading - thanks

@readdescriptionforanaughty3344 3 жыл бұрын

You're an incredible narrator!

@RolandWieffering1 6 жыл бұрын

Great story, thanks for reading it.

@RolandWieffering1 6 жыл бұрын

I see that you don't know me or my channel very well. As far as I know there has been only one channel from which downloaded stuff.

@barrywhite1872 6 жыл бұрын

Ian Gordon - You have saved my life, Thank You

@CountingHouse 6 жыл бұрын

Barry White how so, if you don't mind my asking.

@XelionGraves 3 жыл бұрын

I was thinking of listening to this exact story to sleep to before work tomorrow, and lo and behold it appears in my recommendations list again. Not sure if the KZfaq algorithm has made its way into my head, or if the Space Eaters themselves have found me >.>

@franktheexpertstrenchclub9025 6 жыл бұрын

I love that his writer homey here is clearly Frank BL's homey HP Lovecrizzle.

@sissyblackwidowspider7529 5 жыл бұрын

Great story I have read it is really good 👍🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🕷

@MitchRanMurray 4 жыл бұрын

Ive always loved how this is a whos who of horror all as friends

@notme9816 Жыл бұрын

My favourite FBL story.

@MC-zr6gc 3 жыл бұрын

Howard is the type of guy that insults everyone at the party and has the nerve to wonder why he just got punched in the face

@mikeminarich3896 4 жыл бұрын

Who remembers that 80's TV show called Monsters ?

@calviniscool 4 жыл бұрын

Holy cow that was amazing... What a master ofenglish... I wonder if Frank Belknap was really friends with Howard Lovecraft...

@robynmarler1951 Жыл бұрын

I've got a glass of water! Can I have an opiate???😂😂😂

@notme9816 Жыл бұрын

Me too, me too! Please good sir!

@MikeMinarich 4 ай бұрын

The 1991 episode of the series , Monsters , was called , the space eaters . Kind of cheap , but definitely entertaining. Loved that show as a young kid . Its very similar but much shorter and to the , slightly cringe , point.

@darkkrafter 5 жыл бұрын

i f falen in love with cosmical horror

@robynmarler1951 Жыл бұрын

I'm 8 minutes in and I feel like he's perfectly describing my restless leg syndrome😔

@grizzerker 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent Forget zombies demons ghosts and vampires This should be made into a Movie:-[)

@micahfoley9572 3 жыл бұрын

Gonna pretend that's HG welles with howie lovecraft. Loving this.

@Arkanoid1212 5 жыл бұрын

It is an excellent story ('

@Red13teen 5 жыл бұрын

Wow... is all i can sa

@danielcyprian8946 5 жыл бұрын

Damn good read

@FIONA21ful 6 жыл бұрын

😂. Wish we could add photos to the comments like on Facebook , because I am eating a bag of Space raiders (4 bags actually!! 😊) at this moment.... I'm a regular Space eater !!

@HorrorBabble 6 жыл бұрын

Best. Crisps. Ever.

@FIONA21ful 6 жыл бұрын

HorrorBabble Aren't they just...they are addictive!! 😁

@FIONA21ful 6 жыл бұрын

Just finished listening , I didn't remember the ending to this so I really enjoyed hearing it ,. . flawless wonderful reading as always Ian. Thank you .

@St1cKnGoJuGgAlO 4 жыл бұрын

Ah I've found you again my british friend.

@Thestephouse1 3 жыл бұрын

❤

@scottmitchell1974 Жыл бұрын

This one was a banger! Great! Maybe the "eater" was cancer: HPL's cancer.

@danieldavis6288 4 жыл бұрын

Lovecraft and Robert Howard meet their worst nightmares. too bad their characters aren't there to save them! LoL, very fun.

@jamescampbell39 4 жыл бұрын

I think that the anthology series either Tales From the Darkside or Monsters did a version of this tale

@thefisherking78 2 жыл бұрын

Oh god, not the brains 😬

@RandolphTheWhite1 Жыл бұрын

Taxi driver: "cold night isn't it sir" Me: "cold! It'll be cold indeed when THEY get in..." Taxi driver: 😳

@TheOneAndOnlyKurtNobrain 4 жыл бұрын

I wonder if this somehow influenced John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness.

@andy-the-gardener 5 жыл бұрын

what did the doctor find inside the mans skull. not fair. i wanna know !!!

@greatpower6063 4 жыл бұрын

it can't be described...I suppose.

@JoseLopez-qz6te Жыл бұрын

26:54 Wheeeeze 😭💀

@PhilNY15 2 жыл бұрын

It is too late. If we have listened to one word, one syllable, then they are already in our brains. We are done. Can't you hear the sound?

@Xbalanque84 6 жыл бұрын

Strange, the version in my edition of _Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos_ makes no mention of uncleanliness or the Mark of the Beast, among quite a few other inconsistencies. Is that an extended version or screenplay you're reading from?

@HorrorBabble 6 жыл бұрын

Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos was published in 1969 by Arkham House, which means it probably includes 'edited' versions of the original texts. This version was read directly from a scan of the original Weird Tales (July 1928) print.

@vero0992 6 жыл бұрын

I'm sitting alone with my headphones in and that knocking scared the heck out of me 😂 Edit: oops, that wasn't meant to be a reply. Sentiment still stands

@Xbalanque84 6 жыл бұрын

HorrorBabble Curious. They trimmed down quite a lot, it seems. Annoying, as The Space Eaters has always been one of my favorite Mythos tales (namely, the first story that springs to mind should I ever decide to make a dramatic reading debut). That said, much of the missing passages do strike me as redundant, superfluous, or out of character for Mythos lore in general, so I suppose I can understand somewhat. In any case, it looks like I'll need to find an unabridged version for my collection.

@davidbailey5231 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this, Ian, you made my evening. A truly horrific tale, one of the best I've heard on HorrorBabble, and that's saying a lot. Part way through, I remembered reading it as a child, but I believe your reading made more of an impression on me. Really fine tale and narration!