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H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Omnibus Collection, Volume I: 1917-1926 cover art

H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Omnibus Collection, Volume I: 1917-1926

By: H. P. Lovecraft, Finn J.D. John
Narrated by: Finn J.D. John
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Summary

This is volume one of a two-volume omnibus set comprising the complete fictional works of Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Every story written for publication under his own name is included in this set, from 1917 through 1935. (Poems, ghostwritten material, and stories written in collaboration with other writers are not included.)

A full ebook copy of this book in interactive PDF format is included and can be downloaded by clicking the "PDF" link in your Audible library (it's in the "Title" column). This PDF includes the audiobook chapter numbers, to make navigation easier.

Highlights of this volume include:

  • "Dagon"
  • "The Doom That Came to Sarnath"
  • "The Music of Erich Zann"
  • "Herbert West, Reanimator"
  • "The Hound"
  • "The Lurking Fear"
  • "The Rats in the Walls"
  • The Shunned House
  • "The Horror at Red Hook"
  • "In the Vault"
  • "The Call of Cthulhu"
  • "The Strange High House in the Mist"
  • The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2016 Finn J.D. John (P)2016 Finn J.D. John

What listeners say about H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Omnibus Collection, Volume I: 1917-1926

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Nicely done.

Would you listen to H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Omnibus Collection, Volume I: 1917-1926 again? Why?

Yes. Why? Because I want to run in to gibbous night and howl at the moon as a batrachian custodian of the silver key.

What did you like best about this story?

Af ew stories here I'd not read/heard.

Which character – as performed by Finn J.D. John – was your favourite?

Charles Dexter Ward.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, if I had the stamina. Alas going to sleep with the headphones on didn't open the gateway that is Yog-Sothoth. Maybe tonight.

Any additional comments?

Unlike most semi-professional productions, Finn J.D. John can actually read well. The collection is interspersed with a fair amount of Lovecraft's biographical background that puts the tales in context. A longer and deeper exposition of Cosmicism and its post-Lovecraft developments would have been interesting. Other than that it's an excellent and accomplished effort, and clearly a labour of love. Kudos to Finn J.D. John!

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Any additional comments?

As a long time super fan of Mr Lovecraft this collection (together with Vol2) are superbly put together and wonderfully narrated. The interspersed history of Lovecraft really helps to set the emotions that the author was experiencing at the time and enhances the listening experiences. As mentioned, the narration is exceptional and the almost laconic style builds the tension to fever pitch. Thank You!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful tales but under-produced & overpriced

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would have preferred some longer tales but the format of including date specific bio-snippets precluded that.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cthulhu of course!

What didn’t you like about Finn J.D. John’s performance?

On the positive side:
a. The amateur reading style is probably in keeping with HPL's "amateur" writing;
b. The narrator clearly put a lot of effort in and I get the feeling Mr. John knows the writings and enjoys them;
c. I liked the bio-snippets.

Room for improvement
It seems likely that the production did not use a professional producer (of it did they should refurbished their fee). Producing audio books is not as easy as it sounds.

For example a good producer would have picked up the following simple pervasive errors:
1. Pronunciation: even though HPL's fictional names are always going to be contentious there is no reason to miss-pronounce known words or names such as Dagon (Day-gone) as Dah-gone or the star Aldebran as AldeBARN;
2. Overly dramatic: I know it is tempting to try and ham up Lovecraft when reading but he does deserve better than doing things like saying the gibbous moooon.

All in all the pedantic listener will struggle and even the casual listener may dose off on occasion.

Do you think H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Omnibus Collection, Volume I: 1917-1926 needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

It has one.

Any additional comments?

For the price tag of £25 I would have expected a much better production and a professional voice actor.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Oh, the narration, THE NARRATION!

To plow this through was an ordeal far greater than my imagination had mercifully capacity to reach, for I would be locked in Arkham asylum had I willingly subjected myself to such horrors.

No, the horror wasn't in Lovectaft's stories, the naivete in these early works was agonizing at worst, humoring at best, the whole collection having 5 or 6 stories worth listening. There's a website with ranked order of stories. You will not miss anything if listening only stories in top 30.

The true horror was in the narration. Oh dear me. With contiously undulating pitch, the narrator dragged along with effort resembling of walking belly deep in a swamp, like every story would be a poem that needs an emphasis on... every.. word.. of
.. every.. sentence.. with.. pitch.. going.. up.. and .. down... without... any.. purpose... or... meaning...

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Dreadful narration

I love Lovecraft but this guys narration is so boring, stiff, and robotic.
Awful.
It’s far too monotone and puts me off listening.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Tales from The Master of Horror

All of Lovecrafts early works together and read in style.
Enjoyed this talkie emmensly.
Now for Volume 2!!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Horrible narration.

Sleazy. Insidious. As soon as he forgets his contrived dramatic reading the story comes through. Finally. His campfire ghost story tone is heinous. Not recommended

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Inappropriate Narration

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A better narrator.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not the narrator.

How could the performance have been better?

The performance was an awful sing-song take on H.P Lovecraft's literature.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Omnibus Collection, Volume I: 1917-1926?

Fire Finn J.D John

Any additional comments?

Terrible narrator.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Good for sending you to sleep

You need to be an ardent Lovecraft fan to enjoy this book. I managed 30minutes then had to admit defeat. Language to archaic and monotone.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Loving Lovecraft!

I love the stories and enjoy the narration, not sure why others have complained...each to their own!
Well worth the credit :)

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