H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow Out Of Time

January 11, 2008 by Jesse Willis
Filed under: Podcasts 

SFFaudio Online Audio

Uvula AudioIn June 1936 Astounding Science Fiction magazine published H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow Out Of Time a short story that is the “single greatest achievement in fiction” (according to Lovecraft propagandist Lin Carter). Carter called it “amazing [in] scope and [with a] sense of cosmic immensitude” and that’s no small praise. Have a listen to it and judge for yourself. Let “the gulfs of time” open and, submit to “the titanic sweep of the narrative.” Embrace the adjectives! This story has a massive wikipedia entry all of its own.

The Shadow Out Of Time by H.P. LovecraftThe Shadow Out Of Time
By H.P. Lovecraft; Read by Jim Campanella
5 MP3s – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Uvula Audio
Published: July/August 2007
The story indirectly tells of The Great Race of The Yith, an extraterrestrial species with the ability to travel through space and time. The Yithians accomplish this by switching bodies with hosts from the intended spacial or temporal destination. The story implies that the effect when seen from the outside is similar to demonic or spiritual possession. The story is told through the eyes of Nathaniel Wingate Peaslee, an economics professor from Miskatonic University who is “possessed” by a Yithian. Peaslee fears he is losing his mind when he unaccountably sees strange vistas of other worlds and the Yithian library city. However, while he was experiencing a Yithian existence in earth’s ancient past, the Yithian occupying his body was experiencing a human one in the present day. But that was only the beginning of the horror…

Part 1 |MP3| Part 2 |MP3| Part 3 |MP3| Part 4 |MP3| Part 5 |MP3|

Here’s the podcast feed for Uvula Audio:

http://www.uvulaaudio.com/Books/Books.xml

Posted by Jesse Willis

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Comments

10 Comments on H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow Out Of Time

  1. Gabriel on Mon, 1st Sep 2008 1:30 am

    2. I appreciate the effort, and the music..but did we really need a total spoiler synopsis before it’s even read? And read in that pretentious whiny ass voice to boot? Audio Realms owns this dude..

  2. Steve on Fri, 5th Sep 2008 12:03 am

    3. I’m sorry, I gotta say, horrid. Monotone, and lulling. The book is not so much read, as drulled out to the listener. A little personality goes a long way dude.

  3. asshat on Sat, 13th Sep 2008 10:39 pm

    4. listening to your voice make me want to kill myself

  4. zenboy on Tue, 30th Sep 2008 10:19 am

    5. Did you know that H.P. Lovecraft predicted internet video streaming and the change from analog to digital broadcasting? It’s called Ct’Hulu and you could Czechout the story here: http://tinyurl.com/4r8xms

  5. Sam on Wed, 7th Jan 2009 2:45 pm

    6. I have to disagree. The strained, slightly incredulous delivery is perfect for this story and this is one of the best Lovecraft readings I have heard. I would like to hear this man reading At The Mountains Of Madness, if he’s got a spare month to record it.

  6. Connor on Sat, 24th Jan 2009 8:01 pm

    7. Its a free audio book, if you dont like it dont listen to it.
    Personally i thought it was good.

  7. Dotson on Tue, 10th Mar 2009 8:45 pm

    8. I understand the harsh comments on this audio book / podcast / whatever, and, to some extent, I agree. But it certainly carried me through what would have been a very dull day at work. That, and the fact that any attempt to record such an exhausting tale is due some degree of credit. Three out of five stars.

  8. Donal on Thu, 2nd Apr 2009 9:51 am

    9. I much appreciate anyone doing a free reading of any Lovecraft work. Particulary some of the stories (like this one) of which there exist less recordings.

  9. Stuart on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 11:17 pm

    10. While my very sincere thanks and honest praise go to whoever takes the time and effort to record one of this writers truly great stories I have to say that I too found the narration quite dull. However rather than merely criticising the style in which Jim kindly decided to read the piece I want to ask why is it that it has become almost a generic convention to read stories of this kind ( Bierce etc.) in a sort of perpetual monotonic sigh? Where on Earth did the idea that those who lived in the late 19th/early 20th century themselves narrated stories in this way come from? I hate to be merely critical when I’ve not anything better to offer but surely the idea that all these stories have to be read in the same lifeless and (to be honest) insipid manner has to have had its day? Please, cant we inject some vitality into audio renditions of these very great stories? These are, after all, horror stories and not laundry lists.

  10. andy on Mon, 29th Mar 2010 9:36 pm

    11. it sounds like the reader gets out of breath and is still forcing words out without any intake of air. hopefully, this technique killed him and we won’t hear any more readings like this.

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