The Shadow over Innsmouth
- Narrated by:
- Length: 2 hrs and 32 mins
- Abridged Audiobook
- Release Date:09/01/2014
- Publisher: Spokenworld Audio/Ladbroke Audio Ltd
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Publisher's Summary
The perfect H. P. Lovecraft title to follow on from 2010's At the Mountains of Madness, and the only HPL title not to appear in a periodical! Perfect also because it is split in to 5 distinct chapters...ripe for abridgement into five half-hour episodes!
The Shadow Over Innsmouth tells the first-person story of a young historian, Robert Olmstead, who, while investigating his family genealogy in New England, is intrigued to learn about a hated and mysterious fishing town called Innsmouth. When he visits he finds the place to be run-down and near-deserted, with a cult-like religion and a strange, degenerate population. His investigation soon turns into a race to escape the town and the the evil creatures he sees emerging from the sea.
The Shadow Over Innsmouth was written by H. P. Lovecraft in 1931 and is the only one of his works of fiction not to have initially been published as part of a periodical. It continues HPL's Cthulhu Mythos, featuring townspeople worshipping the elder sea god Dagon and mentioning the mysterious Shoggoth creature of his other works.
Howard Phillips "H. P." Lovecraft (August 20, 1890 - March 15, 1937) was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction. As early as the 1940s, Lovecraft had developed a cult following for his Cthulhu Mythos, a series of loosely interconnected fiction featuring a pantheon of humanity-nullifying entities, as well as the Necronomicon, a fictional grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works were deeply pessimistic and cynical.
Although Lovecraft's audience was limited during his life, his reputation has grown and he is now regarded as one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th Century. Stephen King called him "the 20th century's greatest practitioner of the classic horror tale." This 2011 adaptation comprises five episodes, originally aired on BBC Radio 4 Extra, once again read by the superb Richard Coyle and featuring music by acclaimed composer Jon Nicholls. The series is offered here in exclusive extended edition.
©2011 Ladbroke Productions (Radio) Ltd (P)2011 Spokenworld Audio/Ladbroke Audio Ltd
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What Members Say
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"Exceeds expectations"
Excellent, evocative, narration enhanced by atmospheric soundtrack. Memorably eerie. Pacing and production serve to bring this story to life.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful -
"Classic horror"
If you could sum up The Shadow over Innsmouth in three words, what would they be?Classic Lovecraft horror
Have you listened to any of Richard Coyle’s other performances? How does this one compare?Excellent narration - nailed it
Any additional comments?Listening to a book often gives you a new perspective on it - as with this - a classic and familiar Lovecraft tale, which is nicely freshened up. The narration is spot-on and the sound effects and music are nicely atmospheric.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful -
"excellent radio adaption, cracking narration"
I've lost count of how often I've listen to this audiobook . I love it
0 of 0 people found this review helpful -
"Why Abridged?"
Is there anything you would change about this book?As a short story there is no real reason for it to be abridged. The background music/effects track can sometimes be excellently scary and at other times overpowering, getting in the way of the performance.
Who was your favorite character and why?Old Zadok without a doubt!
What about Richard Coyle’s performance did you like?Richard Coyle is, as always, superb.
If this book were a film would you go see it?Hell yes!
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Bastion Drake04/05/16
"Great"
Any additional comments?Absolutely excellent execution from Lovecraft and Coyle. I would have preferred a lot more sound effects but it was still engrossing.
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R. Peacock11/04/16
"Scary and alluring"
The story is very strange, a bit confused, but ultimately the narrator does it great justice with a great reading. If you're looking for something to get your heart pumping The Shadow Over Innsmouth will do the trick. This is a fairly short story so it's a good listen for in the car.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful -
MartinezSan Francisco, Ca United States31/12/15
"Fascinating story told in a audio drama manner."
What made the experience of listening to The Shadow over Innsmouth the most enjoyable?What made this audio drama/story enjoyable had to do with the fact that this is yet another very well crafted story by H.P. Lovecraft. A story that is also wonderfully produced and narrated by Richard Coyle and company. It is voice acted in many parts alongside the narration and every part is a fascinating joy to listen too IMHO.
There are also well done sound fx's and background music that is tastefully weaved into the narration/voice acting which is also used to create and set the mood and atmosphere for the story and setting. However, these audio fx's and background music never overshadow the story or the voice acting itself. In other words they are well done in a way so that they only lend to the atmosphere created by the story and narrator.
Of which Richard is a great voice actor/narrator and his voice is well suited for these types of stories. As you can tell I'm a fan of his work here and with another HP Lovecraft story he voice acted/narrated in called the "At The Mountains of Madness".
What other book might you compare The Shadow over Innsmouth to and why?"Over the Mountain of Madness" another H.P. Lovecraft masterpiece. The version that was also narrated and voice acted by Richard Coyle.
Which scene was your favorite?The scene on the docks when the old town drunk in the story is "spilling the beans" on what he knows after the main character shares a bottle of alcohol with him. This scene gives a tremendous amount of background lore about the wonderfully chilling Cthulhu mythos that H.P. Lovecraft artfully and originally crafted into what we know call the sci-fi horror genre.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?Yes. It's almost impossible to stop listening to this audiobook/drama once you start down that grim, dark Lovecraftian path of Cthulhu dark intrigue, horror and suspense.
Any additional comments?If you pick this story up then do yourself a favor and also pick up the companion story called "At the Mountains of Madness" which is also read by Richard Coyle.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful