Weird Shadows Over Innsmouth - edited by Stephen Jones - cover artist John Jude Palencar

Titan Books - Trade paperback - ISBN 9 781781 165294 - copyright 10-2013

 

comments by CR:

 

Weird Shadows Over Innsmouth - edited by Stephen Jones [2019-04-17 - anthology - review 0812]

 

For fans of H.P. Lovecraft's fiction and especially his story "Shadow Over Innsmouth" this is an highly recommended book. The editor Mr. Jones acquired stories that would relate, or enlarge upon the substance and themes of the Lovecraft story. Adding to the pleasure of reading this book are several full page "Innsmouth" black and white drawings interspaced through the text. Included are an editors introduction and very informative several paragraph discussion about each contributor. As an unexpected bonus a discarded draft of Lovecraft's "Shadow Over Innsmouth" is included.

 

I found all eleven stories entertaining, some more than others. Admittedly some of the stories has just a marginal association with the Lovecraft story. I have noted the two stories that were strongly associated with events in Innsmouth.

 

·The Quest for Y'ha-nthlei by John S. Glasby - This story is a faithful amplification of an event specifically mentioned in Lovecraft's story "Shadow Over Innsmouth". The story is a reading of three confidential eyewitness reports of the governments offensive in Innsmouth to route out the Dragon cult.

·The Taint • novella by Brian Lumley - A retired doctor from Innsmouth settles in an decayed English seaside town inhabited by several residents with an overwhelming affinity for things aquatic. Significant expansion on Innsmouth themes of transformation and Dagon worship. Longest and best story in the book.

 

 

· Afterwords: Contributors' Notes • (2005) • essay by uncredited

·Another Fish Story • [The Diogenes Club] • (2005) • novelette by Kim Newman

·Brackish Waters • (2005) • novelette by Richard A. Lupoff

·Discarded Draft of "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" • (1931) • short story by H. P. Lovecraft

·Eggs • (2000) • short story by Steve Rasnic Tem

·Fair Exchange • (2005) • short story by Michael Marshall Smith

·From Cabinet 34, Drawer 6 • (2005) • novelette by Caitlín R. Kiernan

·Introduction: Weird Shadows... • (2005) • essay by Stephen Jones

·Raised by the Moon • (2001) • novelette by Ramsey Campbell

·Take Me to the River • (2005) • novelette by Paul J. McAuley [as by Paul McAuley]

·The Coming • (1997) • short story by Hugh B. Cave

·The Quest for Y'ha-nthlei • (2005) • novelette by John S. Glasby [as by John Glasby]

·The Taint • (2005) • novella by Brian Lumley

·Voices in the Water • (2005) • short story by Basil Copper

· Weird Shadows Over Innsmouth • (2005) • interior artwork by Randy Broecker

· Weird Shadows Over Innsmouth • (2005) • interior artwork by Les Edwards

· Weird Shadows Over Innsmouth • (2005) • interior artwork by Bob Eggleton

· Weird Shadows Over Innsmouth • (2005) • interior artwork by Allan Servoss

 

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