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The Pit and the Pendulum
This graphic novel adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's classic tale of terror visually explores the dizzying highs and horrifying lows of a prisoner sentenced to death by the Inquisition.
63 pages, Library Binding
Published February 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Sean Tulien
32 books16 followersEditor by day, writer by night, professional relaxer the rest of the time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
February 18, 2023
Considering this is aimed at children, the dialogue has been paired down really well with the aim of keeping to the original story. The illustrations are just perfect for the nature of such a dark story.
November 25, 2013
Great use of color to convey meaning and add suspense. Quick read. Tween boys will love it!
April 8, 2015
This interesting and impressive interpretation of the original by Edgar Allen Poe is clearly aimed at a (male) audience of reluctant readers. Poe's short stories work well as graphic novels: the mood, setting and characters lend themselves to this genre easily. Whilst the written text is original, it is not the entire text (retold by Sean Tulien). It is well-supported by the graphics (illustrated by J. C. Fabul), which are dark and foreboding, and together the written and visual text combine to create an intriguing and readable narrative. This edition includes 'Visual Questions' at the end, but these invite readers to engage with the text at a simple level - as we expect, much more can be done to challenge and develop students' learning when the analysis is teacher-led. This is a useful text for all Stage 4 readers with appropriate support.
August 18, 2015
This has always been my favorite - crowding first place alongside The Raven and The Road to El Dorado. This was by far my favorite graphic novel of the four present at my local library. What a way to celebrate Poe's legacy and works!
December 13, 2015
This is a fantastic graphic novel adaptation of one of Edgar Allan Poe's most twisted tales of terror. The afterward had many literary questions both about the text and also the artists use of color and emotions in the illustrations to visually bring this story to life.
October 1, 2013
Edgar Allan Poe is just awesome. He's my favourite person ever. gah.
Love these new comics.
Love these new comics.
October 23, 2013
I'd read this many years ago and was spooked. The graphic novel gives a different kind of spook. Interesting how people's visions of the same scene are different.
December 26, 2014
Intriguing imagery.
June 16, 2021
3.5 stars
A nice and quick read yet dark and interesting.
A nice and quick read yet dark and interesting.
September 19, 2022
I was sick -- sick unto death with long agony when they brought me before the Inquisition. When they at length unbound me and permitted me to sit I saw the Inquisitorial judges for the first time. I had heard of the evil acts the Inquisition performed. They used torture to get the answers they wanted and then they executed their prisoners.
It is probably obvious by now that I adore a graphic novel adaptation of a classic horror story, whether it be H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, or M.R. James.
This time it is another Edgar Allan Poe and his classic story The Pit and the Pendulum.
The story revolves around a captive of the Inquisition and tells of the ordeals and torture they are subjected too. The key elements are from the title of the story but there is so much more. A fate worse than death!
Both the original short story and this great adaptation are worth a read and this gets 4 stars.
It is probably obvious by now that I adore a graphic novel adaptation of a classic horror story, whether it be H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, or M.R. James.
This time it is another Edgar Allan Poe and his classic story The Pit and the Pendulum.
The story revolves around a captive of the Inquisition and tells of the ordeals and torture they are subjected too. The key elements are from the title of the story but there is so much more. A fate worse than death!
Both the original short story and this great adaptation are worth a read and this gets 4 stars.
November 10, 2014
This book, as well as the rest of the series (The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Tell-Tale Heart) is a great gateway book into hardcore Poe. Now, not many junior high students need such a gateway book, the dark allure of Poe is enticing enough. But this is great for my avid graphic novel readers who aren't so inclined to embrace the classics. Perhaps after one read they'll be hooked and will ask to check out one of the library's Poe anthologies.
September 4, 2016
1. I loved the black and yellow juxtaposition of the colors in this graphic novel.
2. The color yellow often represents madness, sickness, enlightenment, caution or death. This can be corroborated in the text because the man is in a room all alone because he is being put to death. He faces death several times in several different ways. Would he be enlightened and saved or go insane and meet death? Of course we know black is a symbol of death too.
3. The pendulum (like on a clock) is connected to a painted figure of Time. The man didn't have much time before he would die. He had to beat time to live/had to wait out time to live.
4. Water is also a symbol of life or death. He had water but drank is before the spicy food.
5. What little light he had was a symbol of hope.
2. The color yellow often represents madness, sickness, enlightenment, caution or death. This can be corroborated in the text because the man is in a room all alone because he is being put to death. He faces death several times in several different ways. Would he be enlightened and saved or go insane and meet death? Of course we know black is a symbol of death too.
3. The pendulum (like on a clock) is connected to a painted figure of Time. The man didn't have much time before he would die. He had to beat time to live/had to wait out time to live.
4. Water is also a symbol of life or death. He had water but drank is before the spicy food.
5. What little light he had was a symbol of hope.
June 11, 2023
"But my memories, polluted by fear, seemed more like nightmares."
I read The Pit and the Pendulum (in Spanish, as: "El Pozo y el Péndulo") about 20 years ago; and when I saw this at the library, while looking for something to get out of my reading slump, it got my attention. The illustrator did a great job (not just with the juxtaposition of the colors, the visual representations and symbolisms, but also with the facial expressions of the character) conveying the atmosphere of highs and lows, the despair and the hope, that I remembered feeling while reading Poe's original story. I found it quite synesthetic without being unsettling. It's an intriguing and engaging interpretation of the original - definitely worth the short read!
I read The Pit and the Pendulum (in Spanish, as: "El Pozo y el Péndulo") about 20 years ago; and when I saw this at the library, while looking for something to get out of my reading slump, it got my attention. The illustrator did a great job (not just with the juxtaposition of the colors, the visual representations and symbolisms, but also with the facial expressions of the character) conveying the atmosphere of highs and lows, the despair and the hope, that I remembered feeling while reading Poe's original story. I found it quite synesthetic without being unsettling. It's an intriguing and engaging interpretation of the original - definitely worth the short read!
February 10, 2024
Taking advantage of some more Kindle Unlimited books.
I haven’t read the original telling of this story so I wasn’t sure what to expect, however, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It was very easy to understand, they’ve done a good job of making the language more accessible and I like the art style.
The story was atmospheric, claustrophobic, and actually quite unsettling. I am sure you lose some of the depth by transferring the story to graphic format but as someone who hasn’t read the original, I couldn’t say for certain. This has made me want to read the original text but I would love to see more stories adapted in this way.
I haven’t read the original telling of this story so I wasn’t sure what to expect, however, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It was very easy to understand, they’ve done a good job of making the language more accessible and I like the art style.
The story was atmospheric, claustrophobic, and actually quite unsettling. I am sure you lose some of the depth by transferring the story to graphic format but as someone who hasn’t read the original, I couldn’t say for certain. This has made me want to read the original text but I would love to see more stories adapted in this way.
January 18, 2017
I really liked the dialogue for this book. It must be hard trying to transpose a short story into a graphic novel (graphic novella?), but they did a good job. It was clear what was happening in the story and nice to have a picture of what the narrator went through. I liked the style of art, but I felt as if the artist was running out of ideas on how to fill the pages. There were several panels (and pages) which were of the guy's face with different expressions (and not much difference between the panels). It felt tedious.
May 6, 2019
Another graphic novel adaptation of a book I've previously read! I really liked this - having read the original, I appreciated getting my head around taking it all in visually, rather than envisaging it all IN my head. The artwork is fantastic, and I actually felt that it didn't take away from the story at all, being presented graphically. Next I will be reading "The fall of the House of Usher" in the same medium!
February 24, 2021
I am loving reading the classics in graphic novel form lately. 😊
And this was an excellent example of why! Using most of Poe's own words (but thankfully not ALL of them, because he was excessively prolific), and illustrated in a chilling way, made this Poe story easy to read and grasp.
What a freaky story! I didn't realize how bizarre (and frankly terrifying) it was until I didn't have to slog through the original. (Sorry, Edgar.)
And this was an excellent example of why! Using most of Poe's own words (but thankfully not ALL of them, because he was excessively prolific), and illustrated in a chilling way, made this Poe story easy to read and grasp.
What a freaky story! I didn't realize how bizarre (and frankly terrifying) it was until I didn't have to slog through the original. (Sorry, Edgar.)
March 12, 2021
I love this series. I've read all four books and enjoy each one. The trimmed-down dialogue captures the key points of the originals, and the artwork really enhances the story (as a good graphic novel should). These are targetted at younger Poe readers (teenagers, not 5-year-olds), but older Poe fans can appreciate these too.
September 11, 2014
Graphic Novel adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's classic horror story. The scene with the narrator's body covered in rats is particularly nightmarish. Artwork isn't my favourite, but fits the mood. A great way to introduce new audiences to Poe, but not amazing.
January 8, 2015
This was a good book, I enjoyed it. It was about a man sentenced to death by a group of people and he tries to escape all traps set for him. Once they had enough of his escapes they go head on to throw him in deep hole. An enemy of the group saves him.
October 13, 2016
This is a version of Poe's famous story that would appeal mostly to school kids. It even has questions in the back.
When I read Poe's original story in college, I was fascinated. It was my favorite. This version was less interesting to me personally.
When I read Poe's original story in college, I was fascinated. It was my favorite. This version was less interesting to me personally.
March 18, 2020
Great story!!
My fav quote:
“I awoke in a strange place, I didn’t dare open my eyes. I was not worried that I’d see horrible things, rather, I was worried that I’d see nothing at all...nothing but darkness”.
Page 16-17
My fav quote:
“I awoke in a strange place, I didn’t dare open my eyes. I was not worried that I’d see horrible things, rather, I was worried that I’d see nothing at all...nothing but darkness”.
Page 16-17
August 21, 2014
Review by K.W.: "I barely understood the plot. Edgar Allan Poe fans would love this book."
January 13, 2016
Love Poe's work, and the fact that it's in Graphic novel form will allow today's youth to appreciate him as well.
January 15, 2016
Scary, and adventurous.
August 5, 2016
I really really liked this one !
July 17, 2017
Always a mystery at the end of these things or your own interpretation really.
December 7, 2017
That ending though...........
February 12, 2018
Fun little quick read, visually really neat. However, this is not Poe's original poem, it's certainly been simplified and made more modern/understandable. However, still good!
August 10, 2018
Just as good as the tell-tale heart. Decided to purchase the whole series as they’re simply amazing. Great imaginative take on a Poe tale. Illustrations are great too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews