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The Monsters in the Park
Crystal Palace, South London 1936: A day in the park turns into an apocalyptic struggle against prehistoric evil in this SF novella
A visit to see the life-sized dinosaur statues in Crystal Palace Park is a thrilling prospect for any eight-year-old. But Paul is no ordinary boy. After a sudden personality change he has acquired some peculiar interests as well as apparent knowledge of prehistoric life. And he has particular reasons for wanting to visit Crystal Palace.
Nine years after the events of The Dulwich Horror of 1927, maimed survivor William Blake is living quietly as a schoolteacher, until he is called upon to help. With his unique insight, Blake is the one man who might be able to discover Paul's real purpose. Why is the boy so interested in the future of the fascist Blackshirts, and why should he be so terrified by a gust of wind? As the pieces fall into place, Blake finds himself facing an enemy that has outlived the dinosaurs, in a desperate battle for the future of mankind.
This HP Lovecraft-inspired novella of menace from the prehistoric past will appeal to anyone familiar with the Cthulhu Mythos, and is sure to delight new readers and seasoned fans of the Call of Cthulhu alike.
A visit to see the life-sized dinosaur statues in Crystal Palace Park is a thrilling prospect for any eight-year-old. But Paul is no ordinary boy. After a sudden personality change he has acquired some peculiar interests as well as apparent knowledge of prehistoric life. And he has particular reasons for wanting to visit Crystal Palace.
Nine years after the events of The Dulwich Horror of 1927, maimed survivor William Blake is living quietly as a schoolteacher, until he is called upon to help. With his unique insight, Blake is the one man who might be able to discover Paul's real purpose. Why is the boy so interested in the future of the fascist Blackshirts, and why should he be so terrified by a gust of wind? As the pieces fall into place, Blake finds himself facing an enemy that has outlived the dinosaurs, in a desperate battle for the future of mankind.
This HP Lovecraft-inspired novella of menace from the prehistoric past will appeal to anyone familiar with the Cthulhu Mythos, and is sure to delight new readers and seasoned fans of the Call of Cthulhu alike.
- GenresHorror
46 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 13, 2020
Captivating story about a young boy named Paul who's obsessed by an alien parasite ("The Others"). You'll find out why Crystal Palace burnt down in 1936 and why Mosley's fascists lost influence in society. What happened to Paul's father Webster and what is William Blake's role? The author orientates on Lovecraft in describing The Others and some alien force trying to gain influence on earth. It wasn't fully clear to me why they only manipulated Paul when they have such an advanced technology. Otherwise compelling, interesting in historical observation and well told. Recommended!
March 3, 2021
This little novella can be found in Hambling's collection "The Dulwich Horror and Others," in which the stories feature other characters and ideas found in this book. Hambling seems to be setting out to create his own neo-Lovecraftian universe, and you can sample his talent with "Monsters in the Park" currently for free on Kindle Unlimited.
But better yet, why not support a great author and check out the whole collection? I certainly plan to. I was impressed with the perfect melding of politics, history, nail-biting action, and science fiction to create a Radium-Age classic in the modern day! His prose is certainly reminiscent of the works he emulates from the 20s and 30s, my favorite period of sci-fi and literature in general, but still feels very contemporary and accessible to all audiences.
I was immersed in the sights and smells of a visit to the Crystal Palace, which burned down long before I was born, though Hambling made me feel as if I had just been there last spring. I encourage you to go there yourself in this exquisite little slice of weird fiction, a loving and fitting tribute to the master H. P. Lovecraft.
But better yet, why not support a great author and check out the whole collection? I certainly plan to. I was impressed with the perfect melding of politics, history, nail-biting action, and science fiction to create a Radium-Age classic in the modern day! His prose is certainly reminiscent of the works he emulates from the 20s and 30s, my favorite period of sci-fi and literature in general, but still feels very contemporary and accessible to all audiences.
I was immersed in the sights and smells of a visit to the Crystal Palace, which burned down long before I was born, though Hambling made me feel as if I had just been there last spring. I encourage you to go there yourself in this exquisite little slice of weird fiction, a loving and fitting tribute to the master H. P. Lovecraft.
March 13, 2024
Hambling brushes on HPL's Shadow Out of Time, in a tale of travel by an alien entity through time and space, controlling or piloting a young boy in pre-WW2 England. The alien is looking to return to his body aeons ago for reasons of its own, to fix itself into a better host, and on a visit to the Crystal Palace to utilize television broadcast equipment to send the signal to its past self, things inevitably go awry. This story features a welcome return of the MC from The Dulwich Horror tale by Hambling, William Blake, broken from his experience in that story and 10 years older.
Characters, pacing, and story are tight and well-executed. The setting is so very much his own, every bit as much as HPL's New England was his, and it feels right for every aspect of the story.
Characters, pacing, and story are tight and well-executed. The setting is so very much his own, every bit as much as HPL's New England was his, and it feels right for every aspect of the story.
November 18, 2019
Action and horror
Hambling brings his character William 10 years from the Dulwich Horror, for an action packed hat tip to The Shadow Out Of Time with WWII on the horizon and an old war still being fought. Good stuff. Check it out.
Hambling brings his character William 10 years from the Dulwich Horror, for an action packed hat tip to The Shadow Out Of Time with WWII on the horizon and an old war still being fought. Good stuff. Check it out.
July 10, 2019
Good Story
Thought I had read this before but it seems it was just familiar. Interesting look at some curious bits of both history & fiction. Worth a read.
Thought I had read this before but it seems it was just familiar. Interesting look at some curious bits of both history & fiction. Worth a read.
September 17, 2022
A great short story set in a location for which I have a serious soft spot (London's Crystal Palace Park).
December 12, 2025
Lovecraft in England
If you like H P Lovecraft, I think you will enjoy this author. Written in the Lovecraft style without the some of Lovecraft’s less enjoyable aspects.
If you like H P Lovecraft, I think you will enjoy this author. Written in the Lovecraft style without the some of Lovecraft’s less enjoyable aspects.
August 6, 2016
This was a good Lovecraftian short story but it did not quite have the impact of Hambling's "The Dulwich Horror of 1927".
"The Monsters in the Park" traces an inter-species war that predates the human species by millions of years and will continue for millions more. Hambling ties this in with the fascist movement in England in the 1930's.
4 STARS
"The Monsters in the Park" traces an inter-species war that predates the human species by millions of years and will continue for millions more. Hambling ties this in with the fascist movement in England in the 1930's.
4 STARS
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews