The Elder Unearthed: Tales of NasNoroth and the Cult of the Elder

by Michael W. Garza

A dark collection of macabre tales

The Cult of the Elder yearns to bring the dark gods through the endless void to wreak havoc on the nonbelievers of this world. You will witness the wicked things that lay claim to those who call on NasNoroth and its Elder kin.

The Cult of the Elder continues a tireless search to find a way to bring forth the dark Elder gods from beyond the void. The sinister rituals of the cult can have devastating effects on the weak minded and unprepared.

Take a glimpse beyond the void.

Leap into the shadowy world of the Cult of the Elder within the pages of two new series:

Vision of the Elder

This YA Paranormal Series follows the trail of those children forced to bear witness to the sacred rites of the Cult of the Elder. Their eyes are opened to the darkness beyond the void, and their lives are forever changed.

Book I: NeverHaven

Book II: Children of the Mark

Book III: The Crimson Door


Rise of the Elder

This Horror Survival Series documents the last days of those mortals foolish enough to pry into the affairs of the Cult of the Elder. The dark secrets are tempting, but few live to tell of the horrendous wonders beyond the void.

Book I: Drums in the Abyss

Book II: The Grief That Lingers

Book III: A Temple on the Witch-mound

Genres: Horror, Lovecraftian, Short Stories

86 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2014

About the author

Michael W. Garza often finds himself wondering where his inspiration will come from next and in what form his imagination will bring it to life. The outcomes regularly surprise him and it’s always his ambition to amaze those curious enough to follow him and take in those results. He hopes everyone will find something that frightens, surprises, or simply astonishes them.

www.mwgarza.com
facebook.com/mwgarza
twitter.com/@mwgarza

Reviews

[Phillip III · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of Michael W. Garza. His novel, The Hand That Feeds, might be one of my favorite zombie novels. While I have been waiting for another zombie tale from Garza, I was excited to see a taut collection of short, horrific tales.

The Elder Unearthed contains 9 short stories and 3 poems. I enjoyed the poems, but have no basis for being able to rate or review them. I know little to nothing about poetry other than to say, I enjoyed them.

The short stories, on the other hand, I would like to comment on. I will not go through them all. There is a theme that ties them together. The creature, NasNoroth, and the Cult of the Elder. I know. It is in the title. However, Garza spins nine unique tales that incorporates these ancient evils. The stories revolve around a botanist, a psychiatrist,to even an archaeologist. The stories are set in New Haven, Turkey, asylums and parallel worlds.

In "The Burning of Legel Manor," Philip Martin is hired to find a woman's missing son. Certain her son is dead, Martin has his work cut out for him; Benjamin Hack is curious about an obscure letter his dead father received and decides he wants some answers in, "Grief that Lingers." Marcus tries his hand at some creepy hocus-pocus to summons creatures from the beyond in, "The Calling," while in "The Harvester," Joshua is pursuing the Illumik, an Elder god and winds up lost in a grove that is more dangerous and deadly than any forest he's ever seen before.

While I was not asked to pick a favorite, I would be remiss not to name one, just the same. "The Harvester" will give me nightmares. I know the end of this story will wake me from sleep night after night. Rest assured, however, each tale is dark, well thought out and quite sinister.

If you have not read anything by Michael W. Garza, I highly recommend The Hand That Feeds, and now I can also suggest, The Elder Unearthed: Tales of the NasNoroth and the Cult of the Elder. Creepy and dark, I read it quick. One sitting (while at work), and enjoyed every page.

Phillip Tomasso,
Author of The Vaccination Trilogy:
VACCINATION, EVACUATION, PRESERVATION
www.philliptomasso.com

[Jim Goforth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The works of the legendary HP Lovecraft have inspired a massive dearth of authors and poets along the way, and while the results are often variable, ranging from the spectacular to the derivative, with of course some efforts that just don’t cut it at all, it is pretty safe to say that the collective of short works and poetry known as ‘The Elder Unearthed: Tales of NasNoroth and the Cult of the Elder’ ranks in the better end of the spectrum.
Comprised of twelve pieces in total, nine of which are stories, with the other three brief dark poems that break the tales up nicely and serve to enhance the foreboding atmospheres and aura conjured up Michael Garza’s collection runs the gamut from suitably sinister and spooky (such as the situations experienced by Benjamin Hack in ‘The Grief That Lingers’) to violent, visceral and truly frightening (‘The Calling’ and ‘The Harvester’).
As a horror aficionado who appreciates works so vivid that blood literally seems to splash from the pages, ‘The Harvester’ is a highlight for me here, with its gruesome details painted on a broad sanguinary canvas. It is short, but brutally effective and displays the strengths of Garza, being able to shift seamlessly from the brooding atmospheric tones of other stories to the horrifying mayhem unfolding here.
Elsewhere, profoundly Lovecraftian works like ‘The Burning of Legel Manor’ don’t require any splashings of gore to sustain horror or bring forth an austere atmosphere. Instead it is the creeping chills which are evoked, and the natural skills of Garza as a storyteller are more than enough to make pensive pieces in this vein appear as equally horrific as anything where buckets of blood are spilled.
The concluding piece, entitled ‘The Hunger’, is a tale which acted as inspiration for Garza’s full length novel ‘The Hand That Feeds.’ Though I can’t personally say I am familiar with this work, reading both this story that is catalyst for it and all the others included here in ‘The Elder Unearthed’ sure make me want to delve into that book as well, if the works collected here are a great reflection of Garza’s writing abilities.
Chilling, captivating and thoroughly dark, this fine collection of stories should appeal to anybody who can appreciate true well written horror.

[Matthew Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am consistently impressed with the number of Lovecraft inspired anthologies that are coming out nowadays. And what’s even better, many of these collections have excellent stories in them. THE ELDER UNEARTHED is one of these anthologies, and although it is short (there are 12 stories, but the book is only 84 pages long), it is certainly not to be underestimated. Author Michael W. Garza showcases a lot of skill with this collection, and offers chilling tales that will fill you with dread and horror both.

Lovecraft is still one of my favorite horror authors, and I will continue to pursue stories and book written with his themes. I’m glad to see his work is still considered relevant; this shows just how deep and dark his imagination ran, if the concepts he explored are still considered ‘horrifying’ by today’s standards.

I’ve read many Lovecraft inspired anthologies, but THE ELDER UNEARTHED is one of the more exceptional ones that I’ve run across. Garza does an excellent job of capturing the mood and tone that Lovecraft set within his own tales, and these atmospherics carry over into the writing style. As a result, this collection has some truly terrifying stories that will cause you sleepless nights for years to come.

Each story in THE ELDER UNEARTHED is written well and flows at a nice pace. Garza writes with a unique voice, although the undertones mimic Lovecraft in certain aspects. This is not a negative or criticism by any means; I looked at this more as a compliment or tribute to the founding father of horror, rather than an imitation device.

Likewise, the editing of the collection is clean as well. I only found a single editing flaw, and it is one that is debatable. This by itself shows you how much care and detail the author has put into this work.

My favorite story in THE ELDER UNEARTHED is “The Harvester”. In this bleak tale, a lone man finds himself far from home, in a strange world full of misery and terror. As you would expect, his fate will not be a pleasant one…but the final scene is one that will haunt your memory for a long time.

THE ELDER UNEARTHED is a huge win for me, and fans of Lovecraft will want to snatch this one up immediately. Even if you don’t care much for Lovecraft, you can’t deny the entertainment-value in these horror-drenched stories. Regardless, put this on your reading list for 2014; you won’t be disappointed.

[Michael Brookes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Lovecraft and his Cthulhu mythos stories in particular and what we have here is a collection of short stories and poems inspired by that mythos. The stories all involve the Cult of the Elder and with each tale you glimpse a little more of the horror created by this cult. Like many collections of short stories the individual tales are a mixed bag although they all contributed something interesting to the meta story of the cult. I was less enthused about the poems, they worked but I'm quite fussy with poetry so maybe I'm being a little harsh.

The tales are all very dark, there's no room for redemption or hope in these stories, which is fine with me. I do love a dark story! They capture the feel of some of Lovecraft's mood well and they're well written. The style is quite open and easy to read which allows you to consume the horror at some pace.

And at this point we see a flaw in the book. None of the stories are an involved read, the longest being only about 15 minutes to read. The pace is non-stop and you never get the chance to explore some of esoteric horrors on display here. I've no problem with endless horror, however cosmic horror on this sort of scale should include terrible mysteries for the mind to admire amidst the fear. A bit more room in some of the stories could have provided this as well as allowing a change in pace for the reader to comprehend the majesty of the terror being invoked.

In fairness that stops this book from being a top class read rather than merely excellent :-) For these are an enjoyable set of tales, the atmosphere is well done and the brooding menace of once forgotten gods is more than apparent.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems in horror there are a lot of trends that seem to sweep through the genre and while it seems like a good idea most attempts to add to a certain genre fall short. Lately I seem to be coming onto a variety of books that are based on the style of H.P. Lovecraft. For those who have never read Lovecraft's work these books serve as a great jumping off point. I received Garza's book in exchange for an honest review and when he contacted me and told me what the book was about I was intrigued, and then I saw the cover and knew I had to read it. As a fan of Lovecraft I am always on the lookout for Lovecraftian Fiction.

This is a solid collection of short stories and poems that tap into what made Lovecraft so great. Each story revolves around the mythos of The Elder Gods and NasNoroth and they do have the Lovecraftian occult overtones but when writing a book that's inspired by Lovecraft it's to be expected. Garza has certainly tapped into the spirit of Lovecraft and is a great addition to the genre of Lovecraftian fiction. Even if you've never heard of H.P. Lovecraft these are still great stories that prove that a great story doesn't have to have massive amounts of gore to be good. This is classic horror that is dark and sinister in nature and allows Garza stretch out a bit as a story teller. Writing a book like this can't be easy but Garza has created something that fans of Gothic and even classic horror can sink their teeth into.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Elders Unearthed by Michael Garza is a sweep of 9 stories and 3 poems that all circle @ NasNoroth and The Cult of the Elders. Each tale is very different, yet they are all connected. The stories are set in different places and different times, with different characters.

The Calling with forever live in my mind. I swear I was in the tower with Marcus, wearing a robe and a mask as he calls forth to the Elders. When the crap hit the fan, I was hiding under the bed with him fearing for my life against that thing in the hall. I heard the cries of the people in the hall way that were being killed.

The Grief that Lingers was another favorite of mine. Stay out of the basement, it was simple, just stay away. But curiosity got the better of him and where did that get him? In the cell next to his dad banging his head. Note to self, no matter how curious you are let these stories be a lesson to you! There is some very scary *hit in the darkness and you should probably be weary and stay the hell away!

The poems included also well-constructed and fit in very well. Along with the art work.

I’m a big horror fan, I love being scared senseless, don’t ask. I just love the feeling of unknown. Creepy, dark, and amazing, this book will give you nightmares, but it will be worth reading!

[Sunshine Somerville · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars (for little reasons like an occasional wrong word usage or piddly grammar thing.)

Having read Garza's "The Hand That Feeds," I knew the style of writing to expect from this collection of short horror stories. Or thought I did. The writing in THESE stories feels...delightfully older. The stories are set in the 1920s, mostly, and the storytelling and writing feels like horror/suspense/sci-fi from that era. I'm sure others have made Lovecraft comparisons, and that "feel" is certainly here.

The first couple of stories I liked okay, but then I hit "The Burning of Legel Manor" and thought, "THAT's my favorite." Then I read the next one, which became my new favorite, and so on. I ended up reading the whole collection in one sitting because I liked the stories more and more as I went. And the poems are pretty good too - this coming from someone who generally just flies through poetry to get to "better" stuff.

I really enjoyed the unifying Cult of the Elder mythology that very loosely connected the stories. You never get a complete picture of what it's all about other than the ongoing lore of monster-like deities, and I think the Unknown aspect adds to the creepy factor.

[Tanya Watt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever been so scared that you just froze, the fear paralyzing you from escaping the very thing that put you in this state? Well, the characters in this book were this way, and if I was in their place I would have peed my pants and called for my mommy.

The Elder Unearthed is 12 short, terrifying stories that will give you chills and will make you want to sleep with a nightlight. They are creepy and I loved them! I have already decided to use these stories for my teenage daughters annual camping trip, I can’t wait to scare the pants off those girls:)

The monsters you meet in this book make vampires seem like pansies. I don’t get scared easy but this book did just that. If you are like me and love a good scary book, then definitely give The Elder Unearthed a try. I’ve read all of Michael W. Garza’s books, he is an excellent storyteller and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

[J. Michel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Elder Unearthed" was wonderfully chilling from beginning to end. These twelve short stories and poems focus on dark beings and ancient demons. There are plenty of thrills in each and every story. My favorite one was "Drums in the Void." It was extremely creepy, especially since I felt like I knew the characters. I also loved the final story, which was the inspiration for the author's zombie novel "The Hand That Feeds" (a personal favorite of mine).

Michael Garza has a great way of making his readers feel like they're experiencing the stories right along with the characters. The descriptions are so vivid at times that I would get lost in the stories. It made it hard to put the book down. If you're looking for a real nail-biter, then I highly recommend that you read "The Elder Unearthed." I give this book five very bright stars!

[Siegfried · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovecraft on speed.
Don't get me wrong, it's good. Kinda predictable sometimes.
But my problem with this book is that it looks like a lot of good ideas, and none of then given the right time.
All of then here could be great books. Instead, they are quick tales, that you could read on ten minutes per tale tops.
It's a nice homage to the master, but need a lot more work.

[Ian McClellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Dark, scary, and tense from start to finish. The writing in this book is really convincing. Garza puts you in the time and place so well that you'll think it's the early twentieth century and start looking over your shoulder for things with sharp teeth and long tentacles.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book of shorts! Michael Garza has a way of writing that makes you feel as if your living out what your reading. Each story read like a vivid nightmare.

[Scott Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfyingly Abysmal

Everything I could abandon hope for . . .Refreshing to have real horror and tales of the demonic without the reliance on the beliefs of prevailing mythologies satisfyingly bleak and hopeless

Reinforces the theme that no good thing and only total annihilation can come from the pursuit of power or at all approaching the Elder gods for any reason whatsoever. . . lol

[Seth Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories contained within this volume are excellent for fans of weird fiction. Some of them are a wonderful blending of H.P. Lovecraft and CLive Barker, the second story the Harvester is the best example of this. The poems were fine, but did not compose a large portion of the book. Interesting characters and phenomenal settings and creatures for this book.

[Totoro25 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little read.

If you like H.P. Spacecraft's mythos then you should like these stories. They are a little more modern and therefore a little more gory but great nonetheless. Some of them are quite unsettling. About the only advice that I would give is for the author to hire a proofreader.

[Tracy Gilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the writing in this book. the subject matter is not really for me though. I preferred the later stories to the earlier ones. The later ones were easier for me to understand.

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 solid stars for this short story and poetry collection of horror stories inspired by the Grand Master, the often imitated but never surpassed H.P. Lovecraft himself. Like many short story collections, the offerings are hit or miss, and unfortunately there were a few duds for me amongst some wonderful tales. My favorites include the title piece, "The Elder Unearthed," as it seemed to mimic Lovecraft's overwrought purplish prose, and "The Harvester", for its imagry of the crucifixion. The poetry I could take or leave - I haven't been much of a poem girl in a long, long time. An added bonus to the stories (at least in my Kindle edition, at any rate) were the wonderful black-and-white illustrations of the horrible lil beasties from beyond that make their appearance in these stories. The images were spot-on to the story's descriptions and gave me that warm, fuzzy feeling inside that I get when I really and truly enjoy a good read. And this was most definitely a good read. Congrats to the author!

[Barbara Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished because it was short but I didn't like the way It was written

[Gevera Piedmont · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full of bad punctuation and careless spelling errors. It's a clever idea, to do a story cycle around a new god, but the mistakes ruined it for me.

[Amy Peavy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, I can't. I gave it a chance. It shows promise, but it could use another draft. Keep it up!