The Haunter of the Dark

by H.P. Lovecraft, Leslie Klinger (Narrator), Neil Heilegers (Narrator)

The Haunter of the Dark H. P. Lovecraft - "The Haunter of the Dark" is a horror short story by American author H. P. Lovecraft, written between 59 November 1935 and published in the December 1936 edition of Weird Tales. It was the last-written of the author's known works, and is part of the Cthulhu Mythos.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Lovecraftian, Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, Paranormal

Audiobook

Published January 1, 2024

About the author

Howard Phillips Lovecraft, of Providence, Rhode Island, was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction.

Lovecraft's major inspiration and invention was cosmic horror: life is incomprehensible to human minds and the universe is fundamentally alien. Those who genuinely reason, like his protagonists, gamble with sanity. Lovecraft has developed a cult following for his Cthulhu Mythos, a series of loosely interconnected fictions featuring a pantheon of human-nullifying entities, as well as the Necronomicon, a fictional grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works were deeply pessimistic and cynical, challenging the values of the Enlightenment, Romanticism and Christianity. Lovecraft's protagonists usually achieve the mirror-opposite of traditional gnosis and mysticism by momentarily glimpsing the horror of ultimate reality.

Although Lovecraft's readership was limited during his life, his reputation has grown over the decades. He is now commonly regarded as one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th Century, exerting widespread and indirect influence, and frequently compared to Edgar Allan Poe.
See also Howard Phillips Lovecraft.

— Wikipedia

Reviews

[Mika (Hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like how the story was told by a diary as it felt wobbly to read. The Haunter of the Dark was only a small portion of the short story which is a bit disappointing as he was the most interesting character. I wish it would have been less about a church but rather about The Haunter of the Dark himself.

This story had nothing interesting to offer and I think it will be forgotten by me quite fast.

[Lizz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t write reviews.

And maybe I am scared of that moment when you are forced to rely on the feeble light of a guttering candle or the irregular flash of lightning to keep “it” at bay.

[aPriL does feral sometimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Haunter of the Dark’ by H. P. Lovecraft is a spooky atmospheric short story. Robert Blake is the hapless investigator of the occult who ends up understanding, too late, that warnings from locals that a place is evil is not to be taken lightly!

I have copied the book blurb:

”The Haunter of the Dark" by H.P. Lovecraft is a chilling tale of cosmic horror that plunges readers into the eerie depths of Providence, Rhode Island. The story follows Robert Blake, a writer fascinated by the occult, who becomes obsessed with an ancient church known as the Church of Starry Wisdom. Inside this decrepit church, Blake discovers a sinister artifact called the Shining Trapezohedron, which seems to hold dark and otherworldly powers.

As Blake delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding the church and the artifact, he unwittingly attracts the attention of a malevolent entity known as the Haunter of the Dark. This ancient and eldritch being, lurking in the shadows beyond human comprehension, begins to stalk Blake, driving him to the brink of madness.

Lovecraft's masterful prose weaves a tale of creeping dread and existential terror, as Blake's descent into madness mirrors his confrontation with the incomprehensible forces that lurk beyond the veil of reality. With its vivid descriptions, evocative imagery, and spine-tingling atmosphere, "The Haunter of the Dark" stands as a testament to Lovecraft's enduring legacy as a master of cosmic horror, captivating readers with its chilling portrayal of the unknown and the unfathomable.”

The blurb description is all true, horribly true! 😬

[Just Josie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story that centers around a man´s exploration of an abandoned old church that looms over a city filled with poeple that has heard stories of a darkness that used to lure within.

It was a fine story, just not overly fond of it.

Read: 24.02.2025
1st rating: 2 stars
Cover: 1 star
POV´s: Single (Robert H. Blake)
Will I recommend: No

[Nick LeBlanc · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down.

On a sentence by sentence basis, HP Lovecraft is not a great writer. Admittedly, some of this may be a product of the time in which the works were written. But, it always seems he structurally misses the mark. He tells and tells and tells instead of shows. So many tales are from an imagined diary entry or news story. We hardly ever see a character or an incident in the moment. Because of this narrative remove, the suspense suffers greatly. This story is a perfect example. What an amazing conceit, and what a great opportunity to follow a character through some seriously creepy happenings. Honestly there is enough material there to fill a full book. Instead we are left with this short work that blows through everything with some strange narrative distance, like reading a news article about a haunted house rather than walking through it.

The ideas are great, the sense of wonder and dashes of anti-natalism are great. I love the weirdo cosmic stuff, the imagined universe far beyond the comprehension of humans. The settings are often perfect, damp, dark, creepy, all the right things. It's just in the plotting. Well, that and the overly verbose mush-mouthed narration--which for some reason I find it more easy to forgive as a byproduct of late 19th or early 20th century intellectualism.

Sure, there is an almost century of difference in literature sensibilities at the core of this critique but it is incredibly frustrating every time I read Lovecraft. It is pretty good stuff with great ideas that with a few tweaks could be a homerun but more often than not winds up as a single--occasionally with an RBI (forgive the horrible baseball analogy). I suppose this is why Lovecraft remains so influential. Scores of us writers have read him and said to ourselves, "Gee this would be so good only if..."

[Tea & Gemimah Read Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did you just have to go and touch it, man? You knew you shouldn’t have touched it. It was glowing, it was ominous, it was literally sitting in a decaying church dedicated to something called the “Starry Wisdom Cult.” That’s not an invitation bro, the entire village is scared, that’s a warning label in neon lights with giant red arrows and a big "WRONG WAY GO BACK SIGN". Surely, ignorable? Right?

The Haunter of the Dark is one of Lovecraft’s absolute best. It’s eerie, perfectly paced, and connects beautifully with the rest of his mythos. You can feel the whole universe humming in the background, complete with ancient gods, sleeping horrors, and the kind of darkness that doesn’t just hide things, it contains them (cosmic batteries included). It’s unnerving in that slow, creeping way where you realise halfway through that you’re holding your breath.

It’s got everything: cults, cosmic dread, and one poor idiot who thought “ancient artifact” sounded like “career opportunity.” It ties into the bigger world seamlessly and ends with one of those “oh, he’s so dead” moments that remind you why Lovecraft never needed jump scares. Nothing but the slow brutality of creeping inevitability.

Four solid stars because sometimes you just have to let the idiot touch the thing so the rest of us can learn from it.

Listen to the audio reading for free at: https://www.youube.com/watch?v=sw6RrX...

[Vlad · Rating 3 out of 5]

«The Haunter of the Dark» справляє суперечливе враження, особливо якщо читати його окремо від «The Shambler from the Stars». Це оповідання існує не як самодостатній твір, а як частина літературної гри між Лавкрафтом і Робертом Блохом — своєрідна відповідь на сюжет «Shambler». У такій зв’язці текст сприймається значно краще: з’являється додатковий рівень іронії та взаємодії авторів.
Однак поза контекстом - «Haunter» читається важче. Оповідь перенасичена описами, розтягнута, довго не переходить до активної частини сюжету. Напруга зростає заповільно, а кульмінація поступається динаміці й виразності «Shambler».

Як частина письменницького діалогу — це цікавий твір і відповідь Блоху. Як окреме оповідання — менш сильний текст, що потребує контексту, аби повністю розкритися.

[Marty Solotki · Rating 4 out of 5]

(2019, Curious Matter Anthology)

Robert Blake is an aspiring writer, and the character is a tribute to Lovecraft’s author friend, Robert Bloch. This tale is considered one of Lovecraft’s seminal works…and was ultimately his last, as he died in 1937. It follows Blake as his obsession with the Church of Starry Wisdom drives him to lockable unspeakable cosmic evil…and ultimately his own madness.

A wild ride expertly put together by the Curious Matter Anthology podcast team…including some solid insight into the problematic Mr. Lovecraft, himself.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for the new Audible Essential Lovecraft audio series.

The audio drama of this story by the wonderful HP Lovecraft Historical Society is one of my favorites. I hadn't listened to the actual story so I gave this a try. The story is great, the narration doesn't fit. It sounds like the story is just being read. The introductions aren't really needed. Try the Historical Society's version instead, both drama and story. They are superb at both.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather dull mashup of ideas from earlier stories. The sleepwalking comes from The Dreams in the Witch House and the concepts, main character, and monsters come from… everywhere else.

Even this story is apparently derivative, written to kill off a character based on another writer after that writer killed off a character based on Lovecraft. Alas, my read-through of most of Lovecraft’s work goes out with a whimper.

[Andrew Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good final story by Lovecraft. The plot is constantly moving; there is plenty of lore; the monster impacts the broader community; and the story is set more in the real world than some of Lovecraft's other outlandish tales.

[Lam Aymar · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars
A good horror story that was plotted well throughout. It was slightly confusing in the end though I enjoyed it nonetheless.

[Brooksie Fontaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Lovecraft's best, I think. Absolutely haunting, especially the final few lines!

[Socpopath · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5, "light is dark and dark is light" especially when you stare into an ancient evil glowing artifact to only be haunted by an eldritch acid spraying winged mass of darkness.

[Konstantinos Papapanagiotou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Εξαιρετικό!!!

[Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure I followed this as well as some others. Good overall.

[Margarita]

Literally the most boring thing I've ever read in my entire life. Lovecraft is really talented at making a thirty-page story seem like it goes on for a thousand years.

[André Sousa · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10 - Short Story

[Timothy McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will not be going to the church on federal hill

[Tony Ciak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story lots of fun!

[Janne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[MVB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Checks all the boxes for a short Lovecraft horror story without anything special really.

[Christopher Struck]

Have now finished the collected works of Lovecraft. Interesting overall, and inspires me to think about writing again someday down the road.

[MrDarkReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

While undoubtedly beautifully written, this one didn’t captivate me much sadly.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok
I stubble with understanding the 1930s language and have to look up a lot of words but I like anything Lovecraft enough to read more plus the investment is only a few days

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Lincoln Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

Pretty good

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny how all the stories have very similar names. This one is about dark evil substance in the tower. Interesting but forgettable

[Vail R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovecraft Tier List: C+

- A very bog-standard Lovecraft first half. Oh there's another old ruined church where a half-forgotten cult communed with forces and dark things that would drive us mad if we knew them more fully? And its dusty shelves contain terrifying grimoires including, but not limited to, the Necronomicon by the mad Arab Abdul Alhazred? Lovecraft, this is the third week in a row you've brought that story to show and tell.

+ After that though, things improve significantly. A monster that's banished by light naturally lends itself to great scenes. Townspeople congregating in the dark, holding whatever lights they can in the hope to keep it at bay. Praying and hoping for the light of lightning strike as the last candles go out in the storm. Good stuff.

* This doesn't matter, but what a generic title. I had to double check it twice when looking for this story on Goodreads because in the two seconds it took to change tabs it slipped from my mind.

[Israeliano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Bloch killed Lovecraft, so Lovecraft was obliged to return the favor.

A new cut, new evil deity, dead researches, superstitious immigrants, monitor roofs, a nice lecturing in architecture, secrets that should remain hidden, lost pharaohs. What else can you ask? "The Haunter of the Dark" has all the right ingredient, well mixed, baked and put on the plate by the master.

It's surprising how the same formula is again and again masterfully put on paper, but with this or that small change, making each one of them unique, and, above all, greatly enjoyable.

It's sad that this is the last of HPL solo works, I'm sure he would have delivered hundreds of pages filled with an elegant pen and terrible secrets.