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Far Below
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About the author
Robert Barbour Johnson
22 books4 followersRobert Barbour Johnson was an artist and writer of weird fiction, whose stories were admired by H.P. Lovecraft.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_...
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 2, 2024
Published in the June 1939 issue of Weird Tales, the first line had me “With a roar and a howl the thing was upon us, out of total darkness”.
The “thing” itself is nothing more unusual than a New York City subway car, but the way it is described estranges it, so that it comes to resemble a bizarre worm crawling though the darkness below the city streets.
But there is a monstrous threat below the city. As Inspector Gordon Craig of the NYPD informs the nameless narrator, “They” have been known to break into the tunnels. You realize you're part of a special New York Subway detail sent to contain it.
Occasionally, "they" dig their way into the subway's lowest tunnel, a stretch of five miles, with the aim of finding prey. They are strong and resourceful and know that to derail a train all one has to do is destroy the rails. They've done this once, taking their pick from the injured and unconscious men, women, and children to feed on.
Writing wise, the authenticity of his own descriptions to the first-hand experiences and accounit of Johnson’s fictional character, coming off as "truth" while Lovecraft’s fiction is a second-hand report adding more ambiguity.
5/5 Best horror short I've seen in a while. Feels like an antiquated, dated, SCP foundation story.
The “thing” itself is nothing more unusual than a New York City subway car, but the way it is described estranges it, so that it comes to resemble a bizarre worm crawling though the darkness below the city streets.
But there is a monstrous threat below the city. As Inspector Gordon Craig of the NYPD informs the nameless narrator, “They” have been known to break into the tunnels. You realize you're part of a special New York Subway detail sent to contain it.
Occasionally, "they" dig their way into the subway's lowest tunnel, a stretch of five miles, with the aim of finding prey. They are strong and resourceful and know that to derail a train all one has to do is destroy the rails. They've done this once, taking their pick from the injured and unconscious men, women, and children to feed on.
Writing wise, the authenticity of his own descriptions to the first-hand experiences and accounit of Johnson’s fictional character, coming off as "truth" while Lovecraft’s fiction is a second-hand report adding more ambiguity.
5/5 Best horror short I've seen in a while. Feels like an antiquated, dated, SCP foundation story.
February 2, 2022
Seriously?! No ratings and no reviews?! This has to change! This is a great collection of all the stories of Robert Barbour Johnson, an obscure weird tales author. Being obscure doesn't mean bad though, as this collection proves that Johnson's style is amazing and really fresh. I love his take on more common horror tropes and monsters like werewolves, witches and vampires, the collection has even a Scooby Doo themed story!!! Yeah it's great get it, read it!
February 16, 2021
Listened to this short story on the HorrorBabble channel on YouTube. And I would highly recommend it for any reader of horror fiction. Great story!
January 30, 2021
It is a rare thing indeed for me to find a ‘Mythos’ (and I use that term loosely) story, or indeed any kind of horror story, frightening. I’m not talking Watership Down scary, but just a tinge of ‘glad I’m not in that book’ scary.
This short story was indeed such a rare beast.
I’m not sure if it was the claustrophobic location or the dry, nonchalant way the narrator described the hellish monsters that were abound, but this wee tale was perfectly, wonderfully a bit scary. Maybe because you could imagine this happening but anyway the atmosphere and indeed the fear, was perfect.
However, there was no need AT ALL for the writer to turn this into a Mythos tale. Adding words like cosmic horror into what was a perfectly good weird tale anyway, do not a Mythos story make. And he randomly just chucked Lovecrafts name IN THE STORY which would have been interesting if not so cringe worthy. Also he used the word nyarlathotep to describe a place, and sorry to be that bitch, but nyarlathotep is a being not a place.
No need to emulate the Mythos bunch my love, your work is perfectly wonderful all by itself.
This short story was indeed such a rare beast.
I’m not sure if it was the claustrophobic location or the dry, nonchalant way the narrator described the hellish monsters that were abound, but this wee tale was perfectly, wonderfully a bit scary. Maybe because you could imagine this happening but anyway the atmosphere and indeed the fear, was perfect.
However, there was no need AT ALL for the writer to turn this into a Mythos tale. Adding words like cosmic horror into what was a perfectly good weird tale anyway, do not a Mythos story make. And he randomly just chucked Lovecrafts name IN THE STORY which would have been interesting if not so cringe worthy. Also he used the word nyarlathotep to describe a place, and sorry to be that bitch, but nyarlathotep is a being not a place.
No need to emulate the Mythos bunch my love, your work is perfectly wonderful all by itself.
August 13, 2023
Enjoyable collection of old pulp stories, with the title story arguably the best, and certainly the best known. Of the nine stories, six were published in the original Weird Tales magazine, all sober and smart variations on weird themes (vampires, werewolves, etc.). The other three were published in other magazines and Johnson' sense of humor comes into play, reminding me a bit of Robert Bloch.
There are three essays, one on the Fortean society, the other two on weird fiction outlets and a defense of fantasy. Idiosyncratic, they suggest Johnson liked the sound of his own voice. There's an able introduction by S. T. Joshi, placing Johnson and his work in context. My only complaint is that there are several typos in the book, though none really crippling to a given story.
There are three essays, one on the Fortean society, the other two on weird fiction outlets and a defense of fantasy. Idiosyncratic, they suggest Johnson liked the sound of his own voice. There's an able introduction by S. T. Joshi, placing Johnson and his work in context. My only complaint is that there are several typos in the book, though none really crippling to a given story.
January 14, 2024
An interesting collection that brings together the "weird" stories written by Robert Barbour Johnson, many of which were originally published in the famous Weird Tales magazine that originally ran from 1923 to 1954.
The stories included here are in the order with which they were written and I definitely feel that there is a noticeable improvement as they go on. The first story "The Cancer Devil" could almost have been the basis for the script of a scooby doo episode. But by the time we get to stories like "Mice", "The Silver Coffin" and "The Strange Case of Monica Lilith", you get a real sense of unease and creepiness in the stories. But by far I would say my favourite is definitely "Far Below", from which the collection takes it's title and, as I understand it, was his most popular story. Written as a tribute to Lovecraft and inspired by "Pickman's Model" without in any way being a pastiche and is a real classic of the genre that any fan of weird fiction should make a point of reading at some point.
Almost as interesting as the stories themselves is the introduction by S. T. Joshi and the included essays written by the author that are laments on the passing of the classic era of speculative fiction in which the primary mode of publication for authors writing in that field was monthly magazines. Certainly it must have been something special to have been around at the time and to have collected and read these magazines. But the author takes a dim view of the future of the genre without them and am happy to say that he has not been entirely vindicated.
So I don't think there's much else (in the 'weird' genre) to be read by this author but I think the idea of collecting and republishing old stories from that era is a great idea and would certainly be reading more of its kind...
The stories included here are in the order with which they were written and I definitely feel that there is a noticeable improvement as they go on. The first story "The Cancer Devil" could almost have been the basis for the script of a scooby doo episode. But by the time we get to stories like "Mice", "The Silver Coffin" and "The Strange Case of Monica Lilith", you get a real sense of unease and creepiness in the stories. But by far I would say my favourite is definitely "Far Below", from which the collection takes it's title and, as I understand it, was his most popular story. Written as a tribute to Lovecraft and inspired by "Pickman's Model" without in any way being a pastiche and is a real classic of the genre that any fan of weird fiction should make a point of reading at some point.
Almost as interesting as the stories themselves is the introduction by S. T. Joshi and the included essays written by the author that are laments on the passing of the classic era of speculative fiction in which the primary mode of publication for authors writing in that field was monthly magazines. Certainly it must have been something special to have been around at the time and to have collected and read these magazines. But the author takes a dim view of the future of the genre without them and am happy to say that he has not been entirely vindicated.
So I don't think there's much else (in the 'weird' genre) to be read by this author but I think the idea of collecting and republishing old stories from that era is a great idea and would certainly be reading more of its kind...
November 29, 2022
Never a prolific author, Robert Johnson's oeuvre is represented in "Far Below and other Weird Stories....born in Hopkinsville KY (where I used to reside) in 1907....Johnson was bitten by the literary bug early, and was hooked after buying a copy of "Weird Tales" in 1923.
A writer in the pulp tradition, Johnson's nine stories deal with zombie-like creature, vampires, and were creatures....
My favorite stories were "Far Below" - where special members of the police department ensure the safety of subway riders from dangerous underground monsters.....and "Silver Coffin" - the story of a family vampire imprisoned in a silver coffin....
Recommended for fans of pulp fiction....
Jeff Mc
A writer in the pulp tradition, Johnson's nine stories deal with zombie-like creature, vampires, and were creatures....
My favorite stories were "Far Below" - where special members of the police department ensure the safety of subway riders from dangerous underground monsters.....and "Silver Coffin" - the story of a family vampire imprisoned in a silver coffin....
Recommended for fans of pulp fiction....
Jeff Mc
October 20, 2021
I like stories like these, apparently describing monstrous supernatural creatures, but subtly discussing our own dark natures. Far Below is basically an interview with a night watchman, master of his domain of darkness under the civilized world - the irony is surely intentional, watching for and against some abominable creatures of the underground. It feels created for radio - after all there is just one guy talking, almost to himself - so it's a good idea to listen to it, like I did.
Dark, short, intriguing. I liked it!
Dark, short, intriguing. I liked it!
June 10, 2022
Classic opening line: “With a roar and a howl the thing was upon us, out of total darkness”
What I like about this story is how Robert Barbour Johnson's monster is quite vague and readers will find themselves creating their own version of this rarely seen creature. The author also leave quite a lot up to the reader's imagination, filling in the narrative gaps. The power and fear of the unknown is key.
What I like about this story is how Robert Barbour Johnson's monster is quite vague and readers will find themselves creating their own version of this rarely seen creature. The author also leave quite a lot up to the reader's imagination, filling in the narrative gaps. The power and fear of the unknown is key.
August 4, 2024
Reminds of 'The Night Wire', which I absolutely adore. The realism of technology and the uncanny of the unknown is a marriage made in heaven.
October 17, 2024
A good story that preys on the true horror of the New York subway system.
September 8, 2025
A great New York subway horror story first published in weird tales magazine!
March 31, 2026
is this story first
"evil monsters in sewers"
work? a trailblazer!
"evil monsters in sewers"
work? a trailblazer!
December 22, 2021
Listened to this one on the HorrorBabble channel on YouTube and it was amazing! It kept my curiosity and attention going for the entire length of the story. I loved the writing style and the way the author introduced and described the monsters. He kept them mysterious, even hard to imagine at times, while also managing to make them feel truly frightening. This one is a 4.5 for me!
January 3, 2024
Absolutely, superlatively atmospheric and horrible work. I can easily see why Far Below was voted the best story published by Weird Tales - there’s a darkness and oppressiveness in every word of this that makes it an incredibly visceral read.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews