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Alhazred: Author of the Necronomicon
H. P. Lovecraft's compelling character, Abdul Alhazred, is brought to life in this epic tale detailing the mad sorcerer's tragic history and magical adventures. Alhazred tells his own life story, beginning with himself as a poor, handsome boy in Yemen who attracts the attention of the king for his divine skill in poetry. As the court poet, young Abdul lives a luxurious life at the palace, where he studies necromancy and magic. But falling in love with the king's daughter leads to a foolish tryst, which is ultimately discovered. As punishment, Abdul is tortured, brutally mutilated, and cast into the desert, known as the Empty Space. Battling insanity, he joins a tribe of ghouls and learns forbidden secrets from a stranger called Nyarlathotep. Thus begins his downward spiral into wickedness. Renamed Alhazred, he escapes the desert and embarks on a quest to restore his body and reunite with his true love. Traveling across the ancient world and fantastic realms, he is hounded by foes and tormented by the demands of his dark lord.
672 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2006
44 people are currently reading
729 people want to read
About the author
Donald Tyson
99 books149 followersDonald Tyson is a Canadian from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Early in life he was drawn to science by an intense fascination with astronomy, building a telescope by hand when he was eight. He began university seeking a science degree, but became disillusioned with the aridity and futility of a mechanistic view of the universe and shifted his major to English. After graduating with honors he has pursued a writing career.
Now he devotes his life to the attainment of a complete gnosis of the art of magic in theory and practice. His purpose is to formulate an accessible system of personal training composed of East and West, past and present, that will help the individual discover the reason for one's existence and a way to fulfill it.
Now he devotes his life to the attainment of a complete gnosis of the art of magic in theory and practice. His purpose is to formulate an accessible system of personal training composed of East and West, past and present, that will help the individual discover the reason for one's existence and a way to fulfill it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 1, 2016
When Abdul Alhazred gets his lover, the daughter of the king, pregnant, he's forced to eat the roasted fetus, along with his own genitals. Mutilated and near death, he is left to die in the Empty Space, the great desert. But that is only the beginning of his journey to becoming the greatest necromancer in existence...
After reading Tales of Alhazred, I jumped at the chance to read this. Much like the time I drank a twelve pack of Angry Orchard, it was too much of a good thing.
Since I read Tales of Alhazred first, this book had a lot to live up to. Sure enough, it chronicled his meetings with Martala and Altrus, as well as his mutilation. Things hinted at in the collection of short stories were given life, like Alhazred's time with the ghouls.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. How could I not with its mixture of swords & sorcery and the Cthulhu mythos? Alhazred learns from a wide variety of teachers and gets into a wide variety of adventures. So why did I only give it a three?
It was too damn long! This could have easily been two or even three books. I feel like Cthulhu rose from his eternal slumber and went back to sleep in the time I was reading it. There were a lot of times I yearned for something major to happen. It probably would have worked best as a collection or two of short stories rather than the never-ending tale of wandering around the Middle East.
Three stars. I didn't like it as much as Tales of Alhazred but I'll read more of Alhazred's adventures at some point.
After reading Tales of Alhazred, I jumped at the chance to read this. Much like the time I drank a twelve pack of Angry Orchard, it was too much of a good thing.
Since I read Tales of Alhazred first, this book had a lot to live up to. Sure enough, it chronicled his meetings with Martala and Altrus, as well as his mutilation. Things hinted at in the collection of short stories were given life, like Alhazred's time with the ghouls.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. How could I not with its mixture of swords & sorcery and the Cthulhu mythos? Alhazred learns from a wide variety of teachers and gets into a wide variety of adventures. So why did I only give it a three?
It was too damn long! This could have easily been two or even three books. I feel like Cthulhu rose from his eternal slumber and went back to sleep in the time I was reading it. There were a lot of times I yearned for something major to happen. It probably would have worked best as a collection or two of short stories rather than the never-ending tale of wandering around the Middle East.
Three stars. I didn't like it as much as Tales of Alhazred but I'll read more of Alhazred's adventures at some point.
August 12, 2012
I'm pretty sure I lost 2d6 sanity points reading this book.
ALHAZRED is the autobiography of a young necromancer who travels the Arabian peninsula circa 1000 A.D., gathering arcane knowledge and trying to keep one step ahead of the various wizards, outlaws, demons and monsters he manages to piss off along the way. This premise could have easily listed sideways into some insipidly awful Daaaaaaark Gawthic Fantasy bullshit territory, yet Tyson's novel is surprisingly light on its feet. ALHAZRED is a taut, action-packed historical romp and definitely the best novel featuring a corpse-eating protagonist since Hannibal Lecter was in his heyday. If squick's not your thing, give this one a pass. I'm not spoiling too much to say the protagonist is forced to eat his own barbecued genitals in Chapter One, and his diet only gets more, uh, varied from there.
You will like this book if :
- You're a fan of H.P. Lovecraft, Clive Barker, the Reanimator and Evil Dead movies
- You've got a long airplane flight and want a light fantasy pulp read while listening to your "1980s Satanic Speed Metal" playlist.
- You felt Game of Thrones needed fewer boobs and more cannibalism.
- You were suckered into reading a Guillermo Del Toro or Poppy Z. Brite novel and want to get the bad taste out of your mouth, so to speak.
ALHAZRED is the autobiography of a young necromancer who travels the Arabian peninsula circa 1000 A.D., gathering arcane knowledge and trying to keep one step ahead of the various wizards, outlaws, demons and monsters he manages to piss off along the way. This premise could have easily listed sideways into some insipidly awful Daaaaaaark Gawthic Fantasy bullshit territory, yet Tyson's novel is surprisingly light on its feet. ALHAZRED is a taut, action-packed historical romp and definitely the best novel featuring a corpse-eating protagonist since Hannibal Lecter was in his heyday. If squick's not your thing, give this one a pass. I'm not spoiling too much to say the protagonist is forced to eat his own barbecued genitals in Chapter One, and his diet only gets more, uh, varied from there.
You will like this book if :
- You're a fan of H.P. Lovecraft, Clive Barker, the Reanimator and Evil Dead movies
- You've got a long airplane flight and want a light fantasy pulp read while listening to your "1980s Satanic Speed Metal" playlist.
- You felt Game of Thrones needed fewer boobs and more cannibalism.
- You were suckered into reading a Guillermo Del Toro or Poppy Z. Brite novel and want to get the bad taste out of your mouth, so to speak.
May 3, 2014
Donald Tyson – Alhazred: The Author of the Necronomicon
Has any horror reader not heard tell of that tome of blackest occult knowledge, the Necronomicon? Invented by H.P. Lovecraft, and referred to in his ‘Cthulhu mythos’ stories, the fictional grimoire has achieved a mythic status, even acquiring its own rabid fans, self-styled ‘occultists’ who insist that the book, written, according to Lovecraft’s tales, by the ‘mad Arab’ Abdul Alhazred, must truly exist. Indeed, two books entitled ‘Necronomicon’ do exist – one written in the 80’s by an occultist associated with the now-defunct Magickal Childe shop in NYC, and one more recently by the author of ‘Alhazred,’ Donald Tyson.
Even during H.P. Lovecraft’s tragically short lifetime, he ‘shared’ elements of his mythos with friends and correspondents. The list of writers who have written stories influenced by his work is long and contains names not insignificant to horror fans. Among the classics are Ambrose Bierce, Robert Bloch, August W. Derleth, Robert E. Howard, Henry Kuttner and Clark Ashton Smith. More recently, contemporary horror and science fiction authors have also turned their pens to pay tribute to the master: Gene Wolfe, Ramsey Campbell, Harlan Ellison, Roger Zelazny: Poppy Z. Brite, Joanna Russ, Bruce Sterling, Esther M. Friesner, Thomas Ligotti and more were all featured in Arkham House Publishers’ tribute anthology ‘Cthulhu 2000.’
But by far the most ambitious and significant work of fiction based on Lovecraft’s work published to date must be ‘Alhazred: Author of the Necronomicon.’ Although the book is presented by a company known for their non-fiction New Age titles, Llewellyn, and its author, Donald Tyson, has written well over a dozen non-fiction works in the genre, ‘Alhazred’ is purely a work of fantastic horror fiction, with no pretensions toward occult revelation. Unlike Lovecraft’s output, which consisted mainly of short stories, ‘Alhazred’ is, itself, a significant tome, mysteriously weighing more than most books its size (Good-quality paper? Or something more inexplicable?), and numbering 667 pages (Why not 666? – Now that’s a wasted opportunity).
The book tells the story of Lovecraft’s ‘mad Arab’s early years, before his writing of his book of black magic. The background given by Lovecraft is skimpy enough - in his ‘History of the Necronomicon’ he wrote:
“mad poet of Sanaá, in Yemen, who is said to have flourished during the period of the Ommiade caliphs, circa 700 A.D. He visited the ruins of Babylon and the subterranean secrets of Memphis and spent ten years alone in the great southern desert of Arabia — the Roba el Khaliyeh or "Empty Space" of the ancients.... In his last years Alhazred dwelt in Damascus.”
Tyson follows this outline, starting with Alhazred’s beginnings as a talented youth under the patronage of a wealthy caliph, and following him through many wanderings and quests to Damascus – but he fleshes out the story in many ways, some of which may delight Lovecraft purists, others which may raise quibbles. Alhazred’s illegal studies of necromancy and occult knowledge are tolerated – until he angers the caliph by conducting an illicit affair with his daughter. Grotesquely punished and mutilated, he is cast out and begins his life as a wanderer. Falling in with a tribe of flesh-eating ghouls in the ‘Empty Space,’ for the rest of the story, he self-identifies as a ghoul, not a man. He becomes, unwillingly, the tool of the mysterious Dark Chaos, Nyarlathotep, who repeatedly visits him in dreams. He encounters a djinn, who takes up residence in his body, and later acquires a partner in crime, a girl, Martala, from a family of grave-robbers. From a writer’s perspective, the inclusion of Martala makes sense. Alhazred is a remarkably non-sympathetic character, completely amoral and without any feelings except those conducive to self-preservation and the gain of necromantic knowledge. He isn’t someone that the average reader can easily connect with. Even though she has few ethical standards, Martala is still human, and acts as a foil to his character.
Lovecraft purists may also object to the literary style of the book. Tyson is an accomplished writer – but his style is nothing like that of Lovecraft. Lovecraft loved antiquarian words, and intentionally created a very 18th-century feel to his stories, using phrases and terms which were already out-of-fashion when he was writing. He also is frequently lauded for his ability to conjure an atmosphere of terror and fear without coming right out and telling the reader. His horrors often happen off-screen, as it were. His writing is full of things that cannot be named, monsters which the mind cannot encompass, gods whose visages cannot be described… Tyson, on the other hand, can be compared more accurately to stylists such as Clive Barker. He has no problem coming right out and telling his readers every disgusting and gory detail – there are several scenes in the book which are not for the faint-of-stomach.
Still, for any reader who doesn’t mind imagining exactly how it might feel and taste to consume a human brain straight from the skull… and who appreciates Lovecraft’s mythos, this homage to his work is a respectful tribute – as well as an entertaining novel with a good mix of adventure and horror.
Biographical note:
Althea spent several of her formative years in Providence, Rhode Island, home of the master of horror H.P. Lovecraft. After school, she would often hang out in Swan Point Cemetery, site of his final resting place, where her friend did at one point in time encounter a giant and rather horrific slug with her bare foot - but the Elder Gods never made themselves manifest.
Has any horror reader not heard tell of that tome of blackest occult knowledge, the Necronomicon? Invented by H.P. Lovecraft, and referred to in his ‘Cthulhu mythos’ stories, the fictional grimoire has achieved a mythic status, even acquiring its own rabid fans, self-styled ‘occultists’ who insist that the book, written, according to Lovecraft’s tales, by the ‘mad Arab’ Abdul Alhazred, must truly exist. Indeed, two books entitled ‘Necronomicon’ do exist – one written in the 80’s by an occultist associated with the now-defunct Magickal Childe shop in NYC, and one more recently by the author of ‘Alhazred,’ Donald Tyson.
Even during H.P. Lovecraft’s tragically short lifetime, he ‘shared’ elements of his mythos with friends and correspondents. The list of writers who have written stories influenced by his work is long and contains names not insignificant to horror fans. Among the classics are Ambrose Bierce, Robert Bloch, August W. Derleth, Robert E. Howard, Henry Kuttner and Clark Ashton Smith. More recently, contemporary horror and science fiction authors have also turned their pens to pay tribute to the master: Gene Wolfe, Ramsey Campbell, Harlan Ellison, Roger Zelazny: Poppy Z. Brite, Joanna Russ, Bruce Sterling, Esther M. Friesner, Thomas Ligotti and more were all featured in Arkham House Publishers’ tribute anthology ‘Cthulhu 2000.’
But by far the most ambitious and significant work of fiction based on Lovecraft’s work published to date must be ‘Alhazred: Author of the Necronomicon.’ Although the book is presented by a company known for their non-fiction New Age titles, Llewellyn, and its author, Donald Tyson, has written well over a dozen non-fiction works in the genre, ‘Alhazred’ is purely a work of fantastic horror fiction, with no pretensions toward occult revelation. Unlike Lovecraft’s output, which consisted mainly of short stories, ‘Alhazred’ is, itself, a significant tome, mysteriously weighing more than most books its size (Good-quality paper? Or something more inexplicable?), and numbering 667 pages (Why not 666? – Now that’s a wasted opportunity).
The book tells the story of Lovecraft’s ‘mad Arab’s early years, before his writing of his book of black magic. The background given by Lovecraft is skimpy enough - in his ‘History of the Necronomicon’ he wrote:
“mad poet of Sanaá, in Yemen, who is said to have flourished during the period of the Ommiade caliphs, circa 700 A.D. He visited the ruins of Babylon and the subterranean secrets of Memphis and spent ten years alone in the great southern desert of Arabia — the Roba el Khaliyeh or "Empty Space" of the ancients.... In his last years Alhazred dwelt in Damascus.”
Tyson follows this outline, starting with Alhazred’s beginnings as a talented youth under the patronage of a wealthy caliph, and following him through many wanderings and quests to Damascus – but he fleshes out the story in many ways, some of which may delight Lovecraft purists, others which may raise quibbles. Alhazred’s illegal studies of necromancy and occult knowledge are tolerated – until he angers the caliph by conducting an illicit affair with his daughter. Grotesquely punished and mutilated, he is cast out and begins his life as a wanderer. Falling in with a tribe of flesh-eating ghouls in the ‘Empty Space,’ for the rest of the story, he self-identifies as a ghoul, not a man. He becomes, unwillingly, the tool of the mysterious Dark Chaos, Nyarlathotep, who repeatedly visits him in dreams. He encounters a djinn, who takes up residence in his body, and later acquires a partner in crime, a girl, Martala, from a family of grave-robbers. From a writer’s perspective, the inclusion of Martala makes sense. Alhazred is a remarkably non-sympathetic character, completely amoral and without any feelings except those conducive to self-preservation and the gain of necromantic knowledge. He isn’t someone that the average reader can easily connect with. Even though she has few ethical standards, Martala is still human, and acts as a foil to his character.
Lovecraft purists may also object to the literary style of the book. Tyson is an accomplished writer – but his style is nothing like that of Lovecraft. Lovecraft loved antiquarian words, and intentionally created a very 18th-century feel to his stories, using phrases and terms which were already out-of-fashion when he was writing. He also is frequently lauded for his ability to conjure an atmosphere of terror and fear without coming right out and telling the reader. His horrors often happen off-screen, as it were. His writing is full of things that cannot be named, monsters which the mind cannot encompass, gods whose visages cannot be described… Tyson, on the other hand, can be compared more accurately to stylists such as Clive Barker. He has no problem coming right out and telling his readers every disgusting and gory detail – there are several scenes in the book which are not for the faint-of-stomach.
Still, for any reader who doesn’t mind imagining exactly how it might feel and taste to consume a human brain straight from the skull… and who appreciates Lovecraft’s mythos, this homage to his work is a respectful tribute – as well as an entertaining novel with a good mix of adventure and horror.
Biographical note:
Althea spent several of her formative years in Providence, Rhode Island, home of the master of horror H.P. Lovecraft. After school, she would often hang out in Swan Point Cemetery, site of his final resting place, where her friend did at one point in time encounter a giant and rather horrific slug with her bare foot - but the Elder Gods never made themselves manifest.
January 7, 2014
I totally loved this book and for several reasons. First off the author has done his research on the Middle East. He put Alhazred's story back into it's proper context. The Mad Arab grew up and experienced his adventures in the Middle East so it is only proper that Egyptian Gods, Jinn, Ghoul's , Indian Thuggies and sultans play a part with the ever present spectre of the Old ones hidden in the background just outside of everyone's view.
The story starts off in Yemen when Alhazred, the kings poet , falls in love with Narissa, the King's daughter. They have an illicit affair that ends up with her getting pregnant. After they get caught the king of Yemen mutilates Alhazred's face, castrates him and leaves him to die in the Empty Quarter. But Alhazred is resourceful and he survives instead of dying. During his desert journey's he befriends a tribe of ghouls, makes friends with a female jinn and steals from caravans that which he needs in order oreto survive. After his tenure with the ghouls, who by the way die from poison, Alhazred wanders to the lost city of Irem or Ubar. Itn is there that he confronts a witch and learns the history of the old ones. After leaving the desert with numerous jewels he makes his way Egypt going through such cities as Bubastis, Babylon and Alexandria. It is in Egypt that he meets with Martala and makes enemies with Farri, s street thug.Farria and thugs follow Alhazred through Egypt and do not stop until he is killed for the first time. In Egypt he also steals a scroll to summon the Old ones which angers a group called the Order of the Sphinx. In a fight with this order he is infected with a poison that will kill him in days unless he finds the cure.
Months after his first death he wakes up in Alexandria, Egypt. In possession of what he needs he makes his way to Mesopotamia.It is there that he finds a garden paradise and tries to find the Well of Seraph in Vain hopes that this will rest his damaged body. His hopes are dashes. Constantly evading the Order of the Sphinx he travels with Thuggees to Damascus where he befriends a group of Necromancers in Damascus. But all is not well as the Caliph wishes to kill the Necromancers. In the end magic is not a salvation but always the good old fashion sword that comes to aid.
Through out his travels Alhazred is bothered in his dreams by Nyalathotep , the dark one. In this take we come across several deities from Cthulhu mythos. Like I mentioned earlier this one puts us in the Middle East. Yet it lacks the same imaginary frightfulness of Lovecraft's writing
The story starts off in Yemen when Alhazred, the kings poet , falls in love with Narissa, the King's daughter. They have an illicit affair that ends up with her getting pregnant. After they get caught the king of Yemen mutilates Alhazred's face, castrates him and leaves him to die in the Empty Quarter. But Alhazred is resourceful and he survives instead of dying. During his desert journey's he befriends a tribe of ghouls, makes friends with a female jinn and steals from caravans that which he needs in order oreto survive. After his tenure with the ghouls, who by the way die from poison, Alhazred wanders to the lost city of Irem or Ubar. Itn is there that he confronts a witch and learns the history of the old ones. After leaving the desert with numerous jewels he makes his way Egypt going through such cities as Bubastis, Babylon and Alexandria. It is in Egypt that he meets with Martala and makes enemies with Farri, s street thug.Farria and thugs follow Alhazred through Egypt and do not stop until he is killed for the first time. In Egypt he also steals a scroll to summon the Old ones which angers a group called the Order of the Sphinx. In a fight with this order he is infected with a poison that will kill him in days unless he finds the cure.
Months after his first death he wakes up in Alexandria, Egypt. In possession of what he needs he makes his way to Mesopotamia.It is there that he finds a garden paradise and tries to find the Well of Seraph in Vain hopes that this will rest his damaged body. His hopes are dashes. Constantly evading the Order of the Sphinx he travels with Thuggees to Damascus where he befriends a group of Necromancers in Damascus. But all is not well as the Caliph wishes to kill the Necromancers. In the end magic is not a salvation but always the good old fashion sword that comes to aid.
Through out his travels Alhazred is bothered in his dreams by Nyalathotep , the dark one. In this take we come across several deities from Cthulhu mythos. Like I mentioned earlier this one puts us in the Middle East. Yet it lacks the same imaginary frightfulness of Lovecraft's writing
September 4, 2012
The story is narrated by Abdul Alhazred the Mad Arab. It starts by leading readers through his torture, mutilation, and banishment, condemned to die in the vast desert known as the "Empty Space".
Death doesn't come that easily for Alhazred though, and given incentive by a dark figure known as Nyarlathotep, he carries onto better fortune, and fates that may be considered far worse. He encounters several fictional creatures such as Djinn, ghouls, and many different Lovecraftian horrors.
Donald Tyson is not afraid to tell a gruesome tale, as the plot is full of extremely graphic violence, so this book is not for the faint of heart. However, for those ready to read an adventure, in this book, there are many. In fact, where other authors would make several small novels each with one important task, Tyson throws them all into one fantastic epic.
Alhazred is not your typical hero either, in fact, some may question his alignment. Is he good? Is he evil? Alhazred doesn't fit neatly into either category, and often makes decisions some would consider immoral, as well as acts that the average person would consider "the right thing to do", and instead of applying the same reasoning to each action, he has many different motivations.
On top of many plot elements, interesting character development, vivid- amazing settings and monsters, and a large pile of characters including friends, foes, and foes of foes, there is a very widespread magical system to boot. Magic includes illusion, seals, summoning the dead, resurrection, instant death, and more. All of them with many different magical elements and backgrounds, rather than one globally accepted magical system (Such as in the Inheritance Cycle, Harry Potter, etc).
Overall, this is a great read that I highly recommend to anyone interested in fantasy adventure, the Cthulhu mythos, or a just long epic, and is okay with severe violent and sexual content.
Death doesn't come that easily for Alhazred though, and given incentive by a dark figure known as Nyarlathotep, he carries onto better fortune, and fates that may be considered far worse. He encounters several fictional creatures such as Djinn, ghouls, and many different Lovecraftian horrors.
Donald Tyson is not afraid to tell a gruesome tale, as the plot is full of extremely graphic violence, so this book is not for the faint of heart. However, for those ready to read an adventure, in this book, there are many. In fact, where other authors would make several small novels each with one important task, Tyson throws them all into one fantastic epic.
Alhazred is not your typical hero either, in fact, some may question his alignment. Is he good? Is he evil? Alhazred doesn't fit neatly into either category, and often makes decisions some would consider immoral, as well as acts that the average person would consider "the right thing to do", and instead of applying the same reasoning to each action, he has many different motivations.
On top of many plot elements, interesting character development, vivid- amazing settings and monsters, and a large pile of characters including friends, foes, and foes of foes, there is a very widespread magical system to boot. Magic includes illusion, seals, summoning the dead, resurrection, instant death, and more. All of them with many different magical elements and backgrounds, rather than one globally accepted magical system (Such as in the Inheritance Cycle, Harry Potter, etc).
Overall, this is a great read that I highly recommend to anyone interested in fantasy adventure, the Cthulhu mythos, or a just long epic, and is okay with severe violent and sexual content.
April 15, 2016
Having fallen in love with the Yemeni King Huban's daughter Alhazred gets her pregnant.
When this is discovered he is tortured, forced to eat the grilled body of the miscarried fetus (amongst other things), mutilated and set loose in the desert (the Empty Space) of Yemen to die. He does not do this. Rather, he becomes a cannibal to survive, then becomes a ghoul and finally sets out on a quest to restore his body (deconstructed by the torture and mutilation). The bulk of the book is concerned with this quest.
Though heavily Lovecraftian (lots of unnameable beasties and subterranean adventures...as wall as the ubiquitous 'Dark Wanderer' ~ Nyarlathotep...of course a servant of chaos...aren't they always though ) the narrative is a fairly typical quest narrative. And although the narrative is not insightful the style is non-disruptive and pleasant and the action makes up for a lack of character depth.
Alhazred is an amoral protagonist and so the shift away from a morality play, which is typical of such narratives, is refreshing. Alhazred isn't evil but he does behave so on occasion. He is predominantly self-interested, while at the same time, on occasion, capable of compassion.
The conclusion was predictable, but it did tie of the quest nicely.
Though typical, redundant, and over-written the book is a refreshing change of pace...especially since Alhazred is not punished for his wicked behavior though this is hinted at when he considers that he is damned for his services to the 'Old Ones'.
Not for the squeamish or those with a well-defined moral sensibility.
When this is discovered he is tortured, forced to eat the grilled body of the miscarried fetus (amongst other things), mutilated and set loose in the desert (the Empty Space) of Yemen to die. He does not do this. Rather, he becomes a cannibal to survive, then becomes a ghoul and finally sets out on a quest to restore his body (deconstructed by the torture and mutilation). The bulk of the book is concerned with this quest.
Though heavily Lovecraftian (lots of unnameable beasties and subterranean adventures...as wall as the ubiquitous 'Dark Wanderer' ~ Nyarlathotep...of course a servant of chaos...aren't they always though ) the narrative is a fairly typical quest narrative. And although the narrative is not insightful the style is non-disruptive and pleasant and the action makes up for a lack of character depth.
Alhazred is an amoral protagonist and so the shift away from a morality play, which is typical of such narratives, is refreshing. Alhazred isn't evil but he does behave so on occasion. He is predominantly self-interested, while at the same time, on occasion, capable of compassion.
The conclusion was predictable, but it did tie of the quest nicely.
Though typical, redundant, and over-written the book is a refreshing change of pace...especially since Alhazred is not punished for his wicked behavior though this is hinted at when he considers that he is damned for his services to the 'Old Ones'.
Not for the squeamish or those with a well-defined moral sensibility.
December 30, 2012
For me, Alhazred is one of those life-changing kind of books. It's not going to be that for most people, it just happened to fall into my hands at the exact time I needed a book like that. I also had to be aware that I needed it, for what I took from it, could have made me worse, not better.
But I won't get into details – it's a review, not my life story ;)
This is not a hard read, Tyson is a great writer and the story is very smooth. Abdul Alhazred, author of the Necronomicon, goes 'walkabout' and we follow him on his journey of discovery. Basically, Alhazred learns about himself along the way, and if you are clued on while you are reading, you too will learn about yourself along the way. You will walk with Alhazred through evil places, and alongside foul beings, how will you interpret them? Do yourself a favour, go on an adventure that you might not otherwise take :)
But I won't get into details – it's a review, not my life story ;)
This is not a hard read, Tyson is a great writer and the story is very smooth. Abdul Alhazred, author of the Necronomicon, goes 'walkabout' and we follow him on his journey of discovery. Basically, Alhazred learns about himself along the way, and if you are clued on while you are reading, you too will learn about yourself along the way. You will walk with Alhazred through evil places, and alongside foul beings, how will you interpret them? Do yourself a favour, go on an adventure that you might not otherwise take :)
April 9, 2014
While in a shop filled with crystals and new age goods, I came across this treasure while my girlfriend poked around for whatever it was she was looking for.
As a fan of Lovecraft's work, I had to nab it. This was especially true with its low sale price. One can never pass over inexpensive books of interest, can they?
Honestly, I held off a bit due to the length of the book. Once I started, I was pretty well hooked. OK. It did take me a few pages. The start was looking at a yound Alhazred as an arrogant and egotistical man. I initially wondered if I would be able to appreciate or like him at the start.
Once the first few pages went by, it hit a major change that shocked me. Alhazred is castrated, disfigured, and exiled from Yemen for transgressions against the king.
Near death and trying to survive in the desert, his true story begins. Not only is he seeking a way to restore his manhood and regain his physical attractiveness, he seeks out other occult knowledge.
During his travels, Alhazred encounters many people and creatures in his travels. He befriends some and betrays others.
I found this to be quite a smooth read. Although I was not fond of the main character throughout most of the story, I found him to be quite interesting.
It was a relatively smooth read, despite the length. I was disappointed at the lack of resolution at the end, but would definitely read a sequel should the opportunity arise.
Fans of the Lovecraft mythos, the occult, and the bizarre should check this one out.
As a fan of Lovecraft's work, I had to nab it. This was especially true with its low sale price. One can never pass over inexpensive books of interest, can they?
Honestly, I held off a bit due to the length of the book. Once I started, I was pretty well hooked. OK. It did take me a few pages. The start was looking at a yound Alhazred as an arrogant and egotistical man. I initially wondered if I would be able to appreciate or like him at the start.
Once the first few pages went by, it hit a major change that shocked me. Alhazred is castrated, disfigured, and exiled from Yemen for transgressions against the king.
Near death and trying to survive in the desert, his true story begins. Not only is he seeking a way to restore his manhood and regain his physical attractiveness, he seeks out other occult knowledge.
During his travels, Alhazred encounters many people and creatures in his travels. He befriends some and betrays others.
I found this to be quite a smooth read. Although I was not fond of the main character throughout most of the story, I found him to be quite interesting.
It was a relatively smooth read, despite the length. I was disappointed at the lack of resolution at the end, but would definitely read a sequel should the opportunity arise.
Fans of the Lovecraft mythos, the occult, and the bizarre should check this one out.
November 17, 2012
DRIBBLE. I received a free copy of this book and felt that I would spend some spare time over the summer reading it. The more I read, the harder I found it to understand the plot. Interestingly enough, I kept reading the book hoping to actually understand what the plot was more than anything else. I completed the book content with the understanding that there isn't any plot at all! It is simply a collection of disconnected and boring 'events' in the main character's adventures. Thank God this book was free for me. I am still trying to figure out if there is any way I can get the wasted hours I spent reading this book back! it is nearly one of the worst books I've read. If anyone wants this book, send me an email before I use it as kindling. I understand this is a lovecrafty book, but as a first in a series it should be able to stand on its own
May 13, 2016
Sword-and-sorcery style pulp fiction with good research on the setting (ancient Iraq, Egypt, and surrounding countries) and a cut-throat protagonist. Set in Lovecraft's universe, but lacking in his style since it reads like more of a straightforward pulp fantasy (think: Conan the Barbarian) with great action but fairly flat characters, and has an ending that dovetails irritatingly in the direction of a sequel with no sign of the Necronomicon in sight! Don't know if I'd buy it, but it was a fun read if you can borrow a copy from Slinky like I did. :)
April 15, 2011
Excellent novel (or is it a biography?) that deserves five stars based on its own merits: well crafted characters in a richly imagined setting.
However, it falls well short of my expectations based on the Lovecraft mythos. And I am not sure that any book could ever fulfill those expectations.
Also interesting to note that the portrayal of Alhazred is substantially different that the portrayal in Tyson's Necronomicon. Many of the details are the same, but the overall result is very different.
However, it falls well short of my expectations based on the Lovecraft mythos. And I am not sure that any book could ever fulfill those expectations.
Also interesting to note that the portrayal of Alhazred is substantially different that the portrayal in Tyson's Necronomicon. Many of the details are the same, but the overall result is very different.
December 15, 2016
Since I already had 'The Necronomicon,' The Grimoire of the Necronomicon,' and 'The Necronomicon Tarot,' I planned to pass this one up. My friend Big Will talked it up pretty well however, so I sought out a good, used copy. I'm quite glad I did. This essentially covers similar ground to his first work, but instead of dry descriptors, this is a narrative story and quite entertaining. I recommend this to anyone with an interest in the Lovecraftian Mythos.
July 15, 2014
Gruesome but very imaginative, I highly enjoyed this book.
March 26, 2020
"Grotesque and gory, Tyson holds nothing back when recounting the many adventures of Alhazred that will become the Necronomicon. By the end of it though, everything is so typical and expected that it's a disappointment overall."
Pros: Each page is rife with the atmosphere of Lovecraftian Mythos. Though it's set in the desert, the reader can't help but feel the chill of the underwater city of R'yleh where Ctthullhu lies dreaming and other nightmarish places.
Cons: This book is visceral and gruesome and pulls absolutely no punches. In the first two chapters Alhazred is tortured/disfigured and forced to do terrible things that I'm hesitant to mention in a review to the public; it was that gruesome.
Full Review
Abdullah, a beloved poet of the king of Yemen is cast out when his love affair with the princess is discovered after she suffers a miscarriage. Tortured and disfigured, kept prisoner and then banished, Abdullah is left to die in the desert. Somehow, he survives and is visited in his dreams by a creature in a black robe who gives him the name of Alhazred. In his wanderings, he finds a cave full of small, white spiders, that he discovers, when eaten, gives him the power of "second sight." He can see in the darkness and everything that's living and dead glows with a strange, silver light.
His stay in the desert begins with him befriending a pack of Ghouls, the Black River Clan. He also allows a Djinn, a spirit, to possess his body and mind, whom he names Shasi. He learns much during his time with the Ghouls and in his twisted mind thinks of them as friends, but their time together is not to last. The Ghouls are eventually killed after eating the poisoned flesh of a dead child. Alhazred, then wanders to the ruins of the City of Irem and spends time learning of the doomed fate of the city's inhabitants by a witch who witnessed it all. While he stays with her, he hears her speaking to a creature that lives on the other side of a rock wall and in their strange speech he manages to glean the names of Nyarlarthotep, Yog-Sototh and Cthullhu.
Fans of H.P. Lovecraft will obviously know these names are associated with the Elder Gods. And once he leaves the witch and finally stumbles back into the desert, he uses powers shown to him by Nyarlarthotep (the figure in the black robe from his dreams) to hide his disfigurement and go about his travels. He also learned the art of "soul travel" while staying in the ruins of Irem and was able to possess the minds and bodies of people in far away lands and learn of their culture. He visits places like Stonehenge, Atlantis etc but it all comes to an end when he calls upon the name of Nyarlarthotep to rescue him from an ill fated travel.
He is now on a boat to the port of Suez. And the men think he is a Djinn, a ghoul or genie, since the glamour spell he used to hide his disfigurement faded while he slept and a crew-member saw his true face. He managed to convince them all that he was instead, a Necromancer and that if they let him live, he would bring the wind again in two days time and every day forward he would create a jewel out of thin air. Which he did, but because he already had the jewelry on his person from having stolen it in the ruins of Irem.
He reaches Suez, with the Djinn, Shasi, still possessing him. He meets a girl there, who can see into his mind and sees the dark form of Nyarlathotep. Suffice it to say, they team up, go on many adventures together and though Alhazred never exactly gets what he wants in the end, he learns more than enough in his travels that he is more than content to put it all in a book, hence, the creation of the Necronomicon.
This book was heavy and interesting for the sheer fact that it was connected to the Lovecraft Mythos, but by the end of it I just wanted it to be done. It was too long, too graphic, and the situations that Ahlazred found himself in and how he always somehow always ended up coming out on top, it just became rote and boring overall.
I'd recommend this book, or at least a passing glance of it, to anyone who likes Lovecraft but other than that, it's not worth the time.
Pros: Each page is rife with the atmosphere of Lovecraftian Mythos. Though it's set in the desert, the reader can't help but feel the chill of the underwater city of R'yleh where Ctthullhu lies dreaming and other nightmarish places.
Cons: This book is visceral and gruesome and pulls absolutely no punches. In the first two chapters Alhazred is tortured/disfigured and forced to do terrible things that I'm hesitant to mention in a review to the public; it was that gruesome.
Full Review
Abdullah, a beloved poet of the king of Yemen is cast out when his love affair with the princess is discovered after she suffers a miscarriage. Tortured and disfigured, kept prisoner and then banished, Abdullah is left to die in the desert. Somehow, he survives and is visited in his dreams by a creature in a black robe who gives him the name of Alhazred. In his wanderings, he finds a cave full of small, white spiders, that he discovers, when eaten, gives him the power of "second sight." He can see in the darkness and everything that's living and dead glows with a strange, silver light.
His stay in the desert begins with him befriending a pack of Ghouls, the Black River Clan. He also allows a Djinn, a spirit, to possess his body and mind, whom he names Shasi. He learns much during his time with the Ghouls and in his twisted mind thinks of them as friends, but their time together is not to last. The Ghouls are eventually killed after eating the poisoned flesh of a dead child. Alhazred, then wanders to the ruins of the City of Irem and spends time learning of the doomed fate of the city's inhabitants by a witch who witnessed it all. While he stays with her, he hears her speaking to a creature that lives on the other side of a rock wall and in their strange speech he manages to glean the names of Nyarlarthotep, Yog-Sototh and Cthullhu.
Fans of H.P. Lovecraft will obviously know these names are associated with the Elder Gods. And once he leaves the witch and finally stumbles back into the desert, he uses powers shown to him by Nyarlarthotep (the figure in the black robe from his dreams) to hide his disfigurement and go about his travels. He also learned the art of "soul travel" while staying in the ruins of Irem and was able to possess the minds and bodies of people in far away lands and learn of their culture. He visits places like Stonehenge, Atlantis etc but it all comes to an end when he calls upon the name of Nyarlarthotep to rescue him from an ill fated travel.
He is now on a boat to the port of Suez. And the men think he is a Djinn, a ghoul or genie, since the glamour spell he used to hide his disfigurement faded while he slept and a crew-member saw his true face. He managed to convince them all that he was instead, a Necromancer and that if they let him live, he would bring the wind again in two days time and every day forward he would create a jewel out of thin air. Which he did, but because he already had the jewelry on his person from having stolen it in the ruins of Irem.
He reaches Suez, with the Djinn, Shasi, still possessing him. He meets a girl there, who can see into his mind and sees the dark form of Nyarlathotep. Suffice it to say, they team up, go on many adventures together and though Alhazred never exactly gets what he wants in the end, he learns more than enough in his travels that he is more than content to put it all in a book, hence, the creation of the Necronomicon.
This book was heavy and interesting for the sheer fact that it was connected to the Lovecraft Mythos, but by the end of it I just wanted it to be done. It was too long, too graphic, and the situations that Ahlazred found himself in and how he always somehow always ended up coming out on top, it just became rote and boring overall.
I'd recommend this book, or at least a passing glance of it, to anyone who likes Lovecraft but other than that, it's not worth the time.
October 9, 2017
Arabian deserts, Bedouins, djinn, ghouls, palaces, monsters, and Nyarlathotep - the dark, mysterious and faceless desert wanderer - haunting your dreams, what's not to love?
Tyson has a vivid, colorful and addictive writing style with a strong atmosphere that pulls you in and keeps you there. The writing flows beautifully, and really makes the scenes come alive on the page. I found myself taking my time reading this so I wouldn't miss the beautiful scenery, not to mention the incredibly colorful cast of characters Alhazred encounters along the way.
It is not as dark, horrifying and bizarre as Lovecraft's own stories can be, so keep that in mind. It feels more like a fun and magical adventure story in an Arabian setting with darker (and a few gory) elements rather than horror.
It had some flaws, as all stories do in one way or another, but I was too busy enjoying the story for them to annoy me.
I enjoyed it immensely for what it was - mysterious, magical and fun! Will definitely check out more of his books.
Tyson has a vivid, colorful and addictive writing style with a strong atmosphere that pulls you in and keeps you there. The writing flows beautifully, and really makes the scenes come alive on the page. I found myself taking my time reading this so I wouldn't miss the beautiful scenery, not to mention the incredibly colorful cast of characters Alhazred encounters along the way.
It is not as dark, horrifying and bizarre as Lovecraft's own stories can be, so keep that in mind. It feels more like a fun and magical adventure story in an Arabian setting with darker (and a few gory) elements rather than horror.
It had some flaws, as all stories do in one way or another, but I was too busy enjoying the story for them to annoy me.
I enjoyed it immensely for what it was - mysterious, magical and fun! Will definitely check out more of his books.
September 12, 2020
I read this book years ago, then lost it, then spent years trying to track down another copy. It's a simple narrative that follows anti-hero Alhazred, whose real name is never given, as he is tortured, exiled, finds a lost city, consults with ancient monsters, and journeys through encounters with mythical entities of the seventh century or so.
There's plenty of conflict as Alhazred falls from one trap into another, pitting his enemies against one another with his impressively resourceful trickery. One has to admire his dedication to attaining his goal, even if his lack of honor is disturbing. Much of this book is disturbing, though not because of such crude devices as sex or violence. Tyson seems to have generated this text following a genuine study of medieval black magic and the works of H.P. Lovecraft. It is very good.
There's plenty of conflict as Alhazred falls from one trap into another, pitting his enemies against one another with his impressively resourceful trickery. One has to admire his dedication to attaining his goal, even if his lack of honor is disturbing. Much of this book is disturbing, though not because of such crude devices as sex or violence. Tyson seems to have generated this text following a genuine study of medieval black magic and the works of H.P. Lovecraft. It is very good.
June 7, 2023
This is one of the top Occult fiction novels by a legitimate and scholarly Occult nonfiction writer. If you have an interest in magic, fantasy, and horror, then this might be your cup of tea, but be warned, it is not for the faint of heart, and there is a good deal of violence, disfigurement, deformities, death, and worse than death in this book. The story draws upon the author's wealth of knowledge concerning Western magic, mythology, and the Lovecraftian Cthulu myths. If you like H. P. Lovecraft, then by all means this is the book for you, and you read no further, but should purchase today. The Necronomicon, by the same author, is substantially the same story, but told differently. Both books are worth having. If you like one, you will like the other. They compliment each other. I have read each of them thrice.
December 9, 2021
I love cosmic horror and am a fan of Lovecraft’s writing, but stopped reading this around 75% of the way in. I would have loved to see a main character gradually corrupted and turned to evil by by Mythos, but he jumped straight to evil without any buildup.
He also seemed to get out of most jams simply by bringing up a connection to his supernatural patron, or just plain deus ex machina.
The world was interesting, but there was little or no feel of cosmic or existential horror. Aside from a horrible origin story for the protagonist, it felt more Arabia Nights than Necronomicon.
He also seemed to get out of most jams simply by bringing up a connection to his supernatural patron, or just plain deus ex machina.
The world was interesting, but there was little or no feel of cosmic or existential horror. Aside from a horrible origin story for the protagonist, it felt more Arabia Nights than Necronomicon.
March 5, 2023
This book was filled with great historical references to magical texts and traditions.
Tyson brings his vast knowledge of this subject matter to this story in creative ways.
The story itself was pretty good but was hoping for some more ‘mad Arab’ character traits. Alhazred in this story is very cool and calculated and very sane.
Tyson brings his vast knowledge of this subject matter to this story in creative ways.
The story itself was pretty good but was hoping for some more ‘mad Arab’ character traits. Alhazred in this story is very cool and calculated and very sane.
January 16, 2019
Amazing and spine chilling tale of a fictional Lovecraft character that this magician author understands as an actual intelligence functioning upon the astral plane. Very intense adventures combine with deep-narrative intelligence to offer philosophical vistas of unparalleled grace and power!!!
July 19, 2017
A FINE TALE OF OLE ARAB IT IS...
Hello, this is a very interesting story dealing with the author of the Necronomicon. Very well written and entertaining to read. Thanks.
Hello, this is a very interesting story dealing with the author of the Necronomicon. Very well written and entertaining to read. Thanks.
April 11, 2018
Great book, well written and told. some parts are very dry to read but overall a great read!
December 19, 2019
This book is full of gore and imagination! Within the first thirty or fifty pages, your guy Alhazared, is mutilated and fed a meal that no person should, would, nor want to eat!
I loved this book!
I loved this book!
November 26, 2020
Amazing story start to finish
December 31, 2020
A first person rehash of the author's Necronomicon.
January 24, 2024
Best book ever
May 22, 2025
Despite being mediocrely written, I can't forget this is not remotely official and just living off Love crafts success
December 31, 2023
I would give 4.5 stars, really. What a great story. I thought that the torture and mutilation at the beginning of the story deserved a slow psychological and physical recovery for the reader to follow.
The book felt a bit long, and although the ending was pleasant, I was expecting a darker close in the realm of Lovecraft's meaningless humanity and cosmic horror.
Definitely worth reading, but not for the faint of heart.
The book felt a bit long, and although the ending was pleasant, I was expecting a darker close in the realm of Lovecraft's meaningless humanity and cosmic horror.
Definitely worth reading, but not for the faint of heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2021
For those interested, my suggestion would be to read this first, then read Tyson's Necronomicon. Since this is basically Tyson's Necronomicon in story format. There were a few moments when reading Alhazred that I had wished I hadn't read the Necronomicon as it spoiled a bit of the adventure. Regardless, I'd say Tyson is an excellent story teller and I'll be giving his short story collections a go.
April 9, 2016
An unquestionably addictive page-turner, Alhazred documents the journey of its eponymous antihero—an intriguing ghoul of a man disfigured by the barbarous King of Yemen and left to rot in the Rub' al Khali desert—on a personal mission to probe the deepest reaches of existence and understand the arcane secrets of the universe in an effort to reclaim his stolen manhood, and reveal the nature of his very soul.
Fans of H.P. Lovecraft's work will be delighted by Tyson's use of the Cthulhu Mythos as Alhazred visits the forsaken city of Irem; astral-travels to the plateau of Leng; journeys along the Nile river; probes the mysteries of Babylon's ruins; bargains with the Crawling Chaos, Nyarlothotep; tests his wits against the Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young, Shub-Niggurath; and compares his will with that of a caged Spawn of Cthulhu. Numerous other literary references fill the pages of Tyson's wonderful homage to all things Lovecraft.
Fans of H.P. Lovecraft's work will be delighted by Tyson's use of the Cthulhu Mythos as Alhazred visits the forsaken city of Irem; astral-travels to the plateau of Leng; journeys along the Nile river; probes the mysteries of Babylon's ruins; bargains with the Crawling Chaos, Nyarlothotep; tests his wits against the Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young, Shub-Niggurath; and compares his will with that of a caged Spawn of Cthulhu. Numerous other literary references fill the pages of Tyson's wonderful homage to all things Lovecraft.
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