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Necroscope #18
Necroscope: Harry and the Pirates: and Other Tales from the Lost Years
Harry Keogh, the first Necroscope, is arguably Brian Lumley’s greatest creation. In the Necroscope series, readers saw Harry learn to use his powers to talk with the dead and travel instantaneously to any point in space and time. They saw him take arms against the evil, twisted, metamorphic alien vampires who sought to feed off humans and enslave mankind. They saw him suffer a great personal loss and then recover his family, and later his humanity, through a new love. And they saw Harry wage the grimmest battle of his life—against the vampire he himself was becoming! Even after Harry’s story was done, Brian Lumley continued to write books about Harry’s legacy—the other Necroscopes who inherited his weird talents. But Harry himself would not go quietly into that darkness that lies beyond an author’s imagination . . . and now Brian Lumley has written three new novellas about Harry and his supernatural adventures, which are published for the first time in the United States in Harry and the Pirates .
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
19 people are currently reading
831 people want to read
About the author
Brian Lumley
444 books1,355 followersBrian Lumley was born near Newcastle. In 22 years as a Military Policeman he served in many of the Cold War hotspots, including Berlin, as well as Cyprus in partition days. He reached the rank of Sergeant-Major before retiring to Devon to write full-time, and his work was first published in 1970. The vampire series, 'Necroscope', has been translated into ten languages and sold over a million copies worldwide.
He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.
He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 1, 2020
At this point in the series you know you have to read it.
I wonder if someone like Brian Lumley remembers the times when he came up with his ideas and wrote them down. That would tell us alot about the person writing these stories. What his inspiration was. This guy is so talented in writing that I personaly cannot get enough of his work.
I like the fact that he uses Harry Keogh in other adventures not having to do with vampires. Its like watching an old 1980s American TV series like Friday the 13th or Werewolf.
All in all, I enjoyed this addition to the Necroscope series.
I wonder if someone like Brian Lumley remembers the times when he came up with his ideas and wrote them down. That would tell us alot about the person writing these stories. What his inspiration was. This guy is so talented in writing that I personaly cannot get enough of his work.
I like the fact that he uses Harry Keogh in other adventures not having to do with vampires. Its like watching an old 1980s American TV series like Friday the 13th or Werewolf.
All in all, I enjoyed this addition to the Necroscope series.
March 5, 2019
The stories here are just like chapters from the Lost Years time period. The pirate story was STUPID! I can see why it was cut out of being included in a regular book. The other story was ok, but a vampiric sheet??? Come on! Really stretching here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2022
This is a book of several short stories about Harry Koegh and some of his adventures.
June 26, 2017
I really nice collection, and the title story was excellent.
January 25, 2010
I've been a big fan of Brian Lumley since about forever. I think his Necroscope novels were probably my introduction to the paranormal investigator subgenre, and while I've not read anywhere near the whole series, every now and then it's fun to dip my toes back in with his novella collections and the like.
Harry and the Pirates is nowhere near top-drawer Lumley, but it's decent enough fun for fans. It's comprised of two novellas and a vignette, all of which feature Harry Keogh. The novellas are both pretty fun, if a little ramble-y, and feature Lumley's usual cool monsters.
Not a favorite, but not bad either, it's whetted my appetite for some classic Lumley, so I may have to break out some of my collections or Necroscope novels sometime soon.
Harry and the Pirates is nowhere near top-drawer Lumley, but it's decent enough fun for fans. It's comprised of two novellas and a vignette, all of which feature Harry Keogh. The novellas are both pretty fun, if a little ramble-y, and feature Lumley's usual cool monsters.
Not a favorite, but not bad either, it's whetted my appetite for some classic Lumley, so I may have to break out some of my collections or Necroscope novels sometime soon.
November 19, 2019
Probably the last time we'll get to hang out with Harry. A nice enjoyable send off
December 15, 2025
This is the 18th book in the Necroscope series and personally it's the 16th I have read. I love this series. Big Fan of Harry but these are not the best of Lumley's works with this character.
These all take place during Harry's Lost Years.
FOR THE DEAD TRAVEL SLOWLY- this is a fun novella. He solves a cold case and helps vindicate a wrongfully accused man and stops an ancient evil that inhabits a local forest. Kind of an EVIL DEAD type of tree -entity.
HARRY AND THE PIRATES- I thought this would have been better than it was. Really could have been any time period. Didn't have to be pirates. there was no swashbuckling lol. I didn't mind this shroud/ blanket vampiric extraterrestial. It reminded me of his novel in this series, The Touch. The title just had so much potential and it was just an OK novella.
OLD MAN WITH A BLADE- 4 page story. Shows Death and how he views Harry.
Overall this is 3-3.5 Stars.
These all take place during Harry's Lost Years.
FOR THE DEAD TRAVEL SLOWLY- this is a fun novella. He solves a cold case and helps vindicate a wrongfully accused man and stops an ancient evil that inhabits a local forest. Kind of an EVIL DEAD type of tree -entity.
HARRY AND THE PIRATES- I thought this would have been better than it was. Really could have been any time period. Didn't have to be pirates. there was no swashbuckling lol. I didn't mind this shroud/ blanket vampiric extraterrestial. It reminded me of his novel in this series, The Touch. The title just had so much potential and it was just an OK novella.
OLD MAN WITH A BLADE- 4 page story. Shows Death and how he views Harry.
Overall this is 3-3.5 Stars.
December 7, 2023
I did enjoy reading the Necroscope's adventures in these short stories. However, I just couldn't shake the thought that they all seemed to be beneath him after everything he's been through in the mainline Necroscope novels, but maybe that's the point. It shows how even Harry Keogh, while trying to just live a somewhat normal life, is always willing to help the great majority with their problems, big or small.
February 4, 2015
This is the sixth Necroscope book I've read, and in all the vampire and werewolf stories I always assumed Lumley had a stash of stories about other supernatural evils that Harry battles against. Glad I was right.
Really enjoyed this book. The first story, "For The Dead Travel Slowly," was my favorite. Seeing Jimmy Collins again was fun, and reminiscing about them taking down that bully Stanley Green. I felt the tone of this story was much closer to the first Necroscope book. At first I assumed the creature in the Hazeldene forest was a vampire. I was surprised when it turned out to be a monster tree, but the evil was very well-written and defined.
I also enjoyed the mentions of B.J., even though I've already read the Lost Years, Part Two, so I know what happens to her.
One of Lumley's strengths in writing is the ability of his characters to dig through history to find the truth. We've seen Harry do it several times, especially when tracking Boris Dragosani. The way Greg Miller in this story tracked the disappearances from Hazeldene back thousands of years was cool and kept me turning the pages to see what happened.
The battle against the nameless evil was great, with Harry being triumphant.
The second story, "Harry and the Pirates," was good, but it never seemed to go anywhere. My expectations were too high, I think. When Harry began talking to Billy Browen and Erik, I was expecting a wild story where Harry had to travel back in time to be on the same ship these two were on when they were alive. Hunting for treasure, and seeing Harry use the Mobius Continuum to jump between attacking ships. That would have been amazing.
Instead, the story focused on an alien being in the form of a golden cloth or sheet, that sucked the life out of anyone who touched it. And of course the pirate last entrapped in the golden coil is buried right in Hartlepool Cemetery. Seemed a little too convenient. But hey, I enjoyed it. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen, but for most of the story, Harry either sat on the sea wall listening to Erik, or sat on Billy's grave marker listening to this pirate's story.
But I realize Harry doesn't have to use his powers in every story, and sometimes, things are just really strange. One thing that Lumley doesn't address, is Harry's feelings about humanity clearly not being alone. The vampires from Sunside/Starside is one thing, but now there are two aliens in this book, not from Earth, who've both been malevolent and evil. It must weigh down Harry to know that so much evil is against him, with very little good. He must be completely demoralized. Except at this point B.J. Mirlu has him under her spell, so I'm sure he's feeling no emotional pain.
The final story, "Old Man with a Blade," was a good reminder that Harry is not meant to die in this world, and may, in fact, live forever. Death is definitely hunting us all. At least we know Harry may beat him yet.
Really enjoyed this book. The first story, "For The Dead Travel Slowly," was my favorite. Seeing Jimmy Collins again was fun, and reminiscing about them taking down that bully Stanley Green. I felt the tone of this story was much closer to the first Necroscope book. At first I assumed the creature in the Hazeldene forest was a vampire. I was surprised when it turned out to be a monster tree, but the evil was very well-written and defined.
I also enjoyed the mentions of B.J., even though I've already read the Lost Years, Part Two, so I know what happens to her.
One of Lumley's strengths in writing is the ability of his characters to dig through history to find the truth. We've seen Harry do it several times, especially when tracking Boris Dragosani. The way Greg Miller in this story tracked the disappearances from Hazeldene back thousands of years was cool and kept me turning the pages to see what happened.
The battle against the nameless evil was great, with Harry being triumphant.
The second story, "Harry and the Pirates," was good, but it never seemed to go anywhere. My expectations were too high, I think. When Harry began talking to Billy Browen and Erik, I was expecting a wild story where Harry had to travel back in time to be on the same ship these two were on when they were alive. Hunting for treasure, and seeing Harry use the Mobius Continuum to jump between attacking ships. That would have been amazing.
Instead, the story focused on an alien being in the form of a golden cloth or sheet, that sucked the life out of anyone who touched it. And of course the pirate last entrapped in the golden coil is buried right in Hartlepool Cemetery. Seemed a little too convenient. But hey, I enjoyed it. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen, but for most of the story, Harry either sat on the sea wall listening to Erik, or sat on Billy's grave marker listening to this pirate's story.
But I realize Harry doesn't have to use his powers in every story, and sometimes, things are just really strange. One thing that Lumley doesn't address, is Harry's feelings about humanity clearly not being alone. The vampires from Sunside/Starside is one thing, but now there are two aliens in this book, not from Earth, who've both been malevolent and evil. It must weigh down Harry to know that so much evil is against him, with very little good. He must be completely demoralized. Except at this point B.J. Mirlu has him under her spell, so I'm sure he's feeling no emotional pain.
The final story, "Old Man with a Blade," was a good reminder that Harry is not meant to die in this world, and may, in fact, live forever. Death is definitely hunting us all. At least we know Harry may beat him yet.
June 29, 2010
This is the first book I've read in the Necroscope series but it certainly won't be the last. I loved most of the stories. The stories are about Harry Keogh who has the ability to talk to the dead and feel their presence (even non-human ones). The author's style is very pleasant and fluent. The stories are well constructed.
Something that I really appreciated was that the stories weren't too short. There are 4 major stories in the book with only 2 very short ones. The genre is somewhere between urban fantasy and horror.
Something that I really appreciated was that the stories weren't too short. There are 4 major stories in the book with only 2 very short ones. The genre is somewhere between urban fantasy and horror.
September 16, 2010
New Lumley is rarer and rarer since his retirement. In this volume he gives us a set of tales that happens during the "Lost Years". If you are a Lumley Completelist like myself its a good buy, otherwise the newer reader is better served reading the main books of the series.
December 21, 2011
There were some moments, but not essential in any way. Mainly Harry doing cthulhu-like investigations around and talking to lot of dead people.
November 25, 2012
One word = teaser
Read
February 25, 2016Not Lumley's best work to date. A few short stories.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews