Customer Reviews

Grimoire of the Necronomicon (Necronomicon Series)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The first thing you need to do is to set aside your prejudice about the Necronomicon and how it was a literary invention by Lovecraft for his stories. Donald Tyson has taken a story from the pulp fiction era by a littel konwn & highly unappreciated writer of his day and using his extensive knowledge in Ritual Magic, created a working, practical modern grimoire for those who are into the stories of Lovecraft.

If you like the Simon Necronomicon, you will like this Necronomicon WAY better! Now if you enjoyed the George Hay edition that was more true to the Lovecraft Cthulhu Mythos, you'd definitely appreciate this book as more complete and succinct in both it's approach and philosophy.

Tyson has taken a popular story's literatry prop and turned it into a working grimoire based on the seven planets. This is not something that just anyone can create on all their own because there are a number of things that have to be taken into account when creating a working grimoire based on a fictional one. In other words you have to be talented to be able to do this and Don shows his talent.

What Tyson has done is take this grimoire and base it not only on his two previous works, "The Necronomicon" and "Alhazred" but also he has the full Lovecraftian Cthulhu Mythos behind it as well! (And that's something that Lavenda's Necrronomicon could NOT accomplish!)

You'll discover how to approach the working of this grimoire as a solo effort and as a group project. You are taught how to work with Nyarlathotep, Azatoth, Cthulhu, Shu-Biggurath, Yig, Yog Sothoth, and more. You are given information that does not conflict with the Mythos stories and you are shown how to draw the seals & sigils for each of these seven Elder Ones.

This is a fun grimoire. I have yet to do any practical workings with it however rest assured I will. Why? It's fun. So what if it's base don popular culture? The myths of the Greeks was based on their popular culture in their day. And besides, many people in ancient times did not believe their Gods actually existed but were simply stories told around campfires or on temple walls. But many worked with those Gods and got results.

Today the Grimoire of the Necronomicon will give you plenty of solid information on how to work with the Egregores of the various Elder Gods and the 12 Sons of Azathoth in productive and practical ways.

Just remember: "It's time to chuck out the laws of logic and reason and enter the mystical realms and practice Magic!" - Moloch

I was both excited and a bit cautious about this new text on the Necronomicon. I was intrigued by Mr. Tyson's novel, and subsequent version of the Necronomicon. There are so many out there that any new ones that happen upon the market are always taken with a grain of salt. And Mr. Tyson's is no exception. Now, this new text has me very interested in his attempt to facilitate a new fully workable system based upon Lovecraft's Mythos. Having been a practicing magician for over 30 years, I decided to purchase and read through his tome. I must say that at first glance, it is something that smacks of both horror pulp and legitimate document. I know that Mr. Tyson was attempting to create a system for anyone to "touch" these powers, and I think he may have hit up on something here. I have a bit of trouble with his sigils, as they do not speak to me, but that is one magicians tastes to anothers. I would work through the sigilization on my own to create something that evokes the qualities of the spirit in question. But that aside, I think that his designation of "lords" to the seven spheres is much akin to my own practice over the years and therefore gives me something to latch onto. I would think that anyone that has, or is currently working, with planetary magic will find something to experiment with, if not actually add to their practice. I haven't made it completely through this book, but so far I am seeing a workable attempt to reach and touch the powers of Lovecrafts Mythos. Many have attempted, but many have failed, or created something so outlandish and undoable to be relegated to the realm of fantasy. I know the irony of that statement, but this could possibly turn into a workable system of magical practice. I will revise this review after a complete study. Who knows, maybe this will be the tome that all Lovecraftians have been searching for. Time will tell.

I was fairly disappointed by this book. I enjoyed Tyson's version of the necronomicon (not great, mind you, but a good attempt to include all the necessary elements), but this book really just seems like a way to capitalize on his success there. The system of magick is completely uninspired...basically on the same level as Buckland's guide to Witchcraft, but with more occult legitimacy. It is not well-fleshed out (made even worse by the fact that the magick system has no room for other systems in it and is meant to be used exclusively). If you want to have a magick system incorporating the old ones, you'd be much better off devising your own through traditional ceremonial magick or using chaos magick.
Another problem I had was with the conception of the old ones themselves. Nothing new here either, it is essentially just an altered form of gnosticism without the spiritual complexity that that belief system offers, even. The old ones are completely stripped of their otherworldliness and alien incomprehensibility, which is a crucial aspect in their continuing appeal.
All in all, nothing special here and, considering the high hopes a title like this would engender, it is disappointing. I almost gave it two stars, but the author's attempt is genuine and he at least does know proper elements of ritual magick...his approach just doesn't work in this particular context, unfortunately. As a system of magick of the old ones, especially in the spirt of Lovecraft, it fails.

H.P. Lovecraft's Necronomicon has captured the imagination of generations of occultists and horror fans alike: his Great Old Ones were Gigeresque when Giger was in slimy oddly angled diapers. Now, with *Grimoire of the Necronomicon,* Donald Tyson provides a way for us mere mortals to reach across the Eldritch Black Gulfs of Space and invite the Elder Gods into our living room for tea, scones and world domination.

Tyson has obviously done his homework. His Long Chant takes its cue from the Enochian language developed (or revealed to the world, depending on your point of view) by Elizabethan mage, spy, and mathematician John Dee. His vision of Barbelzoa's fall and Azathoth's descent into madness is inspired by gnostic texts: his sigils are derived from Cornelius Agrippa and the Grimoire of Arbatel. The end result is a volume which features easy-to-follow instructions for evoking your own Dunwich Horrors and Shadows Over Innsmouth.

I wasn't sure whether to give this grimoire five stars or one star. On one hand it's a brilliant, well-researched piece of work. But on the other hand I'm not so sure I want to see this world purified in fire and bloodshed so that the Old Ones can return to their rightful place. Call me a heretic, but I rather like this glorious but simple plane. Still, who am I to argue with Nyarlathotep? Maybe the Earth really could use a good cosmic enema delivered by a bat-winged god with an octopus head. Let the gates be opened. Ia! Ia! Just don't forget your Elder Sign or you're sure to regret it!

Tyson's follow up work to his previous three Mythos related arcane documents ties the path of the four volumes together. Moving from the mythology presented with fresh flavor in the Necronomicon, to his expansion of the mythology infused into the Mad Arab's life in Alhazred, this fourth book, The Grimoire of the Necronomicon, focuses the mind of the reader on the possibilities of magic through concentration on the Old Ones.
As a devout fan of the Lovecraft Mythology, I found myself both attracted and repulsed by the idea of 'another' Necronomicon. But Tyson's adherance to the specifics of Lovecraft's original work has allowed his own original ideas on the Mythos to enchance and expand the universe of Cthulhu and his kin.
This particular tome provides a workable system of magic with which to make a connection with the Old Ones. As stated by the author, the origin of the Old Ones is in myth and fantasy. But what God can claim otherwise? Thus from a standpoint of the strength of belief and faith, the book guides the reader through a substantive and rewarding method of centering the mind on the powers of the Old Ones and reward for indenturing in their service.
Keep in mind this particular mythology is not for the faint of heart. Also keep in mind the philosophy of the book itself strays to the far edge of Wiccan belief and the adage 'you sow what you reap'. Yet for the fan this book provides a delectable foundation to the vague suggestions of how the rites of the Old Ones progressed in the original stories.
For the practicing magician, this book provides a new chapter in the ongoing expansion of human thought on the astral and the unseen. It suggests a dynamic methodology based on a concrete foundation of magical theory that releases the thought processes from the limitations of current dogma. That gift alone is worth adding this tome to your library.
I would consider having both the Necronomicon and the Grimoire added simultaneously to your library. The first again provides the mythology while the second the practical application of magic. And while each stands alone, the pair compliment each other with such a synergy that one would be hard pressed not to find oneself ready to join the Order of the Old Ones...

Drawn from the astral plane and set in print is this book of ritual magic of the Cthulhu Mythos, a pick for any collection strong in occultism in general and Lovecraft in particular. From the foundations of placing altars to symbols, forms and magic of Cthulhu worlds, GRIMOIRE OF THE NECRONOMICON is an involving read.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I enjoy Tyson's writing style and ideas. I think the material may be of interest to his fans who also like the Cthulhu mythos. That is where my praise stops.

I found the systems of magic to be too safe and fluffy for truly embracing the energies described. Perhaps that was intentional, due to his publisher's demands (they are a pretty airy-fairy group) or possibly because he wanted to make the material safe for readers and keep him from possible law suits.

The entities hinted at within these pages simply cannot be worked with fully without exposing the truly chaotic and malevolent. They are risky and dangerous by nature. I would expect that anyone seeking them out honestly would want something more direct and in line with their willingness to expose themselves (or others) to possible madness, spiritual harm, or physical pain/disfigurement/death.

You either love this book, or you don't. The description on the Old Ones is very useful especially for a Lovecraft fan but other than that it doesn't seem very practical. The one part I like is the part about the Elder Seal, that will be probably the one part I will experiment with. If you want to learn a new form of magick then this is your book. If you want to find a book about how to come into contact with interdimensional beings then you should find your own way.

The Necronomicon is the most popular occult text of all time. Still few books detail a working system. This book adds excellent practical methods for the Sorcerer looking for "how to" information of value.

I followed the procedure on page 173. Cthulhu didn't show up. We're still here. Damn.

So, if you want to summon Cthulhu and be eaten first, followed by everybody else, you'll have to figure it out yourself. Do *not* follow the procedure on page 173. I'm still trying to get the damn slime out of my sinuses, and the corners of my summoning chamber have not yet returned to having right angles. My landlord is not pleased.

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn.