The House on the Borderland (Dover Mystery, Detective, & Other Fiction) [Paperback]

William Hope Hodgson (Author), Mike Ashley (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 8, 2008 | Series: Dover Mystery, Detective, & Other Fiction

"A classic of the first order," declared H. P. Lovecraft of this influential tale of a haunted house in the Irish countryside. First published in 1908, it bridges the era between ghost stories and modern thrillers. Its compelling journey through space and time combines the best aspects of horror, science fiction, and fantasy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Dover Ed edition (August 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1920265775
• ISBN-13: 978-1920265779
• ASIN: 0486468798
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #759,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dark, unsettling but beautiful dream, November 4, 2008

By 

Tebes "Buchlieber" (Niagara Region, ON) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The House on the Borderland (Dover Mystery, Detective, & Other Fiction) (Paperback)

I happened across this title by accident. I was at the Vancouver airport looking for a book to read. I scanned the classic sections and this one popped out at me. The title was familiar and it was something I remember wanting to order a year ago.

If you enjoy Edgar Allan Poe, H.P.Lovecraft, Arthur Machen and the like, then I definitely recommend this work.

The setting is Ireland and its far environs. Two men on a hunting trip happen upon a garden and some ruins, discovering a lost manuscript half- buried under earth and rubble. They read it and discover the writings of a reclusive man, living in a house on the border between reality and the otherworld. The man's only companions are his dog and his sister (whom we rarely see throughout the story).

Sinister happenings occur earlier on and the man has to defend his home against... well... I won't give anymore away. Later on, the book takes a journey through time and space, a celestial adventure through the cosmos.

All in all, a fascinating and gripping read. Highly imaginative, thrilling, compelling, fantastic and stirring. There are elements of terror blended with a tender sublime here. It is fascinating to think this was written in early twentieth century. I am reminded of the works of Lord Dunsany in terms of tone and visual scope. This book is far from forgettable. A literary-fantasy-horror adventure of the highest kind.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very eerie..., February 2, 2010

By 

bOoKwOrM (usa) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The House on the Borderland (Dover Mystery, Detective, & Other Fiction) (Paperback)

This novel by William Hope Hodgson can probably be best described as a somewhat forgotten classic. It has a good reputation, but I don't think nearly enough people have read it!

A warning to those who plan to buy "House on the Borderland", beware of bad paperback editions. I think this is now in the 'public domain', so any publisher can put out a copy(and believe me, there are plenty of bad copies out there). This paperback is from Dover Publications, and was first published in 2008. The quality of the paper is really good and there is even a pretty cool introduction("Hodgson's Borderland", written by Mike Ashley).

Also, the back cover of the book notes that this is an "unabridged republication of the edition published by Chapman & Hall(London, 1908)".

And if you need more motivation to read "House on the Borderland", remember that even H.P.Lovecraft liked this one, calling it "A classic of the first order". :)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great read!, November 7, 2010

By 

Joseph L. Kolb (harris, mn USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The House on the Borderland (Dover Mystery, Detective, & Other Fiction) (Paperback)

borderland was written in the early 1900s and is a wonderful dark fantasy/horror/sci-fi book. it's refreshing to read a book that is so descriptive without the gore and vulgarity that so many horror novels have these days. call me old-fashioned, but i like atmosphere more than action. hodgson is very visual about alternative dimensions, time travel and things that go bump in the night. like the previous reviewers mention, if you like machen, and lovecraft, you'll enjoy hodgson's book. there's all kinds of editions out on this book. not to sure why. i have an old carroll & graf paperback from '85.