Customer Reviews

The Necronomicon: The Book of Dead Names (Skoob Esoterica)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I have to say, as a long time fan and reader of Lovecraft's work, I loved this book. I am well aware of the fact that Mr. Lovecraft stated several times in correspondence that he invented the Necronomicon (which means nothing close to the pathways of the dead as one reviewer stated), and have read the Simon version of the book which claims to be the "true and terrible book of the mad Arab". I have to say that I always wanted the Al Azif to be real, and this text actually gives me a doubt as to the Necronomicon's fiction. It's detailed description of Dee's enochian coding of the Liber Logaeth (the manuscript this book claims to be encoded with the contents of the necronomicon, is a real document in the library of London), it's description of H.P. 's father as an egyptian freemason (I know for a fact a masonic lodge in Rhode Island has a portrait of Lovecraft in it), it's content, it's backstory, and it's detail all leave me wondering if Lovecraft took credit for something he thought noone else would find out about. Even if you think the Necronomicon is pure bunk, it still makes a great addition to any Mythos collection and is a good read. The only reason I gave it four out of five stars is because I thought the cover could have looked better. Enjoy.

Ok, I admit it. I am a Necronomicon junkie. I have them all. The Simon, Tyson, Hay, De Camp, even a couple 'Pulp" fanzine style versions. I love it. The legnths people will go to to line my shelves with as many copies of a book that never existed. Well, until now. Sweet.

Anyhoot, The Hay version of the Nec is not one of the better ones. Although it is famous, there is precious little Necronomicon in this Necronomicon. The loin's share of this book is devoted to Colin Wilson's rambling indignation of Lovecraft and his oh-so-interesting-if-you-are-a-dry-british-critic story about how he came upon this vile volume. The basic premis of Wilson is this;

Lovecraft was such a hack writer with so little imagination or talent that he could not possibly have made it up. Therefore, it is real.

Yep, that's it folks. That's the big secret!

Damn you, Colin Wilson, for insulting H.P.! Maybe i'll go send one of the demons from the Simon version to harrass him.

I have been a Lovecraft fan for long and I am absolutely convinced the Necronomicon never existed outside Lovecraft's mind. Still, you can only be 99% sure, and that's what's fun about it. However, this hoax is so well done it ends up being quite an interesting item for anyone interested in Lovecraft or even occultism. David Langford once published an interesting article about his participation in this project (which is actually one of the best things in the book)in the magazine Fortean Times.

The Simon Necronomicon is much cruder than this one.

I am no expert in the fields of religion, demonology, or ancient Sumeria, thus I will refrain from making any statement on the authenticity of the book. However, it does contain some very heavy material. If I knew for a fact that it was a hoax, I would have given it five stars just for being so elaborate. This is not something I would play with. I don't particularly believe in demons, but 500 years ago people didn't particularly believe the earth was round or that planets exsisted outside of our solar system either. The book was eloquently executed and gave me a case of the chills the likes of which I haven't expirienced in quite some time. It was certainly worth the price and the shipping and handling, and I will probably end up reading it again before the year is up. As for our friend from Atlantis, Judeaism, Christianity, and Islam are the three largest religions in the world, and all three base their faith in the old testament (that's part of the Bible, in case you're wondering). I asure you that a great deal of those "primates" are much more highly evolved than yourself.

I can't say how pleased I was to try out some of the summoning rituals in this book. Though initially disappointed with the manifestations (watery spirits that smelled bad for a time and then faded altogether), later attempts yielded full-body apparitions that apported the jewels and riches I'd been asking for-- I now live in a very well-appointed condo thanks to these gifts from Azr-koth, a lower demon. I wouldgive this five stars if it weren't for the fact that several of the invocatory protocols seem hopelessly flawed, resulting in the materialization of positively dangerous minor imps. Keep pets out of reach during these workings, or you'll be cleaning bits of them out of the upholstery for months!

There are a great many legendary books, which either exist, are rumored to exist, or are fabricated from whole cloth. The Necronomicon (meaning roughly, The Paths of the Dead) fits the catagory in all three ways.
The legend has it that Lovecraft heard of the book (through a friend who was an Ordo Templis Orientalis member), whose title was known in occult circles long before him, and was fascinated by the mere sound of it. There was no earlier mention of it being compiled, translated, or edited by any mad Arab scholar. Lovecraft seized upon the notion of a real ancient "grimoire" with gleeful abandon. It gave to his dark tales an even darker backdrop of ancient things malignant and vengeful.
The book itself appears to be a romantisized 19th century compilation of Sumerian and Chaldian lore which at that time was just beginning to reappear (the cuniform writing recently decoded) in the world. Very heavy stuff for its (pre-Hollywood) time.
The late 19th century saw the rise of modern Occultism (mainly starting with Helen Blavatsky in the 1870s) which delights in ancient religion, myth, and ritual. Putting all such trappings aside, the Necronomicon can be seen for what it actually is - a first hand glance into the mindset of a world view and civilization which existed (and fully functioned) thousands of years before the more recent Judeo-Christian ethos came into being. The Necronomicon is an insight into history, not gothic fiction.

I am an avid Call of Cthulhu player and gamemaster and use it and the R'lyeh Text as reference materials...No one can say whether this is a definite hoax or not as not all that much is known of the practices of ancient Sumeria. There is some validity as far as the social commentary goes. The material is too bizarre and haunting to have been made up "to make a quick buck" as a friend of mine has put it. Anybody who is involved in Lovecraft's works should read this.

CTHULHU FHTAGN!

Ever since I started reading HPL (longlonglong ago...), I'd wondered what the Necronomicon, if there were such a thing, would be like. So of course I was thrilled when someone decided to write a Necronomicon, which stays happily close to the Lovecraft tales in terms of discription and spelling. The 'Necronomicon' also reads like a spell-book, which makes it all the more convincing and fun. I think that this book would be enjoyed by all hardcore HPL fans.. of all ages! Especially for children, and adults who're able to unhinge and play 'pretend'.... Too bad it doesn't come in hardcover!

Good Book. If you dwell on the darker sides of life, this book is calling to you. But, if your just curious, the layout and writting is well done. The main story keeps your interest though the whole volume, and the texts set aside for 'spells and incatations', though, not of my believes, are tantalizing and mysterious. I recommend you read it, but keep a light on, just in case you get a little jumpy at small sounds around your home.

Who cares wheter its true or not, what is fact anyway! why bother attempting to explain ones view of reality, when its all so lucid anway? The point is, belief creates reality, therefore, if one was to truly believe that this book dose what it says it can do, then the spells in it will work. After all its not about the demons, or the gods, or the FACTS, its about the primal human ability to alter their environment through magickal means. after all the only thing that exists is nothing.