Song of Cthulhu: Tales of the Spheres Beyond Sound (Call of Cthulhu Fiction) [Paperback]

H. P. Lovecraft (Author), Ramsey Campbell (Author), E. P. Berglund (Author)

Book Description

Series: Call of Cthulhu Fiction | Publication Date: September 2001

Like any eclectic catalog of dark music, this volume of stories explores many levels of emotion, each writer composing his own unique movement to the symphony. Here, you will find a wide range of voices, some spinning tales of pure, deep dread, much as might be found in the most successful works of HPL himself. Others venture into territory that the Old Gent would never have imagined, or wanted to imagine . . . There's even a touch of whimsy to be found, yet always mingled with the strain of darkness like that faced by Erich Zann in his gatrret in the rue d'Auseil.

This book is part of an expanding collection of Cthulhu Mythos horror fiction and related topics. Call of Cthulhu fiction focuses on single entities, concepts, or authors significant to readers and fans of H.P. Lovecraft.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

SONG OF CTHULHU is a collection of 19 stories of otherworldly terror, born in the abyss conjured by Erich Zann's violin in the rue d'Ausseil. Featuring such influential authors as H. P. Lovecraft, Ramsey Campbell, Hugh B. Cave, Fred Chappell, Thomas F. Monteleone, and many others, SONG OF CTHULHU explores the unknown spheres beyond sound, its pulsating rhythm punctuated by moments of dark beauty, breathtaking suspense, and nerve-shattering horror. Put on some atmospheric music, dim the lights, and settle in with this literary symphony whose notes rise from the hidden depths of R'lyeh itself.

About the Author

Stephen Mark Rainey is author of the novels BALAK, THE LEBO COVEN, DARK SHADOWS: DREAMS OF THE DARK (with Elizabeth Massie), BLUE DEVIL ISLAND, and THE NIGHTMARE FRONTIER; the short story collections FUGUE DEVIL & OTHER WEIRD HORRORS, THE LAST TRUMPET, LEGENDS OF THE NIGHT, OTHER GODS, and THE GAKI & OTHER HUNGRY SPIRITS; the scripts for three DARK SHADOWS audio dramas (THE PATH OF FATE, CURSE OF THE PHARAOH, and BLOOD DANCE); and over 90 published works of short fiction. For ten years, he edited the award-winning DEATHREALM magazine, and has edited three anthologies (SONG OF CTHULHU, DEATHREALMS, and EVERMORE). Mark lives in Greensboro, NC.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Chaosium (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568821174
• ISBN-13: 978-1568821177
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,152,530 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The writer is not the infamous Stephen King antihero Mort Rainey, but the far more nefarious author of the novels Dark Shadows: Dreams of the Dark (with Elizabeth Massie, HarperCollins, 1999), Balak (Wildside Books, 2000), The Lebo Coven (Thomson Gale/Five Star Books, 2004), The Nightmare Frontier (Sarob Press, 2006, and in e-book format by Crossroads Press, 2010), and Blue Devil Island (Thomson Gale/Five Star Books, 2007); three short story collections; and over 80 published works of short fiction.

Those with long memories may recall that I edited Deathrealm magazine, from 1987 to 1997. In its decade-long history, Deathrealm won a bunch of nice awards and featured hundreds of short stories, poems, and essays by authors ranging from the most established professionals to young, aspiring first-timers, many of whom proceeded to carve out names for themselves in the horror/dark fantasy field.

In 2004, I edited a new anthology for Delirium Books, titled Deathrealms, which features a wide selection of short stories from the magazine. I've edited a couple of other anthologies as well. The Song of Cthulhu (Chaosium, 2001) features 20 stories of Lovecraftian horror, and in 2006, I co-edited (with James Robert Smith) a new anthology for Arkham House titled Evermore, which features short stories about Edgar Allan Poe.

In summer, 2008, Dark Regions Press released a new collection of my short fiction, titled Other Gods, featuring 16 of my tales. Dark Regions is scheduled to release another collection of my short fiction, titled The Gaki & Other Hungry Spirits in 2011.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great concept for Mythos Anthology, March 2, 2002

By 

"chazdexward" (Rhode Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Song of Cthulhu: Tales of the Spheres Beyond Sound (Call of Cthulhu Fiction) (Paperback)

This is one of the best of the Chaosium Books of Cthulhu Mythos stories. The "hook" is thatthese tales are connected with either music or sond. The anthology leads off with a basc Lovecraft's story, namely "The Music of Erich Zann." It then proceedd to cover 19 tales of usually good to very good quality. The ones that are among the best are: "The Plain of Sound" by Ramsey Campbell, "The Last Show at Verdi's Supper Club" by Stephen Mark Rainey, "Mud" by Brian McNaughton, "The Enchanting of Lala Woods" by E. A. Lustig and the very atmospheric "Flautists" by Edward P. Berglund. Some anthologies are hit or miss. Well this one is almost all hits. Since the millenium, Lovecraft literature and criticism has fared very well in print. In additon to this volume, there is the wonderful "Children of Cthulhu" edited by John Pean and Benjamin Adams, the essential "Complete H. P. Lovecraft Filmography" by Charles P.Mitchell and "Shards of Darkness" by E. P. Berglund. They all are worth reading by dedicated Lovecraft enthusists.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "Sounds of silence", October 17, 2002

By 

Kathleen C. Griffin (Bronx NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Song of Cthulhu: Tales of the Spheres Beyond Sound (Call of Cthulhu Fiction) (Paperback)

Stephen Mark Rainey has edited a very pleasant collection of stories for the Cthulhu enthusiast. While most are either familiar or non-memorable, one newer story is particularly eerie: "In the Rue dAuseil" by Fred Chappell has exactly the frisson and dark laughter that characterize HPL. The collector of automata focuses on musicians, and composes for them. In his searches he finds out what Erich Zann really was... Good reading for Hallowe'en!

3 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars mediocre songs, April 9, 2003

By 

jan erik storebø (norway) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Song of Cthulhu: Tales of the Spheres Beyond Sound (Call of Cthulhu Fiction) (Paperback)

his didn't cut it. some of the stories were of the kind where the military are challenged by pulpish creatures. i hate those stories. there is a story by Smith here, not really good horror, but had suspence. in addition there is a good story by Rainey. but the rest, no. Some, like Piccirrilli, get almost interesting, but in the end, you wonder why you read them.