Customer Reviews

The Taint and other novellas: Best Mythos Tales Volume 1 (Cthulhu Collection)

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The Horror at Oakdeene
(Printed before by Derleth's Arkham House.)
Martin Spellman is an aspiring author. For research, he goes to work as a trainee mental nurse at Oakdeene Sanatorium. After the odd death of a resident, Spellman begins to wonder if one of the other nurses had been involved.

Born of the Winds
(Originally printed in the Dec. 1975 issue of "Fantasy & Science Fiction" magazine.)
David is a meteorologist of some note. He goes on a (medical) holiday in Canada and ends up residing in the home of Judge Andrews. It is there David learns about the mysterious death of an English professor.

The Fairground Horror
(Originally printed in the anthology titled "The Disciples of Cthulhu" in the early 1970's.)
Hiram Henley, an ex-professor fired due to researching certain myths and aeon-lost legends, stumbles upon a section of a fairground labeled "Tomb of the Great Old Ones". Believing the horror house may actually contain something of the tomb, he decides to enter.

The Taint
(Originally printed in "Weird Shadows Over Innsmouth".)
James Jamieson is new to a seaside town that is slowly becoming a ghost town. After getting to know a few of the local residents, James finds himself playing close attention to them, especially Geoff, the village idiot, and Anne.

Rising with Surtsey
(Created during his first year of writing, 1967. Published in 1971 in the anthology titled "Dark Things".)
Diagnosed insane after killing his brother, Phillip writes out what really happened.

Lord of the Worms
(Originally printed in "Weirdbook 17" in the year 1983.)
Titus Crow, before he became known as one of the world's foremost occultists, takes a temporary position as a secretary for a cult leader.

The House of the Temple
(First printed in "Kadath" volume 1, #3.)
John McGilchrist is summoned to Scotland for the reading of an uncle's will. Should John obey a few conditions, he will inherit much, including a house and its pool.

**** Here are seven tales having to deal with Cthulhu in some form or another. Each tale begins with a short notation by the author. Though each story is written in a long-winded style, all will leave the reader feeling extremely uncomfortable. If you do not know what/who Cthulhu is, don't worry. The author will educate you in a dark way. Interesting stories, but not overly frightening. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.