At the Mountains of Madness

By: H.P. Lovecraft, Leslie S. Klinger - editor

Narrated by: Scott Brick, Leslie S. Klinger - introduction

Written before all of Antarctica was fully mapped and explored, At the Mountains of Madness tells of a terrifying journey into the unknown. Epic in scope, cinematic in its sweep, and breathtaking in its revelations about humanity, this—described by some as the first true science-fiction novel—may be Lovecraft’s greatest literary achievement!

©2024 Leslie Klinger (intro) (P)2024 Audible, Inc.

Lovecraft at his Best

The creative language takes the reader on a journey of imagination and anticipation. If you like Lovecraft’s style, you’ll like this story.

concept was great.

The narrator read the story like a true thespian, but unfortunately i think it was lost on me. I listened it on a recommendation, but i think cosmic horror is more or less not for me.

Great performance and voice for this title.

Certain performers have a kind of deep, weathered voice, coupled with the realism in their performance to make what they’re saying sound like memory recall, along with the cadence and dynamism to keep delivery entertaining.

Lovecraft’s turn-of-the-century purple prose requires that kind of delivery, and I thought this particular rendition was solid. I’ve read this story a few times myself, and have heard others perform it, but I think this is one of the better renditions, by far.

The story truly is cinematic. I read it like it was a screenplay, and to think Del Toro nearly got a chance to make this, means an instant classic was never made. We can hold out hope he makes it one day.

If I am mad, it is mercy!

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown."
- HP Lovecraft

First off, you should listen to this because it is read by Scott Brick, and listening to Scott Brick is a treat in and of itself. One of the finest voice performers ever!

The story is straightforward...a narrator relates the tale of a college Antarctic expedition, and attempts to warn the world against follow up travels to that continent. Why? What is found? The reader discovers this slowly, and it can be a slog to get through Lovecraft's rather cumbersome narrative style. There is no dialogue in this entire story. However, Brick keeps the story moving, and the building suspense will keep you hooked.

Lovecraft is owed a debt of gratitude for his cosmic horror tales, and his building of his own universe based on ancient beings and mankind's place in his universe. If he wasn't the greatest horror writer, and he wasn't, he certainly is a very important and influential one. Listen to this story...it's worth your time.

Snoozefest

Its books like this that make me VERY glad that you can speed things up on audible