The Taint and Other Novellas

Best Mythos Tales

By: Brian Lumley

Narrated by: Joshua Saxon

Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Prior to the first American publication of Brian Lumley's ground-breaking, dead-waking, best-selling Necroscope in 1988 - the first novel in a long-lived, much-loved series - this British author had for 20 years been earning himself something of a reputation writing short stories, novellas, and a series of novels set against H. P. Lovecraft's cosmic Cthulhu Mythos backdrop. A soldier in 1967, serving in Berlin with the Royal Military Police, Lumley jump-started his literary career by writing to August Derleth, the then-dean of macabre publishers at his home in Sauk City, Wisconsin, telling of his fascination with the Mythos, and purchasing books by the Old Gentleman of Providence, RI. In addition, he sent a page or two of written work allegedly culled from the various forbidden or black books of the Mythos. Suitably impressed, the master of Arkham House invited Lumley to write something solid in the Mythos as a possible contribution to a new volume he was currently contemplating, to be titled - what else but? - Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos. And as might well be imagined, that set everything in motion. Forty years have passed since then and a good many words of Mythos fiction written, including critically acclaimed and award-nominated work, stories that have appeared in prestigious magazines such as Fantasy & Science Fiction, and hardcover volumes from publishers all over the world from the USA to China and the United Kingdom to Russia. But while Lumley's novels are all currently available, many of them in hardcover format, his Mythos short stories and novellas have until now remained uncollected. Here in this volume are found the novellas; the future companion volume will contain the short stories. And thus the very best of Brian Lumley's works in this sub-genre, including such recent tales as "The Hymn" and "The Taint", are collected and presented for the first time in audio format...

©2007 Brian Lumley (P)2019 David N. Wilson

Joshua Saxon voice talent is simply MADE for B.L.

Joshua Saxon voice talent is simply MADE for Mr. Lumley's work. Rarely do i enjoy the "voice" of the preformee as much as i do the stories themselves.
BRAVO.

Solid Additions to the Mythos

There isn't a whole lot of new ground here, but there are some new critters. The storyline is the usual unsuspecting or deliberate intent to make contact with nasties from outside our world has bad consequences that may or may not entail the release of said nasties in our world.
Brian Lumeley is a good writer and even though some of these stories are older, they are well delivered and fit into both the Lovecraft style and world with no conflicts.
Joshua Saxon delivers the stories with style and adds a lot to the contents interest.
I was given this free audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Creepy Green Light

What a treat! I requested this audio book but i was in no way prepared for this much fun. I really enjoyed this collection of cosmic doom. Each story tackles a different mythos from H.P. Lovecraft's making. The writing is so good. The stories are great and fun. If your a fan of HPL, you definitely should pick this one up.
Joshua Saxton read this. He did really great. His voice sounds so smart and scholarly. I felt he added sophistication to the production.

As i said earlier, i requested this audio book and voluntary left this review.

The Taint etc

I read this quite awhile ago.I enjoyed the stories and really enjoyed narration by Joshua Saxon.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.' 

Loved!

This is the third book by Brian Lumley that I've listened to, and they have all been super great! I remember in the past attempting to read an H.P. Lovecraft story (don't remember which one) but, needless to say, I had a hard time focusing, like it just didn't call to me, which means that I didn't finish it. So while these were Lovecraft-ish, I had no problem here.

Of course, Joshua Saxton, my #1 fav narrator, did an amazing job. I did realize with this batch of stories that his female voices weren't really "female," like he kind of stuck with his regular voice. I know he's read for female characters in previous books, but I don't remember what he did for them. Either way, that did not deter me.

Anyways, I love when authors provide the readers an explanation of how they came up with their short stories, or something along that line; I always find that an interesting bonus.
I think my favorite story was "Lord of the Worms."


I received a free audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved everything about this book

I'm a huge fan of Lumley's Necroscope series so when I saw this I just had to check it out. It was pristine. Each story comes with a short preface from the author about his views on the story. It adds a nice personal touch. My two favorites were The Taint and Lord of the Worms. I love the classic Lovecraftian feel that you get from this volume.
To add to all of that the narration is superb.
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

An Outstanding Group of Horrific Stories

The Taint and Other Novellas contains an outstanding group of stories set in the background of the Cthulhu Mythos of H.P. Lovecraft. The author, Brian Lumley, conveys the same mood and horror as Lovecraft, but Lumley’s stories are thankfully more nuanced. These stories are intriguing, entertaining, and of course, horrifying. Also, Lumley is kind enough to give a brief preface for each story.
Joshua Saxon is an outstanding storyteller. He skillfully conveys the sinister atmosphere of these novellas as well as the desperate apprehension of many of the characters in them.

One of the best mythos writers I've read

short stories were great and fit very well into the CtHulu mythos Lovecraft universe. I will definitely be trying out the Titus Crow series.

I loved this book

The first story is amazing, and possibly my favorite in this book. Also the story about the Deep One's and the doctor being revealed as one at the end was definitely a plot twist to remember.

The Taint and Other Novellas

I really really loved this collection of short stories. They were dark and interesting and creepy. Brian Lumley expanded on the HPL universe without overtly bending it to his will. My favorite stories were The Taint, Born of the Winds, and The House of the Temple. I got my fix in now, I need to move on to other mythos or I will get sucked down the Cthulhu rabbit hole and might never find my way out again. This was cosmic horror done right and I really appreciate the opportunity to review the collection. Joshua Saxon is the perfect narrator for these stories, he was masterful in bringing each character to life no matter the nationality or circumstance. Fantastic job.

This audiobook was given to me at my request for my free and unbiased review.