phantom_eos's review against another edition
4.0
Reading this in a dark room with creepy music in the background really sets the tone for the month of horror, October. Lovecraft's prose and descriptions give goosebumps in general and Beyond the Wall of Sleep is no exception. Definitely one of my favourite Lovecraft stories read so far.
voidpunk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
ellejaoy's review against another edition
2.0
Not my favourite Lovecraft by far, or even one I like all that much but his use of language and his imagination still astounds me.
bookofclubs's review against another edition
4.0
It's kind of the first real glimpse into his conceit of cosmic horror, and yet is arguably the least "horror" of its kind. The discovery of a great, unknowable, luminous being is not met with terror or mind-rending awe, but with fraternal kindness and comraderie. Even with the villain and the ending, there feels an almost hopeful tone to the story.
Also yeah, the precision of Lovecraft's overwhelming prejudices is on pretty full display in the description of Joe Slater.
Also yeah, the precision of Lovecraft's overwhelming prejudices is on pretty full display in the description of Joe Slater.
jpbradt's review against another edition
4.0
Obviously, as it is Lovecraft, it was very dark. I enjoyed this piece.
eddiel95's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this as a concept. I thought the cosmic entity itself could have been more interesting but looking at the story more abstractly, it was pretty good.
polpoletus's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
hikio123's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Good short story. If you are fine with the very derogatory descriptions of someone from a rural area, then the story itself is fairly a quick and fun read. Not one of Lovecraft's best, but does build up the lore around his cosmic horror.
joshcurtis's review against another edition
2.0
Civilized new Englanders are closer in spirituality and mental faculties to incorporeal cosmic beings of light, than to the white trash living in the Catskill Mountains, I guess.