An excellent horror novel, now a great audiobook

The best compliment I can give “That Which Should Not Be” is that it’s the only novel I’ve ever read three times (four counting the audio version). That’s how good it is.

Built around a series of chilling tales recounted by the novel’s characters, each is self-contained and enjoyable in its own right. Yet these individual stories contribute in ways not immediately foreseeable to the overall plot. It’s a classic kind of storytelling, and author Brett J. Talley pulls it off masterfully. In each of the novel’s composite narratives, he builds dread-filled anticipation, and pays off the reader with harrowing action.

Audiobook narrator David Stifel’s style melds perfectly with the author’s storytelling. Stifel’s delivery is precisely the voice one would expect of late 19th century men hesitantly sharing the horrible things they’ve seen and endured. This is the first audiobook of Stifel’s I’ve listened to, but based on his performance here, I will be checking out more of his work. (And certainly the audio version of TWSNB’s sequel, “He Who Walks In Shadow,” which Stifel also narrates.)

TWSNB is a Lovecraftian horror novel, meaning it borrows from the mythos created by early 20th century horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. For those unfamiliar, Lovecraft is credited with creating “cosmic horror.” In Lovecraft’s telling, at some point in the ancient past these massively powerful elder gods called the Old Ones were cast out of our world. Their return would pretty much mean the end of the world, and for that reason a lot of Lovecraft-inspired fiction revolves around human worshippers foolishly trying to awaken their favorite Old One. You needn’t be a Lovecraft fan to enjoy this novel, though if you are you’ll notice more than a few Easter eggs.

In Lovecraftian fiction, a protagonist’s powerlessness relative to the Old Ones can be taken as shorthand for humanity’s cosmic insignificance, yet Talley rejects this nihilism. In addition to all the disquieting coincidences, eerie locales, and menacing atmosphere Lovecraftian horror at its best should offers, TWSNB gives us bold heroes whose struggle valiantly against evil. Perhaps more importantly, their struggles have a point, their suffering meaning.

For all the blood and horror contained in TWSNB, it’s that belief in purpose and hope that makes it refreshing compared to a lot of modern horror, and perhaps the broader culture as well. And that, I suspect, is why I’ve returned to the novel every couple years.

20 people found this helpful

Superb Cosmic Horror

I didn't know what to expect from this book, I selected it because of the narrator. But I was almost instantly hooked. The book is a frame story with a triptych of shorter narratives within. These brought in elements from history (which were accurate) and spun them in original ways. For example the second story the one that takes place in eastern Europe, the Scholomance figures. I remember reading Dracula, and the Scholomance is mentioned twice in Bram Stoker's book, but I remembered it only from World of Warcraft. There's quite a bit about it on the internet and I was delighted to learn something about the folklore the author borrowed for his story. I love little bits of historical accuracy in period books, and this had plenty. In the third story, the whole history of Danvers State Hospital is detailed. All of it was historically accurate and also fit nicely into the narrative. This doesn't do justice to the little bits of history and literature. Like Dan Brown, the author is a polymath. It's like the Call of Cthulhu meets The DaVinci Code.

The book is a winner. I don't tend to like Lovecraft pastiche because nobody can even hold a candle to the master (except for Robert Bloch, perhaps), but Talley comes close enough for horseshoes. The idiom is antiquated, which is to say, it sounds like it might have been written in the 19th or early 20th Centuries. So it's not the kind of modern language you find in most books. That won't appeal to everyone, but I liked it; it gave a sense of mood and set the action firmly in time.

David Stifel's narration is excellent, his accents have authenticity and his characters are multidimensional. I always understood what the characters were feeling even if it wasn't explicit in the words. He knows the secret of how to make characters live.

The frame story borrows heavily on the classic Call of Cthulhu, and I resisted that for a bit until the author AGAIN put a new spin on it. Impressive writing indeed.

The horror is cosmic and I felt that several times during the book--especially during the Captain's story--being lost in a cosmic sea. This book really cooks and I'm going to listen to it again I'm sure. I'm also going to get the sequel. If you like Lovecraftian horror you will love this book--I think if you're a Lovecraft purist you might not; maybe not right away, but there's a lot here that transcends the Mythos, that draws on threads of ancient world history. It's extremely satisfying.

9 people found this helpful

Pure Lovecraftian Art

I found this particular book to be riveting. The narrator expertly conveyed the distinct nuances of each character, and the stories told by each man in the tavern with our skeptical protagonist were as enthralling as they were connected to the overall story. I would certainly recommend it, but perhaps not for people who live alone in dark and remote houses where things go bump in the night.

9 people found this helpful

Decent Tale

I enjoyed the mini-tales in this one more than the overall tale. I also find the authors christian influences in the mythos to confuse and muddy the whole story up.

7 people found this helpful

Mediocre Lovecraftian Storytelling

Not an entirely terrible book, but not truly horror either. Basic Lovecraftian plot you've probably read in any of the many thematically similar stories out there, and it's very predictable. I personally didn't like the narration, his accents were terrible and he reads at a slow pace, over-enunciating words on occasion to the point that you'd believe he was reading you the mentally impaired. Not a great book, but not entirely terrible either, I'd give it 3.5 stars if it was possible, but resisted rounding up to a 4 in the fear that someone would look at the score and blow their credit on it before reading the review.

7 people found this helpful

TWSNB is a Lovecraftian Masterpiece!!

I have read (listened) to very few books that have made me want to actually study some of the history, myths and legends contained within (alongside reading the work itself) and it made the read all the more deep and engaging. I have never been a huge Mythos fan…until now with TWSNB. With his deeply dark and atmospheric prose, Brett takes us through a series of stories, each of them rich and unique in their own right which ultimately leads us to the very gates of the netherworld. Excellent. Highly Recommended!

David Stifel really nails the narration for this one with what must have been a rather difficult job of keeping the characters straight and the plot moving without losing any of the books dark atmosphere. Very well done. I look forward to more of David's work.

7 people found this helpful

it was ok

Maybe I should listen to this story again before I leave my comment... nah I'm good.

6 people found this helpful

Wow bad

I wanted to like this book, but between the bad narration and even worse writing I just could not. I have been reading Lovecraft and his mythos for 20 years and never has there been a juvenile attempt at continuing his legacy then this book. This book is so bad I could not even listen to the last 3 chapters, and I got through snow crush. To other readers please stay away and to the narattor and writer please lock your selves away in some forgotten tomb so that we may never hear from either of you again.

6 people found this helpful

HPL + Jesus = garbage

What would have made That Which Should Not Be better?

If it had been written by someone smarter.

What could Brett J. Talley have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not written it, or left his christianity out of his desire to write a mythos story.

What aspect of David Stifel’s performance would you have changed?

The performance was good actually, just in service of a pointless narrative.

What character would you cut from That Which Should Not Be?

The christian god.

Any additional comments?

If you don't understand HPL and you are a big believer in the bible, please don't try to write mythos stories.

4 people found this helpful

Engaging collection of Cthulhu stories

Great collection of tales based around the Cthulhu mythos. As I am not a Lovecraft expert, I don't know if these stories just draw from the Lovecraft Cthulhu collection, or are a re-telling. Never the less, it was a fun listen.

I really enjoyed the format of people telling the tales in a tavern to connect the story. The author did a great job making you feel like you were sitting there having an ale on a stormy night, absorbing each story from the men who told them.

It somehow reminded me of the older horror movies I loved as a kid. I wouldn't categorize it as scary, but well told, not corny.

4 people found this helpful