[YSDC] Into The Deep - User contributions [en]

Revelations of Glaaki

2009-08-10T17:56:11Z

Theobald: Added information of the Standish Press edition, with a citation.

The Revelations of Glaaki are the name given to a collection of twelve volumes written by the members of the undead cult of [[Glaaki]].

==Description==
While the Great Old One sleeps beneath Brichester Lake the members of his cult gain insight from the snatches of Glaaki's dreams that they see. These fragments of information are noted down by the cult . Because of the sometimes disjointed nature of Glaaki's dreams it's not uncommon for a cult member to break of in the middle of writing an entry and start on a totally different subject,

It's these dream visions plus the knowledge Glaaki tells his following that make up the bulk of the information contained with in the Revelations.

==Volumes==
The original edition is broken down into twelve volumes.

'''Volume One::''' Tells of Glaaki's arrival on Earth and the subsequent cult that grew up around him. This volume allso contains a small amount of information on [[Tond]] and the other worlds Glaaki visited.

'''Volume Two:''' Details the worship of Glaaki and the correct times and words for the rituals. The later part of the book is a particularly disjointed section dealing with an affliction known as "The Green Decay". There is allso a small amount of information on the Aklo Sendings.

'''Volume Three:''' Most of this volume focuses on the seals that bind the "Berkely Toad" and those that brought the former to earth.. A large section is dedicated to the words and formulae used to channel the sleeping deity's power.

'''Volume Four:''' This volume focuses on [[Eihort]] and his brood. Allso contains several incantations and rites used to "commune" with the White God. The Tomb Herd are allso briefly mentioned.

'''Volume Five:''' The majority of material relates to astronomy and the effects of certain star positions. Allso features a number of prophecies foretelling the coming of Groth the Harbinger.

'''Volume Six:''' Tells of a nearby hamlet where the villagers perform rites to Black Shub the Great Mother. A number of chapters focus on an object known as the Moon Lens and the creature it summons forth.

'''Volume Seven:''' Describes the [[Shan]] and their lost civilisation. Their worship of [[Azathoth]] is allso remarked upon along with a number of speculations on how the Insects harness the limitless energy of the Ultimate Chaos to power their temples.

'''Volume Eight:''' Contains information on a number of other planets across the universe. Among those mentioned are Tond, [[Yuggoth]], [[Shaggai]] and [[L'gy'hx]]. The first part of this volume focuses on the [[Beings of Xiclotl]] and other servants of the Shan.

'''Volume Nine:''' This volumes deals with a number of other dimensions that encroach on our own. Particular sections include one on the Gulf of [[S'glhuo]] and one another on the time travelling priests of [[Daoloth]]. Pages 2057 to 2059 contain instructions of how to build a machine capable of opening a Gate into the plains of sound.

'''Volume Ten:''' This volume talks about something called The God Cancer, which tries to break into our dimension from its own. Three thirds of the contents of this volume deal with protective signs and spells.

'''Volume Eleven:''' Talks extensively about the Crystallizers of Dreams and their abilities. The latter part of the book focuses on the rituals required to activate the Crystallizers and project the user's mind into another dimension. There is a cryptic note in the margin of one of the pages, which mentions something called The Ei'lor Fronds.

'''Volume Twelve:''' See below.

==Volume Twelve==
The Twelfth volume of the Revelations was written from the dreams of a man who lived up on Mercy Hill (possibly Roland Franklyn) and sold to a used bookseller for a pittance. While focusing mainly on the return of the Old Ones and the rise of Rlyeh, this volume allso contains a section on the Great Old One [[Y'golonac]]. Readers must be cautious of these passages since even reading Y'golonac's name can summon him. In said section a reader can finds several spells relateing to an artifact known as The Hand of Y'golonac.

Due to it's unique nature and contents there are very very few copies of this volume in existence.

==Original==
The original version of the Revelations is made up of eleven aged ring binders containing numerous sheets of low grade paper on which Glaaki's cult write down their god's wisdom. A few copies of this version have been produced by rogue cult members.

==Supremus Press Edition==
In 1864 a renegade me member of Glaaki's cult escaped with a large number of notes copied from the Revelations. Early the next year Supremus Press of Liverpool published an expurged version of the Revelations from these notes. This version misses out most of volumes ten to eleven and a number of references to other underground cults have been removed.

The Supremus Press edition is made up of nine Folio sized books bound in leather.

==Standish Press Edition==
Standish Press, best known for their publication of the sought-after Quine Necronomicon, put out an edition of the 'Revelations of Glaaki' prepared by noted Mythos scholar Antonius Quine. Quine, frustrated with the Golden Goblin edition, which he viewed as incomplete and riddled with errors, aimed to compile a complete and corrected version of the book. This edition includes additions made by the Cult of Glaaki after it was reconstituted in 1942, which older editions necessarily leave out. The Standish 'Revelations of Glaaki' is bound as one large volume, as Quine (and, we are told, the leadership of the Cult at the time) considered the division into multiple volumes to be arbitrary and incorrect. [http://www.mythostomes.com/content/view/90/1/]

==Role Playing Game Stats==

; ''Original '' :The original version of the Revelations is written in sometimes archaic handwriting which can make it hard to decipher. Several read English roles are required. Average 45 weeks to study and comprehend/88 hours to skim. Cthulhu Mythos +17 percent. Sanity Loss 1D8/2D8. Any player who successfully reads and studies all eleven volumes gains two skill checks in Ocult.

; ''Supremus Press Edition '' :The Supremus press edition is is printed in clear type making it far easier to read though much of the content has been altered. Average 45 weeks to study and comprehend/88 hours to skim. Cthulhu Mythos +15 percent. Sanity Loss 1D6/2D8. Any player who sucessfuly reads and studies all nine volumes of this edition gains one skill check in Ocult.

; ''Volume Twelve '' :The Twelfth volume of the Revelations is written in slightly spidery but easily legible handwriting. Readers must be careful of unwittingly summoning Y'golonac. Average 6 weeks to study and comprehend/12 hours to skim. Cthulhu Mythos +3 percent. Sanity Loss 1D3/2D3.
[[Category:Mythos:Tomes|Revelations of Glaaki]]

Necronomicon

2008-06-12T20:55:18Z

Theobald: /* External links */ Cleaned up list.

The '''''Necronomicon''''' is the title of a fictional book created by [[H.P. Lovecraft]] and often featured in stories based on the [[Cthulhu Mythos]] inspired by his works. However, some people believe in the existence of an actual ancient text called the ''Necronomicon'' which may or may not fit the description given in Lovecraft's fiction.

== The book ==
Lovecraft often referenced fictional works in his [[horror fiction]], a practice common among subsequent fantasy authors like [[Jorge Luis Borges]] and [[William Goldman]]. The ''Necronomicon'' was first mentioned in Lovecraft's [[1923 in literature|1923]] short story "[[The Hound]]", though hints of it (or similar books) appear as far back as "[[The Statement of Randolph Carter]]" ([[1919 in literature|1919]]). In the stories, the book is [[Motif of harmful sensation|dangerous to read]] because it is often harmful to the health and sanity of its readers. For this reason, libraries keep it under lock and key.

Capitalizing on the notoriety of the fictional tome, real-life [[publisher]]s have printed many books entitled ''Necronomicon'' since Lovecraft's death.

=== Origin and fictional history ===
How Lovecraft conceived the name "Necronomicon" is not clear—Lovecraft himself claimed that the title came to him in a dream. Perhaps he was influenced by [[Edgar Allan Poe]]'s "[[The Fall of the House of Usher]]" and an unfinished [[first century]] [[astronomy|astronomical]] poem by Roman poet [[Marcus Manilius]] titled the ''[[Astronomicon]]''. Although some have suggested that Lovecraft was influenced primarily by [[Robert W. Chambers]]' collection of short stories, ''[[The King in Yellow]]'', it is now believed that Lovecraft did not read that work until [[1927]].

Lovecraft originally titled the book the ''Al Azif'' (from [[Arabic language|Arabic]], meaning the sound of [[cicada]]s and other nocturnal [[insect]]s, which [[folklore]] claims is the conversations of [[demon]]s) and said that it was written by the Mad [[Arab]] [[Abdul Alhazred]]. Among other things, the work contained an account of the [[Cthulhu mythos|Old Ones]], their history, and the means for summoning them.

According to Lovecraft, Alhazred wrote the original text in [[Damascus]] around [[730]] AD, but a number of translations were made over the centuries. The Greek translation, which gave the book its most famous title, was made by a (fictional) [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox]] scholar, Theodorus Philetas of [[Constantinople]] circa [[950]] AD. [[Olaus Wormius]] (an actual historical person wrongly placed by Lovecraft in the [[thirteenth century]]) translated it into [[Latin]] and indicated in the preface that the Arabic original was lost. This translation was printed twice: In the [[fifteenth century]], evidently in [[Germany]] in [[black-letter]], and in the [[seventeenth century|seventeenth]], probably in [[Spain]].

When the Latin translation called attention to the ''Necronomicon'', it was banned by [[Pope Gregory IX]] in [[1232]]. The Greek translation, printed in [[Italy]] between [[1500]] and [[1550]], was probably lost when fire destroyed R. U. Pickman's library in [[Salem, Massachusetts|Salem]]. The [[Elizabethan]] magician [[John Dee]] allegedly had a copy (an idea suggested to Lovecraft by his friend [[Frank Belknap Long]]) and is thought to have made an [[English language|English]] translation, of which only fragments survive.

=== Criticism ===

Some critics accuse Lovecraft of using the ''Necronomicon'' as ''[[deus ex machina]]'' in his stories, having it mentioned whenever the narrator makes an occult reference, no matter how unlikely it is that the narrator has delved into the occult. However, this practice is far more common in the [[wikt:pastiche|pastiche]]s of his imitators than in the stories of Lovecraft himself. With the possible exception of the protagonists in "The Dunwich Horror", all of the characters in Lovecraft's works who read the Mad Arab's book come to horrific ends.


Some note that in ''[[At the Mountains of Madness]]'' virtually all the characters on the [[Antarctic]] expedition have read the ''Necronomicon'', although it is unlikely that a diverse group of [[geologists]], [[biologists]], and [[engineers]] would have had reason to read such an unusual book. The explanation may lie in their connection with [[Miskatonic University]]. The university is renowned for its occult library, which holds a copy of the famed Necronomicon—a book likely to be of interest to both students and academics alike, especially those who value knowledge and experience outside their fields. Consequently, it may not be a coincidence that all the members of the expedition have read the ''Necronomicon''—reading the dreaded book ultimately ties in with their fate in the Antarctic. Furthermore, [[Cthulhu mythos biographies|Danforth]], who has read the book cover-to-cover, suffers a worse fate than the more casual readers.

== Appearance and content ==
Lovecraft made frequent reference to the ''Necronomicon'' but was very sparing with actual detail of its appearance and contents. That it is a substantial tome cannot be questioned as Wilbur Whateley of [[Dunwich]] comes to [[Miskatonic University]] to find the page which would have appeared on the 751st page of his own inherited, but defective, Dee edition by comparing it with the University's copy ("[[The Dunwich Horror]]").

However, other than the obvious black letter editions nothing else is known of its physical dimension or appearance although it is commonly portrayed as bound in leather of various types and having metal clasps. Editions are sometimes disguised, as Mr John Merrit discovers to his disquiet when pulling down a book labelled ''Qanoon-e-Islam'' from Joseph Curwen’s bookshelf and discovering it actually to be the Necronomicon in ''[[The Case of Charles Dexter Ward]]''.

The three direct quotes by Lovecraft from the ''Necronomicon'' are as follows:

* From "[[The Nameless City]]":
<blockquote>
''That is not dead which can eternal lie,''
<br>''And with strange aeons death may die.''
<br>(Later versions of the same quote always read "even death may die".)
</blockquote>

* From "[[The Festival]]":
<blockquote>
''The nethermost caverns are not for the fathoming of eyes that see; for their marvels are strange and terrific. Cursed the ground where dead thoughts live new and oddly bodied, and evil the mind that is held by no head. Wisely did Ibn Schacabao say, that happy is the tomb where no wizard hath lain, and happy the town at night whose wizards are all ashes. For it is of old rumour that the soul of the devil-bought hastes not from his charnel clay, but fats and instructs the very worm that gnaws; till out of corruption horrid life springs, and the dull scavengers of earth wax crafty to vex it and swell monstrous to plague it. Great holes secretly are digged where earth's pores ought to suffice, and things have learnt to walk that ought to crawl.''
</blockquote>

* From "[[The Dunwich Horror]]":
<blockquote>
''Nor is it to be thought that man is either the oldest or the last of earth's masters, or that the common bulk of life and substance walks alone. The [[Great Old One|Old Ones]] were, the Old Ones are, and the Old Ones shall be. Not in the spaces we know, but between them, they walk serene and primal, undimensioned and to us unseen. [[Yog-Sothoth]] knows the gate. Yog-Sothoth is the gate. Yog-Sothoth is the key and guardian of the gate. Past, present, future, all are one in Yog-Sothoth. He knows where the Old Ones broke through of old, and where They shall break through again. He knows where They had trod earth's fields, and where They still tread them, and why no one can behold Them as They tread. By Their smell can men sometimes know Them near, but of Their semblance can no man know, saving only in the features of those They have begotten on mankind; and of those are there many sorts, differing in likeness from man's truest eidolon to that shape without sight or substance which is Them. They walk unseen and foul in lonely places where the Words have been spoken and the Rites howled through at their Seasons. The wind gibbers with Their voices, and the earth mutters with Their consciousness. They bend the forest and crush the city, yet may not forest or city behold the hand that smites. [[Kadath]] in the cold waste hath known Them, and what man knows Kadath? The ice desert of the South and the sunken isles of Ocean hold stones whereon Their seal is engraver, but who hath seen the deep frozen city or the sealed tower long garlanded with seaweed and barnacles? Great [[Cthulhu]] is Their cousin, yet can he spy Them only dimly. Iä! [[Shub-Niggurath]]! As a foulness shall ye know Them. Their hand is at your throats, yet ye see Them not; and Their habitation is even one with your guarded threshold. Yog-Sothoth is the key to the gate, whereby the spheres meet. Man rules now where They ruled once; They shall soon rule where man rules now. After summer is winter, after winter summer. They wait patient and potent, for here shall They reign again.''
</blockquote>

There exist innumerable other ''Necronomicon'' quotes but those above are the only ones written by Lovecraft himself.

== Locations ==
In Lovecraft's works, various people and places have copies of the ''Necronomicon'' (although it is far rarer than later imitators would have one believe despite its persistent appearances). Copies of the ''Necronomicon'' are held by only five institutions worldwide: The [[British Museum]] (now held at the [[British Library]]); the [[Bibliothèque nationale de France]]; [[Widener Library]] of [[Harvard University]] in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]]; the [[Universidad de Buenos Aires|University of Buenos Aires]]; and the library of the [[fiction]]al [[Miskatonic University]] in the equally fictional [[Arkham]], [[Massachusetts]]. The latter edition is the Latin translation by Olaus Wormius, printed in [[Spain]] in the [[17th century]].

Other copies are kept by private individuals. Wilbur Whateley possesses a copy in "[[The Dunwich Horror]]" ([[1929 in literature|1929]]), which is presumed to have gone to his heirs after his death. Joseph Curwen's copy, mentioned above, was almost certainly destroyed by the raiding party that took his life. Harley Warren's version (which is not mentioned by name but is instead most likely a copy) goes with him to his fate in "The Statement of Randolph Carter" ([[1919 in literature|1919]]). A version is mentioned as being held in Kingsport in both "[[The Festival]]" ([[1925 in literature|1925]]) and (by implication) ''[[The Case of Charles Dexter Ward]]'' ([[1941 in literature|1941]]). The provenance of the copy read by the narrator of "The Nameless City" ([[1921 in literature|1921]]) is unknown, while the version read by the main character in "The Hound" ([[1924 in literature|1924]]) is presumed destroyed when all of his charnel goods are so disposed.

== Etymology of the title ==
Lovecraft wrote that the meaning of the title as translated from the [[Greek language]]: ''nekros'' (corpse), ''nomos'' (law), ''eikon'' (image) was: "An image of the law of the dead." A more prosaic (but probably more correct) translation, is via conjugation of ''nemo'' (''to consider''): "Concerning the dead." Another [[etymology]] that has been suggested here is "knowledge of the dead," from Greek ''nekrós'' (''corpse'', ''dead''), and ''gnomein'' (''to know''), on the apparent assumption that the ''[[g]]'' could be lost.

Greek editions of Lovecraft's works have commented that in Greek the word can have several different meanings when broken at its roots. More specifically:

; ''Necro-Nomicon'' : The Book of the Law of the Dead, derived from Nomicon (Book of Law).
; ''Necro-Nomo-icon'' : The Book of Dead Laws.
; ''Necro-Nemo-ikon'' : A Study or Classification of the Dead.
; ''Necro-Nomo-eikon'' : Image of the Law of the Dead.
; ''Necro-Nemein-Ikon'' : Book Concerning the Dead.
; ''Necrό-Nomo-eikon'' : Law of Dead Images.
; ''Necr-Onom-icon'' : The Book of Dead Names, derived from onoma (name).


== The ''Necronomicon'' as a real book ==
Though Lovecraft insisted the book was pure invention (and other writers invented passages from the book in their own works), there are accounts of some people actually believing his ''Necronomicon'' to be a real book. Even during Lovecraft's life he received letters from fans inquiring about the ''Necronomicon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s authenticity. Occasionally, [[prank]]sters listed the ''Necronomicon'' for sale in book store newsletters or inserted phony [[library]] [[card catalogue]] entries for the book.

This line between fact and fiction was further confused in the late [[1970s]] by the publication of a book purporting to be a translation of the "real" ''Necronomicon''. This book, by the pseudonymic "Simon", has little connection to the fictional Lovecraft mythology but rather is based on [[Sumerian Mythology]]. It has later been dubbed the "[[Simon Necronomicon]]".

A blatant hoax version of the ''Necronomicon'' was produced by paranormal researcher and writer [[Colin Wilson]], describing how it was translated by computer from a discovered "cipher text." It is far truer to the Lovecraftean version and even incorporates quotations from Lovecraft's stories into its passages.

Historical "Books of the Dead" such as the [[ancient Egypt]]ian ''[[Book of the Dead]]'' or the [[Tibet]]an ''[[Bardo Thodol]]'' are sometimes described as "real ''Necronomicons''." They should not be confused with the Lovecraft ''Necronomicon'', as their contents are meant to be read or remembered by the dead, rather than used by the living to summon the dead. Lovecraft, however, may have been inspired by these books.

== References to the ''Necronomicon'' ==
[[Image:necronomicon-1.jpg|thumb|''Necronomicon Ex Mortis'', from [[The Evil Dead]] trilogy of films]]

Many [[fantasy]] and [[horror fiction|horror]] writers have mentioned the ''Necronomicon'' in their own stories. The ''Necronomicon'' has also become part of [[popular culture]], influencing [[band (music)|bands]], [[filmmaker]]s, [[television]] writers, and [[video game]] developers.

* Various writers in the school of the Cthulhu mythos have "quoted" from the ''Necronomicon'', among them [[Clark Ashton Smith]] and [[August Derleth]].

* The movie ''[[Necronomicon (movie)|Necronomicon]]'' is based on Lovecraft's stories.

* The [[Stephen King]] book ''[[The Eyes of the Dragon]]'' includes a reference to a book "bound in human flesh" that the magician Flagg cannot read for too long for fear of losing his sanity. It is also referenced as a very long book.

* In a passage in [[Gene Wolfe]]'s [[novel]] ''Peace'', a book of [[necromancy]] being forged by a character is not named but its form suggests the popular image of the ''Necronomicon''.

* [[Neil Gaiman]] and [[Terry Pratchett]] created a parody of the ''Necronomicon'' called the ''[[Minor Discworld concepts#Necrotelecomnicon|Necrotelecomnicon]]''—the book of [[phone number]]s of the dead.

* [[Andrzej Sapkowski]] mentions a [[Polish language|Polish]] translation of the book titled ''Źwierzcyadło Maggi Czarney Bissurmańskiey'' in his short story "Tandaradei!". It is also mentioned under its original title in his novel ''Boży bojownicy'' (''God's Warriors'').

* [[Sergey Lukyanenko]] employes the ''Necronomicon'' in ''[[Night Watch (Russian novel)|Night Watch]]''.

* The ''Necronomicon'' appears in ''[[Illuminatus! Trilogy|The Illuminatus! Trilogy]]'' by [[Robert Anton Wilson]] and [[Robert Shea]].

* ''[[Necronomicon (H. R. Giger)|Necronomicon]]'' was the title of a book of paintings by the [[Swiss]] artist [[H. R. Giger]] (published in [[1978]]). It was appropriately titled considering his particularly sinister style of blended machinery and flesh.

* In [[Sam Raimi]]'s popular movie trilogy, ''[[Evil Dead]]'', ''[[Evil Dead 2]]'', and ''[[Army of Darkness]]'', the ''Necronomicon Ex Mortis'' appears as an evil book of magic. In the first film of the trilogy, [[Ash Williams]] hears a recording of an academic reading from the book which eventually leads to his later trouble.

* [[Science fiction]] author [[Neal Stephenson]] derived the title of his book ''[[Cryptonomicon]]'' from the ''Necronomicon'' featured in the ''[[Evil Dead]]'' movies, not knowing that the name had originated from Lovecraft.

* [[Metallica]]'s song "The Thing that Should not Be" contains lines derived from a quotation from the ''Necronomicon'': "That is not dead which can eternal lie/ And with strange eons even death may die" (shortened to "Not dead which eternal lie / stranger eons death may die"). [[Beatallica]]'s "The Thing that Should not Let it Be" is thus also derived from the ''Necronomicon'', albeit second hand.

* In ''[[The Simpsons]]'', [[Bob Dole]] reads from the ''Necronomicon'' at the [[Republican Party]]'s headquarters.

* In ''[[The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy]]'', Billy steals Grim's copy of "The Bad Book" to raise Yog Soloth.

* In an episode of ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]'', Frylock almost gives Meatwad the ''Necronomicon'' instead of the [[Bible]].

* In an episode of ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]'', [[Shayera]] and [[Wonder Woman]] come across the ''Necronomicon'' shortly after entering Hades' library. Minutes later, Felix Faust casually mentions the book by name.

* In an episode of ''[[The Venture Bros.]]'', Dr. Orpheus refuses to swear on a Bible before taking the witness stand in court, instead preferring to take the oath on the ''Necronomicon''.

* In a level of the video game ''[[Max Payne]]'', Max encounters the ''Necronomicon'' and ''[[Paradise Lost]]'' among people who believe in the somewhat unrelated [[Norse mythology]].

* In ''[[Castlevania 64]]'' for [[Nintendo 64]], the option menu is a book entitled ''Necronomicon''. The book also appears in the video games ''[[Tales of Phantasia]]'' and ''[[Tales of Symphonia]]''.

* ''Digital Pinball: Necronomicon'' is a [[Japan|Japanese]] video pinball game for the [[Sega Saturn]] console.

* In ''[[Megatokyo]]'', a [[webcomic]], one of the characters finds a book called ''Necrowombicon'', said to be used to make ''[[Daikatana]]''. The ''Necrowombicon'' has its origins in the webcomic ''[[Penny Arcade (comic)|Penny Arcade]]''.

* In the humorous [[film noir]] movie ''Cast a Deadly Spell'', [[Fred Ward]] plays the private detective H. Phillip Lovecraft, who is hired by a questionable character to retrieve a book called ''The Necronomicon''. The book has been stolen from the latter's personal library.

* In ''[[Defense of the Ancients]]'', the ''Necronomicon'' is an item that increases the Intelligence statistic and allows the player to summon two soldiers with [[wikt:necromatic|necromatic]] powers. It is mainly useful to [[mage]]s.

* In [[1971 in literature|1971]], science fiction author [[Larry Niven]] published a humorous short story called "The Last Necronomicon".

* In the comic ''[[Van Von Hunter]]'', there is a book called ''Notdanecronomicon'' which when touched without first saying "all clear" summons an undead army.

* In the webcomic ''[[Sam and Fuzzy]]'', there is a book called "the necro-deatho-bookikon" referred to as mainstream satanistic garbage.

* In the webcomic ''[[Movie Punks]]'', there is a book called the ''Punkronomicon'', which is used for picking up goth chicks in clubs and bars.

* In the 2nd edition ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay]]'' core book, there is a very thinly-veiled reference on page 219 to the ''Necronomicon'': "Another such volume is the ''Book of the Dead'', written by the mad Arabyan prince Abdul ben Raschid ... Only the most strong-willed can read these books and retain any sense of sanity. These forbidden tomes tell of the horrible secrets of the beyond, of the dark insane dreams that the dead dream in their eternal rest."

* In the song "Twisted", rapper [[Tech N9ne]] threatens to make a [[Christian]] read their kids the ''Necronomicon'' on [[Christmas]].

* In the ''[[Wild Arms]]'' video game series, the ''Necronomicon'' is a piece of equipment that can greatly increase the user's magic statistics.

* In the fourth of Sierra's ''[[Quest for Glory]]'' series, ''[[Shadows of Darkness]]'', the ''Necronomicon'' is set upon an altar, bound in human [[skin]], and written in [[blood]]. A derivation from tales of the ''Necronomicon'' relate to [[concentration camp]]s.

* The [[Nintendo GameCube]] game ''[[Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem]]'' is heavily inspired by Lovecraft's works. It features a major item called the [[Tome of Eternal Darkness]], an evil book made of flesh and bone and "bound together with the oddest magickal incantation."

* In the 13-episode horror anthology series [http://www.mastersofhorror.net/ Masters of Horror], the ''Necronomicon'' is featured in the second episode, an adaptation of Lovecraft's "The Dreams in the Witch House".

* The tombstone on the front cover of [[Iron Maiden]]'s seminal Live album "[[Live After Death]]" contains the quote "That is not dead / Which can eternal lie / Yet with strange aeons / Even death may die"

* ''[[Necronomicon - Geträumte Sünden]]'' (1967) is the title of a feature film directed by [[Jesus Franco|Jess Franco]]

* In Dan Abnett's ''[[Eisenhorn]]'', the ''Necronomicon'' (called the Necroteuch) is one of the worst books of Chaos in existence. If someone picks it up, the person holding it will be mesmerized by it and will be unable to do anything but stare at the book. It corrupted and caused the death of the entire Saruthi race. It also distorted the way physical dimensions acted near it.

* Porndeath/Grind band ''[[Lividity]]'' from USA, have also referred to the ''Necronomicon Ex-Mortis'', as an intro to one of their songs from their '' [[Age of Clitorial Decay]] '' release. The intro talks about how the book was inked with blood, the same blood that used to flow in all the rivers at that time, and how it got lost.

* The US musical group [[Nox Arcana]] released an album in 2004 entitled ''Necronomicon.'' The predominantly instrumental music ranges from ominous orchestrations with a Middle Eastern influence, evoking mystical reference to the [[Mad Arab Alhazred]]. Vocals consist of various "otherworldly" chants, including ritual phrases from the ''Necronomicon'' according to Lovecraft. The ''Necronomicon'' cd booklet also contains fantasy artist [[Joseph Vargo|Joseph Vargo's]] rendition of [[Cthulhu]] and several pages from the ''Necronomicon'' book as well as other illustrations of [[The Great Old Ones]].

== Commercially available books titled ''Necronomicon'' ==
* ''Al Azif: The Necronomicon'' by [[L. Sprague de Camp]] (1973, ISBN 1587150433)
* ''[[Simon Necronomicon|Necromonicon]]'' by "Simon" (1980, ISBN 0380751925)
* ''H.R. Giger's Necronomicon'' by [[H.R. Giger]] (1991, ISBN 0962344729)
* ''The Necronomicon'' by George Hay (1993, ISBN 1871438160)
* ''The Necronomicon'' edited by Robert M. Price (1996, ISBN 1568820704)
* ''Necronomicon: The Wanderings Of Alhazred'' by Donald Tyson (2004, ISBN 0738706272)

== See also ==
* [[Chaldean mythology]]
* [[Cthulhu mythos arcane literature]]
* [[False document]]
* [[Grimoire]]
* [[Necromancy]]
* [[References to the Cthulhu mythos]]

== References ==
* H.P. Lovecraft: [http://www.mythostomes.com/content/view/12/72/ "A History of The Necronomicon".] Necronomicon Press. ISBN 0-318047-15-2.
* H.P. Lovecraft: ''The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward''. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-35490-7.
* Dan Harms and John Wisdom Gonce III: ''The Necronomicon Files''. Red Wheel Weiser. ISBN 1-578-63269-2.

== External links ==
*[http://www.mythostomes.com/content/blogcategory/0/72/ Necronomicon Articles at Mythos Tomes]
*[http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/9879/necfake.htm Fake Necronomicons]
*[http://www.larryniven.org/stories/Necronomicon.htm "The Last Necronomicon"], a short story by [[Larry Niven]]
*[http://www.digital-brilliance.com/necron/necron.htm The Necronomicon Anti-FAQ by Colin Low], a spoof FAQ about the "real" Necronomicon. (This is fiction.)
**[http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/9879/necfaq.htm A rebuttal of the Necronomicon Anti-FAQ by Dan Clore]
*[http://ravensblight.com/Book.htm Necronomicon as Papercraft], make your own Necronomicon Notebook
*[http://www.textfiles.com/occult/OTO/necron.txt Sumerian copy of the ''Necronomicon''], a purported translation, circa 1985
*[http://www.palmyra.demon.co.uk/superstition/necronomicon/necronomicon.htm Wilson ''Necronomicon''], text of the Wilson ''Necronomicon'' as well as a later project known as the ''R'lyeh Text''

Original Wiki source: [http://en.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia]

[[Category:Mythos:Tomes|Necronomicon]]

Necronomicon

2008-06-12T20:44:28Z

Theobald: /* References */ Added reference link to original source material.

The '''''Necronomicon''''' is the title of a fictional book created by [[H.P. Lovecraft]] and often featured in stories based on the [[Cthulhu Mythos]] inspired by his works. However, some people believe in the existence of an actual ancient text called the ''Necronomicon'' which may or may not fit the description given in Lovecraft's fiction.

== The book ==
Lovecraft often referenced fictional works in his [[horror fiction]], a practice common among subsequent fantasy authors like [[Jorge Luis Borges]] and [[William Goldman]]. The ''Necronomicon'' was first mentioned in Lovecraft's [[1923 in literature|1923]] short story "[[The Hound]]", though hints of it (or similar books) appear as far back as "[[The Statement of Randolph Carter]]" ([[1919 in literature|1919]]). In the stories, the book is [[Motif of harmful sensation|dangerous to read]] because it is often harmful to the health and sanity of its readers. For this reason, libraries keep it under lock and key.

Capitalizing on the notoriety of the fictional tome, real-life [[publisher]]s have printed many books entitled ''Necronomicon'' since Lovecraft's death.

=== Origin and fictional history ===
How Lovecraft conceived the name "Necronomicon" is not clear—Lovecraft himself claimed that the title came to him in a dream. Perhaps he was influenced by [[Edgar Allan Poe]]'s "[[The Fall of the House of Usher]]" and an unfinished [[first century]] [[astronomy|astronomical]] poem by Roman poet [[Marcus Manilius]] titled the ''[[Astronomicon]]''. Although some have suggested that Lovecraft was influenced primarily by [[Robert W. Chambers]]' collection of short stories, ''[[The King in Yellow]]'', it is now believed that Lovecraft did not read that work until [[1927]].

Lovecraft originally titled the book the ''Al Azif'' (from [[Arabic language|Arabic]], meaning the sound of [[cicada]]s and other nocturnal [[insect]]s, which [[folklore]] claims is the conversations of [[demon]]s) and said that it was written by the Mad [[Arab]] [[Abdul Alhazred]]. Among other things, the work contained an account of the [[Cthulhu mythos|Old Ones]], their history, and the means for summoning them.

According to Lovecraft, Alhazred wrote the original text in [[Damascus]] around [[730]] AD, but a number of translations were made over the centuries. The Greek translation, which gave the book its most famous title, was made by a (fictional) [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox]] scholar, Theodorus Philetas of [[Constantinople]] circa [[950]] AD. [[Olaus Wormius]] (an actual historical person wrongly placed by Lovecraft in the [[thirteenth century]]) translated it into [[Latin]] and indicated in the preface that the Arabic original was lost. This translation was printed twice: In the [[fifteenth century]], evidently in [[Germany]] in [[black-letter]], and in the [[seventeenth century|seventeenth]], probably in [[Spain]].

When the Latin translation called attention to the ''Necronomicon'', it was banned by [[Pope Gregory IX]] in [[1232]]. The Greek translation, printed in [[Italy]] between [[1500]] and [[1550]], was probably lost when fire destroyed R. U. Pickman's library in [[Salem, Massachusetts|Salem]]. The [[Elizabethan]] magician [[John Dee]] allegedly had a copy (an idea suggested to Lovecraft by his friend [[Frank Belknap Long]]) and is thought to have made an [[English language|English]] translation, of which only fragments survive.

=== Criticism ===

Some critics accuse Lovecraft of using the ''Necronomicon'' as ''[[deus ex machina]]'' in his stories, having it mentioned whenever the narrator makes an occult reference, no matter how unlikely it is that the narrator has delved into the occult. However, this practice is far more common in the [[wikt:pastiche|pastiche]]s of his imitators than in the stories of Lovecraft himself. With the possible exception of the protagonists in "The Dunwich Horror", all of the characters in Lovecraft's works who read the Mad Arab's book come to horrific ends.


Some note that in ''[[At the Mountains of Madness]]'' virtually all the characters on the [[Antarctic]] expedition have read the ''Necronomicon'', although it is unlikely that a diverse group of [[geologists]], [[biologists]], and [[engineers]] would have had reason to read such an unusual book. The explanation may lie in their connection with [[Miskatonic University]]. The university is renowned for its occult library, which holds a copy of the famed Necronomicon—a book likely to be of interest to both students and academics alike, especially those who value knowledge and experience outside their fields. Consequently, it may not be a coincidence that all the members of the expedition have read the ''Necronomicon''—reading the dreaded book ultimately ties in with their fate in the Antarctic. Furthermore, [[Cthulhu mythos biographies|Danforth]], who has read the book cover-to-cover, suffers a worse fate than the more casual readers.

== Appearance and content ==
Lovecraft made frequent reference to the ''Necronomicon'' but was very sparing with actual detail of its appearance and contents. That it is a substantial tome cannot be questioned as Wilbur Whateley of [[Dunwich]] comes to [[Miskatonic University]] to find the page which would have appeared on the 751st page of his own inherited, but defective, Dee edition by comparing it with the University's copy ("[[The Dunwich Horror]]").

However, other than the obvious black letter editions nothing else is known of its physical dimension or appearance although it is commonly portrayed as bound in leather of various types and having metal clasps. Editions are sometimes disguised, as Mr John Merrit discovers to his disquiet when pulling down a book labelled ''Qanoon-e-Islam'' from Joseph Curwen’s bookshelf and discovering it actually to be the Necronomicon in ''[[The Case of Charles Dexter Ward]]''.

The three direct quotes by Lovecraft from the ''Necronomicon'' are as follows:

* From "[[The Nameless City]]":
<blockquote>
''That is not dead which can eternal lie,''
<br>''And with strange aeons death may die.''
<br>(Later versions of the same quote always read "even death may die".)
</blockquote>

* From "[[The Festival]]":
<blockquote>
''The nethermost caverns are not for the fathoming of eyes that see; for their marvels are strange and terrific. Cursed the ground where dead thoughts live new and oddly bodied, and evil the mind that is held by no head. Wisely did Ibn Schacabao say, that happy is the tomb where no wizard hath lain, and happy the town at night whose wizards are all ashes. For it is of old rumour that the soul of the devil-bought hastes not from his charnel clay, but fats and instructs the very worm that gnaws; till out of corruption horrid life springs, and the dull scavengers of earth wax crafty to vex it and swell monstrous to plague it. Great holes secretly are digged where earth's pores ought to suffice, and things have learnt to walk that ought to crawl.''
</blockquote>

* From "[[The Dunwich Horror]]":
<blockquote>
''Nor is it to be thought that man is either the oldest or the last of earth's masters, or that the common bulk of life and substance walks alone. The [[Great Old One|Old Ones]] were, the Old Ones are, and the Old Ones shall be. Not in the spaces we know, but between them, they walk serene and primal, undimensioned and to us unseen. [[Yog-Sothoth]] knows the gate. Yog-Sothoth is the gate. Yog-Sothoth is the key and guardian of the gate. Past, present, future, all are one in Yog-Sothoth. He knows where the Old Ones broke through of old, and where They shall break through again. He knows where They had trod earth's fields, and where They still tread them, and why no one can behold Them as They tread. By Their smell can men sometimes know Them near, but of Their semblance can no man know, saving only in the features of those They have begotten on mankind; and of those are there many sorts, differing in likeness from man's truest eidolon to that shape without sight or substance which is Them. They walk unseen and foul in lonely places where the Words have been spoken and the Rites howled through at their Seasons. The wind gibbers with Their voices, and the earth mutters with Their consciousness. They bend the forest and crush the city, yet may not forest or city behold the hand that smites. [[Kadath]] in the cold waste hath known Them, and what man knows Kadath? The ice desert of the South and the sunken isles of Ocean hold stones whereon Their seal is engraver, but who hath seen the deep frozen city or the sealed tower long garlanded with seaweed and barnacles? Great [[Cthulhu]] is Their cousin, yet can he spy Them only dimly. Iä! [[Shub-Niggurath]]! As a foulness shall ye know Them. Their hand is at your throats, yet ye see Them not; and Their habitation is even one with your guarded threshold. Yog-Sothoth is the key to the gate, whereby the spheres meet. Man rules now where They ruled once; They shall soon rule where man rules now. After summer is winter, after winter summer. They wait patient and potent, for here shall They reign again.''
</blockquote>

There exist innumerable other ''Necronomicon'' quotes but those above are the only ones written by Lovecraft himself.

== Locations ==
In Lovecraft's works, various people and places have copies of the ''Necronomicon'' (although it is far rarer than later imitators would have one believe despite its persistent appearances). Copies of the ''Necronomicon'' are held by only five institutions worldwide: The [[British Museum]] (now held at the [[British Library]]); the [[Bibliothèque nationale de France]]; [[Widener Library]] of [[Harvard University]] in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]]; the [[Universidad de Buenos Aires|University of Buenos Aires]]; and the library of the [[fiction]]al [[Miskatonic University]] in the equally fictional [[Arkham]], [[Massachusetts]]. The latter edition is the Latin translation by Olaus Wormius, printed in [[Spain]] in the [[17th century]].

Other copies are kept by private individuals. Wilbur Whateley possesses a copy in "[[The Dunwich Horror]]" ([[1929 in literature|1929]]), which is presumed to have gone to his heirs after his death. Joseph Curwen's copy, mentioned above, was almost certainly destroyed by the raiding party that took his life. Harley Warren's version (which is not mentioned by name but is instead most likely a copy) goes with him to his fate in "The Statement of Randolph Carter" ([[1919 in literature|1919]]). A version is mentioned as being held in Kingsport in both "[[The Festival]]" ([[1925 in literature|1925]]) and (by implication) ''[[The Case of Charles Dexter Ward]]'' ([[1941 in literature|1941]]). The provenance of the copy read by the narrator of "The Nameless City" ([[1921 in literature|1921]]) is unknown, while the version read by the main character in "The Hound" ([[1924 in literature|1924]]) is presumed destroyed when all of his charnel goods are so disposed.

== Etymology of the title ==
Lovecraft wrote that the meaning of the title as translated from the [[Greek language]]: ''nekros'' (corpse), ''nomos'' (law), ''eikon'' (image) was: "An image of the law of the dead." A more prosaic (but probably more correct) translation, is via conjugation of ''nemo'' (''to consider''): "Concerning the dead." Another [[etymology]] that has been suggested here is "knowledge of the dead," from Greek ''nekrós'' (''corpse'', ''dead''), and ''gnomein'' (''to know''), on the apparent assumption that the ''[[g]]'' could be lost.

Greek editions of Lovecraft's works have commented that in Greek the word can have several different meanings when broken at its roots. More specifically:

; ''Necro-Nomicon'' : The Book of the Law of the Dead, derived from Nomicon (Book of Law).
; ''Necro-Nomo-icon'' : The Book of Dead Laws.
; ''Necro-Nemo-ikon'' : A Study or Classification of the Dead.
; ''Necro-Nomo-eikon'' : Image of the Law of the Dead.
; ''Necro-Nemein-Ikon'' : Book Concerning the Dead.
; ''Necrό-Nomo-eikon'' : Law of Dead Images.
; ''Necr-Onom-icon'' : The Book of Dead Names, derived from onoma (name).


== The ''Necronomicon'' as a real book ==
Though Lovecraft insisted the book was pure invention (and other writers invented passages from the book in their own works), there are accounts of some people actually believing his ''Necronomicon'' to be a real book. Even during Lovecraft's life he received letters from fans inquiring about the ''Necronomicon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s authenticity. Occasionally, [[prank]]sters listed the ''Necronomicon'' for sale in book store newsletters or inserted phony [[library]] [[card catalogue]] entries for the book.

This line between fact and fiction was further confused in the late [[1970s]] by the publication of a book purporting to be a translation of the "real" ''Necronomicon''. This book, by the pseudonymic "Simon", has little connection to the fictional Lovecraft mythology but rather is based on [[Sumerian Mythology]]. It has later been dubbed the "[[Simon Necronomicon]]".

A blatant hoax version of the ''Necronomicon'' was produced by paranormal researcher and writer [[Colin Wilson]], describing how it was translated by computer from a discovered "cipher text." It is far truer to the Lovecraftean version and even incorporates quotations from Lovecraft's stories into its passages.

Historical "Books of the Dead" such as the [[ancient Egypt]]ian ''[[Book of the Dead]]'' or the [[Tibet]]an ''[[Bardo Thodol]]'' are sometimes described as "real ''Necronomicons''." They should not be confused with the Lovecraft ''Necronomicon'', as their contents are meant to be read or remembered by the dead, rather than used by the living to summon the dead. Lovecraft, however, may have been inspired by these books.

== References to the ''Necronomicon'' ==
[[Image:necronomicon-1.jpg|thumb|''Necronomicon Ex Mortis'', from [[The Evil Dead]] trilogy of films]]

Many [[fantasy]] and [[horror fiction|horror]] writers have mentioned the ''Necronomicon'' in their own stories. The ''Necronomicon'' has also become part of [[popular culture]], influencing [[band (music)|bands]], [[filmmaker]]s, [[television]] writers, and [[video game]] developers.

* Various writers in the school of the Cthulhu mythos have "quoted" from the ''Necronomicon'', among them [[Clark Ashton Smith]] and [[August Derleth]].

* The movie ''[[Necronomicon (movie)|Necronomicon]]'' is based on Lovecraft's stories.

* The [[Stephen King]] book ''[[The Eyes of the Dragon]]'' includes a reference to a book "bound in human flesh" that the magician Flagg cannot read for too long for fear of losing his sanity. It is also referenced as a very long book.

* In a passage in [[Gene Wolfe]]'s [[novel]] ''Peace'', a book of [[necromancy]] being forged by a character is not named but its form suggests the popular image of the ''Necronomicon''.

* [[Neil Gaiman]] and [[Terry Pratchett]] created a parody of the ''Necronomicon'' called the ''[[Minor Discworld concepts#Necrotelecomnicon|Necrotelecomnicon]]''—the book of [[phone number]]s of the dead.

* [[Andrzej Sapkowski]] mentions a [[Polish language|Polish]] translation of the book titled ''Źwierzcyadło Maggi Czarney Bissurmańskiey'' in his short story "Tandaradei!". It is also mentioned under its original title in his novel ''Boży bojownicy'' (''God's Warriors'').

* [[Sergey Lukyanenko]] employes the ''Necronomicon'' in ''[[Night Watch (Russian novel)|Night Watch]]''.

* The ''Necronomicon'' appears in ''[[Illuminatus! Trilogy|The Illuminatus! Trilogy]]'' by [[Robert Anton Wilson]] and [[Robert Shea]].

* ''[[Necronomicon (H. R. Giger)|Necronomicon]]'' was the title of a book of paintings by the [[Swiss]] artist [[H. R. Giger]] (published in [[1978]]). It was appropriately titled considering his particularly sinister style of blended machinery and flesh.

* In [[Sam Raimi]]'s popular movie trilogy, ''[[Evil Dead]]'', ''[[Evil Dead 2]]'', and ''[[Army of Darkness]]'', the ''Necronomicon Ex Mortis'' appears as an evil book of magic. In the first film of the trilogy, [[Ash Williams]] hears a recording of an academic reading from the book which eventually leads to his later trouble.

* [[Science fiction]] author [[Neal Stephenson]] derived the title of his book ''[[Cryptonomicon]]'' from the ''Necronomicon'' featured in the ''[[Evil Dead]]'' movies, not knowing that the name had originated from Lovecraft.

* [[Metallica]]'s song "The Thing that Should not Be" contains lines derived from a quotation from the ''Necronomicon'': "That is not dead which can eternal lie/ And with strange eons even death may die" (shortened to "Not dead which eternal lie / stranger eons death may die"). [[Beatallica]]'s "The Thing that Should not Let it Be" is thus also derived from the ''Necronomicon'', albeit second hand.

* In ''[[The Simpsons]]'', [[Bob Dole]] reads from the ''Necronomicon'' at the [[Republican Party]]'s headquarters.

* In ''[[The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy]]'', Billy steals Grim's copy of "The Bad Book" to raise Yog Soloth.

* In an episode of ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]'', Frylock almost gives Meatwad the ''Necronomicon'' instead of the [[Bible]].

* In an episode of ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]'', [[Shayera]] and [[Wonder Woman]] come across the ''Necronomicon'' shortly after entering Hades' library. Minutes later, Felix Faust casually mentions the book by name.

* In an episode of ''[[The Venture Bros.]]'', Dr. Orpheus refuses to swear on a Bible before taking the witness stand in court, instead preferring to take the oath on the ''Necronomicon''.

* In a level of the video game ''[[Max Payne]]'', Max encounters the ''Necronomicon'' and ''[[Paradise Lost]]'' among people who believe in the somewhat unrelated [[Norse mythology]].

* In ''[[Castlevania 64]]'' for [[Nintendo 64]], the option menu is a book entitled ''Necronomicon''. The book also appears in the video games ''[[Tales of Phantasia]]'' and ''[[Tales of Symphonia]]''.

* ''Digital Pinball: Necronomicon'' is a [[Japan|Japanese]] video pinball game for the [[Sega Saturn]] console.

* In ''[[Megatokyo]]'', a [[webcomic]], one of the characters finds a book called ''Necrowombicon'', said to be used to make ''[[Daikatana]]''. The ''Necrowombicon'' has its origins in the webcomic ''[[Penny Arcade (comic)|Penny Arcade]]''.

* In the humorous [[film noir]] movie ''Cast a Deadly Spell'', [[Fred Ward]] plays the private detective H. Phillip Lovecraft, who is hired by a questionable character to retrieve a book called ''The Necronomicon''. The book has been stolen from the latter's personal library.

* In ''[[Defense of the Ancients]]'', the ''Necronomicon'' is an item that increases the Intelligence statistic and allows the player to summon two soldiers with [[wikt:necromatic|necromatic]] powers. It is mainly useful to [[mage]]s.

* In [[1971 in literature|1971]], science fiction author [[Larry Niven]] published a humorous short story called "The Last Necronomicon".

* In the comic ''[[Van Von Hunter]]'', there is a book called ''Notdanecronomicon'' which when touched without first saying "all clear" summons an undead army.

* In the webcomic ''[[Sam and Fuzzy]]'', there is a book called "the necro-deatho-bookikon" referred to as mainstream satanistic garbage.

* In the webcomic ''[[Movie Punks]]'', there is a book called the ''Punkronomicon'', which is used for picking up goth chicks in clubs and bars.

* In the 2nd edition ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay]]'' core book, there is a very thinly-veiled reference on page 219 to the ''Necronomicon'': "Another such volume is the ''Book of the Dead'', written by the mad Arabyan prince Abdul ben Raschid ... Only the most strong-willed can read these books and retain any sense of sanity. These forbidden tomes tell of the horrible secrets of the beyond, of the dark insane dreams that the dead dream in their eternal rest."

* In the song "Twisted", rapper [[Tech N9ne]] threatens to make a [[Christian]] read their kids the ''Necronomicon'' on [[Christmas]].

* In the ''[[Wild Arms]]'' video game series, the ''Necronomicon'' is a piece of equipment that can greatly increase the user's magic statistics.

* In the fourth of Sierra's ''[[Quest for Glory]]'' series, ''[[Shadows of Darkness]]'', the ''Necronomicon'' is set upon an altar, bound in human [[skin]], and written in [[blood]]. A derivation from tales of the ''Necronomicon'' relate to [[concentration camp]]s.

* The [[Nintendo GameCube]] game ''[[Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem]]'' is heavily inspired by Lovecraft's works. It features a major item called the [[Tome of Eternal Darkness]], an evil book made of flesh and bone and "bound together with the oddest magickal incantation."

* In the 13-episode horror anthology series [http://www.mastersofhorror.net/ Masters of Horror], the ''Necronomicon'' is featured in the second episode, an adaptation of Lovecraft's "The Dreams in the Witch House".

* The tombstone on the front cover of [[Iron Maiden]]'s seminal Live album "[[Live After Death]]" contains the quote "That is not dead / Which can eternal lie / Yet with strange aeons / Even death may die"

* ''[[Necronomicon - Geträumte Sünden]]'' (1967) is the title of a feature film directed by [[Jesus Franco|Jess Franco]]

* In Dan Abnett's ''[[Eisenhorn]]'', the ''Necronomicon'' (called the Necroteuch) is one of the worst books of Chaos in existence. If someone picks it up, the person holding it will be mesmerized by it and will be unable to do anything but stare at the book. It corrupted and caused the death of the entire Saruthi race. It also distorted the way physical dimensions acted near it.

* Porndeath/Grind band ''[[Lividity]]'' from USA, have also referred to the ''Necronomicon Ex-Mortis'', as an intro to one of their songs from their '' [[Age of Clitorial Decay]] '' release. The intro talks about how the book was inked with blood, the same blood that used to flow in all the rivers at that time, and how it got lost.

* The US musical group [[Nox Arcana]] released an album in 2004 entitled ''Necronomicon.'' The predominantly instrumental music ranges from ominous orchestrations with a Middle Eastern influence, evoking mystical reference to the [[Mad Arab Alhazred]]. Vocals consist of various "otherworldly" chants, including ritual phrases from the ''Necronomicon'' according to Lovecraft. The ''Necronomicon'' cd booklet also contains fantasy artist [[Joseph Vargo|Joseph Vargo's]] rendition of [[Cthulhu]] and several pages from the ''Necronomicon'' book as well as other illustrations of [[The Great Old Ones]].

== Commercially available books titled ''Necronomicon'' ==
* ''Al Azif: The Necronomicon'' by [[L. Sprague de Camp]] (1973, ISBN 1587150433)
* ''[[Simon Necronomicon|Necromonicon]]'' by "Simon" (1980, ISBN 0380751925)
* ''H.R. Giger's Necronomicon'' by [[H.R. Giger]] (1991, ISBN 0962344729)
* ''The Necronomicon'' by George Hay (1993, ISBN 1871438160)
* ''The Necronomicon'' edited by Robert M. Price (1996, ISBN 1568820704)
* ''Necronomicon: The Wanderings Of Alhazred'' by Donald Tyson (2004, ISBN 0738706272)

== See also ==
* [[Chaldean mythology]]
* [[Cthulhu mythos arcane literature]]
* [[False document]]
* [[Grimoire]]
* [[Necromancy]]
* [[References to the Cthulhu mythos]]

== References ==
* H.P. Lovecraft: [http://www.mythostomes.com/content/view/12/72/ "A History of The Necronomicon".] Necronomicon Press. ISBN 0-318047-15-2.
* H.P. Lovecraft: ''The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward''. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-35490-7.
* Dan Harms and John Wisdom Gonce III: ''The Necronomicon Files''. Red Wheel Weiser. ISBN 1-578-63269-2.

== External links ==
*[http://www.bardo.org/ani/ Egyptian Book of the Dead]
*[http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/9879/necfake.htm Fake Necronomicons]
*[http://www.larryniven.org/stories/Necronomicon.htm "The Last Necronomicon"], a short story by [[Larry Niven]]
*[http://www.digital-brilliance.com/necron/necron.htm The Necronomicon Anti-FAQ by Colin Low], a spoof FAQ about the "real" Necronomicon
**[http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/9879/necfaq.htm A rebuttal of the Necronomicon Anti-FAQ by Dan Clore]
*[http://ravensblight.com/Book.htm Necronomicon as Papercraft], make your own Necronomicon Notebook
*[http://www.textfiles.com/occult/OTO/necron.txt Sumerian copy of the ''Necronomican''], a purported translation, circa 1985
*[http://www.lib.virginia.edu/speccol/exhibits/dead/ Tibetan Book of the Dead]
*[http://www.palmyra.demon.co.uk/superstition/necronomicon/necronomicon.htm Wilson ''Necronomicon''], text of the Wilson ''Necronomicon'' as well as a later project known as the ''R'lyeh Text''
*[http://lovecraft.cjb.net The Ultimate Cthulhu Mythos Book List], listing of all mythos novels, anthologies, collections, comic books, and more

Original Wiki source: [http://en.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia]

[[Category:Mythos:Tomes|Necronomicon]]

David Conyers

2007-07-12T14:30:21Z

Theobald: Revert to version with actual content

[[Image:david-conyers.jpg|thumb|David Conyers, ''Call of Cthulhu'' author & artist.]]
'''David Conyers''', ''born Sydney, Australia, May 30th. Writer, illustrator and editor.''

An Australian author whose childhood was spent in Oxford in the United Kingdom and the Adelaide Hills. He moved to Melbourne in his late teenage years and attended the University of Melbourne where he completed a degree in Civil Engineering in 1993. Once qualified he worked across Australia on several remote outback construction projects including a foundations project for a casino in Melbourne, a pipeline in the Pilbara, and a mining processing plant in central Western Australia.

In 1995 David travelled to Africa with fellow writer [[David Witteveen]] visiting Zimbabwe, Zambia and Kenya. His exposure to African culture and thier vastly different standards of living had a profound influence on his writing ever since.

In the mid to late 1990s David transitioned from engineering to marketing communications. He married in 2003 and moved to Adelaide with his wife in 2005.

David’s first published [[Call of Cthulhu]] scenario was [[Devil%27s Children]], [[Pagan Publishing]]’s first professionally bound full colour-cover book, co-written with David Witteveen and David Godley, and released in 1993. It was during this period that he wrote and presented Call of Cthulhu supplements at Melbourne gaming conventions with fellow writers [[Richard Watts]], [[Mark Morrison]], [[Penelope Love]] and [[David Witteveen]].

David returned to writing in the early 2000s. He had his first gaming article published in [[The Black Seal]] in 2003 and his first Chaosium publication “Darkest Calling” in [[The Stars Are Right! Second Edition|The Stars Are Right!]] in 2004. His next project for Chaosium was to expand Keith Herber’s original [[Spawn of Azathoth Second Edition|Spawn of Azathoth]] campaign. He is the author of the scenario “Beyond the Edges” appearing in [[Secrets of San Francisco]]. David's next big project for Chaosium was the [[Secrets of Kenya]] sourcebook.

As an illustrator for the game David has produced maps and artwork for the supplements [[Secrets of Kenya]], [[The Stars Are Right! Second Edition|The Stars Are Right!]], [[Spawn of Azathoth Second Edition|Spawn of Azathoth]], [[Secrets of New York|Secrets of New York]], ''[[Miskatonic University (Supplement)|Miskatonic University]]'' and [[Secrets of San Francisco]].

Apart from ''The Black Seal'', Call of Cthulhu magazines that have featured his work include ''Book of Dark Wisdom'', ''The Whisperer'' and ''Worlds of Cthulhu''. He collaborated on several of these articles with the Mythos authors [[William Jones]] and [[Daniel Harms]], amongst others.

A speculative fiction author, David also writes tales of the Cthulhu Mythos. His first publication was “Screaming Crawler” in 2003 appearing in the first issue of ''Dreaming in R’lyeh'' and his first professional sale was “Vanishing Curves” appearing in the Book of Dark Wisdom in 2004. Other Mythos fiction has appeared in the anthologies ''Horrors Beyond'', ''Cthulhu Express'', ''Hardboiled Cthulhu'' and ''Arkham Tales''. Many of David’s fictional creations appear in his gaming supplements and vis versa. In 2004 David joined the staff of the ''Book of Dark Wisdom'' as the magazine’s first Associate Editor.

David’s contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos include the Arabian Nights style tome ''The Masked Messenger'', and the ongoing fiction character [[Major Harrison Peel]].

== External Links ==

[http://www.freewebs.com/david_conyers/ David Conyers official website]

[http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A273CHWTBHQX39 David Conyers Amazon.com journal]

[http://www.darkwisdom.com/darkwisdom.htm Book of Dark Wisdom]

[http://www.templeofdagon.com/writers/david-conyers/ Temple of Dagon (online Cthulhu Mythos fiction)]

[[Category:Writers|Conyers, David]]
[[Category:Artists|Conyers, David]]
[[Category:YSDC:Staff|Conyers, David]]

Category:Literature

2007-07-12T04:53:24Z

Theobald: Revert due to vandalization by spammer.

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