The night land is very strange, but also memorable, visionary and ultimately enchanting. Librivox recording of the night land by william hope hodgson. Dec 20, 2016 the night land is a classic horror novel by william hope hodgson. William hope hodgsons dark works are not without glimmers of something like light. William hope hodgson 1877 1918 was an englishman who held many careers throughout his short life. An adventure of both sciencefiction and fantasy one of the great love stories this is william hope hodgsons masterpiece, rewritten for the modern listener.
Hodgson was also renowned as a photographer and a bodybuilder. One of the most potent pieces of macabre imagination ever written h. A 17thcentury gentleman, mourning the death of his beloved, lady mirdath, is given a vision of a fardistant future whe. One of these is william hope hodgsons the night land hodgson 18771918 was a colorful character who turned to weird fiction late in life after, among other things, working as a sailor. The night land wikisource, the free online library. English author william hope hodgson 18771918 was known for his works of horror and sciencefiction. Penned in 1912, the night land is considered by many to be a work of genius, but one written in a difficult, archaic style that listeners often find impenetrable. It is legendary for being difficult to read, and many consider it boring and tedious. If you like hodgsons other stuff read this too, you wont regret it. The night land is certainly not the best place to start if youre new to the works of william hope hodgeson. I think joseph campbell would have admired hodgsons novel since it feels like ancient mythology. William hope hodgson, the night land one of the many pleasures of book hunting is that its still possible to flush out a decent title in a charity shop. Nov 11, 2010 the night land is science fiction, and the science hodgson turned to was the work of 19th century physicist lord kelvin william thomson. The last few millions of the human race are gathered together in a gigantic metal pyramid, the last redoubt, under siege from unknown forces and powers outside in the dark.
Each volume contains one of hodgsons novels, along with a selection of thematically. As a work of fantasy it belongs to the dying earth. The collected fiction of william hope hodgson, volume four by william hope hodgson. The night land in its unadulterated form is certainly not everyones cup of tea. The last few millions of the human race are gathered together in a gigantic metal pyramid, nearly eight miles high the last redoubt, under siege from unknown forces and powers outside in the dark.
Hodgson also published a much shorter version of the novel, entitled the dream of x 1912. Not a solitary light shines in the heavens and the earth is lit only by the glow of residual vulcanism. As in the typological paintings of the preraphaelites, we find the far reaches of time compiled, occurring simultaneously. It is one of the most potent pieces of macabre imagination ever written.
One of the strangest visions ever published in science fiction or fantasy is presented. But what most of his writings share, and what makes him so chillingly effective, is a sense of mounting dread or awe in the. Publication date 20150118 usage public domain mark 1. The night land is a classic horror novel by william hope hodgson, first published in 1912.
The night land by william hope hodgson is a very strange novel. The night land annotated by william hope hodgson, paperback. The night land is a horrorfantasy novel by english writer william hope hodgson, first published in 1912. The night land by william hodgson 2005, paperback for. The night land by william hope hodgson this book, written in 1912 by william hope hodgson is an imaginative tourdeforce, filled with spectacular imagery and grotesque monsters. William hope hodgson 1877 1918 the sun has gone out and the earth is lit only by the glow of residual vulcanism. And through all the night land there was an extraordinary awakening among the monsters and forces. The last millions of humans still live in their last redoubt but the end of their days is at hand.
And here let me say, that down in the great library of the redoubt, were the histories of all those, with their discoveries, who had ventured out into the monstrousness of the night land, risking not the life only, but the spirit of life. Oct 29, 2016 the sun has gone out, as have the stars. William hope hodgson 18771918 the sun has gone out and the earth is lit only by the glow of residual vulcanism. The night land by william hodgson 2005, paperback for sale. And yet, so powerful are its idiosyncrasies that i would hesitate to recommend it to anyone. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The night land by william hope hodgson classics of science. The night land by hodgson, william hope and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. William hope hodgson 15 november 1877 19 april 1918 was an english author. However, the night land is one of those cult classics that have inspired a selective group of writers and readers. And i caught mirdath the beautiful by her shoulders, and shook her.
I run a small fiction and art fansite dedicated to william hope hodgsons profound but unreadable book of fantasy, the night land. The days of light are nothing by a legend they are a story told to soothe children. Since mirdath, my beautiful one, died and left me lonely in this world, i have suffered an anguish, and. Has william hope hodgsons night land been used in any rpgs. The weird fiction of william hope hodgson the weird fiction of william hope hodgson.
This to be love, that your spirit to live in a natural holiness with. The night land by william hope hodgson 20, cd, unabridged. About william hope hodgson, author of the night land, the house on the borderland, the carnacki occult detective stories, and other weird fiction. The house on the borderland 1908 and the night land 1912. The night land is a tale of the remote future billions of years after the death of the sun. William hope hodgson 15 november 1877 april 1918 was an english author. Since mirdath, my beautiful one, died and left me lonely in this world, i have suffered an anguish, and an utter and dreadful pain of longing, such as truly no words shall ever tell. William hope hodgson pennys poetry pages wiki fandom. Now ive had a copy of this book on my shelf for thirty five years and never once come close to reading it. Jul 10, 2016 the night land 1912 by william hope hodgson one of the strangest visions ever published in science fiction or fantasy is presented. Jan 24, 2014 the night land by william hope hodgson is a very strange novel. Its an epic story that riffs off the orpheus myths.
The night land, his last printed effort, was published in 1918. Night land by william hope hodgson free at loyal books. He produced a large body of work, consisting of essays, short fiction, and novels, spanning several overlapping genres including horror, fantastic fiction, and science fiction. The often bizarre sentence structure and idiosyncratic use of grammar and punctuation require a certain amount of effort on the readers part persevere, though, and you should get used to it. The night land william hope hodgson, 1912 the night land is an astonishingly original, imaginative, and bizarre piece of fiction one of the most memorable books ive ever read. Aug 16, 2007 one of these is william hope hodgsons the night land. Night shade bookss fivevolume series presents all of hodgsons unique and timeless fiction. There are a number of classic works of weird fantasy and horror which have been lost from the mainstream but are well worth a look. William hope hodgsons the night land skulls in the stars. In a world long bereft of the sun, a young man leaves the last refuge of mankind, which is his home, in search of his soul mate, the existence of whom he. I had no trouble listening to an unabridged audiobook edition of the book that was.
Based on the night land 1912 by william hope hodgson one of the great forgotten works of cosmic horror, the night lands tells one of the. Sticky this image of love may be, but like it or not, william hope hodgsons reckless commitment to it finally manages to imbue his ideal with an undeniable weight. The 100 best books, and yet in this overview volumes sister collection, horror. Lovecrafts described the novel as one of the most potent pieces of macabre imagination ever written. The night land 1912 by william hope hodgson one of the strangest visions ever published in science fiction or fantasy is presented. These are held back by a circle of energy, known as the air clog, powered from the earths internal energy. Hodgson 18771918 was a colorful character who turned to weird fiction late in life after, among other things, working as a sailor. The night land is science fiction, and the science hodgson turned to was the work of 19th century physicist lord kelvin william thomson. The best short stories of william hope hodgson 2005 douglas a. The last humans live in a gigantic pyramid, the redoubt, assaulted by.
Mar 09, 2009 the night land is a classic horror novel by william hope hodgson, first published in 1912. Aug 17, 2015 william hope hodgson, the night land one of the many pleasures of book hunting is that its still possible to flush out a decent title in a charity shop. Hodgson also published a much shorter version of the novel, entitled the dream of x. An adventure of both sciencefiction and fantasy one of the great love stories this is william hope hodgson s masterpiece, rewritten for the modern listener. It is the end of time, long after the sun has gone out. Hodgson used his experiences at sea to lend authentic detail to his short horror stories, many of which are set on the ocean, including his. Kelvin formulated the second law of thermodynamics and. Ship this item qualifies for free shipping buy online, pick up in store is currently unavailable, but this item may be available for instore purchase.
He produced a large body of work, consisting of essays, short fiction, and novels, spanning several overlapping genres including horror, fantastic fiction and science fiction. Apr 19, 2018 this, i believe, is the william hope hodgson whose fiction retains so much power, searching for a god whose existence he at best half believes in. The night land is a long story, written in a style which can only be described as weird. Given that hodgson went by his middle name, the final line becomes especially poignant. The importance of the night land was recognised by its later revival in paperback by ballantine. Jan 15, 2017 the night land is certainly not the best place to start if youre new to the works of william hope hodgeson. Each volume contains one of hodgsons novels, along with a selection of thematicallylinked short fiction, including a number of works reprinted for the first time since their original publication. As a work of fantasy it belongs to the dying earth subgenre. If you like hodgson s other stuff read this too, you wont regret it. He died in battle during world war i at the age of 40. The fourth book of the fivevolume set, the night land and other romances, collects all of his romances and womens fiction, as well as the. Hodgson also published a much shorter version of the novel, entitled the dream of x 1912 the night land was revived in paperback by ballantine books, which republished the work in two parts as the 49th and 50th volumes of its. Hodgson used his experiences at sea to lend authentic detail to his short horror stories, many of which are set on the ocean, including.
The night land and other romances night shade books. Hodgsons fiction is often characterized by perception in a psychic manner that transcends the five senses. However, he is best remembered for his career as an author specifically, an author of horror, fantasy and sf works, particularly the novels the house on the borderland and the night land. The collected fiction of william hope hodgson volume 4 2005 isbn 1892389428. On the most basic level, its a heroic fantasy in which the knight in shining armor braves terrible monsters and overcomes formidable challenges to rescue the distressed damsel. And yet, the story is huge in scope, and has elements of horror, great valour, and enduring love. Time, as william hope hodgson characterizes it, exhibits a certain selfinclination, whereby pasts and futures intersect one another. William hope hodgsons the night land was first published in 1912.
My most recent bout of this fever i blame squarely on nick ozment, who recently blew a loud horn on behalf of william hope hodgsons 1912 weird classic the night land. The night land by william hope hodgson public domain. The night land by william hope hodgson is not the kind of book you can recommend people rush out and buy. The night land the night landwilliam hope hodgsonthe night land is a classic horror novel by william hope hodgson, first published in 1912.
And yet, in hodgsons, the night land, we find this compilation somehow more erratic. On life at sea hodgson was the great horror writer of the sea. The last few millions of the human race are gathered together. He wrote numerous short stories about the sea and its horrors. So at lunch time i was at the salvation army store and found the above book hidden away on a lower shelf a colonial edition of william hope hodgsons the night land.
Has william hope hodgsons night land been used in any. However, his two bestknown books are also his least nautical. Listen to the night land by william hope hodgson at. Dec 25, 2019 the night land is an impressive novel of the fantastic and william hope hodgson is quite ambitious in his literary effort. The night land by william hope hodgson classics of. The sun has gone out and the earth is lit only by the glow of residual vulcanism. According to critical consensus, in this work, despite his often laboured and clumsy. His first story, the goddess of death, was published in 1904. William hope hodgson s the night land was first published in 1912. According to critical consensus, in this work, despite his often laboured and clumsy language, hodgson achieves a deep power of. And through all the night land there was an extraordinary awakening among the monsters and. The night land by william hope hodgson rakuten kobo. I run a small fiction and art fansite dedicated to william hope hodgson s profound but unreadable book of fantasy, the night land. The collected fiction of william hope hodgson volume 5 2009 isbn 1892389436.
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