That Which Should Not Be - Hardcover
* 2011 HWA Bram Stoker Finalist for superior achievement for a First Novel.
* 2011 GoodReads Choice Awards Semi-Finalist
* Winner of the 2011 JournalStone horror writing contest.
Miskatonic University has a long-whispered reputation of being strongly connected to all things occult and supernatural. From the faculty to the students, the fascination with other-worldly legends and objects runs rampant. So, when Carter Weston's professor Dr. Thayerson asks him to search a nearby village for a book that is believed to control the inhuman forces that rule the Earth, Incendium Maleficarum, The Inferno of the Witch, the student doesn't hesitate to begin the quest.
Weston's journey takes an unexpected turn, however, when he ventures into a tavern in the small town of Anchorhead. Rather than passing the evening as a solitary patron, Weston joins four men who regale him with stories of their personal experiences with forces both preternatural and damned. Two stories hit close to home as they tie the tellers directly to Weston's current mission.
His unanticipated role as passive listener proves fortuitous, and Weston fulfills his goal. Bringing the book back to Miskatonic, though, proves to be a grave mistake. Quickly, Weston realizes he has played a role in potentially opening the gate between the netherworld and the world of Man. Reversing the course of events means forgetting all he thought he knew about Miskatonic and his professor and embracing an unknown beyond his wildest imagination.
* 2011 GoodReads Choice Awards Semi-Finalist
* Winner of the 2011 JournalStone horror writing contest.
Miskatonic University has a long-whispered reputation of being strongly connected to all things occult and supernatural. From the faculty to the students, the fascination with other-worldly legends and objects runs rampant. So, when Carter Weston's professor Dr. Thayerson asks him to search a nearby village for a book that is believed to control the inhuman forces that rule the Earth, Incendium Maleficarum, The Inferno of the Witch, the student doesn't hesitate to begin the quest.
Weston's journey takes an unexpected turn, however, when he ventures into a tavern in the small town of Anchorhead. Rather than passing the evening as a solitary patron, Weston joins four men who regale him with stories of their personal experiences with forces both preternatural and damned. Two stories hit close to home as they tie the tellers directly to Weston's current mission.
His unanticipated role as passive listener proves fortuitous, and Weston fulfills his goal. Bringing the book back to Miskatonic, though, proves to be a grave mistake. Quickly, Weston realizes he has played a role in potentially opening the gate between the netherworld and the world of Man. Reversing the course of events means forgetting all he thought he knew about Miskatonic and his professor and embracing an unknown beyond his wildest imagination.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
From the Author:
"That Which Should Not Be, a novel written in the style of a Lovecrafting Cthulu epic, pays tribute to the dark scribe with a tale that could easily have been a continuation of At the Mountains of Madness, and indeed, reads like something Lovecraft wrote himself. I went into the novel expecting a few references here and there, and an imitation of style and form, but ultimately, what I got was a multi-layered, engaging story told in an interesting way. I would encourage fans of Lovecraft's fiction to check out That Which Should Not Be, which ends up not as a pastiche or knock-off but rather as a loving and dedicated tribute that presents a new story in another author's world." - Darkeva, Hellnotes.com
"Recently Lovecraftian authors have been sending me their books to review. Some are good, some are....not. But the recently published That Which Should Not Be, by Brett J. Talley, is great. In fact, it's one of the best Lovecraftian novels I have ever read, and I don't say that lightly. And scary? Author Brett J. Talley gets that right, too. There are quite a few genuinely frightening scenes in That Which Should Not Be, both in the "tavern stories" and in the main plot. I feel that a lot of writers get Lovecraftian horror wrong, but Brett J. Talley has expertly captured the dread and the moon that should embody a Lovecraftian story. It's a great read. Pick it up -- you won't be disappointed." - Mike Davis, Lovecraft eZine.
"Winner of JournalStone's horror novel writing contest, Brett J. Talley has written a wonderful homage to occult horror. Each of the stories told to our protagonist is unique and scary by itself while adding to the overall atmosphere and theme of the novel as a whole. Each character is nicely fleshed-out and their individual stories come together beautifully. With references to Lovecraft, Stoker and even the Bible, That Which Should Not Be reads like the best 19th and early 20th century horror stories about the occult and ancient god-like monsters. I look forward to reading more by Talley in the future. Highly recommended." - Colleen Wanglund, Monster Librarian
"Finally, it is easy to see why this first novel of Brett J. Talley's has received the notice and acclaim that have followed it, and That Which Should Not Be marks a welcome and stylishly enjoyable addition to the Lovecraftian Mythos as well as a promising and talented introduction of a new authorial talent to the horror genre in Brett J. Talley. I know that I, for one, will be looking forward with great anticipation to his next novel." - Norm Rubenstein, Horror World
"In Brett J. Talley's That Which Should Not Be I have to admit I think I've found one of the best homages to Lovecraft I have read. I'd go so far as to use the almost cheesy line that it's "a Love letter to the work of Lovecraft". Anybody with any interest in Lovecraft's work will recognise the style of writing and the on-going themes that Talley has pulled into the book." - Paul Metcalf, PisssedOffGeek.com
About the Author:
"Recently Lovecraftian authors have been sending me their books to review. Some are good, some are....not. But the recently published That Which Should Not Be, by Brett J. Talley, is great. In fact, it's one of the best Lovecraftian novels I have ever read, and I don't say that lightly. And scary? Author Brett J. Talley gets that right, too. There are quite a few genuinely frightening scenes in That Which Should Not Be, both in the "tavern stories" and in the main plot. I feel that a lot of writers get Lovecraftian horror wrong, but Brett J. Talley has expertly captured the dread and the moon that should embody a Lovecraftian story. It's a great read. Pick it up -- you won't be disappointed." - Mike Davis, Lovecraft eZine.
"Winner of JournalStone's horror novel writing contest, Brett J. Talley has written a wonderful homage to occult horror. Each of the stories told to our protagonist is unique and scary by itself while adding to the overall atmosphere and theme of the novel as a whole. Each character is nicely fleshed-out and their individual stories come together beautifully. With references to Lovecraft, Stoker and even the Bible, That Which Should Not Be reads like the best 19th and early 20th century horror stories about the occult and ancient god-like monsters. I look forward to reading more by Talley in the future. Highly recommended." - Colleen Wanglund, Monster Librarian
"Finally, it is easy to see why this first novel of Brett J. Talley's has received the notice and acclaim that have followed it, and That Which Should Not Be marks a welcome and stylishly enjoyable addition to the Lovecraftian Mythos as well as a promising and talented introduction of a new authorial talent to the horror genre in Brett J. Talley. I know that I, for one, will be looking forward with great anticipation to his next novel." - Norm Rubenstein, Horror World
"In Brett J. Talley's That Which Should Not Be I have to admit I think I've found one of the best homages to Lovecraft I have read. I'd go so far as to use the almost cheesy line that it's "a Love letter to the work of Lovecraft". Anybody with any interest in Lovecraft's work will recognise the style of writing and the on-going themes that Talley has pulled into the book." - Paul Metcalf, PisssedOffGeek.com
A native of the South, Brett Talley received a philosophy and history
degree from the University of Alabama before moving to witch-haunted
Massachusetts to attend Harvard Law School. When people ask, Brett
tells them he writes for fortune and glory. But the truth is the
stories in his head simply refuse to stay put. Brett loves every kind
of fiction--from horror to literary to historical to sci-fi--as long as
there are fantastic characters with a compelling purpose. There's
still magic to be found in fiction, the mysterious and the unknown
still beckon there, and the light can always triumph over the
darkness, no matter how black the night may be.
Brett writes when he can, though he spends most of his time working as
a lawyer so that he can put food on the table. That is, until the air
grows cool and crisp and fall descends. For then it is football time
in the South, and Brett lives and dies with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Roll Tide.
degree from the University of Alabama before moving to witch-haunted
Massachusetts to attend Harvard Law School. When people ask, Brett
tells them he writes for fortune and glory. But the truth is the
stories in his head simply refuse to stay put. Brett loves every kind
of fiction--from horror to literary to historical to sci-fi--as long as
there are fantastic characters with a compelling purpose. There's
still magic to be found in fiction, the mysterious and the unknown
still beckon there, and the light can always triumph over the
darkness, no matter how black the night may be.
Brett writes when he can, though he spends most of his time working as
a lawyer so that he can put food on the table. That is, until the air
grows cool and crisp and fall descends. For then it is football time
in the South, and Brett lives and dies with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Roll Tide.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherJournalStone
- Publication date2011
- ISBN 10 1936564157
- ISBN 13 9781936564156
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages260
- Rating
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