The Abominations Of Nephren-Ka & Three More Tales Of The Cthulhu Mythos

by Mark McLaughlin, Michael Sheehan Jr.

From the author of Best Little Witch-house in Arkham and the co-authors of Casino Carcosa come a quartet of Lovecraftian horror stories - the Abominations of Nephren-ka & Three More Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos by Mark McLaughlin and Michael Sheehan, Jr. Three of the stories are set in today's world and one takes place in ancient Egypt. The modern stories feature forbidden secrets and eldritch beings from icy ocean depths and the ruthless abyss of space. The title tale, a prequel to H.P. Lovecraft's "The Haunter Of The Dark", tells of Nyarlathotep and is set in a distant time when the Shining Trapezohedron was known as the Eye of Yuggoth and evil Nephren-Ka, the Black Pharaoh, ruled the unspeakable City of Night. Discover new realms of madness in the Abominations of Nephren-ka.

Genres: Horror, Lovecraftian

62 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 18, 2015

About the author

MARK McLAUGHLIN is a Stoker Award-winner whose many works include:
The Doomsday Thaw ..... Injectables
Crushed Velvet .... Embrace of the Internet Witch
The Weird World of Mark McLaughlin MEGAPACK®
The Wrath of Nyarlathotep ... Weird Worship
Horrors & Abominations .... Nightmares & Tentacles
Urban Monsters .... Dimension Of Monsters
The House Of The Ocelot & More Lovecraftian Nightmares
Human Doll: A Novel ... The Hell Next Door: A Novel
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Reviews

[Ben Eads · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are hundreds of anthologies, collections, and poetry published each year that pay homage to H.P. Lovecraft. Most of what is published is mere imitation, flattery, or re-treads of some of our favorite Lovecraft tales. No harm. No foul. However, you’ll have to read through too many of these aforementioned anthologies and collections to find work that truly stands out, pushing what Lovecraft did in new directions. Rest assured, folks, this collection is a sincere stand-out. They shine like a lighthouse’s beacon amidst a dark sea of mediocrity.

McLaughlin and Sheehan, Jr. know how to please devotees of H.P. Lovecraft whilst never failing to imbue each story—except perhaps for the more straight-forward opening story, which is done this way on purpose to great effect—with an updated, cleaner, and more innovative approach that stretches our imaginations and the mythos itself.

It’s hard to call which out of these four tales is my favorite, because all of them are gems. If you remove one, it just doesn’t have the weight, and, more importantly, McLaughlin and Sheehan, Jr.’s innovative techniques. Whether you love or hate Lovecraft’s work, this is a collection that even Lovecraft would have included in his own mythos—filled with the awe that awaits you, dear prospective reader. To pull this off requires talent of the highest order, and McLaughlin and Sheehan Jr. prove that, yes, there are more mythos tales to be told that expand upon what Lovecraft began and take it to new heights. The legacy of Lovecraft is not dead—and this collection is one of the best indictments I’ve read.

[Scarlett Algee · Rating 5 out of 5]

More, please!

If you're a fan of Lovecraftian tales set in Innsmouth (as am I), or a fan of Nyarlathotep (as, again, am I), you should read this delightful little collection. The authors have done an excellent job of bringing Lovecraft's beasties to life without involving high-handed language and overuse of a thesaurus (I'm a slush pile reader for a horror magazine, so I see that a lot). The stories are disturbing, ominous and even whimsical--I think "Deathless Bride of the Crawling Chaos" is the best romance I've ever read. All in all, I'd love another collection or three!

[Mark McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I wrote BEST LITTLE WITCH-HOUSE IN ARKHAM, some folks said they'd like to see more serious Lovecraftian fiction from me (most of the stories in WITCH-HOUSE are comedic). Hence this Kindle collection, which includes two collaborative stories I wrote with Michael Sheehan, Jr. The title story, "The Abominations Of Nephren-Ka", is a prequel to H.P. Lovecraft's "The Haunter Of The Dark" and is set in ancient Egypt.

[Netanella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four stories of the Mythos...

"That Tantalizing Taste You Will Never Forget" - 4/5
I love a good Innsmouth tale, and I love my yiayia's taramosalata. Never the twain should meet, at least, as long as you want to continue to eat tarama with your ouzo. Crap! Now happy hour in Tarpon Springs will never be the same!

"Deathless Bride of the Crawling Chaos" - 3/5
This was a completely unexpected love story, starring everyone's favorite Nyarlathotep and his newly discovered Deathless Bride, a lovely young overweight, wheelchair-bound, abused woman with no fear of death or tentacles. It's a match made in - well, not in Heaven, at any rate, but it does have a sweet, sweet ending.

"Toadface" - 3/5
I liked this one, in a tadpole kind of way. It reminded me of the 2001 Spanish horror flick, "Dagon." Good stuff.

"The Abominations of Nephren-Ka" - 3/5
Set in ancient Egypt and featuring a show down between the forces of Horus and those of Nephren-Ka, an acolyte of Nyarlathotep. It read like a good pulp story circa the 1920's or so. The ending, however, was too rushed.

[John R. Dailey Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A SET OF TALES THAT WEIRDNESS ABOUNDS IT IS......

Hello, this set of short tales is pretty darn good. The world needs more of this type of cosmic horror to lose itself in. Good stuff. Thanks.

[Nora Peevy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another enjoyable collection. Perfect bedtime reading for Cthulhu fans.