The House on the Borderland

By: William Hope Hodgson

Narrated by: Felbrigg Napoleon Herriot

While on a fishing trip two men discover the ruins of an old house perched on the very edge of a cliff. In the ruins they discover an old manuscript that seems to suggest the house was once involved in something super natural, and horrific.

Public Domain (P)2013 FNH

Has the reader never heard of emotion?

There are several versions available, choose a different one. This performer seems to be half asleep even when the narrator is screaming in terror. Turned this great classic into a looong slogging snooze-fest

Great bit of cosmic horror.

Vary good story with some great imagery. Hodgson really knew how to build an atmosphere of dread. he maybe didn't have the best grasp on phisics but then that may have just been the times. at least there's no mention of none euclidean geometry lol.

Good story, fair reading.

Good, atmospheric story of cosmic horror. The reading, although clear, is largely uninflected and monotonous.

The house on the Borderland

Totally weird and creepy story but it kept me riveted on what was going to happen next as the protagonist tried to figure what this ancient old house that seemed to be a portal for strange creatures and stranger men. Well worth the read or listen, it’s only a bit over 5 hours so you won’t waste a lot of time if you don’t particularly enjoy it.

Needs more swine

Is there anything you would change about this book?

More swine! I was really into the initial set-up where the main character is maybe going mad or maybe being attacked by swine creatures. But then the swine recede and there's never any real follow-up on them.

What was most disappointing about William Hope Hodgson’s story?

The lack of any follow-up on his potential insanity. Is he off his rocker or is this William Shatner's Twilight Zone episode? We never really know.

Any additional comments?

This was a fine performance and I am sure fans of H.P. Lovecraft would want to read/hear this as it is so clearly an influence on his writing. For me, I was pulled in early but then got kind of bored. If you are going to read/listen, I recommend a dark and stormy night for full effect.