The Black Stone

By: Robert E. Howard

Narrated by: H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society

Dark Adventure Radio Theatre presents Robert E. Howard's tale of horrors in Eastern Europe in a 1930s-style radio drama. The story bounds to life with a cast of nineteen professional actors, thrilling sound effects and an original orchestral score by Troy Sterling Nies. They're like movies you can enjoy with your eyes closed.

Charlie Tower seeks refuge from the horrors of the Great War in Berlin's most notorious nightclubs. There a chain of events is set in motion that will lead him across Europe to investigate the mysterious Black Stone. Is it merely a creation of superstitious peasants, or is it a nexus for hideous gods of the ancient world to set foot into ours?

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©1931 Robert E. Howard Properties, LLC (P)2022 HPLHS, Inc.

Surprising Find

I accidentally bought this book because I thought it was an H. P. Lovecraft story I had never heard of before. When I learned it was written by Robert E. Howard, a writer I did not know, I was prepared to return the book until his story of Europe in the waning days of World War I hooked me. It was a strange, cosmopolitan period with many people from diverse backgrounds. And yet, elements of a Lovecraft story were familiar--an ancient monolith, a cult, a monster god, and babies sacrificed to it. Howard borrowed liberally from Lovecraft's themes. What I am about to say next may sound blasphemous to some. Still, Howard surpassed Lovecraft on many levels--better dialogue (especially Eastern European languages), writing, a grasp of long and short history in war-weary, border-changing Europe, and, most importantly, better, more sympathetic, well-rounded characters. A character that stole the show was the narrator's guide--a one-hand woman and Communist fighter. When she spoke, I felt a much-needed breath of fresh air in the tired, overly masculine horror genre where women are either victims or witches. In his entire career--and I heard all of Lovecraft's stories--he never wrote a female character like her. For this and other reasons, Robert Weinberg and E. P. Berglund, in their 1973 book The Reader's Guide To The Cthulhu Mythos, stated that "The Black Stone" was "the best Mythos story not written by Lovecraft himself."

More, please, more!

It never fails to amaze me, how talented and good the people who make the HPLHS.
These audio dramatization mainly of HP Lovecraft's stories, are hands down, the very best that you can listen too.
I own all the Dark Adventure Radio audio dramatizations.
Not all of them are equal, but ALL are exceptionally produced and the performances are really good.
None of the productions are boring.
Personally, these adaptations are very creative, entertaining and fun to listen too.
They are faithful to the stories, but have their own unique humor and production qualities.
I just really love listening to them.
Very much recommended.
I hope HPLHS, makes more!!!

Great story! and superbly done.

The HPLHS has done a fantastic job in rendering Robert E Howards the black stone. if you like radio dramas give this a listen.

A great tale once again.

Though this one take a little while to get going, the culmination of the book and the atmosphere brought up by all of it really makes it all worth it. This is one of the first stories by Robert E. Howard i have heard that tie into the mythos and it is very good, i am going to read the print version soon because of this.

The performers do a wonderful job once more, bringing the radio play feeling to the book.

HPLHS Does it Again

Great story, great adaptation, amazing voice work, and a love for horror and the source material. I can’t recommend this story or the HPLHS more.