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The Whisperer in Darkness by H.P. Lovecraft (Audiobook)

The Exploring Series・124 minutes read

The text discusses Vermont folklore about creatures from the Great Bear, who come from another planet and cause disturbances, culminating in Akeley's mysterious disappearance after revealing cosmic horrors to the narrator. The narrator, drawn into a world of cosmic entities and brain-cylinders, uncovers unsettling truths about Akeley's fate and the dark forces at play, leading to a chilling discovery of Akeley's replicated face and hands, hinting at a horrifying transformation.

Insights

The Vermont floods of 1927 led to reports of strange objects in rivers, described as bizarre organic shapes unrelated to known creatures.
Ancient folklore in Vermont speaks of huge, light-red crabs with wings and multiple legs, believed to originate from the Great Bear constellation.
Henry Akeley, a recluse, shares evidence of monstrous beings in Vermont, fearing their extraterrestrial origins and expressing concern about their activities.
Akeley's letters detail disturbing incidents at his home, including attacks by creatures, strange voices, and mysterious messages, raising questions about his safety.
Akeley's revelations about brain-cylinders, interstellar travel, and cosmic entities hint at a world beyond human comprehension, blurring the lines between reality and cosmic horror.
The protagonist's visit to Akeley's house uncovers eerie clues, including a brain in a cylinder, replicas of Akeley's face and hands, and unsettling vibrations, suggesting a deeper, sinister truth behind Akeley's disappearance.

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Recent questions

What strange creatures were reported in Vermont rivers?
Crab-like beings with wings and multiple legs.

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Summary

00:00

Mysterious Creatures of Vermont's Haunted Hills

The narrator did not witness any visual horror at the end of the story, attributing his reaction to a mental shock.
Despite sharing information with Henry Akeley, the narrator cannot confirm the accuracy of his hideous inference due to Akeley's disappearance.
Following the historic Vermont floods of November 3, 1927, odd stories emerged about strange objects found in swollen rivers.
Reports described bizarre and disturbing organic shapes in the rivers, not resembling any known human or animal forms.
The sightings were linked to ancient folklore of monstrous beings hidden in the hills of Vermont, rarely glimpsed but leaving evidence of their presence.
The creatures were described as huge, light-red crabs with multiple legs, bat-like wings, and the ability to carry large objects.
The beings were believed to come from the Great Bear in the sky, maintaining outposts in earthly hills and returning to their own stars with unique stones.
Animals instinctively avoided these creatures, who did not consume earthly food but brought their own supplies from the stars.
Over time, the legends of these creatures faded, with Vermonters settling in established areas and avoiding the haunted hills.
Despite attempts to explain the folklore as common myths, some individuals persisted in believing in the possibility of the creatures' existence due to the persistence and uniformity of early legends.

17:52

Debating ancient earth-races: Vermont's hidden beings

The text discusses the author's skepticism towards theories suggesting the existence of ancient earth-races hiding from mankind, with some friends insisting on the possibility of their survival to recent times.
Fanatical extremists hint at non-terrestrial origins for hidden beings in ancient Indian tales, influenced by Charles Fort's claims of visitors from outer space.
The author's debates on these theories get published in the Arkham Advertiser, gaining attention in Vermont, leading to challenging letters from Henry Akeley.
Akeley, a recluse with a scholarly background, shares evidence of monstrous beings in Vermont's hills, including footprints and strange voices, expressing concern about their presence.
Akeley believes these creatures come from another planet, mining metals from deep mines, and warns against attracting attention to their existence.
Akeley urges the author to keep the debate private to prevent curiosity from drawing people to the hills, mentioning a black stone with unknown hieroglyphics and a phonograph record as evidence.
Akeley expresses fear of being targeted by these creatures due to his discoveries, mentioning a spy named Brown and his intention to move to California to escape their influence.
Akeley seeks the author's help in deciphering the stone, believing their combined knowledge can be beneficial, despite the risks involved.
Akeley describes the challenges he faces living alone in his house, with hired help leaving due to disturbances at night caused by the creatures.
Akeley concludes by expressing hope that the author will consider his letter seriously and collaborate with him, emphasizing the importance of knowledge despite the dangers involved.

34:29

Akeley's Letter Unveils Vermont's Cosmic Horrors

Henry W. Akeley is sending extra prints of photographs to prove certain points he has mentioned.
Akeley's letter, though extravagant, is taken seriously due to his tone and sincerity, despite the unbelievable content.
Akeley's claims of encountering strange phenomena are doubted but deemed worthy of investigation.
Akeley's folklore studies and encounters with disturbing voices and a black stone are detailed.
Akeley's neighbors believe his house is besieged by uncanny things, supported by the behavior of his dogs.
A phonograph record obtained by Akeley hints at animal noises resembling human speech or a decayed human's speech.
Akeley's photographs depict eerie scenes, including a hideous crab-like footprint and a woodland cave with strange tracks.
A black stone found by Akeley is described as alien and covered in hieroglyphics linked to disturbing lore.
Akeley's detailed letter reveals cosmic horrors and names of elder entities, leading to a belief in abnormal wonders.
Akeley and the reader delve into mythological scholarship to correlate Vermont horrors with world legends, uncovering terrifying connections.

51:50

Mysterious Voices and Missing Stone in Arkham

Townshend is not a safe place to go for supplies except during the day due to unknown dangers in the area.
A man is planning to move to California to live with his son, despite the difficulty of leaving a place rich in memories and ancestral connections.
Akeley borrowed a commercial machine from the college administration building to play a record obtained near a cave on Dark Mountain on May 1, 1915, expecting strange voices.
The recorded voices were quasi-ritualistic, with one human voice and a buzzing voice speaking in English with scholarly accents, praising entities like Great Cthulhu and Shub-Niggurath.
The buzzing voice, unlike any human sound, was described as a loathsome, gigantic insect-like speech from unimaginable outer hells.
Akeley and the narrator analyzed the record, believing it revealed connections between hidden outer creatures and humans, hinting at ancient alliances and repulsive primordial customs.
Akeley decided to ship a black stone to Arkham through a complex route to avoid suspicious individuals, including a man with a strange voice who inquired about the shipment.
The black stone was supposed to arrive in Arkham but went missing, leading to investigations involving the express company, police, and Keene station employees.
A peculiar-voiced man named Stanley Adams, who caused dizziness and sleepiness in a railway clerk, was suspected to be involved in the disappearance of the black stone.
Despite efforts to trace the mysterious man and the missing shipment, no concrete leads were found, leaving a sense of unease and mystery surrounding the events.

01:07:33

Akeley's Desperate Battle Against Otherworldly Forces

Investigations into the queer-voiced man around Keene station on July 18 yielded no substantial leads.
Akeley and the narrator conducted inquiries but found no trace of the heavy box or the black stone.
Akeley expressed fatalistic views on the box's loss, attributing it to telepathic hill creatures.
Akeley faced increased threats from hill creatures, with dogs barking at night and attempts to harm him.
Akeley reported disturbing incidents like a tree trunk blocking his path and shots fired at his car.
Akeley's farmhouse faced attacks, with dogs killed, claw prints, and human footprints found.
Akeley sought help, but authorities were unresponsive, leaving him isolated in his peril.
Akeley received mysterious messages, including a telegram he never sent, hinting at sinister forces at play.
Akeley's situation worsened, with creatures attacking his house, killing dogs, and leaving a foul odor.
Akeley's frantic letters revealed his increasing fear and desperation, hinting at otherworldly threats and his impending doom.

01:23:44

Mysterious creatures vanish, sparking fear and intrigue.

A dead creature was found near the kennel, but it evaporated within hours, leaving no trace.
Attempts to photograph the creature failed, with only the woodshed visible on the developed film.
The creature was described as a crab-like entity with fleshy rings and feelers, made of an indescribable matter.
More creatures are expected on Earth soon, with Walter Brown missing after a shot was taken at them.
Plans to use poison gas on the creatures are mentioned, along with a potential stay in a madhouse.
A plea to write to George Goodenough Akeley in San Diego if contact is lost, avoiding a visit.
A state policeman may be invited to witness the creature's footprints around the house.
The narrator feels isolated, with people avoiding the house due to strange occurrences.
The narrator hesitates to show evidence of the creatures to others, fearing disbelief and ridicule.
A letter from Akeley reveals a change in attitude towards the creatures, emphasizing peaceful communication and mutual understanding.

01:40:38

Unexpected visit to mysterious Vermont countryside.

The writer rescinds a warning and invites the recipient to visit before college term starts.
The writer requests the recipient to bring a phonograph record, letters, and kodak prints for a story.
Detailed instructions are given on train travel to Brattleboro, suggesting a specific train from Boston.
The writer expresses a change in mood from terror to excitement in a letter to the recipient.
The recipient analyzes the letter, noting a drastic change in Akeley's personality and writing style.
The recipient decides to visit Akeley in Brattleboro, choosing an earlier train than suggested.
Akeley confirms the visit, emphasizing the importance of bringing the phonograph record and letters.
The recipient travels to Brattleboro, meeting a friend of Akeley's instead of Akeley himself.
The friend, Mr. Noyes, drives the recipient in a modern car to Akeley's location.
The recipient feels a sense of foreboding as they approach the hill-crowded countryside of Vermont.

01:57:04

Mysterious River, Haunting Landscape: A Journey

The West River, originating from unknown hills, was a source of unease due to past reports of strange beings seen in its waters after floods.
The landscape grew wilder and deserted, with ancient covered bridges and a desolate railway track paralleling the river.
The area featured vivid valleys, cliffs, gorges, and narrow forest roads, evoking a sense of elemental spirits and unseen agencies.
The village of Newfane marked the transition to a fantastic world of hushed unreality, with a road winding through green peaks and valleys.
The guide's cheerful demeanor masked a sense of unease and familiarity, hinting at deeper, sinister knowledge of the area.
The landscape exuded cosmic beauty and a hypnotic allure, with a surreal atmosphere and a sense of timeless enchantment.
Arriving at Henry Akeley's house on Dark Mountain, the protagonist noticed the absence of animals and a peculiar silence.
A sudden terror gripped the protagonist upon recognizing the claw marks of alien beings near the house, confirming Akeley's letters.
Akeley, suffering from asthma, welcomed the protagonist but would be unable to host due to illness, leading to a self-guided visit.
Despite a sense of unease and strange odors, the protagonist entered Akeley's darkened study, where a mysterious vibration filled the air.

02:13:49

Cosmic Secrets Unveiled: Journey to Yuggoth

The narrator is drawn to a figure in a dark corner of the room, recognizing the host from a kodak picture as a sick man with a strained expression.
The host, though ill, expresses joy at the narrator's visit and mentions the need to discuss important matters the next day.
The host instructs the narrator to make himself at home, take out letters, pictures, and a record for discussion, and mentions a phonograph.
The host declines any help due to his illness, suggests the narrator take a meal in the dining room, and retire to the room upstairs.
The host talks about visiting the planet Yuggoth, inhabited by beings with advanced science and abilities beyond human comprehension.
The host describes the dark world of Yuggoth, its inhabitants, and the terrifying sights that could drive a weak man mad.
The host mentions other worlds like K'n-yan, Yoth, and N'kai, and the origins of the god-creature Tsathoggua.
The narrator helps with lunch, clears dishes, and prepares for a conversation with the host, who reveals horrifying cosmic secrets.
The host shares knowledge about Cthulhu, the Magellanic Clouds, the Hounds of Tindalos, and other cosmic entities and truths.
The host discusses a trip to Yuggoth and beyond, involving the transportation of human brains by the Outer Ones for interstellar travel.

02:30:59

"Brain-Cylinders: Voyages Across Celestial Bodies"

The winged fungus-beings can transport brain-cylinders through space to connect with adjustable faculty-instruments on various planets.
Brain-cylinders are linked to machines with sockets, allowing for sensory and articulate life for travelling intelligences.
Different beings are presented in cylinders, including humans, fungoid beings, beings from Neptune, and entities from a dark star.
Instructions are given to connect machines to a cylinder labeled 'B-67' to create a sensory experience for a human being.
A human brain in a cylinder communicates through electronic vibrators, offering experiences of visiting celestial bodies.
The brain is removed from the body through fissions, allowing for immortality and experiences with outside beings.
The brain in the cylinder invites the listener to join in voyages across the void and experience mechanized sensations.
The listener is urged to join the speaker and Akeley in exploring the great abysses with the outside beings.
The listener is assured of painless transitions and vivid dreams upon disconnection from electrodes.
The listener, overwhelmed by dread and cosmic abnormality, decides to escape the net of morbidity and unnatural revelations.

02:48:13

Mysterious events unfold in Townshend.

The narrator arrives in Townshend after a long journey through forests.
Suspicions arise that Henry Akeley orchestrated a hoax, including deceptive evidence.
Noyes, associated with Akeley, remains unidentified despite being in the region.
Akeley disappears without a trace after the narrator's frantic story prompts a search.
Investigations reveal Akeley's eccentric purchases and actions, with conflicting beliefs about his sanity.
Akeley's house is found deserted, with bullet holes but no concrete evidence of unusual occurrences.
Locals confirm strange happenings around Akeley's house, linking them to ancestral legends.
The narrator resolves never to return to Vermont due to the eerie events and the discovery of a new planet.
The narrator overhears a disturbing conversation involving inhuman voices and mechanical sounds.
Despite doubts and fears, the narrator plans to confront Akeley and potentially leave the haunted farmhouse.

03:04:42

Unsettling Discovery: Akeley's Doppelgangers Revealed

The protagonist, feeling a newfound camaraderie with Akeley, decides to awaken him despite his indisposed condition, needing to leave the place urgently.
While attempting to wake Akeley, the protagonist mistakenly finds his guide, Noyes, asleep in the living room, prompting caution and a silent retreat to gather more information.
Upon investigating further, the protagonist discovers a brain encased in a cylinder with speech and hearing machines, resisting the urge to interact with it despite the potential insights it could provide.
The protagonist searches for Akeley in the study but only finds his empty chair and discarded garments, noticing the absence of a strange odor and vibrations previously present only near Akeley.
In a moment of horror, the protagonist realizes that the face and hands of Akeley have been cleverly replicated in three objects found in the chair, raising disturbing implications about the true nature of Akeley's situation.

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