"I started from my sleep with horror"

[eldritchhobbit]

moirymoe is making Halloween posts this month, as is fungus_files. Check out their LJs for more seasonal spookiness!

Here's some meme fun:


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You will go trick-or-treating with:
Where?	At Hogwarts.
What will happen?	You will start having visions of the future and then get your own day time T.V. show (which will beat out Dr. Phil in ratings).
Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

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And now, here is an excerpt from the third scariest book of all time (according to the Edmonton Journal), which also happens to be one of the pioneering works of modern science fiction:

I started from my sleep with horror; a cold dew covered my forehead, my teeth chattered, and every limb became convulsed: when, by the dim and yellow light of the moon, as it forced its way through the window shutters, I beheld the wretch -- the miserable monster whom I had created. He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks. He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped, and rushed down stairs. I took refuge in the courtyard belonging to the house which I inhabited; where I remained during the rest of the night, walking up and down in the greatest agitation, listening attentively, catching and fearing each sound as if it were to announce the approach of the demoniacal corpse to which I had so miserably given life.

Oh! no mortal could support the horror of that countenance. A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch. I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then; but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived.

- from Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1818)

Read the novel at Project Gutenberg.
Read the novel at Literature.org.

Comments

[estellye.livejournal.com]

That woman could write.

I so look forward to these! ((((EH))))

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

She certainly could!

Thanks so much for letting me share my fun with you, ((((Estellye))))! *huge hugs* I'm so glad you're enjoying it. :)

[arymetore.livejournal.com]

Is that Bela Lugosi you are trick or treating with? Hmm... I may have the actor wrong, but isn't it Nosferatu? Or the original Phantom of the Opera movie?

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

That's Max Schreck as Nosferatu! Good call. :)

[arymetore.livejournal.com]

Ok, I couldn't remember who it was (I'm extremely poor at recognizing actors in roles) but was at least thinking I had the right movie :)

And hmm... was flipping through the responses to that quiz and came across one other person I couldn't recognize... not even by movie. Though I think it was possibly a sci-fi...

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I found that book more sad than scary. What each "man" did to the other, and to themselves, was heartbreaking.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Excellent point. And there's something achingly sad about the creation who simple wants to know, and be accepted by, the creator, and who receives only disgust from the whole community in return.

[witchcat07.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with this. I was more saddened, and maybe a little repulsed by the story than terrified.

[elicia8.livejournal.com]

I'm jealous of your trick-or-treating buddy. ;)

Also, Mary Shelley rocks. That book IS definitely one of the scariest books ever, despite how many times the story's been chopped up and hacked apart.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I'm jealous of your trick-or-treating buddy. ;)

Aw, no worries: there's plenty of the undead to go around. ;)

Also, Mary Shelley rocks. That book IS definitely one of the scariest books ever, despite how many times the story's been chopped up and hacked apart.

I agree. I need to be sure to link eventually to her The Last Man, too. It is as good or better, I think. She's just amazing.

[syrcleoftrees.livejournal.com]

I bet you could have a show much better than Dr.Phil...

"but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived."

You know this so describes me in the mornings,,,it is plum scarey,I often say,"I got to get up,rigormortis is setting in!"

(( you spooky person!))

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I bet you could have a show much better than Dr.Phil...

Aw, thanks! At least I'd have better hair (which isn't hard). *snort*

You know this so describes me in the mornings,,,it is plum scarey,I often say,"I got to get up,rigormortis is setting in!"

ROFLOL! Too funny! (((syrcleoftrees)))

[fungus-files.livejournal.com]

You and Schrecky going trick-or-treating. Colour me jealous.

Nosferatu is one of my all-time fave vampire movies - the way it set the atmosphere was so very effective. I didn't expect it to work so well, given the restrictions of the film medium at the time. I think it had a lot to do with the fingernails... ;)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

You and Schrecky going trick-or-treating. Colour me jealous.

But he keeps asking if I mind if he has a drink. *nervous laughter*

I didn't expect it to work so well, given the restrictions of the film medium at the time. I think it had a lot to do with the fingernails... ;)

LOL! I know what you mean. Such terrific lighting/shadowing, too. It's hypnotic.

Frankenstein is a great novel as well........

[dracschick.livejournal.com]

Your LJ post reminded me that I haven't read it in awhile. I have to go back and do that:)

Re: Frankenstein is a great novel as well........

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Yay! I think you'll be especially happy with today's post. :)