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"The Shadow of a Nightmare" by Donald Wandrei

HorrorBabble

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"The Shadow of a Nightmare" is a short story by the American author, Donald Wandrei. It was first published in the May 1929 edition of Weird Tales, with the following synopsis: “From a strange nightmare country in the Himalayas stark madness found its way into the outer world.”

Donald Wandrei Playlist: Donald Wandrei

00:00 - Introduction
00:50 - One
05:44 - Two
11:26 - Three
20:42 - Four
28:03 - Further Listening

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Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble
Music and production by Ian & Jennifer Gordon

Image by C. C. Senf (Weird Tales, May 1929)

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20 Comments

@AcornElectron 3 years ago

“In the lone silence of that hoary and deserted city of the dead, my mind conceived the most ghastly phantasies and illusions; and the grotesque shrines and monoliths seemed to assume a hideous personality—a half-sentience…”

Keep up the good work and, as always, stay safe!

I look forward to reading Eris’s comment.

@andreasfilis9001 3 years ago

A true horror story! Of course, it pays the necessary tribute to Lovecraft. Ian, you were excellent on this! So realistic and vivid! Thanks of uploading this

@theskylie 3 years ago

Lovely tale on getting exactly what one asks for

@colinmcom14 3 years ago

Great story and production! The best weird fiction stories like this one really hit you on a deeper level with the power that the quality of the writing adds to the story.

@c.7610 3 years ago

I really appreciate your resurrecting a mostly-forgotten writer like Donald Wandrei with these excellent readings. Any chance of you recording pieces from his collection “Sanctity & Sin”?

@ItsPennyLanee 3 years ago

Great job, Ian. I love stories about ancient occult rights and forgotten civilizations. This was a bite sized treat.

@scottbubb2946 3 years ago

According to Wikipedia, Lovecraft used to refer to Donald Wandrei as "Melmoth the Wandrei" in letters. Pretty funny for for a guy that always seemed to be so dour and gloomy.

@EricDaMAJ 3 years ago

Warren is sadly no longer with us. He went to a costume party dressed as a cannibal and clowns attacked and ate him. One clown looked to the other between bites and said, “I think I got this joke wrong.”

@SixTough 3 years ago

The transmission of a sense of the nightmare to his guest... That was chilling.

@jdsteppenzyde 3 years ago

I grew up in the city of the mad. It is Flint, MI

@nanphx2038 3 years ago

Another great story. I like the concept of an entirely mad society.Thanks for your superb presentations.

@fionbharrbutler3373 3 years ago

A sacrifice to the Al gor ithm 🙌

@XadrumLtd 3 years ago

Great story well told. Not a writer that i know, but would be interested in hearing more.

@raevyn11 3 years ago

Very enjoyable read, thanks.
I like how the protaganist had a habit of throwing cold water on people! ; )

@DaveyGlass 2 weeks ago

Many thanks

@Bebecat477 11 months ago

Thank you for the story.

@merlapittman5034 3 years ago

Wow! Absolutely marvelous! I love Donald Wandrei's works, and your performance was immaculate! Wonderful!

@liamrobinson2084 3 years ago

What excellent work you do so consistently ! Bravo!

@Eris123451 3 years ago (edited)

Thirteen:

Then for a moment Randolph Carter almost believed that he might still be dreaming; experiencing as it were a dream within a dream and that all he needed to do to escape his fatal predicament would be to awaken; but in his in fear leadened heart he knew already that it was no dream and that this doom was as mundane as it was imminent.