Someone in the Dark

Someone in the Dark is a collection of seventeen horror and fantasy short stories published by Arkham House in 1941. The collection represents August Derleth's first published anthology of supernatural tales, with stories ranging from haunted objects to cosmic horror. The book holds significance in the publishing history of Arkham House, being only their second release with an initial print run of 1,115 copies. A second unofficial printing of 300 copies was produced in 1965, followed by a mass-market paperback edition in 1978. The collection includes notable stories like "The Return of Hastur," which connects to the Cthulhu Mythos, and "The Shuttered House," along with fifteen other tales of supernatural encounters and dark bargains. Each story stands alone while contributing to the book's overall atmosphere of mystery and dread. At its core, the anthology explores humanity's encounters with forces beyond normal understanding, reflecting common themes in weird fiction of the early twentieth century. The stories examine the boundaries between the known world and supernatural realms, often focusing on seemingly ordinary objects or places that serve as gateways to the extraordinary.

Readers note the traditional supernatural and horror story themes in this collection, with several reviewers comparing Derleth's style to H.P. Lovecraft's but finding it more accessible. Multiple reviews mention the stories have a "comfort food" quality for fans of 1940s weird fiction. Readers appreciated: - Clear, straightforward prose - Classic haunted house and ghost story elements - Regional Wisconsin settings and atmosphere - "The Shuttered House" and "Pacific 421" as standout tales Common criticisms: - Predictable plot twists - Dated writing style - Stories feel formulaic and similar to each other - Limited character development Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: Not enough reviews for rating LibraryThing: 3.3/5 (12 ratings) Several reviewers referenced the book being hard to find, with used copies selling for high prices. The limited number of online reviews suggests this remains a niche collection known mainly to Derleth enthusiasts.

The House on the Borderland by William Hope Hodgson This cosmic horror novel follows a recluse who discovers his isolated house exists at the intersection of dimensions where supernatural entities breach our reality.

Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by M. R. James The collection presents tales of scholars and antiquarians who encounter malevolent supernatural forces through ancient artifacts and historical research.

Dark Forces by Kirby McCauley This anthology contains supernatural horror stories from multiple authors dealing with unexplained phenomena and encounters with dark entities.

Cold Hand in Mine by Robert Aickman Eight tales of supernatural horror focus on characters who stumble into brushes with inexplicable forces and ghostly manifestations.

Night's Black Agents by Fritz Leiber The collection combines elements of supernatural horror and weird fiction through stories of characters confronting otherworldly threats in seemingly normal settings.

🌘 August Derleth was a close friend and correspondent of H.P. Lovecraft, and later became the primary publisher of Lovecraft's works through his publishing house, Arkham House. 🏰 The collection "Someone in the Dark" was published during what is considered the Golden Age of Weird Fiction (1930s-1940s), alongside works by other notable authors like Clark Ashton Smith. 📚 Derleth wrote more than 150 books during his lifetime, including poetry, historical fiction, detective stories, and regional literature about his beloved Wisconsin. 🖋️ The author developed the concept of "regional writing" and devoted much of his work to capturing the essence of Wisconsin's landscape, culture, and history - even in his supernatural tales. 🌟 Despite being primarily known for horror and supernatural fiction, Derleth won a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1938 for his creativity in regional writing about Wisconsin's people and landscapes.