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| Necronomicon |
The Necronomicon is a fictional book created by author H.P. Lovecraft (who also created the infamous Cthulu) as part of his world of fantastic horror. Lovecraft never really said what the book was or what was in it, one of the only mentions he gives it is in his novel The Nameless City:
"That is not dead which can eternal lie.
And with strange aeons even death may die".
The passage has been studied by Lovecraftian fans in order to gleam some information about what the Necronomicon is. All we know is that it is a powerful tome of arcane knowledge, filled with a number of spells and so powerful that any copy of it is hidden and made secret.
This concept of some secret and powerful arcane spellbook of necromancy has bled into popular culture a little too. Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead movies feature the Necronomicon as a Sumerian book of the dead; bound in human skin and inked in human blood. It contains ancient passages and spells for demon resurrection and opening rifts in the world. If you haven't seen The Evil Dead, The Evil Dead II or army of Darkness, go and find it, and then watch it now. Bruce Campbell is god. Remember this.
Terry Pratchett also features a version of the Necronomicon in his book Moving Pictures, a satire on Holywood. His version is called the Necrotelicomnicon (the phone book of the dead).
Spell books as a focus of magic are an image that has become synonymous with wizards and spellcasters in general. Do you think that this is a good way of showing how magicians utilise and focus their power? What are your favourite ways that authors deal with magic and magic users?
Now you're speaking my language! Lovecraft is awesome. I've always felt he was a better horror author than King. I also love the Evil Dead movies, so I knew from where that picture originated right away.
ReplyDeleteOf all the Lovecraft stories turned into movies, only The Resurrected came close to capturing the essence of the book. Damned shame no one can get it right!
I love your blog...and Bruce Campbell! Army of Darkness is one of my all time favorite movies! "This is my boomstick" - a classic!
ReplyDeleteTracee
reviewfromhere.com
I get lost with a lot of the things you post about but I am familiar with this one having seen the Evil Dead and Armies of Darkness movies. I was formerly working for a company that distributed products by "Bump in the Night Fx" company that made masks and props from those movies. A latex Necronomicon prop was one of the things we sold.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
I would love to own a prop Necronomicon! I've considered creating a makeshift bound book in the style, but never get round to starting the project.
ReplyDeleteWhat I like most about the evil dead series is that the first one was a dark horror, the second one was supposed to be a dark horror but ended up being funny, and for the third one Sam Raimi thought "Aww screw it" and made it a comedy. Awesome! Plus, Bruce Campbell is god.