The Haunter of the Dark
The story revolves around a mysterious tome known as the Pnakotic Manuscripts and the Haunter of the Dark, an otherworldly entity that resides in a specific location. The protagonist, a scholar, discovers the manuscript and becomes obsessed with unlocking its secrets. He learns about the Haunter's existence and its connection to the manuscript, which is said to be able to summon the entity. The protagonist decides to use the manuscript to summon the Haunter, despite warnings from others that it is a terrible idea. As he delves deeper into the ritual, he becomes increasingly unhinged, and his obsession with the Haunter grows. Eventually, he succeeds in summoning the entity, but at a terrible cost. The story explores themes of madness, obsession, and the dangers of delving too deep into forbidden knowledge.
By H.P. Lovecraft · First published 1936 · Genre: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Weird Fiction · 10,351 words
First lines
(Dedicated to Robert Bloch)
I have seen the dark universe yawning Where the black planets roll without aim- Where they roll in their horror unheeded, Without knowledge or lustre or name. -Nemesis
What this Textopian page supports
The Haunter of the Dark is listed on Textopian as a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, dated 1936 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: H.P. Lovecraft
- Date: 1936 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Weird Fiction, Supernatural Fiction, Fantasy
- Length: 10,351 words
- Structure: 1 section, 95 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Haunter of the Dark by H.P. Lovecraft
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Haunter of the Dark?
- How does this short story by H.P. Lovecraft fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Statement Of Randolph Carter by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Descendant by H. P. Lovecraft
- Ex Oblivione by H. P. Lovecraft
- The History Of The Necronomicon by H. P. Lovecraft
- Hypnos by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Curse Of Yig by H. P. Lovecraft
Genres
- Horror — The narrative is steeped in themes of fear, the supernatural, and existential dread, characteristic of horror literature.
- Gothic Fiction — The setting features a decaying church, dark atmospheres, and elements of the uncanny, aligning with Gothic conventions.
- Weird Fiction — The story incorporates bizarre and cosmic elements, exploring the unknown and the incomprehensible, typical of weird fiction.
- Supernatural Fiction — The presence of supernatural entities and occult themes drives the plot and character motivations.
Tags
Cthulhu Mythos · Horror · Supernatural Fiction · Occultism · Mystery · Short Story · Fantasy · Dark Fantasy · Weird Fiction · Cosmic Horror · Ancient Deities · Forbidden Knowledge