THE DEEP ONES: "The Monster-God of Mamurth" by Edmond Hamilton
Talk The Weird Tradition
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1gwendetenebre
"The Monster-God of Mamurth" by Edmond Hamilton.
Discussion begins January 15, 2025.
First published the August 1926 issue of Weird Tales.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?75434
SELECTED PRINT VERSIONS
The Best of Edmond Hamilton
The Horror on the Asteroid and Other Tales of Planetary Horror
ONLINE VERSIONS
https://www.baen.com/Chapters/9781476736990/9781476736990__10.htm
ONLINE AUDIO VERSIONS
No online audio versions found to date.
MISCELLANY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_Hamilton
https://lovecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Edmond_Hamilton
https://darkworldsquarterly.gwthomas.org/the-wellsian-invasions-of-edmond-hamilt...
https://tinyurl.com/2p9fh9np
Discussion begins January 15, 2025.
First published the August 1926 issue of Weird Tales.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?75434
SELECTED PRINT VERSIONS
The Best of Edmond Hamilton
The Horror on the Asteroid and Other Tales of Planetary Horror
ONLINE VERSIONS
https://www.baen.com/Chapters/9781476736990/9781476736990__10.htm
ONLINE AUDIO VERSIONS
No online audio versions found to date.
MISCELLANY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_Hamilton
https://lovecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Edmond_Hamilton
https://darkworldsquarterly.gwthomas.org/the-wellsian-invasions-of-edmond-hamilt...
https://tinyurl.com/2p9fh9np
2AndreasJ
This was Hamilton's first published story, and it has its weaknesses. Given the "indescribable" creatures along the avenue, the monster-god being an overgrown spider, even an invisible one, is something of a let-down.
Speaking of invisibility, I thought it curious to invoke x-rays for the idea that "scientists can make matter partly invisible". Wouldn't plain glass (made out of distinctly visible sand) be a better example? Mayhap Hamilton had a very vague idea how x-rays work - or counted on his readers having.
The invisible temple reminded me of the structure in "In the Walls of Eryx", and the 2nd misc. link indeed says it was an inspiration for that story.
Speaking of invisibility, I thought it curious to invoke x-rays for the idea that "scientists can make matter partly invisible". Wouldn't plain glass (made out of distinctly visible sand) be a better example? Mayhap Hamilton had a very vague idea how x-rays work - or counted on his readers having.
The invisible temple reminded me of the structure in "In the Walls of Eryx", and the 2nd misc. link indeed says it was an inspiration for that story.
3RandyStafford
It had its moments, but I thought it too long in the invisible structure though Hamilton had to set up how the monster spider was going to be killed.
The story could have used more of the moody menace evoked in the last line.
I too was reminded of "In the Walls of Eryx".
The story could have used more of the moody menace evoked in the last line.
I too was reminded of "In the Walls of Eryx".
4gwendetenebre
This one is included in the new 'Best of Weird Tales:
the 1920s' from Centipede Press, which I just received yesterday.
the 1920s' from Centipede Press, which I just received yesterday.
5SRB5729
I am not sure if its me, it probably is, but I could not "get into" the story. I love these types of stories but it was not happening. The invisible motif also felt forced even as a main theme of the "antagonist". Happy to be corrected but this did not rise to great for me.
6ScoLgo
One glaring inconsistency stuck out...
"I crawled toward the circle’s edge, holding my pistol before me, pushing slowly forward. When the automatic in my outstretched hand reached the line of the circle, it struck against something hard, and I could push it no farther."
Later, when the monster arrives... "And as I saw those tracks advancing toward me, I knew that the city’s ancient evil god still dwelt here, and that I was in his temple, alone and unarmed."
Unless I missed it, I don't recall him dropping or losing his gun while exploring the invisible temple.
"I crawled toward the circle’s edge, holding my pistol before me, pushing slowly forward. When the automatic in my outstretched hand reached the line of the circle, it struck against something hard, and I could push it no farther."
Later, when the monster arrives... "And as I saw those tracks advancing toward me, I knew that the city’s ancient evil god still dwelt here, and that I was in his temple, alone and unarmed."
Unless I missed it, I don't recall him dropping or losing his gun while exploring the invisible temple.
