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klparmley's review against another edition
3.0
This came before Lovecraft. It it worth reading if you are interested in the development of fantastic writing. If you are looking for insight into to HBO series, True Detective, forget it. I think TD uses images from the King in Yellow because The Great Old Ones are too obvious.
llanirev's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good for such an old book, but not very entertaining. Myserious but too obscure for the headliner and horror stories without horror in the short stories. Didn't feel anything for the characters.
I started this read because I encountered the reference to the 'King in Yellow' play often in the Arkham Horror boardgame. Well... this book, also refers to that play a lot, but it never explains more than just the basics. Too bad the writers fantasy couldn't think of more than 'oh cursed thee, you have read the King in Yellow so you must go crazy and/or die', but maybe that was groundbreaking in the 1880's. Still it was a 'must read' for me, as it was the inspiration for much of Lovecraft's Cthulhu writing
I started this read because I encountered the reference to the 'King in Yellow' play often in the Arkham Horror boardgame. Well... this book, also refers to that play a lot, but it never explains more than just the basics. Too bad the writers fantasy couldn't think of more than 'oh cursed thee, you have read the King in Yellow so you must go crazy and/or die', but maybe that was groundbreaking in the 1880's. Still it was a 'must read' for me, as it was the inspiration for much of Lovecraft's Cthulhu writing
pillaroflight's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
choosing to ignore the last few
robotcommander's review against another edition
2.0
ugh this book has maybe 50 good pages and 250 pages of self indulgent garbage.
addiestanley's review against another edition
3.0
I'm glad I read this edition in particular; I've been playing a lot of Lovecraftian board games lately with King in Yellow expansion schemes, so was interested primarily in those stories to brush up on my background knowledge. Surprisingly, though, I found myself enjoying the additions from Chambers' other collections the most, with their strange and charming sadness and extinct creatures and evanescent women. I'd also like to note that while the book describes itself as "horror stories"--and there are certainly elements that would fall into that category; branded skulls coming to life, murder and madness, monsters, maidens turning into marble--really I think "supernatural" is the better descriptor.
kenmooney's review against another edition
3.0
A collection of short stories, The King In Yellow starts with a high pace and some truly chilling movements, but loses steam and pace as it progresses, moving to focus on the life of the artist. The short stories are no less interesting, but lack the punch of the opening
kleitos's review against another edition
4.0
Amazing short horror stories. The atmosphere, the build up, the mystery, all written very well. If you're looking for a different type of horror from the usual gore/violent ones then this one is for you
rocketiza's review against another edition
2.0
For what is considered such an influential book, I was extremely underwhelmed. There is one really good story in the King in Yellow section, but the rest range from mehhhhhh to oh yeah, this is why I don't read books from this time period because they are obnoxious.