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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
If there was a play so awful, so powerful that it turned whoever read it mad, would you dare to pick it up? The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers collects four eerie tales of people who have had the misfortune to chance upon the titular play. Chambers shrewdly never divulges the plot of the play or what exactly is so awesomely terrible within its pages. Though this may have been enough to inspire horror in 1895 when the book was first published, many of Chambers’ plots fall short of true terror for a modern reader. Though there is plenty of death (accidental and homicidal), madness, and fear on the part of the characters, only the first story, “The Repairer of Reputations” has any urgency. Though this was an important development in the history of supernatural writing and helped create modern horror, it lacks the punch of contemporary works.⠀
I tried, I really did. I just do not like cosmic horror in the slightest and from all the contents in this collection of stories that seems to be the only thing that might be interesting.
I wouldn't put this book at fault for my not liking cosmic horror, its just vague, bland and lazy horror to me.
I wouldn't put this book at fault for my not liking cosmic horror, its just vague, bland and lazy horror to me.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
The concept for this collection of stories is really interesting, but the execution? Not so much. I came here on a recommendation from a YouTuber whose opinions usually match with mine, but nope. With the exception of The Mask, which I found sad and thoroughly fascinating, I was bored out of my mind for the rest of the book. So many of the stories only have the loosest of ties to The King In Yellow play at all, which I find really strange. There was potential here, but it seemed like such a waste. I did like the element at the very end that tied it to the first story, but other than that, I'll take a pass on reading more from this author.
"The ambition of Caesar and of Napoleon pales before that which could not rest until it had seized the minds of men and controlled even their unborn thoughts."
"You are speaking of the King in Yellow."
"You are speaking of the King in Yellow."
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
medium-paced
Like most people, I was pretty disappointed by the second half of this anthology. The stories about the myself titular play are unique and interesting, but the book takes a hard turn about halfway and not only forgets about the play, but it seems Chambers forgot what genre he was working with.
I recommend reading about the first half. The second half is better if you like romance, but even then, it's not very good romance...
I recommend reading about the first half. The second half is better if you like romance, but even then, it's not very good romance...