https://lovecraft.fandom.com/wiki/The_Silver_Key?oldid=18846, "The Silver Key" alludes to other Lovecraft stories that feature Randolph Carter, allowing the reader to place these stories in chronological order: first. It still has a good flow to it. Lovecraft didn't like sequels, and had misgivings about collaborating on this sequel to “The Silver Key.” Turns out he was right. The door of the inn was closed. So he wanted to get in and rest for the night. He, therefore, slipped a rupee from a chink in the gate. To see what your friends thought of this book, The Silver Key (Dream Cycle), H.P. 3*. There are portions of this I would really think of tattooing on my body if I were into that sort of thing. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of. Nice rant on modernity. Once a rich man came to an inn. The character Benijah Corey from the story seems to combine the names of Emma Corey Phillips, one of Lovecraft's relatives, and Benejah Place, a farmer who lived across the street from the home where Lovecraft stayed. He did not under stood what the rich man meant. We’d love your help. Wonder had gone away, and he had forgotten that all life is only a set of pictures in the brain, among which there is no difference betwixt those born of real things and those born of inward dreamings, and no cause to value the one above the other. online here Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Lovecraft is the Boss. As he ages, though, he finds that his daily waking exposure to the more "practical", scientific ideas of man, has eventually eroded his ability to dream as he once did, and has made him regretfully subscribe more and more to the mundane beliefs of everyday, waking "real life". PublishYourArticles.net is home of thousands of articles published by users like YOU. Man is young and dreams of fantastic and beautiful things to rise above the utilitarianism of every-day life. (EXP: An H. P. Lovecraft Encyclopedia), Carter's search for meaning through a succession of philosophical and aesthetic approaches may have been inspired by J. K. Huysmans' A rebours (1884), whose main character undertakes a similar progression. These chests, scattered throughout Albion, each require a certain amount of Silver Keys to open. Short and not all that, uh, Lovecraftian, but appropriately sinister here and there, and there's buzzing. But what happens when he finds an old silver key in a wooden box? Perhaps this is just because I'm a white academic, but I briefly saw myself in Randolph Carter. It contains a number of fair to fine works and avoids some of the quite appalling examples he created that can be read in other collections. Surprisingly futuristic for a story written in 1920s. I know, most readers seem to disagree. Also, hello Arkham, and a returning character. Others may not like Lovecraft's rewrite of this sequel by Price, but I rather enjoyed it. Carter was also in "The Statement of Randolph Carter," which was good, but not as good as this. The Silver Key "Wonder had gone away, and he had forgotten that all life is only a set of pictures in the brain, among which there is no difference betwixt those born of real things and those born of inward dreamings, and no cause to value the one above the other." English ← Previous "Through the Gates of the Silver Key" is a short story co-written by American writers H. P. Lovecraft and E. Hoffmann Price between October 1932 and April 1933. A rather gentle and mild story by Lovecraft-ian standards. Author The porter now knew that he had been befooled. One day, he receives a "clue" about how to do just that, and the short story drives to a twist in the ending. That face - it isn't a face, but a mask! I REALLY REALLY LOVED THE SILVER MASK!After being somewhat disappointed by The Bronze Key, I was growing afraid that I might have lost interest in the series all together but the ending of book three + this fantastic fourth installment has truly renewed my love for this wondrous middle grade fantasy series! Their main purpose is to open Silver Chests. Presently the quasi-sphere began to grow luminous, and as it gleamed up into a cold, pulsating light of unassignable colour Carter saw that its flickerings conformed to the alien rhythm of the chant. This rascal is in disguise. This story has been given some bad reviews and even Lovecraft himself was not entirely happy with it, but I don't see why. Basically a little sequel to Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath. Which, by the way, ought to be understood more like 2 narrative threads - fantasy and horror - happening in the same universe. When you walk in your dreams, you don't often find yourselves conversing with an interdimensional being that grants you the ability to travel between planets, split your identity between your "Earth" self and an "alien" body, and unravel the mysteries of the universe. This is the fifth and final story in the Randolph Carter series, and a direct followup to the previous story (The Silver Key). This story has been given some bad reviews and even Lovecraft himself was not entirely happy with it, but I don't see why. Next → The story then relates how Randolph's relatives had noted, beginning at the age of ten, that he had somehow gained the ability to glimpse events in his future. Description. Refresh and try again. Fantasy short story, weird fiction To see what your friends thought of this book. Welcome back. Interesting, though horror/sci-fi or whatever it is, shouldn't be so dull. The usual Lovecraft story really, except that for once, instead of visions of the deep past, one gets the gift of prophecy. space, and lovely, unbelievable garden lands across ethereal seas; but as middle age hardened upon him he felt these liberties slipping away little by little, until at last he was cut off The Silver Key (Dream Cycle), H.P. The key somehow enables him to return to his childhood as a ten-year-old boy, and his adult self disappears from his normal time. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. He explains that the key took Carter to a type of higher dimension. Lovecraft. This seems almost semi-autobiographical as H.P. Randolph Carter's disappearance in "The Silver Key" did not need an explanation, especially with the ridiculous excuse given in this story. He knocked at the door. When an NBA bubble idea was floated, commissioner Adam Silver was skeptical. This was one of my ABSOLUTE favorite stories from the entire collection of all his works. I thought Lumley had made up the whole Carter being friends with de Laurent but apparently it came from here. It must be admitted that the five star rating is for those who have already read Lovecraft. An interesting concept is explored in this tale, what if we are all facets of higher beings? The porter did not find any luggage. That it has motion, and is the cause of change, is an illusion. Oh man, I should have really read this story before beginning the Titus Crow series. Privacy Policy3. Man grows up and gets bogged down in the sadness of the real world. Then all the mitred, sceptre-bearing Shapes on the pedestals commenced a slight, curious swaying in the same inexplicable rhythm, while nimbuses of unclassifiable light—resembling that of the quasi-sphere—played round their shrouded heads”, “No death, no doom, no anguish can arouse the surpassing despair which flows from a loss of identity. Blood, Language, Sexual Content, Use of Alcohol, Violence, Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB, Things Ghost of Tsushima Doesn't Tell You. This might be the first Lovecraft piece I've read that contains a character. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. See, doing a bit of research, I discovered that it’s not only a part of a larger, interconnected fantasy series called the Dreamlands, but also a part of its own miniseries starring a character named Randolph Carter. Be the first to ask a question about Through the Gates of the Silver Key. What this means is I might have to re-review it later as his other tales could theoretically add some background context to the story. The Silver Key was still in his grasp—though held by a noxious-looking claw. In terms of prices, the gold-silver ratio is a very disproportionate one. Receiving a Silver Key is a tradition celebrated by some incoming Cadette troops. Silver Key & Through the Gates of the Silver Key: 2/5. Perfect length. Article shared by. It was based on Price's "The Lord of Illusion" first draft. It is considered part of his Dream Cycle series, first published in the January 1929 Tales. Copyright © 2015 PublishYourArticles.Net, All rights reserved. I thought it was great. Publisher Discouraged, he eventually withdraws from these lines of inquiry, and goes into seclusion. After a time, a hint of the fantastic enters his dreams again, though he is still unable to dream of the strange cities of his youth, leaving him wanting more. Start by marking “Through the Gates of the Silver Key” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Men think of time only because of what they call change, yet that too is illusion. A bit eerie, a bit critical of society a w. Randolph Carter lost the way into his dreams. Content Guidelines 2. I suppose I can always read the original, so I can not say how much actual rework was done to get it to Lovecraft standards.