The Terror of Blue John Gap

by Arthur Conan Doyle

This early work by Arthur Conan Doyle was originally published in 1910 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography as part of our Cryptofiction Classics series. 'The Terror of Blue John Gap' is a short story about a doctor who travels to Derbyshire to recover from tuberculosis but becomes entrapped in a series of sinister events. Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1859. It was between 1876 and 1881, while studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh, that he began writing short stories, and his first piece was published in 'Chambers's Edinburgh Journal' before he was 20. In 1887, Conan Doyle's first significant work, iA Study in Scarlet', appeared in 'Beeton's Christmas Annual'. It featured the first appearance of detective Sherlock Holmes, the protagonist who was to eventually make Conan Doyle's reputation. The Cryptofiction Classics series contains a collection of wonderful stories from some of the greatest authors in the genre, including Ambrose Bierce, Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Jack London. From its roots in cryptozoology, this genre features bizarre, fantastical, and often terrifying tales of mythical and legendary creatures. Whether it be giant spiders, werewolves, lake monsters, or dinosaurs, the Cryptofiction Classics series offers a fantastic introduction to the world of weird creatures in fiction.

Genres: Horror, Classics, Short Stories, Fiction, Audiobook, Fantasy, Science Fiction

41 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2015

About the author

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a Scottish writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are milestones in the field of crime fiction.

Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This time we don't follow a holiday maker into catacombs but into an old mine left from Roman times. What is so special about this mine? If you read this captivating diary like story you'll soon find out. It was okay but for me there are more outstanding Doyle tales.

[Aishu Rehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible Story. The creature apparently has a natural origin, like the hound of the Baskervilles, only nobody knows what it might be. The narrator himself is guessing, and we are left guessing too.

Dr James Hardcastle, who is convalescing in a Derbyshire farm, discovers Blue John Gap, a Roman Derbyshire Blue John mine. He begins to investigate the mine and the extensive underground formations to which it connects, despite the warnings of a local farmer who claims it contains a monster that has been stealing his sheep.

Hardcastle hears a large creature moving in the cave, and uncovers more evidence that it has been preying on local sheep. He determines to face it alone, as the colleagues whom he asked for help dismissed his claims as madness. He manages to wound the creature, and is bady hurt himself doing so.

The local people, who believe Hardcastle, seal the mine after the creature has returned to it. Hardcastle dies from trauma, leaving a description of his experience to try to convince his London colleagues.

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar to the last short story (non Sherlock) that I read by ACD, I felt that he could have done more with it. In effect the story was over just after half way through, I'd even guessed (wrongly) how the story was going to continue when it ended.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐

[N · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually listened to this on PodCastle. It was certainly ACD, with all of his highs and lows. A nice listen, and the narrator was excellent. You can find it here: http://podcastle.org/2012/10/02/podca...

[Akrabar · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKTg6...

[Teemu Öhman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think ACD gets the credit he deserves for being a pioneering horror writer (nor for being a pioneering scifi writer). All of ACD's horror stories I've read so far have been either good or excellent. The Terror of Blue John Gap is certainly among the finest.

As far as I know (but haven't read), a lot has been written about Lovecraft and Sherlock Holmes, but even from the perspective of a layman like me, The Terror of Blue John Gap was clearly an influence to Lovecraft. An archaic monster in a cave is pretty much as lovecraftian as possible. Thus, The Terror of Blue John Gap is a must read for not only ACD fans but for Lovecraft fans as well. And for everyone really, because it's an awfully good story.

4.75/5

[Thomas Houghton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story tells of a sceptical doctor who enters a cave system to disprove the notion of an ‘unknown terror’ that lives within. Without giving too much away, he is indeed confronted by a gigantic beast, but it is the descriptions of the endless pitch blackness that are the story’s true gems of horror. Likewise the ambiguity of the ending leaves the reader wondering whether our protagonist really did encounter anything at all! Perhaps the sections of the story in the tunnel could have been longer, but overall still a perfect example of that niche Pastoral horror genre that Arthur Conan Doyle was such a master of.

[Bryn Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is an interesting read – taken into context. The scientific knowledge available at the time was probably much more impressive at the time than they are now 90 years or so after his death. Nevertheless, the story is put together nicely and speaks of an unnatural creature of unknown origins in an old Blue John mine. Dr. James Hardcastle investigates the caverns in hunt of the monster rumored to be there and which a local farmer claims had been stealing his sheep. Finding and facing the monster alone, he wounds it but is badly hurt himself. It was a fun short-story/novella to read despite some anachronisms.

[Lynsey Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Mr Conan Doyle, I didn’t know you had this much terror in you.

This is a perfect little slice of Victorian monster horror, and as the name suggests part of it is truly terrifying. The pitch black cave scene was incredible claustrophobic and the atmosphere and tension made me do the book version of hiding behind your hands when you watch a film.

The found diary style and unexplained nature of the, well whatever it was, made this very cosmic horrory (the best praise imaginable) and the whole wee story was brilliant from start to finish.

Bravo good sir! Bravo!

[Jared Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doyle is a master of the short story; if read in the right context this could be a singularly creepy tale. I think it would have been a little better if it had ended about halfway - monsters and creatures are always scarier sans form/description. As usual, though I'm sure he was on the cutting-edge of scientific discoveries in his day and age, the scientific exposition in this tale felt dated and anachronistic. But also as usual he packages the story up nicely and leaves the reader contented.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terror entertaining listening 🎧
Another will written British short story of terror by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. What is it, where did it come, and is it killing? The main character is being driven crazy by all these questions. I would highly recommend this short story to readers of mysteries. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listing 🎧 to books 📘😎🎉 2021

[Red Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of Conan Doyle’s short horror fictions, it utilises the same “found diary” device as The Horror of the Heights but simply doesn’t quite carry the same weight of vivid invention or impact of horror. Genuinely worth the read, nonetheless; one can see the same ideas that became The Lost World working their way into horror rather than adventure story near the conclusion.

[Forked Radish · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are several incongruencies that mar this work which will be obvious to most readers, so I won’t elaborate on them here. Blue John is an enigmatic term, it is supposedly from the French bleu jaune, but this makes little sense since blue yellow is green and the mineral is purple.

[Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average monster in the depths story. Nothing compelling or different from others of it's ilk. Entertaining enough though.

[Alejandro Salgado B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy buen relato lleno de tensión, suspenso y misterio. De diversas posibilidades y un enigma.

[Susana Mahrouka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish it was longer 😅🤣 I loved the mystery and also how the ending seemed to wrap up and kind of give you two choices of what you ultimately believed happened. I really enjoyed it

[elli elli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorei, me lembrou os contos de H.P. Lovecraft

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook.

[Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy and delightful.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent story about a mythical subterranean beast that harasses a mountain village, and one man's terrifying encounter with it. A very effective and atmospheric horror story.

[Bray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when he brings out scientific explanations for monsters

[Shon · Rating 4 out of 5]

ACD's horror stories are pretty fun.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

probably closer to 2.5

It's okay, fairly standard monster-in-a-cave deal. Doesn't compare to The Horror Of The Heights for me tho

[Susan Leppala]

I love terror stories that try to debunk themselves through science, only to have the supernatural more or less the only explanation at the end. This story gave me goosebumps, I live in both a mining area and a vastly wild area and Doyle got the mood down perfectly. Mine shafts are terrifying, and almost everyone I know has had some unexplainable horror happen in the woods. Being even further scientifically now, than in Doyle's time, we laugh at the stories, but always shudder and get goose bumps first.

[Eda Aydın · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Terror of Blue John Gap is a masterfully crafted short story that bridges the gap between classic horror and subterranean mystery, showcasing the author's versatility beyond detective fiction. Set in the desolate Derbyshire moors, the narrative explores themes of scientific curiosity and the primal fear of the unknown as a convalescing doctor investigates sightings of a monstrous prehistoric creature lurking within a local cavern. Doyle’s descriptive prowess shines through his ability to create a thick sense of dread and atmospheric tension, utilizing the dark, claustrophobic setting to amplify the psychological impact of the supernatural threat. While the protagonist serves as an effective vessel for the reader's own mounting unease, it is the author's vivid prose and pacing that truly elevate this tale, making it a highly recommended read for those who appreciate early 20th-century creature features and the eerie allure of the unexplained.

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only a short story but I had to re-read the start multiple times to get into it. A scientist devoid of any creativity and an explorer with absolutely no preparation proved incredibly difficult to support
as a reader.

Ultimately, the story was frustratingly short, open ended and unscientific.