What do you think?
Rate this book
Al Azif: The Necronomicon
No Al Azif Read a customer review or write one .
212 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1973
3 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
L. Sprague de Camp
762 books314 followersLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction literature. In a career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, both novels and works of non-fiction, including biographies of other fantasy authors. He was a major figure in science fiction in the 1930s and 1940s.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 30, 2015
At a time when there are so many Necronomicon hoaxes, looking back I think this one is still the best.
I have always been fond of the writings of L. Sprague de Camp, including his contributions to the spreading of the Conan stories at a time when I was a teenager and there was nothing else available concerning the Cimmerian barbarian other than the comics. Even if purists condemn the adaptations and arrangements, now when there are no end of books on Conan and the rest of Howard's heroes, I look back on those as good memories. I also remember de Camp's books on Atlantis and the like, and I believe he liked a practical joke, as indeed is made obvious from this Al Azif.
Having been made by a hired artist who just drew some eight pages of somewhat random arabesque squigglings and then having them repeated over and over again with minor alterations, this book partakes of the original Lovecraft joke. I remember I paid good money for it, but I do get the joke. So I don't mind, and consider myself a proud owner.
There's really nothing to read (other than the preface), so it is far better than all the other Simon hoaxes and the like, in my opinion. Oh, and you must read it (or not read it, actually) from right to left, in good arabic fashion. Beware of invoking the nameless horrors, though! Even if I remember they actually had lots of names. A nod to Lovecraft.
I have always been fond of the writings of L. Sprague de Camp, including his contributions to the spreading of the Conan stories at a time when I was a teenager and there was nothing else available concerning the Cimmerian barbarian other than the comics. Even if purists condemn the adaptations and arrangements, now when there are no end of books on Conan and the rest of Howard's heroes, I look back on those as good memories. I also remember de Camp's books on Atlantis and the like, and I believe he liked a practical joke, as indeed is made obvious from this Al Azif.
Having been made by a hired artist who just drew some eight pages of somewhat random arabesque squigglings and then having them repeated over and over again with minor alterations, this book partakes of the original Lovecraft joke. I remember I paid good money for it, but I do get the joke. So I don't mind, and consider myself a proud owner.
There's really nothing to read (other than the preface), so it is far better than all the other Simon hoaxes and the like, in my opinion. Oh, and you must read it (or not read it, actually) from right to left, in good arabic fashion. Beware of invoking the nameless horrors, though! Even if I remember they actually had lots of names. A nod to Lovecraft.
October 12, 2017
You know this one is a joke right?
December 21, 2024
This is scary 😧 and full of knowledge
October 25, 2014
For those that don't know, besides the preface, this entire book is in Aramaic.
Not only that, as was pointed out in The Necronomicon Files: The Truth Behind Lovecraft's Legend, there are pages and pages of the same text that repeat constantly. I believe there are only eight original pages, but I could be getting that number wrong.
It's a nice show piece to have in any Lovecraftian library simply because of how silly it is. But generally, it's a waste of money and not worth spending anything on unless you manage to find it at a used book store.
Honestly, don't get this book. It's pointless and a waste. There are better fake Necronomicons out there, grab one of them instead.
Not only that, as was pointed out in The Necronomicon Files: The Truth Behind Lovecraft's Legend, there are pages and pages of the same text that repeat constantly. I believe there are only eight original pages, but I could be getting that number wrong.
It's a nice show piece to have in any Lovecraftian library simply because of how silly it is. But generally, it's a waste of money and not worth spending anything on unless you manage to find it at a used book store.
Honestly, don't get this book. It's pointless and a waste. There are better fake Necronomicons out there, grab one of them instead.
August 3, 2011
now, thats occult for you
March 12, 2013
The Ancient Ones demand it...
March 19, 2008
i remember not liking this book and i think that i now no longer own it.
February 25, 2016
It's only 17 pages of insect sounds repeated 10 times but it made the card catalog!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews