November 2024: The Thing in the Moonlight

[Dan]

"The Thing in the Moonlight" is a short story by J. Chapman Miske. The story is based on a letter dated November 24, 1927 from H. P. Lovecraft to Donald Wandrei, one of my favorite weird authors who I wrote a fair amount about last decade. Describing one of Lovecraft's dreams, the story was prepared for publication by Miske, who filled in the story surrounding the description of the dream. In places, the letter and published story are said to be identical to Lovecraft's style. It was first published in Bizarre magazine in January 1941.

It might seem strange to include this story in HPL's Dream Cycle, but it is considered an integral part. What do you think of it?

[Dan]

My review of this two-page story (some may believe it to contain light spoilers): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kevan]

Dan, thanks for sharing that extra context about Miske's contribution to the story, it's very interesting to see how it reads with and without those additional lines.

I wonder if Miske's contribution was actually trying to help improve the clarity of the story?

If we take the perspective that Morgan is actually writing down the dream of another man, Howard Philips, it could help to explain how we can have knowledge of Howard Philips dream, even though he's unable to wake up?

On my first read it did seem like Morgan and Howard Philips were actually the same person somehow.

Overall I enjoyed this little snippet, the antagonists gave the story that weird creepy edge. I'm curious if they might show up in other stories, they sound interesting.

As a side note, I'm aware that Edward Lee wrote a short story named "Trolley No. 1852" that was clearly inspired by this one.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

For anyone not aware Edward Lee writes extreme graphic stories, something to be mindful of.

[Dan]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this story, Kevan. I agree. It is likely Miske thought his Morgan frame improved the story in the way you write. It begs the question, however, of how Morgan could learn of it if Philips couldn't wake up. But I nitpick.

Edward Lee is prominent in the extreme horror field. Good catch on the trolley reference! You could update the Wikipedia page on the story in the influences section.

[Kevan]

It begs the question, however, of how Morgan could learn of it if Philips couldn't wake up.

Ha, true. I do wonder if there might be something in the Lovecraft universe that sets a precedent for this "insight into another person's dreams" phenomenon.

Actually didn't the Hodgson story "The Hog" have a phenomena like this?

I'd assume Miske would have put some thought into it, so would be interesting to have some insight into his thinking.

[Rosemarie]

This was certainly weird.