“Shoggoth’s Old Peculiar” (2013)
Written by: Neil Gaiman
Narrated by: Neil Gaiman
Genre: Lovecraftian Surrealism
Length: 1 hour, 6 minutes
Publisher: Harper Audio
Why I Chose It: For starting out reading audiobooks, I wanted to start with something by an author I know and love.
The premise:
“Shoggoth’s Old Peculiar”, a short story from Neil Gaiman’s collection Smoke and Mirrors, follows an American student’s walking tour of the British coastline, which takes an odd turn when he comes to the town of Innsmouth. This free short story also includes a preview of The Ocean at the End of the Lane, the author’s next full-length novel, available now for pre-order and due out on June 18. Find more from Neil Gaiman and explore the books he has hand-picked and produced at Neil Gaiman Presents.
No Spoilers Below
Discussion:
I’ve recently started a new job that means I no longer commute on a train. I’ve really missed my time spent reading during my morning commute. Someone suggested audiobooks so I decided to give it a trial run. I found a free short story from one of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman.
The short story has the well-known, whimsical strangeness that Gaiman is known for as we jump into the tale of an American student, Benjamin, taking an ill-advised walking tour of England’s coast. He founds himself in a strange town with a peculiar drink and an even more peculiar group of men at the pub.
For fans of H.P. Lovecraft, there are so many references to his work throughout this story. Even if you’re not a fan of his work, you can still enjoy the story as Benjamin stumbles his way into things far beyond his understanding while walking the shore and staring into the waters.
Gaiman’s voice is lovely to listen to and the way he characterizes each person speaking makes the story sing. It’s incredibly easy to get lost in the story, and I actually sat in the parking lot for a few extra moments to just finish the story.
As a change from reading on my tablet or in a book, it was a big adjustment but I think in time I’ll get used to reading with my ears.
In Conclusion: As a stepping stone into the world of audiobooks it was the perfect selection. It’s a great short listen that took me just one drive to work to get through. Neil Gaiman’s voice is soothing and a joy to listen to and if you’re a fan of his work, I highly recommend listening to his work in audio form.
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