Fane of the Black Pharaoh by Robert Bloch (Audio)

 

 

"Fane of the Black Pharaoh" is a short story by Robert Bloch that appeared in the December 1937 issue of Weird Tales. One of Bloch's Egyptian tales, it elaborates on the hints dropped in H. P. Lovecraft's fiction about the Black Pharaoh Nephren-Ka. 

 

 Foreword By Olivia Salter

"Fane of the Black Pharaoh" stands as a testament to the tantalizing depths of horror and mystery that can be unearthed within the world of ancient Egypt. Crafted by the prolific pen of Robert Bloch, this short story delves into the sinister legacy of the Black Pharaoh Nephren-Ka, a figure shrouded in eldritch whispers within the mythos created by the masterful H.P. Lovecraft. Building upon the spectral hints dropped in Lovecraft's own tales, Bloch weaves a narrative that plunges readers into the eerie recesses of a fane dedicated to this enigmatic ruler.

With a deft touch, Bloch summons a sense of dread that lingers like the shadows in a crypt, drawing us into a realm where the boundaries of the living and the dead blur and ancient terrors stir from their slumber. As we journey through the corridors of the fane, each step resonates with a mounting sense of unease, whispering of secrets too dark and forbidden to be fully grasped.

Within this audio, listeners will find themselves ensnared in a web of intrigue that spans the ages, as the legacy of Nephren-Ka casts its ominous shadow over all who dare to seek its truth. As the mysteries of the past collide with the present, Bloch masterfully guides us on a descent into darkness, where the boundaries of reality are tested and the specter of the Black Pharaoh looms ever closer.

Drawing upon the rich tapestry of Egyptian lore and the eldritch energies that pulse through Lovecraft's mythos, "Fane of the Black Pharaoh" emerges as a chilling exploration of ancient powers and cosmic horrors that lie beyond human comprehension. It beckons us to peer into the abyss, to confront the unknown, and to discover what lurks within the fane of the Black Pharaoh.

Olivia Salter

04/10/2024

The original version included this amazing piece by Virgil Finlay

 

About the Author

 

Robert Albert Bloch was a prolific American writer. He was the son of Raphael "Ray" Bloch (1884, Chicago-1952, Chicago), a bank cashier, and his wife Stella Loeb (1880, Attica, Indiana-1944, Milwaukee, WI), a social worker, both of German-Jewish descent.

Bloch wrote hundreds of short stories and over twenty novels, usually crime fiction, science fiction, and, perhaps most influentially, horror fiction (Psycho). He was one of the youngest members of the Lovecraft Circle; Lovecraft was Bloch's mentor and one of the first to seriously encourage his talent.

He was a contributor to pulp magazines such as Weird Tales in his early career, and was also a prolific screenwriter. He was the recipient of the Hugo Award (for his story "That Hell-Bound Train"), the Bram Stoker Award, and the World Fantasy Award. He served a term as president of the Mystery Writers of America.

Robert Bloch was also a major contributor to science fiction fanzines and fandom in general. In the 1940s, he created the humorous character Lefty Feep in a story for Fantastic Adventures. He also worked for a time in local vaudeville, and tried to break into writing for nationally-known performers. He was a good friend of the science fiction writer Stanley G. Weinbaum. In the 1960's, he wrote 3 stories for Star Trek.

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