I don’t think anyone else could be trusted to read Blackwood the way you do. And that is a compliment of the highest degree I believe. This story specifically is one that I’ve listened to many times over. It is fantastic. ⭐️
Great story and narration! Thanks! This is a good story I listen to often. It mever gets old! You narrate Algernon Blackwood's stories fantastically. Thanks!
I hope u do more Blackwood, I would look more up on here but I've found I become accustomed to your narrative style and voice, I honestly only listen to Horror Babble. Thank you for taking the time to narrate these stories
Usually saying a story should be listened to in the dark is just an advertising pitch. This intense and oppressive haunted house story really deserves and will reward the honor.
I love your channel and since I have joined, you have introduced me to various horror writers like Blackwood, and for that I thank you. Keep up the great work!
This is my first experience of this remarkable story, and it was spine-tingling! Wonderfully written and brilliantly presented. I’ll be back to listen to this one again-soon.
i scour your playlist every night bc it is all so gosh darn good! also, one of the only ways i can get my brain to hush. thanks again for all the amazing content!!
"The Empty House" is a ghost story by Algernon Blackwood. In the tale, a young man and his elderly aunt explore an abandoned house with a nefarious history. Chapters: 00:15 - Introduction 01:12 - The Empty House 40:56 - Credits Bandcamp link: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com/album/the-empty-house Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble Music and production by Ian Gordon Support us on Bandcamp or Patreon: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com www.patreon.com/horrorbabble HorrorBabble MERCH: teespring.com/stores/horrorbabble-merch Search HORRORBABBLE to find us on: AUDIBLE / ITUNES / SPOTIFY Home: www.horrorbabble.com Rue Morgue: www.rue-morgue.com Social Media: facebook.com/HorrorBabble instagram.com/horrorbabble twitter.com/HorrorBabble
I've been meaning to mention another story, which I'm not certain most would label horror. But as a very young child, my mother shared with me a Shirley Jackson collection, which contained the novel "The Haunting of Hill House" followed by her short stories, "The Lottery" being the best known. But one particular story has stayed with me, nudging now and again at that part of my brain I believe is the same that refuses to let me sleep when the majority of human kind is in a hopefully peaceful slumber. It literally haunts me. The story is called "The Daemon Lover", and as far as I know was only published in that collection. I have done multiple searches on RUclips, Libravox, and other audiobook sites and have had not found a single recording. I read it from time to time, never gets old, and never fails to fill me with dread, and simaltaneously a sense of hope for a different outcome If you're a Jackson fan, I believe you would find it as unsettling as I, and having her "lost" work heard here would be amazing.
There's loads of Blackwood's fiction in audio form, but for some reasons narrations almost always leave much to be desired... So, I really hope that you plan to do more of his stories, it is refreshing to have them narrated on this level.
Ian I hope you’re looking into doing narrations for other books, you have an excellent narrator’s voice, a narrator who also writes his own narratives they are the best usually.
Thanks Normasch! I have a recording of The White People ready for editing, though it isn't scheduled for a while yet. I'm hoping to record A Fragment of Life and The Inmost Light in the future too. Ian
So it’s been a long time since I commented. Sorry about that, but as of now I’m feeling genuinely normal and want to get back in the swing. So where to start but my favorite of the pulps. Hope it’s enjoyed One thing I enjoy about Algernon is his ability to make the unfamiliar seem familiar and the other way around. The house in this regard bring with it the implications of safety, but this immediately contradicted with the feeling that the house is more a sleeping animal than a collection of wood and metal. I don’t know when this was published, but I believe it’s an earlier piece and something that helped only reinforce his later writing such as the seemingly organic life of the willows and fifty island water. These analysis are not unfounded though. One thing I love about these earlier writings is that there is a level of essay. One must set up a standard, an argument to present to the audience with the narrative being its evidence. This is also my annoyance for most mainstream fiction as it’s always in this cold play by play series of events that reflect a mindset that is only exposed to screen presentation. That being said I feel like there is more going on. Me and my dad listened to this on the way to supper and we had this conversation of Aunt Julia. I seemed to believe that Julia was hiding more than she knew. Seemingly connected to the house as she was shown much younger. She could have been the girl murdered or even another victim at some point. As the entity within the walls seemed much more focused on her as opposed to our narrator. It’s definitely a questionable set up for a question. But all of this is reinforced by a strong move. The feeling one gets from trespassing into a neighbors house but trying to see it through for an important request. I was concerned, I wanted everyone safe. And in this empty house I wonder was it able to keep sleepers safe as they dreamed of forest songs. This is also me. But this is another issue when explaining this stuff to people like my dad. Being a man who needs morality he doesn’t see why one must feel scared. Honestly it comes from the simple answer “how do you appreciate lessons learned or philosophies challenged without the fur of vulnerability?” In the case of Empty House, it’s the ultimate vulnerability in a place we would happily call family. Hope you enjoyed and look forward to next reading.
There has been a lot of it recently, Rhett! I take it you missed the 12-day Christmas Special? Here's a playlist featuring all of our originals: ruclips.net/p/PLeNNKRLWxwoM5ln91QajdA--HZgo4Z1IZ
The item needs a way to be marked as already read. I enjoyed it on the first go, but don't want to listen another ten minutes to decide I've already heard it. I'm always on the lookout for more Algernon Blackwood.
I'm pretty sure it is - both stories are taken from the same collection. Jim Shorthouse appears in a couple of other stories in the collection too: "With Intent to Steal" and "The Strange Adventures of a Private Secretary in New York"
Another brilliant reading Ian, tho not my fave A.B. story, u definitely made it a must listen. Question: are u familiar with a story by John Collier called "Evening Primrose"? A disturbing little tale to be sure, so thought I'd ask.
Violet Femme do you have any favorites you could recommend? Not necessarily just blackwood stories really. Ive started listening to horror stories to put me to sleep. Sounds funny i know, but any way i listened to the willows and really loved it.
Shane Taylor I believe Ian plans on recording one of my fave Blackwood stories, "The Kitbag", so keep an eye out for that one, and if ur not already subscribed to HorrorBabble, do so. I also recommend u ck out Morgan Scorpion's channel. Her choices are brilliant...and include not just the classics but a few new writers as well. Heaps of stories from which to choose, but a few of my faves are (if ur not easily offended) "The Infernal History of the Ivybridge Twins", "What Washes Ashore" and "A Different Morecambe", that last one is especially disturbing. But u really can't go wrong with her library, personally I continue to listen to the playlist I made of her stuff (I'll ck to see if it's public, so feel free to visit my page and help urself 😃 Hope this gets u on ur way to some sleepless nyts, and I mean that in a good way 😊
So sorry for the down vote! I love Ian, Jennifer, and the rest of the Horrorbabble team! You all do great work, and I love 99% of your content. With that said, I HATE this story! I can't pin down why, because, as a whole, I like Blackwood's work and I love classic horror. But this particular story just doesn't do it for me, and it keeps popping up in my recommendations and playlists. So I down voted it, in an effort to get RUclips to stop spamming me with it.
The story is mediocre but your presentation of it is excellent. You have a good voice and are dramatic enough without making it sound just a bit cheesy which it easily could.
I don’t think anyone else could be trusted to read Blackwood the way you do. And that is a compliment of the highest degree I believe. This story specifically is one that I’ve listened to many times over. It is fantastic. ⭐️
Ian Gordon brings these great stories alive. He is unparalleled.
Tried another reading no comparison uda Best!😈
Gilbert Gotfried
A good ghost story. Recently, I've developed a fondness for Algernon Blackwood's stories. Thanks for the reading, Ian Gordon. Good job.
Great story and narration! Thanks!
This is a good story I listen to often. It mever gets old! You narrate Algernon Blackwood's stories fantastically.
Thanks!
I hope u do more Blackwood, I would look more up on here but I've found I become accustomed to your narrative style and voice, I honestly only listen to Horror Babble. Thank you for taking the time to narrate these stories
Usually saying a story should be listened to in the dark is just an advertising pitch. This intense and oppressive haunted house story really deserves and will reward the honor.
I'm surprised that the two in the story had that amount of courage... I would have run out of the house screaming in terror when the stairs moved
This is one of my all-time favorites! We’ll done 👏
I love your channel and since I have joined, you have introduced me to various horror writers like Blackwood, and for that I thank you. Keep up the great work!
Mr. Algernon Blackwood truly merits a certain type of narrator..you, Sir HorrorBabble, are the epitome of said narrator.
This is my first experience of this remarkable story, and it was spine-tingling! Wonderfully written and brilliantly presented. I’ll be back to listen to this one again-soon.
i scour your playlist every night bc it is all so gosh darn good! also, one of the only ways i can get my brain to hush. thanks again for all the amazing content!!
your voice is perfectly suited for this classic British author's work
"The Empty House" is a ghost story by Algernon Blackwood. In the tale, a young man and his elderly aunt explore an abandoned house with a nefarious history.
Chapters:
00:15 - Introduction
01:12 - The Empty House
40:56 - Credits
Bandcamp link: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com/album/the-empty-house
Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble
Music and production by Ian Gordon
Support us on Bandcamp or Patreon:
horrorbabble.bandcamp.com
www.patreon.com/horrorbabble
HorrorBabble MERCH:
teespring.com/stores/horrorbabble-merch
Search HORRORBABBLE to find us on:
AUDIBLE / ITUNES / SPOTIFY
Home: www.horrorbabble.com
Rue Morgue: www.rue-morgue.com
Social Media:
facebook.com/HorrorBabble
instagram.com/horrorbabble
twitter.com/HorrorBabble
You have a great voice for narration. I enjoy the reading immensely!
Thank you Franz! Ian
Thank you for another exciting unusual house story with a odd history. A very fine narration by the way. I hope you are enjoying your weekend. ♡♡
One of the best narrations yet. Amazing job Ian
Thanks again Luke! Ian
I love this one !! T.Y. !! 💙. Your voice is so perfect for this , it just makes it a different story somehow !! 💜
I've been meaning to mention another story, which I'm not certain most would label horror. But as a very young child, my mother shared with me a Shirley Jackson collection, which contained the novel "The Haunting of Hill House" followed by her short stories, "The Lottery" being the best known. But one particular story has stayed with me, nudging now and again at that part of my brain I believe is the same that refuses to let me sleep when the majority of human kind is in a hopefully peaceful slumber. It literally haunts me. The story is called "The Daemon Lover", and as far as I know was only published in that collection. I have done multiple searches on RUclips, Libravox, and other audiobook sites and have had not found a single recording. I read it from time to time, never gets old, and never fails to fill me with dread, and simaltaneously a sense of hope for a different outcome If you're a Jackson fan, I believe you would find it as unsettling as I, and having her "lost" work heard here would be amazing.
Thanks VF - we'll have to keep an eye out for that one. Jennifer has a Jackson collection somewhere - leave it with us! Ian
You are absolutely right. It is such a tense story you can't help constantly hoping that it all turns out to be some mundane misunderstanding lol
Cool more Blackwood.
What a terrific tale!
If you see these kind of stories on Project Gutenberg you don't know how good they are. Ian brings them to life.
A Blackwood story that’s not extolling the haunting beauty of nature? Well I’ll give it a try.
There's a few of them.
Just the unbeauty of civilization.
Wonderfully read. Thank you.
Very well read. Thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks
There's loads of Blackwood's fiction in audio form, but for some reasons narrations almost always leave much to be desired... So, I really hope that you plan to do more of his stories, it is refreshing to have them narrated on this level.
"...as all men who have deal'd with the inner self, well understand."
Thanks Ian 🙏🏽🌹
a lovely spooky treat! :)xo
Thank you so much 🙏🏽🎩❤️
Please more A Blackwood, a master of the highest order. A thankfully read by another . 🇬🇧💖
Of course, Deborah!
I find this story incredibly scary. From the first time I heard it I have classed it as a classic!
I love this short story
Love this channel
I enjoyed that. Thanks.
Fantastic xoxo
Ian I hope you’re looking into doing narrations for other books, you have an excellent narrator’s voice, a narrator who also writes his own narratives they are the best usually.
Another amazing reading. I was wondering if you had any plans to do more Arthur Machen because his stuff is so hard to find.
Thanks Normasch! I have a recording of The White People ready for editing, though it isn't scheduled for a while yet. I'm hoping to record A Fragment of Life and The Inmost Light in the future too. Ian
So it’s been a long time since I commented. Sorry about that, but as of now I’m feeling genuinely normal and want to get back in the swing. So where to start but my favorite of the pulps. Hope it’s enjoyed
One thing I enjoy about Algernon is his ability to make the unfamiliar seem familiar and the other way around. The house in this regard bring with it the implications of safety, but this immediately contradicted with the feeling that the house is more a sleeping animal than a collection of wood and metal. I don’t know when this was published, but I believe it’s an earlier piece and something that helped only reinforce his later writing such as the seemingly organic life of the willows and fifty island water.
These analysis are not unfounded though. One thing I love about these earlier writings is that there is a level of essay. One must set up a standard, an argument to present to the audience with the narrative being its evidence. This is also my annoyance for most mainstream fiction as it’s always in this cold play by play series of events that reflect a mindset that is only exposed to screen presentation. That being said I feel like there is more going on.
Me and my dad listened to this on the way to supper and we had this conversation of Aunt Julia. I seemed to believe that Julia was hiding more than she knew. Seemingly connected to the house as she was shown much younger. She could have been the girl murdered or even another victim at some point. As the entity within the walls seemed much more focused on her as opposed to our narrator. It’s definitely a questionable set up for a question.
But all of this is reinforced by a strong move. The feeling one gets from trespassing into a neighbors house but trying to see it through for an important request. I was concerned, I wanted everyone safe. And in this empty house I wonder was it able to keep sleepers safe as they dreamed of forest songs.
This is also me. But this is another issue when explaining this stuff to people like my dad. Being a man who needs morality he doesn’t see why one must feel scared. Honestly it comes from the simple answer “how do you appreciate lessons learned or philosophies challenged without the fur of vulnerability?” In the case of Empty House, it’s the ultimate vulnerability in a place we would happily call family.
Hope you enjoyed and look forward to next reading.
Great to hear from you Rhett, and thanks as always for sharing your interpretations. :) Ian
I will do my best to be more regular. I still didn’t see your more original content yet. But I have faith ;)
There has been a lot of it recently, Rhett! I take it you missed the 12-day Christmas Special? Here's a playlist featuring all of our originals: ruclips.net/p/PLeNNKRLWxwoM5ln91QajdA--HZgo4Z1IZ
As always I appreciate it Ian X3
But we are still in the night months. So it’s never too late =D
The item needs a way to be marked as already read. I enjoyed it on the first go, but don't want to listen another ten minutes to decide I've already heard it. I'm always on the lookout for more Algernon Blackwood.
Sorry about that Sharon. If you click 'like' on the video, the like button should appear blue whenever you're taken back to it.
❤
Is this the same shorthouse from “a case of eavesdropping?” :0
I'm pretty sure it is - both stories are taken from the same collection. Jim Shorthouse appears in a couple of other stories in the collection too: "With Intent to Steal" and "The Strange Adventures of a Private Secretary in New York"
Another brilliant reading Ian, tho not my fave A.B. story, u definitely made it a must listen. Question: are u familiar with a story by John Collier called "Evening Primrose"? A disturbing little tale to be sure, so thought I'd ask.
I am now VF! Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Ian
Violet Femme do you have any favorites you could recommend? Not necessarily just blackwood stories really. Ive started listening to horror stories to put me to sleep. Sounds funny i know, but any way i listened to the willows and really loved it.
Shane Taylor I believe Ian plans on recording one of my fave Blackwood stories, "The Kitbag", so keep an eye out for that one, and if ur not already subscribed to HorrorBabble, do so. I also recommend u ck out Morgan Scorpion's channel. Her choices are brilliant...and include not just the classics but a few new writers as well. Heaps of stories from which to choose, but a few of my faves are (if ur not easily offended) "The Infernal History of the Ivybridge Twins", "What Washes Ashore" and "A Different Morecambe", that last one is especially disturbing. But u really can't go wrong with her library, personally I continue to listen to the playlist I made of her stuff (I'll ck to see if it's public, so feel free to visit my page and help urself 😃 Hope this gets u on ur way to some sleepless nyts, and I mean that in a good way 😊
So sorry for the down vote! I love Ian, Jennifer, and the rest of the Horrorbabble team! You all do great work, and I love 99% of your content.
With that said, I HATE this story! I can't pin down why, because, as a whole, I like Blackwood's work and I love classic horror. But this particular story just doesn't do it for me, and it keeps popping up in my recommendations and playlists. So I down voted it, in an effort to get RUclips to stop spamming me with it.
I'm glad I could find this story as audio in British English, as all the accents irritate. ;-)
Gaura nitai gauranga..
The story is mediocre but your presentation of it is excellent. You have a good voice and are dramatic enough without making it sound just a bit cheesy which it easily could.
I'm just here for a gothic literature class fr
Does anyone know if there are any films based on Blackwood's works? I checked Wikipedia but it only listed audio adaptations.
Not that I know of, but someone needs to give Eggers (The Lighthouse, The Witch) a copy of The Willows.
@@MoonLitChild Yes!!!!!
11:40 bookmark
I'd like to sample clips of your voice for some music i am working on. Do you think thats a possibility Ian?
Hi Robert - please send the details via the website: www.horrorbabble.com/contact
Blackwood matters
Aromer
17min