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Titus Crow
Harry Keogh: Necroscope and Other Weird Heroes!
Harry Keogh: Necroscope and Other Weird Heroes! is a collection of eight long short stories featuring Brian Lumley's most popular characters and includes three brand-new stories of Harry Keogh, the original Necroscope!
Titus Crow: Psychic detective, master magician, destroyer of the ancient Chthulian gods. In "Inception," we see the infant Titus at the moment his destiny falls upon him. In "Lord of the Worms," a simple secretarial job lands Crow on a sacrificial altar. And in "Name and Number," Henri Laurent de Marigny details a battle between Titus Crow and malevolent, occult winds which can rip living flesh from bone.
David Hero and Eldin the Wanderer: once men of the waking world, now agents for King Kuranes of the Dreamlands. Sips of "The Weird Wines of Naxas Niss" send the pair on a tumultuous journey from a buxom beauty's bed to the depths of a wizard's dungeon. Then, seeking his missing friend, David Hero boards an ill-fated airship that is home to "The Stealer of Dreams."
Harry Keogh, Necroscope: vampire killer without peer, capable of conversing with the dead. A sudden windfall brings Harry to Las Vegas, where he meets "Dead Eddie," a gambler who can't resist trying for one last big win from beyond the grave. In "Dinosaur Dreams, Harry's interest in fossils leads him to uncover the truth behind the death of a young amateur paleontologist . . . and to discover that it's not just dead people he can call on in a crisis . . . . Harry's undying love for his mother leads him down a dangerous path in "Resurrection."
Four of Lumley's greatest heroes. Three of his most popular worlds. Tales to chill and to delight. Open the book and be swept away.
Titus Crow: Psychic detective, master magician, destroyer of the ancient Chthulian gods. In "Inception," we see the infant Titus at the moment his destiny falls upon him. In "Lord of the Worms," a simple secretarial job lands Crow on a sacrificial altar. And in "Name and Number," Henri Laurent de Marigny details a battle between Titus Crow and malevolent, occult winds which can rip living flesh from bone.
David Hero and Eldin the Wanderer: once men of the waking world, now agents for King Kuranes of the Dreamlands. Sips of "The Weird Wines of Naxas Niss" send the pair on a tumultuous journey from a buxom beauty's bed to the depths of a wizard's dungeon. Then, seeking his missing friend, David Hero boards an ill-fated airship that is home to "The Stealer of Dreams."
Harry Keogh, Necroscope: vampire killer without peer, capable of conversing with the dead. A sudden windfall brings Harry to Las Vegas, where he meets "Dead Eddie," a gambler who can't resist trying for one last big win from beyond the grave. In "Dinosaur Dreams, Harry's interest in fossils leads him to uncover the truth behind the death of a young amateur paleontologist . . . and to discover that it's not just dead people he can call on in a crisis . . . . Harry's undying love for his mother leads him down a dangerous path in "Resurrection."
Four of Lumley's greatest heroes. Three of his most popular worlds. Tales to chill and to delight. Open the book and be swept away.
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2003
15 people are currently reading
901 people want to read
About the author
Brian Lumley
421Ìýbooks1,337ÌýfollowersBrian Lumley was born near Newcastle. In 22 years as a Military Policeman he served in many of the Cold War hotspots, including Berlin, as well as Cyprus in partition days. He reached the rank of Sergeant-Major before retiring to Devon to write full-time, and his work was first published in 1970. The vampire series, 'Necroscope', has been translated into ten languages and sold over a million copies worldwide.
He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.
He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 14, 2021
All the stories ranged from good to great with the Necroscope stories being the best and the Dreamland stories being the least entertaining.
November 1, 2023
I may have exhausted my interest in horror fiction by the time I picked up a copy of this book - I was underwhelmed by it, I can't say it was bad, but I could think of better things to do - like laundry - than reading what was just so predictable - it was like reading a Hammer horror film and I can't even watch those anymore (except Vampire Circus of 1972 in which John Moulder-Brown appeared possibly the most beautiful actor to appear in a vampire film and one of the first real love/lust object of my 14 year old self). Anyway this book bored me but no doubt loads of people love it - just not anyone I know - but I know no one.
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May 8, 2017"DEAD EDDY"
Another fun story that shows Harry getting in over his head, this time with a casino mob boss in Las Vegas. I've heard from fans of the series that they suspect Lumley didn't write "Dead Eddy" and "Dinosaur Dreams" himself - that another wrote them for him. Either way, "Dead Eddy" was a nice tangential story off the main Wamphyri narrative of the overarching series.
The story begins with Harry finding a boatload of treasure in his attic. Now, because this takes place during The Lost Years, we know this money comes from Harry's raiding the Francezci brothers' vaults in Sicily.
It was nice to see Harry taking a break from all the drama and heartache, and finally enjoying himself. As if that were possible! He is quickly joined by Eddy, who was murdered by casino mobsters for stealing from them on the slot machines.
One of my favorite plot elements of the Necroscope books is when Harry calls up the dead from their graves to fight for, or with him. He did it in the first two books in the series, and again in The Lost Years, Volume 2. Seeing the horrifying remains of Dead Eddy standing in the casino and then this happens:
"Not an 'it" but a 'who,' for there was no mistaking Eddy's arm - broken in three places and fallen from his mouldering shoulder - whose bones came creeping over the polished floor in Randazzo's direction!"
The one issue I have with this book was how vengeful Harry became after he escaped from being buried alive. Yeah, he got screwed, but his intensity for revenge seemed a little out of character. He was just so cavalier with going back to the casino and violently attacking everyone. I mean, threatening to blow the place up? Seemed like I was reading a different character than Harry Keogh.
The way Randazzo died was pretty horrible:
"- You filled him with silver,' Harry finished it for him. 'His intestines, guts, lungs, and windpipe - every cavity in his body - crammed with silver from the slots.' And thinking about it the Necroscope (even Harry Keogh) felt an involuntary shudder drilling through his body."
Also, I was surprised to read that Harry never considered that Brenda and Harry Jr. could have gone to the U.S. Really? Frankly, when reading The Lost Years I was surprised that Harry limited his search to the seaside coastal towns of England and Scotland. It seemed baffling to him that his wife and son could have traveled across the ocean to America. Or South America. A very myopic view on Harry's part.
"DINOSAUR DREAMS"
Since I'm reading the entire Necroscope series in chronological order, I've only read "Dinosaur Dreams" from this book. Finished that story on 2/7/15.
What a fascinating concept Brian Lumley explored here. The idea that Harry Keogh can sense the dead bugs around him in the psychic aether, as well as dead humans. And even ancient dinosaurs can play in this game! He writes:
"It was - it could only be - the fossils of course. It was their murmuring. It was what continued to go on in them following the lives that had fled them so many millions of years ago. Like an echo of their once-being, it was simply a reminder that they had been, that they had lived!"
Very well-crafted story about the murderer Newton Loomis. Again, glad to see that Lumley isn't solely focused on vampires in every book. Harry's talents can be used to right wrongs that have nothing to do with the undead. I imagine there are many stories to be told of Harry helping the dead get justice from the living who hurt them. So many literary possibilities.
All the stories in this book take place during the Lost Years. Truth be told, I've already finished the Lost Years and Necroscope III: The Source, so I already know what happens to Brenda and Harry Jr. Still, the burden of loss weighs so heavily on Harry. Consider this line at the beginning of "Dinosaur Dreams:"
"Until more recently - believing his family irretrievably lost, and those fruitless years of searching for them - he'd given up. For loves dies after a time, and more quickly when there's blame."
Lumley summed up the story perfectly with his last section on the raptor fossils that would chase Loomis forever:
"All of its life, spent by the lakes and water holes in the steamy cycad forests, the raptor-thing had been a great hunter. And as in life, so in death. Dinosaur dreams had been buried in these rocks for all those many millions of years: terror of the pterosaur and savage triumph of the predator both, cut short by a rockfall in an age before the first ape swung in the trees."
And:
"Harry nodded. 'He's under a hundred tons of rock, piled up against the foot of the cliff. He's buried with a creature that dreams of the hunt, with all its memories made fresh. And he is the prey. He's running even as we speak - by steamy pools in tree-fern forests - pursued by a hunter who can't catch him but who won't give in for another hundred million years. That's the grand irony of it: that all his life, by hook or by crook, Newton Loomis hunted for fossils..."
Another fun story that shows Harry getting in over his head, this time with a casino mob boss in Las Vegas. I've heard from fans of the series that they suspect Lumley didn't write "Dead Eddy" and "Dinosaur Dreams" himself - that another wrote them for him. Either way, "Dead Eddy" was a nice tangential story off the main Wamphyri narrative of the overarching series.
The story begins with Harry finding a boatload of treasure in his attic. Now, because this takes place during The Lost Years, we know this money comes from Harry's raiding the Francezci brothers' vaults in Sicily.
It was nice to see Harry taking a break from all the drama and heartache, and finally enjoying himself. As if that were possible! He is quickly joined by Eddy, who was murdered by casino mobsters for stealing from them on the slot machines.
One of my favorite plot elements of the Necroscope books is when Harry calls up the dead from their graves to fight for, or with him. He did it in the first two books in the series, and again in The Lost Years, Volume 2. Seeing the horrifying remains of Dead Eddy standing in the casino and then this happens:
"Not an 'it" but a 'who,' for there was no mistaking Eddy's arm - broken in three places and fallen from his mouldering shoulder - whose bones came creeping over the polished floor in Randazzo's direction!"
The one issue I have with this book was how vengeful Harry became after he escaped from being buried alive. Yeah, he got screwed, but his intensity for revenge seemed a little out of character. He was just so cavalier with going back to the casino and violently attacking everyone. I mean, threatening to blow the place up? Seemed like I was reading a different character than Harry Keogh.
The way Randazzo died was pretty horrible:
"- You filled him with silver,' Harry finished it for him. 'His intestines, guts, lungs, and windpipe - every cavity in his body - crammed with silver from the slots.' And thinking about it the Necroscope (even Harry Keogh) felt an involuntary shudder drilling through his body."
Also, I was surprised to read that Harry never considered that Brenda and Harry Jr. could have gone to the U.S. Really? Frankly, when reading The Lost Years I was surprised that Harry limited his search to the seaside coastal towns of England and Scotland. It seemed baffling to him that his wife and son could have traveled across the ocean to America. Or South America. A very myopic view on Harry's part.
"DINOSAUR DREAMS"
Since I'm reading the entire Necroscope series in chronological order, I've only read "Dinosaur Dreams" from this book. Finished that story on 2/7/15.
What a fascinating concept Brian Lumley explored here. The idea that Harry Keogh can sense the dead bugs around him in the psychic aether, as well as dead humans. And even ancient dinosaurs can play in this game! He writes:
"It was - it could only be - the fossils of course. It was their murmuring. It was what continued to go on in them following the lives that had fled them so many millions of years ago. Like an echo of their once-being, it was simply a reminder that they had been, that they had lived!"
Very well-crafted story about the murderer Newton Loomis. Again, glad to see that Lumley isn't solely focused on vampires in every book. Harry's talents can be used to right wrongs that have nothing to do with the undead. I imagine there are many stories to be told of Harry helping the dead get justice from the living who hurt them. So many literary possibilities.
All the stories in this book take place during the Lost Years. Truth be told, I've already finished the Lost Years and Necroscope III: The Source, so I already know what happens to Brenda and Harry Jr. Still, the burden of loss weighs so heavily on Harry. Consider this line at the beginning of "Dinosaur Dreams:"
"Until more recently - believing his family irretrievably lost, and those fruitless years of searching for them - he'd given up. For loves dies after a time, and more quickly when there's blame."
Lumley summed up the story perfectly with his last section on the raptor fossils that would chase Loomis forever:
"All of its life, spent by the lakes and water holes in the steamy cycad forests, the raptor-thing had been a great hunter. And as in life, so in death. Dinosaur dreams had been buried in these rocks for all those many millions of years: terror of the pterosaur and savage triumph of the predator both, cut short by a rockfall in an age before the first ape swung in the trees."
And:
"Harry nodded. 'He's under a hundred tons of rock, piled up against the foot of the cliff. He's buried with a creature that dreams of the hunt, with all its memories made fresh. And he is the prey. He's running even as we speak - by steamy pools in tree-fern forests - pursued by a hunter who can't catch him but who won't give in for another hundred million years. That's the grand irony of it: that all his life, by hook or by crook, Newton Loomis hunted for fossils..."
February 27, 2019
This book contains 3 separate stories from 3 different main characters from 3 different series. The only one I knew of was Harry Keough. I was a bit disappointed with those stories. One seemed like it could have. Even a deleted scene from a book, another was so stupid. Harry was talking to dinosaurs! The last one was just a brief glimpse into Starside. They really weren’t that good. However, I did like the stories about Titus Crow. He seemed very interesting. I might look up that series. But the worst stories were of Hero and Wanderer. Totally stupid crap.
October 13, 2023
An interesting collection of stories. I'd read a few Necroscope stories, so I knew I'd like the three here. Harry's communication with the Great Majority, the dead, always makes for interesting tales.
I don't think I've read any of the Titus Crow stories; these three seem to be a good introduction. Supernatural with a twist? Lord of the Worms was pretty obvious, plot-wise, but I had no idea what was happening in Inception, and muddled about in Name and Number until I caught up. The rules of the magical world intrigue.
David the Hero and Eldin the Wanderer, however, didn't interest me as much. I think it's because there seemed to be too much silliness, and definitely way too much naming of places that meant nothing to me. I'd imagine the stories would be fun for fans of the characters and their world, though.
Yeah, I think I'll read my brother's copy of the Titus Crow book next...learn more about magic and lore and all sorts of intriguing things.
I don't think I've read any of the Titus Crow stories; these three seem to be a good introduction. Supernatural with a twist? Lord of the Worms was pretty obvious, plot-wise, but I had no idea what was happening in Inception, and muddled about in Name and Number until I caught up. The rules of the magical world intrigue.
David the Hero and Eldin the Wanderer, however, didn't interest me as much. I think it's because there seemed to be too much silliness, and definitely way too much naming of places that meant nothing to me. I'd imagine the stories would be fun for fans of the characters and their world, though.
Yeah, I think I'll read my brother's copy of the Titus Crow book next...learn more about magic and lore and all sorts of intriguing things.
October 5, 2017
Excellent as always
August 5, 2023
I got new Necroscope stories and read bits about lumley's other characters.
February 3, 2025
Titus Crow
David Hero
Harry Keogh
Brand new stories, or maybe I just don't know some of them.
David Hero
Harry Keogh
Brand new stories, or maybe I just don't know some of them.
March 19, 2025
I very much enjoyed the Titus stories, especially the first one (truly a prequel).
The other stories were fine, but just not really my thing (despite the Necroscope ones being, apparently, Lumley's most popular).
Still, for me, well worth the price to get the Titus ones.
The other stories were fine, but just not really my thing (despite the Necroscope ones being, apparently, Lumley's most popular).
Still, for me, well worth the price to get the Titus ones.
October 6, 2012
this book is a collection of short stories on 3 of Brain Lumley's heroic characters, Titus Crow, David Hero and of course Harry Keogh. The stories are an interesting mix, without spoiling them some add to the characters life - explaining a few hidden mysteries, so flesh out characters and others just portray "another day in the life..." however extra ordinary that life may be. It is often said that Brian Lumley's stories are too often rehashed and reprinted - the truth is that sadly he does not write enough to keep up (wish that he did) and it often feels that there are more anthologies that stories but this book feels right - I loved following the adventures of the 3 characters and this feels like a welcome return to those days.
November 7, 2015
This was a book of short stories. Some of them I didn't care for at all, but I enjoyed all the stories about Harry, because I guess I've really missed him.
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