Memory (short story)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Memory" is a flash fiction short story by American horror and science fiction writer H. P. Lovecraft, and was written in 1919 and published in May 1923 in The National Amateur.
[edit] Themes
"Memory" uses many of H. P. Lovecraft's common images and ideas. His white-haired homonids are found in many of Lovecraft's works, such as Arthur Jermyn and The Lurking Fear. Also, his fondness for vast, monolithic ruins (a favourite with many other Cthulhu and horror writers) is displayed in the immaculate description found in the page-long story.
[edit] Overview
This story takes place in the ancient valley of Nis, in vegetation-covered stone ruins described by Lovecraft in great detail. These crumbling blocks of monolithic stone now serve only for grey toads and snakes to nest under. Interspersed in the ruins are large trees that are home to white-haired apes. Through the bottom of this valley runs the great, slimy red river called Than.
"Memory" involves only two characters: "the Genie that haunts the moonbeams" and "the Daemon of the Valley". The Genie inquires of the Daemon who it was that long ago formed the stones that were now the desolate ruin near the river Than. The Daemon replies that he but dimly remembers the name of the creatures, and that only because their name rhymed with that of the river: they were called Man. The Genie flies back to his moonbeams, and the Daemon turns regard a white-haired ape in silent contemplation.
[edit] External links
