# H.P. Lovecraft and the Necronomicon **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 5, 2000, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621 "2000-05-05T00:19:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/1 "2000-05-05T00:19:35Z")
As I was reading the necronomicon the other day, my mind wandered to the writings of H.P. Lovecraft(something very dangerous to do if you know what I mean!). He mentions the infamous book in many of his stories. Supposedly it was written in the 8th century by Al-Harazed(sp?). However, allegations are that Lovecraft invented the book. The only proof that might be accepted is a copy from before 1922. This was the first mention of the book. I really hope it existed before that, but Lovecraft was a crafty one(I should be shot for that pun!). Has anyone found any evidence that might prove that it existed before that date? Even if you have just read the Necronomicon or any Lovecraft stories, I would love to hear from you. I cannot remember the stories that it appeared in, so if anyone has a list, please include it. Thanks a billion! ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/2 "2000-05-05T00:36:15Z")
The _Necronomicon_ (lit. “names of the dead”) was created by Lovecraft. Out of whole cloth. Anything bearing the name was based or influenced by Lovecraft. What book are you reading? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/3 "2000-05-05T00:36:38Z")
De Camp , in his biography of Lovecraft, makes it very plain that The Necronomicon is fiction. Nothing more, thank Heaven! (WOULD ANYBODY SANE WANT IT TO BE LEGIT?!?!) If you like Lovecraft, try the writer that was his inspiration; his idol; his Muse. The guy’s name was Edward, Lord Dunsany. Try Barnes & Noble, or Amazon. If you have to get it used, do so. Of the two, Dunsany was by far the more versitile & brilliant author. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/4 "2000-05-05T00:37:11Z")
I think it’s generally accepted that H.P. Lovecraft had fabricated from whole cloth the book he referred to as the Necronomicon. You can find some information here: [The Truth About the Necronomicon](http://www.hplovecraft.com/creation/necron/) A quote from one of his letters: > [@](#): > > To Edwin Baird (February 3, 1924): > > At one time I formed a juvenile collection of Oriental pottery and objects d’art, announcing myself as a devout Mohammedan and assuming the pseudonym of “Abdul Alhazred”–which you will recognise as the author of that mythical Necronomicon which I drag into various of my tales. At the site there is also a list of H.P. Lovecraft stories that refer to the Necronomicon. ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/5 "2000-05-05T00:40:11Z")
There is no _Necronomicon_, it was purely Lovecraft’s invention, though some will tell you otherwise. There’s some big conspiracy theory that Lovecraft claimed he invented the book in order to cover up the true horrors contained therein. Nonsense, I say. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my studies; Miskatonic University is having finals this week. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/6 "2000-05-05T00:44:54Z")
“Miskatonic U.”, by the way, comes from “Cthulu” (pronounced ka-TOOloo). Ka-tooloo, katonic… ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/7 "2000-05-05T00:49:58Z")
[Miskatonic University](http://www.miskatonic.net/) is now accepting applications. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/8 "2000-05-05T00:57:49Z")
From the site Arnold gave: > [@](#): > > Hoax Editions of the Necronomicon > The difficulty of demonstrating that the Necronomicon is a myth was made even greater when hoax editions began appearing in the 1970s. So forget about finding a pre-1922 edition, finding a pre-1970 edition’s gonna be hard enough… ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/9 "2000-05-05T01:00:29Z")
Well, I guess I wanted it to be true. I was reading the online version at the Old One’s Sanctuary. However, I forget the site name. Arnold- Thanks for the quote. Have any of you read the Necronomicon? Great for reading, if only to get a grasp on what Lovecraft was saying. Andros- I love the MU site! Did you notice the mortality rate in the post-graduate occupations? and that they teach Hyperborean and Arabic? Great site! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/10 "2000-05-05T01:06:31Z")
:smiling paternally: Yes, I’ve had my Doctorate in Medieval Metaphysics hanging on the wall since the mid-80’s. And honestly, I’ve read so many things calling themselves “Necronomicon” I can’t keep track of them all. I’ll stick to my rapidly detiorating copy of “Arkham Horror,” the best board game ever made, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/11 "2000-05-05T01:07:04Z")
Red, any edition of the Necronomicon you have gotten your sticky little hands on bogus. The better ones were written by fans of Lovecraft’s, and serve rather as concordances to the Mythos. The worst ones are as useless as anything Anton Szandor LaVey wrote. Do you have any publishing information about your copy? An ISBN would do. ANd Johnny? Just as the Housatonic is a river in Connecticut, the Miskatonic is a river that runs past Arkham. No word games needed. ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/12 "2000-05-05T01:22:22Z")
DrFidelius- Thanks for the name of the University. I have been reading one online only. The address is [http://www.stormloader.com/sanctuary](http://www.stormloader.com/sanctuary) . it seems to be well put together, and I recommend it to anyone interested in it. I do have a friend who has a paper copy, which I intend to borrow and make my own copy. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/13 "2000-05-05T01:26:44Z")
Hey there, **Doc**. How’s by you? I figured you wouldn’t pass this thread up. I reckon **red dragon** ’s referring to [this site](http://www.stormloader.com/sanctuary/). It’s a fairly flashy but really annoying site for people who take playtime a leeeetle too seriously. Watch out–it’s a pitcherplant. Pain in the ass to get out of w/o a Ctrl-Alt-Del. The text looks like pretty standard “Look at me, I’m occultic and deep” fare. I think it’s the same thing as the _Necronomicon Spellbook_, published massmarket by Avon, ©1998, ISBN 0-380-73112-6, edited by Simon. No last name, just Simon. Smell that in the air? It’s “Pretension,” by Calvin Klein. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/14 "2000-05-05T04:56:44Z")
This reminds me of a very useful distinction. Most of us would agree that the _Necronomicon_ is fictional; the OP asks if it is also fictitious. Apparently, it is. I, too, had thought it was an actual, if fictional, work for a long time. I started having my doubts when it was explained that the word itself is a pretty bogus (unholy?) mix of Greek and Latin roots. Of course, if it was written by a mad Arab… ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/15 "2000-05-05T11:57:05Z")
Boris, If the mixing of Greek and Latin roots were a reason to doubt the existence of something, we could be skeptical of automobiles. (Automobile? Absurd. It should be an ipsomobile or an autokinetikon…) ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/16 "2000-05-05T14:36:05Z")
It’s true, the _Necronomicon_ is completely made up. However, Von Junzt’s _Unaussprechliche Kulten_ and the Pnakotic Manuscripts are ALL TOO FRIGHTENINGLY REAL. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/17 "2000-05-05T15:53:17Z")
Dammit, **Uke**. You _know_ I have to kill you now. . . ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/18 "2000-05-05T18:04:23Z")
That’s a good point. I just figured people were more kosher about these Latin-and-Greek things in the olden days. I made up a hybrid to describe the fear of water: “aquaphobia”. (Hydrophobia having already been taken.) ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/19 "2000-05-05T18:28:06Z")
Uke, I haven’t heard of those books. Something else for me to read and scare my peers by doing so. Bwa ha ha HA HA HAAA! Did Lovecraft have any help on the book or did he do it himself? Did he even write it or just mention the book, leaving another person to actually write it? That has been on my mind for a while. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621/20 "2000-05-05T18:28:45Z")
Uke, I haven’t heard of those books. Something else for me to read and scare my peers by doing so. Bwa ha ha HA HA HAAA! Did Lovecraft have any help on the book or did he do it himself? Did he even write it or just mention the book, leaving another person to actually write it? That has been on my mind for a while. Thanks! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-p-lovecraft-and-the-necronomicon/18621.md?page=2)