The Book of Iod is a fictional book created by Henry Kuttner, and expanded upon by Lin Carter and Robert M. Price. It first appears in Kuttner's short story "The Bells of Horror" (1939). The book provided the title for a collection of Kuttner's Mythos-related fiction, The Book of Iod: Ten Tales of the Mythos.
H. P. Lovecraft told Kuttner he planned to mention the tome in his writing,[1] but died before he was able do so.
Description[]
Kuttner describes the tome as an "abhorrent and monstrous volume of ancient esoteric formulae about which curious legends still cling." It was originally "written in the pre-human Ancient Tongue," and only one copy of that original text is said to exist.
Even the little-known, expurgated English translation, by Johann Negus, is referred to as "forbidden" and "hellish." The Huntington Library in San Marino, California, has a copy of the Negus translation.
The Book of Iod describes an entity called Zushakon, known to the Mutsune Indians as Zu-che-quon. Presumably it also discusses the being called Iod the Hunter.
Quotes[]
| “ | The Dark Silent One dwelleth deep beneath the earth on the shore of the Western Ocean. Not one of those potent Old Ones from hidden worlds and other stars is He, for in earth’s hidden blackness He hath always dwelt. No name hath He, for He is the ultimate doom and the undying emptiness and silence of Old Night. When earth is dead and lifeless and the stars pass into blackness, He will rise again and spread His dominion over all. For He hath naught to do with life and sunlight, but loveth the blackness and the eternal silence of the abyss. Yet can He be called to earth’s surface before His time, and the brown ones who dwell on the shore of the Western Ocean have power to do this by ancient spells and certain deep-toned sounds which reach His dwelling-place far below. But there is great danger in such a summoning, lest He spread death and night before His time. For He bringeth darkness within the day, and blackness within the light; all life, all sound, all movement passeth away at His coming. He cometh sometimes within the eclipse, and although He hath no name, the brown ones know Him as Zushakon. |
„ | |
| ~ CIRCLE: Henry Kuttner, "The Bells of Horror" |
| “ | To eternal life are none but fools disposed. The wise thirst instead for oblivion’s repose. The slumber of the tomb shall be thy rest, A shield for thee from the unwelcome guest. If thy clay recline beneath the Elder Sigil, Against the shambling foe it shall keep vigil. |
„ | |
| ~ EXP: Robert M. Price, "Beneath the Tombstone" |
References[]
- ↑ Selected Letters 4, H. P. Lovecraft, p. 828.