In Search of the Unknown / Police!!! — Cosmic Horror

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🐙 Cosmic Horror

In Search of the Unknown / Police!!!

Name: In Search of the Unknown / Police!!!
Price: 17.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781944520380

✍️ Robert W. Chambers

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$17.95

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Two early 1900s novels by Robert W. Chambers about hunting extinct creatures worldwide.

This volume combines two distinct narratives from the author of The King in Yellow. The first story tracks a team from the Bronx Park Zoological Gardens through dangerous environments like the Everglades. They hunt for mythical beasts including woolly mammoths and thermosaurs while facing deadly snakes and spiders. The second part, Police!!!, shifts focus to amphibious humanoids and fire weasels. Chambers uses detailed descriptions of flora and fauna to build tension. The text emphasizes the proximity of death in seemingly beautiful places. It reflects a period where science and superstition often overlapped in popular literature.

Key Themes

extinct creatures Bronx Park Zoological Gardens prehistoric thermosaurus

Literary Context

These novels originated in the early 1900s, a time when zoological exploration mixed with supernatural fiction. Chambers was already established as the author of The King in Yellow. This work reflects the era's fascination with lost worlds and exotic dangers found in remote global locations.

Robert W. Chambers

📚 all books by this author (129) →

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

H.P. Lovecraft · Arthur Machen · Algernon Blackwood

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Cosmic Horror

🏛 Stark House Press 📅 2017 📖 292 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781944520380

📝 Description: In Search of the Unknown / Police!!!

Robert W. Chambers, known for The King in Yellow, presents two early twentieth century novels about a group searching for strange creatures worldwide. In Search of the Unknown follows members of the Bronx Park Zoological Gardens as they explore the Everglades and other global locations for seemingly extinct animals. They encounter the dingue, the auk, the ux, woolly mammoths, and a prehistoric thermosaurus. The narrative highlights the danger lurking in vibrant environments where death hides behind beautiful colors and alluring scents. The second novel, Police!!!, continues their adventures with encounters involving amphibious humanoids, giant minnows, fire weasels, selkies, and ekaf-birds. Chambers organizes these tales as a series of expeditions that track the weirdest creatures the group can find. The text describes specific threats such as the elaps snake coiled in scarlet and black, and the tarantula squatting motionless on mossy logs. Professor Farrago leads the expedition with a presentiment that he will not return unscathed from these experiments. This collection suits readers interested in early weird fiction and zoological adventure tales. It appeals to those who enjoy Chambers' specific blend of natural history and supernatural dread. Readers seeking modern horror tropes or fast-paced action might find the pacing deliberate. The book offers a glimpse into how early twentieth century authors imagined hidden worlds within known landscapes.

💎 Our verdict on In Search of the Unknown / Police!!!

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🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Chambers delivers a fascinating expedition into the unknown, weaving together two distinct narratives that highlight the perilous intersection of natural history and supernatural dread. The text excels in its atmospheric tension, using specific threats like the elaps snake and tarantula to emphasize death hiding behind beauty. Professor Farrago’s journey serves as a compelling anchor for these global expeditions. This book suits readers who enjoy deliberate pacing and rich descriptions over rapid action. It is best appreciated by those interested in the historical overlap of science and superstition, offering a unique window into early twentieth-century weird fiction without relying on modern horror tropes.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers interested in early weird fiction and zoological adventure tales will find this volume compelling for its unique blend of natural history and supernatural dread. Chambers, known for The King in Yellow, offers a glimpse into how the boundary between scientific inquiry and mythical terror was perceived at the turn of the century. Those who appreciate detailed descriptions of flora and fauna used to build tension will enjoy the exploration of extinct creatures like woolly mammoths and thermosaurs. While modern horror fans seeking fast-paced action might find the pacing deliberate, enthusiasts of atmospheric dread and historical context will gain from understanding how danger lurked behind vibrant colors and alluring scents in the public imagination.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

Lovers of vintage pulp adventure and cosmic dread will devour this duo. If you crave modern gore or fast-paced action, look elsewhere; this is a leisurely, atmospheric pursuit of antiquity for those who appreciate slow-burn supernaturalism over contemporary shock tactics.

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

❓ Frequently asked questions

This volume contains two distinct novels: 'In Search of the Unknown' and 'Police!!!'. They are presented together to showcase Chambers' dual focus on global creature hunting and urban mystery within the supernatural genre.

Chambers directly influenced Lovecraft’s concept of cosmic horror. While Lovecraft focused on indescribable entities, Chambers explored tangible yet extinct beasts, offering a more grounded but equally eerie precursor to the weird fiction movement.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

Robert W. Chambers stands as a pivotal figure in early weird fiction, bridging the gap between Victorian gothic traditions and the burgeoning cosmic horror that H.P. Lovecraft would later popularize. His work, particularly after 'The King in Yellow,' influenced the genre’s shift toward existential terror and unknown entities. These two early 1900s tales exemplify that transitional era, where exploration narratives collided with supernatural dread, laying groundwork for modern monster hunting fiction.