The first time...

[Scarlet oHorror]

ok, u guys have probably done this before but i want to know when and how you all came to read the Necroscope in the first place.

I started in 1992-ish when i was reading John Saul all the time then he ran out of books...i came across the Necroscope and my days were spent sitting on my bed with tubes of pringles and bottles of coke....i was in love....!

So tell me....

[IanL]

Hi, Scarlet. Well I was about to go on holiday to Gran Canaria with two mates in 1996 and was just doing last minute shopping. I figured for 2 weeks lazing in the sun I'd need 2 books. I had read Stephen King and Dean Koontz for some while but thought I'd try something different. I saw Necroscope and Wamphyri in WH Smith. From the cover illustration and name of the first book I thought it would be just sci-fi but I gave it a shot anyway. My mate and I were hooked immediately and since then I've read about 15 of his books and I'm now on Invaders.
Cheers for asking, speak to you soon.

[Mike C]

Hi Scarlet,
Well I am not exactly sure when I started, sometime in '87. I was 18 years old and none of my friends understood why I read for fun (most of them still don't). I just picked The Necroscope because of the cover. The first three books I have are first edition paperbacks with a picture inside the front cover. They don't do that with the newer books. The first Necroscope is one of the books I lent to a friend and now I am trying to track it down.

[Scarlet oHorror]

hey guys
oh cool....i think most people just stumbled upon this amazing book...i tell ya, i love it, never want it to end...never....

[Peter]

I was shopping for a birthday gift for my friend (I was getting him a Stephen King book.) and I saw Deadspeak just sitting there on the shelf. The cover intrigued me so I got it. The book was amazing, now I have all of Brian's books go figure. A lot of them were hard to find, I got some here in the states, some in canada, and some in england. The rest of them I finally got from the net. It took awhile, but apart from some impossible to find editions I have most of his stuff.

[Krynus]

When did I first read Necroscope? Wow, that's a tough one.... well, back in 1991, when I was 18, I was in the US Army stationed in Germany, and I saw the Necroscope in the book section in the PX(post exchange store) on base. The cover looked cool, the story sounded cool, so I got it. Back in the barracks I began reading it, and put it down before I finished the first chapter. I just couldn't get into it (too many big German words, long sentences, etc, I remember reading a sentence then going 'what?'). I had tried to read it again a few times over the next couple years, but could not get into it. It wasn't until I was out of the Army, sometime in 1993-94, when I finally read it and THEN I was hooked. I'm still wondering what my problem was back then, as I was always a horror/vampire fan. Now I am not reading anything, just waiting for the next E-branch novel to come out.

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[Lichloathe]

It was back in 1994. I wanted a book for the Xmas vacations and there on the shelf were Vampire World 1 & 2. I knew nothing of Lumley at that time but just by looking at the cover and reading the summary at the back I thought to give it a try. I always liked vampire stories after all. The book thrilled me, I read it in 2 days and had to keep reading to see how Nestor-Nathan would fare. So ran back, bought the Last Aerie. That was enough. After that i just ordered everything concerning the Necroscope & the Wamphyri. That's love at first sight (or bite? http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/wink.gif )

[Potempkin]

For some reson I was in the mood for a vampire novel one day in the early summer of '92. I bought Interview With The Vampire, Necroscope, and Vampire World (I didn't realise straight away that VW was a follow up to the Necroscope series). My bedtime reading over the next three days was the first fifty or so pages from each of those three in rotation (pretty anal, i know).

I enjoyed both Lumley's and Rice's vampires, but while I did manage to get around to reading the 3 Rice vampire novels that were published at the time (and later, the 4th one), I went out and bought the rest of the Necroscope books as soon as I'd finished the first one, and quickly devoured them. I read the Psychomech series and other Lumley books.

Hanging around the horror section so much brought Lovecraft, Laymon, Koontz, King, McCammon, Campbell, Simon Clark, Jack Ketchum, Ed Gorman, Bram Stoker, R.L.Stephenson, M.R.James, Mary Shelley etc onto my bookshelves. Actually they're all in boxes but you take my point!

Plowing through thick horror novels meant I wasn't afraid to tackle dozens of those dirt cheap literary classics.

I read a Dickins novel.
No, honestly I did!
Cover to cover.
Then I read another, And another...

Necroscope did something that school and 'Cider with Rosie' or 'To Kill a Mocking Bird' couldn't do... it made a 'reader' out of me. Sure most of what I read is classed as horror (whatever that is), but at least it's not badly written horror.

[darkwolf]

I like a couple other people on here have said just started reading a couple years ago. After about a year of heavy reading, didn't have much else to do, I had pretty much ran out of stuff on my moms bookshelves that interested me. Necroscope was one of the few horror books left that I hadn't read yet but I still keep passing it over because to me the cover and what was written on the back cover looked and sounded kinda corny. After a couple weeks I finally broke down and read it and then it was off to the library to get the other 9 that were out at that time. I then was able to make my mom, best freind, uncle, aunt, cousin, and everyother person I come across read them too. I now own around 20 of Lumley's books and aslong as he keeps putting out quallity materail I will own more in the future.

[Symon]

One of my high school teachers told me about this brillent book about vampires called The Necroscope. I searched high and low for this book with an unusal name for two and a half years. the book had been banned said all the book store owners. Finally the ban was lifted five or co years ago, and I have been an avid follwer of the Necroscope series ever since.

[Moth]

Ahhh Cider with Rosie!! DAmn they were the days http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/smile.gif

I discovered the Necroscope years ago... a friend of mine recommended the books and kept harping on about this character called Shaithis..
Anyway, he harped on so much that it actually put me off reading them, I was sick of hearing about this bloody Harry bloke and how cool he was, not to mention that all he could go on about was being some kind Shaithis reincarnation...(we were youngish..HONEST!)

Anyway he ended up giving the books to me, the first 5 and book one of the vampire world Trilogy.. He gave them away because he went to live and work in Israel for a while.. So the books found pride of place in a box in the attic...UNREAD!

That was maybe 7 or 8 years back..

So anyways... I moved to Canada a couple of years ago and quite by accident visited a book store HA!! Anyway I saw the British versions of the Necroscope series and thought, "What the hell...I'll give it a go"

I read the first one and that was it, a couple of days later I flew back to the book store bought ALL of them and ordered the ones they didn't have.....

I haven't looked back since and YES for the record I now own two sets in paperback, one set in England and the other here with me http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/smile.gif

I tell you what, these beat Cider with Rosie any day, HA! They should put the Necroscope on the national curriculum(spl?) I tell you it would make readers out of most kids at school...

Cool Books, I still get excited talking about them..

Later People http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/smile.gif

[SpOOkshow]

I first read Necroscope sometime 87/88.
I can still remember convincing a mates girlfriend who worked in the nearest city to fetch Book 2 for me in her dinner break.

Imagine asking the most completely normal person you know to buy a book with such a bizarre title (to the untutored)

Liked the cover...liked the idea of ESPionage...

http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/smile.gif

H

[Quail]

My uncle brought me Necroscope for christmas and I read it and thought it was ok but the ending got me hooked, I couldn't see how there could be five other books when harry dies so I got the second book and loved it and soon read through them all.

I mean 4 others (mental lapse)

[This message has been edited by Quail (edited 11-12-1999).]

[Potempkin]

Moth,

Speaking of the national curriculum, when I read Simon Clark's Blood Crazy a couple of years ago, I thought that it should go on the NC. It's a kind of Lord of the Flies for the 90s, and the most vivid and imaginative horror book I've read since Necroscope. It would definately go down well with teenagers.
If Clark had ever decided to write sequels it would probably rival Necroscope for my attention.


[This message has been edited by Potempkin (edited 11-12-1999).]

[This message has been edited by Potempkin (edited 11-12-1999).]

[Goth Girl]

Well Scarlet I got into the Necroscope books about five years ago when I was living in Cambridge, but dating someone in London. I was at the guy's flat and he had to go out to college, so as I was moping around bored out of my tiny mind I picked up this book with with a really interesting cover.
I then discovered that the books were much more enthralling than the boyfriend, so he is long gone, but my love affair with Lumley's writing continues! http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Canker]

Not sure of the exact date but I was done reading Robert McCammon and a few Koontz and just stumpled along this series to my delight.

[Shaithis]

Hello folks...1st time poster here....

THIS BOARD LOOKS AWESOME!!!!!!

I came accross Lumley when I was leaving on a trip from Ontario to the Yukon....a friend gave me the first two books in the series.... I devoured the first on in a scathing 24 hrs on a greyhound!!

That was just last October and since then I've gone through all but Resurgence!

I love his imagination...and wish it would go on and on...lol

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In the depths of a mind insane...fantasy and reality are the same....

[gatewish]

The first time I read a BL book was when I picked up Blood Brothers in my local library cos I thought the cover (UK version) looked intersting. I brought it home started it, read the first 100 pages and got very lost but I liked it. Then I brought it back and someday later on got it out again and finished it. Then I was hooked. I discovered the Necroscope series and proceeded to wait for 2 months for my library to get the first book. By then I had read Necroscope 2 and the lost years volume 1. I still have to read Necroscope 3 and his new one invaders but all the rest I have read. WOW. They are amazing.

[Vormulac]

Well, for me, I stumbled upon my first Necroscopian item while flipping through the pages of a supermarket periodacal, Fangoria Magazine back in.. well, I don't remember when, I'd estimate it to be around 1990 or so. Anyway, on one of the pages was a selection of horror resin-cast models. I.E., Jason, Freddy, Leatherface, etc., and within was also the model, and bust of Shaithis. Needless to say, I was intrigued, nd sought out this elusive "necroscope" at first thinking it to be a comic book (which it did later become, as you well know) or possibly a foreign film. Frankly, I was surprised to find out that it was a rather elgongated series of books. Well, all nice and dandy, I gathered the paperbacks, and read through all eight (Necroscope, and Vampire World) progressively, and with enthusiastic relish. I've been hooked ever since! I now have all the US First Editions of all 10 books, and now the First Edition of the US Invaders. Not to mention the RPG system game book released by West End Games, who, sadly, went bankrupt last I heard. At any rate, theres my delightful and delirious tale, dearest Scarlet, enjoy...

[kortag]

Hmmm. The First time? Well, my bud Krynus hooked me. He had read the first three I think and was almost breaking my arm to read the series. I couldnt stop reading them after that. Now I just got finished with the Titus Crow series and that blew me away also. I am surprised that I dont think I have ever seen this mentioned here before. Of course I know that we are talking about The Necrosope. But just had to throw that in.

[Scarlet oHorror]

thanks everyone for answering....like i said before it seems so interesting that everyone just sorta stumbled upon the Necroscope and really enjoyed it from there on.
This is the only book and author that was never hyped up in my opinion as in i've always heard about Stephen Kings works and then u read them and they are absolute crap!!
anywayz long live BL and the Necroscope....can u tell i don't want the series to finish!.....¿¿...
Later
Scarlet

[White Wolf]

Well, I got into it about '88-'89.. I was working at a Waldenbooks at the time and reading Stephen King and such.. Had just finished THEY THIRST by Robert McCammon... So I was in a vampire mood.. I saw the cover of Necroscope thought it look cool.. Better than some of the others on the market at the time.. Simple and straight to the point.. I read the back.. Psychic powers, political intrigue, and vampires..? Interesting combination I thought.. Picked it up.. Read it about a week later.. Loved it then picked up Vamphyri... Loved that, also.. Then waited for The Source..

Funny thing is.. I had just finished Douglas Adams' Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, when I stumbled across Deadspeak and I began to think that English authors thought trilogies (sp?)were 4+ books not three... *L* For those that aren't familiar with The Hitchhiker's Guide.. It was supposed to be a trilogy.. Then went to four books.. The fourth book said.. something to the extant that it was the 4th in a trilogy...

[gatewish]

Well I would like to say that Stephen King's books are not crap cos I like them too, but they are no way near the genius and inspiration of Brian Lumley's awesome ideas. The man is brilliant. Don't know if he gets all the recognition he deserves but he certainly has my vote. Keep up the good work Brian.

[Canker]

I never really cared for Steven King...He always seemed to lose me in the character build up at the beginning...I get bored...some would say that that is the sign of a small mind but what do you want from a dog-Lord...LOL

[Canker]

I never really cared for Steven King...He always seemed to lose me in the character build up at the beginning...I get bored...some would say that that is the sign of a small mind but what do you want from a dog-Lord...LOL

[Moomintroll]

i started in sometime in the late 80s, whenever the 3rd book had just come out in the us (88 or 89?). i was perusing through the paperbacks in a store, and the new one was, of course, facing out...took a look, noticed the two other books, and bought them all, just based on the covers and the descriptions. just looked to be cool... been hooked ever since!

[Scarlet oHorror]

hey all
i don't much like stephen king either...in fact i don't like his writing at all...i tried....i think the only one i read and i liked was.....erm...can't remember the name...something about some guy with 2 personalities and sparrows.....
that one was good.....

i seriously can't wait for Defilers to come out,but i have this feeling its going to come out in the middle of my exams!!.......just gonna have to buy it and leave it there on my shelf...until.....


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~*Scarlet*~
aka The Bloody Vampyre
Hell hath No Fury...

[Garblin]

Scarlett
I beleive that was The Dark Half by Stephen King. Ive always been a fan of his among many others.
I started readind Brians books over ten years ago. A friend of mine had lent me The Necroscope series. I just finished reading it a second time around a rare oddity for me. To many books out there to read to sit around and read twice http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/smile.gif.
I enjoy trying to find novels of Briand i havent read yet. I think i have pretty well most of them.I'm patiently waiting for May to roll around to get Invaders. I noticed that Titus Crow volume two is out. I shall be putting it on my Xmas list.

[Mike C]

Now Scarlett,
Stephan King is one of my favorite authors... I loved The Dark Half, Misery and The Stand and more recently I read Road Work. But his stories are kind of hit and miss (I'll agree), sometimes he gets too wordy with descriptions but other times all those words work real well (like The Stand). I just think it is a shame he won't be writing anymore... and it isn't a conscious decision. And his stories aren't always scary... they are just plain weird. I guess you hafta be in a weird frame of mind (like me). Don't get me wrong Lumley is my favorite, I just like King also.

[This message has been edited by Mike C (edited 12-02-1999).]

[DeVoid]

Seems like we all have stumbled across this series. Like everyone else I saw the cover and wondered what in the hell this weird looking book was. I seem to have been younger than most of you when i discovered it, it was around the late 80's when i found the series, and immediately became hooked. It took me part of jr high, and most of high school to read the series. Which i then moved on to the other books. I eventually tracked down all the books of the necroscope series, and bought a copy of each. Most paperback, except for the ones that came out after I finished the series. I would like to get them all in hardcover. Fortunately Lumley seems to be very popular in the area I grew up. Although almost no ones seems to have heard of him. I of course insisted that anyone that would listen to me, read his books. I also own all of the rpg material from west end, although the rules seem really flakey (which is why I never played it) Brian has earned permanent spot as my favorite author. Nobody will ever take his place I am sure. I hate seeing him compared to Anne Rice. If the 2 versions of vampire ever met, Brian's version would be eating the heart of the Rice's version, cause Rice's version would be sitting around whining.

[Mikey]

For me, I've always been a big fan of horror books. So i had read Stephen King and Dean Koontz, every book, ever written under every name. so i was REALLY looking hard for something new. I asked the clerk in a local bookshop and while i was waiting for them to decide what to suggest for me, i noticed the paperback of "House of Doors" i read the back cover, it sounded kinda cool, so i figured i'd give it a try. That one book got me *thankfully* hooked on Mr. Lumley's writting. As soon as i finished that one i started the Necroscope series and have never looked back. So far I've read every one of the books in the existing series at least 2 times, some of them 3 or 4. If i ever don't have anything to read, i can always re-read on of my Brian Lumley books.

[Scarlet oHorror]

Garblin
did i spell the name right?...anyhew..YES the dark half........thankyouthankyouthankyou


MIKEC oh.....ahem........ermm......still don't like him...... http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/smile.gif

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~*Scarlet*~
aka The Bloody Vampyre
Hell hath No Fury...

[Allen W]

Well, about 4 years ago I decided to check out some of the other Mythos authors that were included in the Call of Cthulhu rulebook. The passage from Burrower's Beneath had caught my attention. When I got to the bookstore, the only BL novels they had in stock were the Necroscope series, so I picked up the first one (of my own free will http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/smile.gif ) and was immediately hooked. Since then, I've snatched up everything I can find by Brian - all the Necroscopes (so far), House of Doors & Maze of Worlds, the first two Titus Crow books, and Fruiting Bodies. I think there's a copy of the poetry book under my xmas tree. Please please please please...

[perky]

Back in '91 I was lookin' for something a little different in the horror department... I saw the cover of the 1st Necroscope and I had to get it. Once I started, I just tore through it, it was so bad-ass!! So about 2 days later (I didn't even wait till I finished reading it) I hauled ass back to the store and bought everything of BL's that was there and I've been doing the same since!

[Krynus]

Thulu.... like 'zulu' I think anyway

that's how I pronounce it anyhow.

Y'know, I've only read the first Titus Crow book, and though I enjoyed it, not enough to venture further in the series.... should I?

[gort]

I used to be an avid King reader but lost interest a few years ago,except for the "Darktower" series I'll read everyone of those he writes. Anyway I was watching the Scifi Channel one night a couple of years ago and my favorite show "Scifi Buzz" was on. They had a segment I believe was called "Buzzbin" and someone had recommended "Necroscope". I went out the next day picked up a copy and was hooked. I've read all the "Necroscope/Vampire" books, "Psychomech" series, "House of Doors" 1 and 2, the "Titus Crow" books and "Fruiting Bodies". I've also got a couple of the "Necroscope" comics. BTW if anyone knows of a source for more comics I would appreciate some help in finding them.

[SpOOkshow]

According to those brilliant people at Chaosium (RPG's)

its...


kuh-THOOL-hoo...


http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Gregory]

Ahhh...I remember it as though it were yesterday<screen goes blurry in flashback fashion>
I was an abid reader of Fangoria magazine and just loved horror movies to death since age 5. I started reading from the Horror section at Borders Books starting with Poe(horror?), HP Lovecraft, John Saul, Peter Straub, and Clive Barker(still a favorite). I finished Imagica by Clive and felt totally burnt out(by the way, incredible book). I ran to the bookstore and sat there staring at the whole horror section. I never much cared for King or Rice...hundred pages in and I got bored. I saw four Necroscope books in a row(the first four)and decided to go all out and buy all four. I almost cried after each book and lusted for the next...and I've been that way ever since.
So in answer to the question...whenever Imagica first came out. I'd check but it was "borrowed" by a friend and never seen again.

[Dragutin]

I was looking for Orson Scott cards Enders Game. The cover of the second book caught my eye, this was 92. The way that book started I just had to find out how the series started. Low and behold I became a fan. The series 4 times Last time was when the last Aerie Came out. Seems like eons ago I had better get started again so I can keep up with you guys.
I have read Demogorgon, Hero Series and Well I thought the whole necroscope series. Now more is out there. Can't Wait

[Titus]

I think I first started about 3 years ago. I was working as a security guard, 12 hour shifts a boring as hell. I popped to WHS (Book store for all you yanks). Felt like a little horror...but what. I hate King. His books bore the S**t out of me. I'd read a little Herbert and Tolkien (a very little Tolkien..about 2 chapters of the Fellowship) and tried to read Eddings (again gave up to to the boredom factor).
Anyway, looking around I saw Blood Brothers, cool pic, bloody thick with small text. A sign of a good book.
Picking it up I read the back for some info. Flicked to a page and started to read.
3 weeks later I had finished all the VW books and went on to read the Necroscope.

Thats when I found out why I didn't understand a f***ing thing at the start of BB.

I now have most of the great works, requiring only The Lost Years and The Mythos Omnibus 2.

Currently hunting down the earlier books.

I love Invaders.

[shaithis@rocketmail.com]

My introduction to Brian Lumley was, well I can't remember the year, but it was when Demogorgon was pretty new and the Vampire World series wasn't out yet.

Two people I knew in high school (one being a close friend) seemed to always carry with him a book that had Necrosomething written on it and they always got quite wide-eyed when discussions about it came up. I remember always questioning them why they didn't seem to be reading them in order. They always replied how hard it was to find copies of his books around because of the Canadian thing where the U.S. and U.K. publishers are both allowed to sell here. This lead to some infighting or something or other with bookstores or something...
Anyhoo, I saw Necroscope at a bookstore and well figured I'd read it and brag to my friends that I had read Necro I.
I didn't have to. Once I opened it I didn't put it down until it was finished. I think 2 days went by and when I was through my girlfriend just shook her head and said, I've been trying to get your attention for hours!

I was quite enthralled. SO when I ran outta Necroscopes I read everything else by him. Then lovecraft, then other lovecraftish authors, then other British authors...etc. etc. http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Mobius]

I started reading necroscope in september'99. I picked it up because a mate of mine gave me a book called "The Vampire Gallery: A Who's Who of the Undead." As i read through some of the pages i came across a referance for the age old bad guy Dragonsani(What a great name). I explained the basic story and after reading the reference for Dragosani as well idecided to give them a go. Currently I am on Ther last Aerie, its great.

[Emaleth]

Greetings Scarlet!

My first encounter with Brian's works was ahh..I can't remember the exact year, but it was "House of Doors". A very good book, which I had tried while looking for a new Stephen King at the book store. I next went from there to "Necroscope" and have been reading and re-reading the 10 books I have ever since.

I have also, within this past year, been very active in online RPG, basing my character on skills that Harry also had in the Necroscope series. Brian brought a whole other level in creating the 'Wamphyri' to the people who enjoy reading sci-fi and fantasy. I look forward to reading the final three in the series and will also read some of his other works as well.

[AndyB]

My first encounter with BL was in a second hand book shop in '95. I saw the cover and thought I must read this, I've been hooked ever since (By the way the book was Vampire World Blood Brothers).

[SimonK]

Last october my dad gave me necroscope to read. Im now halfway through the last aerie.

[Andrew the Sinister]

November 99 the cover of Necroscope caught my eye I bought it and now I'm obsessed with necroscope and I am currently at the end of Bloodwars.