Synopsis

A scientist attempts to grow extra large food sources by manipulating chromosomes. Things don’t work out, but his son doesn’t destroy the results of the experiment.

History

First publication: Weird Tales, March 1923

The cover story of the first issue of Weird Tales and one of H. P. Lovecraft’s favorite stories.

Review

This was a favorite of Lovecraft and I can see why. It reads like a classic Lovecraft story. Actually it reminds me in many ways of The Dunwich Horror. It has all the same elements: a giant monster, a broken house in a rural area, a family with a secret. The only thing it lacks is the Cthulhu Mythos. This story is much more science fictional than the Lovecraft story. And from that I can see how a lot of the stories from Amazing, Wonder and the early Astounding follow a similar formula. Rud himself was clearly influenced by Verne and Wells and maybe some of the other early horror writers. This story is a very good example of the best horror that the early pulp magazines had to offer and may even have set a trend.