I'm not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to the Arkham Horror Files games. I've only recently started playing Eldritch Horror and Arkham Horror LCG and I've yet to successfully complete a game. But I am a fan of most things inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's work, as well as horror-themed artbooks, so I was really excited to read The Investigators of Arkham Horror.
It goes without saying that the tales in this book are inspired by Lovecraft's stories, but I was also reminded of A Night in the Lonesome October, House of Leaves, The Thing and most notably, Eternal Darkness (many of which were also inspired by Lovecraft). As with the characters in Eternal Darkness, the investigators in the Arkham Horror universe were [mostly] just ordinary people who somehow stumbled into something extraordinary and their lives were changed because of it, they chose to fight against the evil threatening to force its way into our world. And that's the main difference between what Fantasy Flight Games has created and Lovecraft's fiction. In these stories, the characters fight back. They try to save the world (and if you're playing the games, more often than not, they fail miserably).
Each story is told in a variety of different ways, with quotes from Lovecraft sprinkled throughout. Some include journal entries, newspaper clippings, medical records, photographs and sketches. I usually really enjoy that sort of storytelling. It adds a little something extra and almost makes it seem more believable.
 |
| Cthulhu, studying the sketch of a nightgaunt. |
The first story, Wilson Richards, set the tone for what I expected from the rest of the book. It perfectly describes the feeling of dread someone would have while visiting Arkham. You don't know exactly what is making the hair on the back of your neck stand up, but you know something is off. (Wilson stops for a slice of cherry pie and strong coffee at Velma's Diner, and I was reminded of another strange, little town called Twin Peaks.)
 |
| I did a double take the first time I saw this picture. It seemed normal at first. |
Charlie Kane's story focuses on Arkham's Founder's Day celebration. Hints are dropped throughout that give a sense that something more is going on during this event than just a regular celebration. Why is Charlie so particular about which items are displayed? Why are the fireworks set to go off at 8:41 p.m., exactly 47 minutes after sunset? And why is Charlie so specific about which ingredients go into the fireworks? "Any mistake, even the smallest, could lead to disaster." This is just one of many mysteries you're left to ponder while you read about each investigator.
Reading about Agatha Crane reminded me of House of Leaves. So much so that I'm positive it was partially inspired by it. "As she began to measure the wall a second time, the measuring tape snapped tight between her outstretched hands. After a moment, she frowned and checked the worn length of tape. The wall had been slightly smaller the first time she measured; she was sure of it." I wonder if Will Navidson ever heard about this house? The house in question is Arkham's very own Witch House, which looks somewhat familiar.
 |
| With House in Salem, MA next to the Witch House in Arkham |
While I'm on the subject of witches...The one thing that really bothered me, that always bothers me, was a journal entry from Mandy Thompson's story that read, "May 7th, 1690. Last night we did God's work, when other men would not. Witches burned, but Uriah Crawford yet lives." I've visited Salem several times, I studied its history, I know it well. Granted, this takes place in Arkham, not Salem. I'm hesitant to say witches were never burned in America because I'm not positive, I thought that was mostly done in Europe. However. Since Salem is the most famous case of the witch hunt hysteria this country faced and it was mentioned more than once within this book, I'm going to assume Arkham's history was inspired by Salem's. And not one witch was burned in Salem. They were hanged, with the exception of Giles Corey, who was pressed to death. It's a common historical inaccuracy and I cringe every time I see it.
Since I'm on the subject, I recognized a lot of names from Salem. Peabody, Derby and of course, the Witch House. This is probably just a coincidence, albeit an interesting coincidence considering how frequently Salem and the witch trials were mentioned, but I was happy to see them.
 |
| Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn. |
What can I say without going off on a tangent? The illustrations in this book are exquisite. I'm not sure how much of the artwork is new, but I recognized some from Eldritch Horror. I did notice a few minor errors in some stories that must have slipped past the editor, but nothing terrible. The chapters don't tie into one another, even though characters and locations tend to reappear throughout.
 |
| I'm 100% convinced Preston Fairmont is actually Laurence Olivier. |
When I started taking notes, with the intention of writing this post, everything started off very positive. Then about halfway through the book, I was ready for it to end. It's really beautiful and I appreciate the work that went into it, but when I'm reading something...I want an actual plot. It's hard to keep my interest for 260 pages when the stories are just getting started and then they end abruptly. I wanted more. The accounts in The Investigators of Arkham Horror are short and most of them end before anything really begins. That being said though, the point of these tales is to give some insight into the investigators, an idea of why or how they found themselves fighting against the ancient ones. These small snippets are just part of a larger narrative, one that you create yourself while playing the Arkham Horror Files games. If you're looking for something similar to Lovecraft's work, this isn't it and you'll be disappointed (it does have Lovecraftian elements, but it lacks the actual horror I feel reading something like The Outsider or The Shadow Over Innsmouth). But if you're a fan of the Arkham Horror Universe and the incredible artwork from the games, I highly recommend The Investigators of Arkham Horror.
