
Frank Belknap Long Jr. was an influential American writer whose prolific career spanned seven decades, encompassing a diverse array of genres including horror, fantasy, science fiction, poetry, and gothic romance. He is particularly renowned for his contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos, collaborating closely with the iconic writer H. P. Lovecraft. Long's short stories, such as 'The Hounds of Tindalos' and 'The Inhabitant of the Lake and Less Welcome Tenants,' showcased his unique ability to blend cosmic horror with psychological depth, establishing him as a significant figure in 20th-century speculative fiction. Throughout his career, Long received numerous accolades that recognized his impact on the genre, including the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement and the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement. His works not only expanded the boundaries of horror and science fiction but also influenced a generation of writers who followed in his footsteps. Long's legacy endures through his contributions to the literary landscape, particularly in the realms of horror and fantasy, where his imaginative storytelling and thematic explorations continue to resonate with readers and writers alike.
“You have a shrewd but prosaic mind, and you cannot conceive of an entity that does not depend for its existence on force and matter. But did it ever occur to you, my friend, that force and matter are merely the barriers to perception imposed by time and space?”
“It is beyond dispute that Osiris made his worshipers dream strange things of him, and that he possessed their bodies and souls forever. There is a devilish wrath against mankind with which Osiris was for Death's sake inspired. In the cool of the evening he walked among men, and upon his head was the Crown of Upper Egypt, and his cheeks were inflated with a wind that slew. His face was veiled so that no man could see it, hut assuredly it was an old face, very old and dead and dry for the world was young when tall Osiris died. ("A Visitor From Egypt")”
“All the evil in the universe was concentrated in their lean, hungry bodies. Or had they bodies? I saw them only for a moment; I cannot be certain. But I heard them breathe.”