Ossuary of Dreams: Twenty-Five Tales of German Horror and Weird Fiction

Robert Grains is an independent author, occultist, and elite aesthete. For the first time ever, a selection of his writings, inspired by nameless powers, is available in English. In addition to classic hair-raisers, a rich cauldron of sophisticated weird fiction stories steeped in metaphysical and arcane allusions is presented to the gentle readers, a collection that will certainly enrich your personal eldritch studies and expedite your descent into madness. Included in this book:How the Gods FeastThe Dreamer AwakensMetamorphosisNightgrimDark StarlightUnder the Sun of Yabalon-XiAlone With the GuruThe Army of the OthersThe Portraits of the BaronRazorwraithOrganismThe Lord of the SeaA DevilThe Golden AgeForest of MonstersEternal AdventAnima MOur City at Night3:33Extinctor FortisPacific AtrocitiesA Walk in the MorningA Scientist From the DarknessHolding out at Castle von LoheThe Path of Saint MephisIn The Path of Saint Mephis – A Metaphysical-Faustian Trip in Six Chapters, the reader accompanies the blue-blooded occultist and dimensional traveler, Xaver von Mephis, for some extremely peculiar days, along various terrestrial paths—as well as on such difficult to access and not always straight—and even far beyond, broadening the protagonist’s and his audience’s horizons in the best Kafkaesque manner. A good company of illustrious henchmen and antagonists is guaranteed. While at the same time, overshadowing esthetic raptures, a subtle threat, a loathsome presence exists lingering in the dark corners of that strange fellow’s old chateau.Shortly after Xaver returns from Egypt with a highly coveted fragment of an interstellar invasion-comet, at the behest of a secret society conspiring in the shadow of the Formless Wanderer, events take a tumultuous turn. In the course of a grotesque dream pilgrimage to the sanctuary world of the predator-faced plague-vault ruler of the third gate, the weekend plan of the curious German gentleman is disrupted—something that will not remain without consequences. As a procurer and custodian of rare occult antiques and novelist in personal union, XvM naturally has a story or two to tell. The dissentious aristocrat lives in his own world of special obligations, and since he shares few ties with the ordinary public, his extraterritorial view of the hustle and bustle of those merely conceived for the purpose of compulsory labor gives rise to anti-religious, socio-critical rhapsodies—after all, he knows what he is talking about.Actually, this all reads quite enjoyably, but the influence of a hideous power remains—on humanity in general and especially on those who try to unravel certain well-kept secrets…The invasion of the Einnistlinge has already taken place. There comes a crossroad moment when the protagonist must ask himself what he is willing to risk—not just in regard to a transitory advantage but for the sake of his very existence. A not entirely humorless night sea voyage in the wake of magick, questions of faith, and arcane enigmas. A deeply disturbing pilgrimage in the amorphous shadows of eldritch gods, ultimately leading to the source of all inspiration. An intriguing and ambivalent story after which you will definitely know more than before… Read more