Robert E. Howard's "The Black Stone" was really fun and interesting to read. It did an outstanding job of grabbing and keeping my attention throughout the story. However, I had a bad taste in my mouth after reading it and it wont quite go away. Throughout the story's buildup you just know that sooner or later this guy is going to see the black stone and sure enough he does. Howard adds this great backstory to the black stone and its rich history and the people who worship it and make up the small town that surrounds the stone but then he is sure to mention that the real crazy stuff at the stone happens on Midsummer's Night. I get that its a ritual and its spookier if it happens once a year but it really upsets me when the narrator just matter of factly declares that this very night is...you guessed it..Midsummer's Night.
It's still a very rich and creepy story, but I cant help but feel like just randomly throwing that in just so the story fits better was a bit of a cop-out. If anybody else has ever been disappointed like this by a story/movie/play/whatever and feel that that one specific part of the story ruined what otherwise would have been a really enjoyable experience I would love to know about it just for the comfort that somewhere out there people are just as confused as I am.
all the best,
Paul
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I agree, I thought it was all too simply put. I feel like if I went through all the trouble to go investigate some haunted stone in a foreign country and anyone made the remark to me that they would never dare go on the Midsummer's Night, I'd be quickly making note and plans to go that night! Instead, it made it seem like he just happened into going that night, and it didn't seem to hold true to the character's previously determined and attentive attitude.
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