Dead Names, Dead Dog: A Guide to the Dark History of the Necronomicon
Herein witness the numerous errors, misrepresentations, glosses, and other problematic contents of “Simon’s” Dead Names: The Dark History of the Necronomicon.
This page will be updated irregularly, so go to the main blog for the latest material. I’ve tried to set it up with key words, so running your browser’s search function for a keyword should yield results.
An introduction, for those who might need one: Part One and Part Two.
Are we biased? How about “Simon”? Read more here.
Some thoughts on “Simon’s” account of the Necronomicon’s discovery.
Why does “Simon” not know the formula for summoning the Watcher? And why does he blame hordes of imaginary people for giving him a hard time about it? We don’t know, but you can read more about it here.
Why doesn’t “Simon” mention that, while he was working on his Necronomicon, Herman Slater was selling a fake one at the Warlock Shop? Find out more here.
“Simon’s” claims to have read masses of scholarly literature that he quotes nowhere, and turns scholarly consensus into controversy with a few choice phrases. Find out how here and here.
“Simon” gets caught selling new material as old and blames his readers for being tricked. Read more here.
“Simon” seeks Sumerian survivals, and comes up short here.
The Toda people – not Sumerian or even remotely as “Simon” describes them. Part 1, Part 2.
What is the culture “Simon” forgot to include in his book, even though he mentioned it in the Necronomicon? Find out about the Mandaeans here.
Is “Kutulu” actually Sumerian? Find out here.
“Simon” makes Enki the fall guy for his own poor grasp of cosmology. That, and more on the Absu/Apzu, here.
Some random thoughts on mental flexibility, here.
How do we know the Miskatonic isn’t a reference to “chthonic”? Find out here.
“Simon’s” reason for using a pseudonym in Dead Names makes no sense. More here.
Is Cthulhu mentioned in the Hebrew Key of Solomon, or Mafteah Shelomoh? Part 1, Part 2.
Is Cthulhu in the Koran? The source is revealed! Part 1, Part 2.
Did the Golden Dawn own the Necronomicon? What of the Veils of Negative Existence? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
Can Aiwass be compared to the mindless chaos Azathoth or Azag-Thoth? Part 1, Part 2.
Are the Gates of the Necronomicon as “Simon” presents them historically accurate? Are they even in the right order? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
Is the Necronomicon really dangerous? What about the crimes of Roderick Ferrell and Glen Mason? And if it’s not, why does “Simon” keep saying it is? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
How about Roman Polanski, Johnny Depp, and the true origins of the Ninth Gate? See the FAQ.
Who’s L. Austine Waddell? Who’s James Madole? Why does the Necronomicon talk about the Aryan race? Why does “Simon” pretend like he doesn’t know anything about it? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.
What about Huwawa, or Humwawa, or Humbaba in the Necronomicon? Just to be different, we have Part 0, Part .5, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
If “Simon” wants to be known as a magical authority, what are his credentials? Does he himself practice magic? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8.
A discussion of the Necronomicon Spellbook, and the changing story of its appearance. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
Some thoughts on the Necronomicon as a “cheap” book. Part 1, Part 2.

[...] I still haven’t mastered all the features of this blog, but I wanted to report I’ve compiled a page that links to most of the “Dead Names, Dead Dog” post here. Maybe someday I’ll find a way to put it in that right-hand column under “Pages.” (If someone knows, don’t keep it to yourself.) [...]
Dead Names, Dead Dog: The Compilation « Papers Falling from an Attic Window said this on September 11, 2006 at 9:10 pm |
[...] Those numbers on my hit counter mean one of two things: I’ve either got someone refreshing the page dozens of times, or Halloween is close. If you’re looking for Necronomicon info, check the tags on the right, use the search box, or go straight for the Dead Names critique here. [...]
Happy Early Halloween « Papers Falling from an Attic Window said this on October 30, 2006 at 10:44 am |
[...] If Dead Names has proven anything, it’s that a book can be wrong in many amusing ways. Another way we haven’t covered is when a book, despite the author’s best efforts, simply doesn’t take into account information that appeared afterward. The following is a case in point. [...]
Dead Names, Dead Dog: A Correction on Both Parts « Papers Falling from an Attic Window said this on December 17, 2006 at 7:12 pm |
[...] Still, I’ve managed to do some light maintenance on the blog, such as updating the Dead Names page, and I’ve got a quick post I can [...]
Dead Names, Dead Dog: De Camp Deluxe Edition « Papers Falling from an Attic Window said this on January 21, 2007 at 9:20 pm |
[...] http://danharms.wordpress.com/dead-names-dead-dog-a-guide-to-the-dark-history-of-the-necronomicon/ [...]
[...] Papers Falling from an Attic Window Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Dead Names, Dead Dog: The Story So Far, Part [...]
Simon Necronomicon « The Call of Cthulhu : Lovecraft´s Dreams said this on August 8, 2009 at 6:12 am |
[...] http://danharms.wordpress.com/dead-names-dead-dog-a-guide-to-the-dark-history-of-the-necronomicon/ [...]
Dan Harms on the Sumerian in the Simon Necronomicon — Those Poor Sumerians! said this on September 1, 2009 at 5:57 am |