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Necroscope

Author	Brian Lumley
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre(s)	Horror/Science fiction/Adventure
Publisher	Harper Collins
Publication date	1986
Media type	Print (Paperback)
ISBN	ISBN 0-586-06665-9
Followed by	Necroscope II: Wamphyri

Necroscope is the name of a series of horror fiction books by Brian Lumley.

The term necroscope, as defined in the series, describes someone who can communicate with the dead. Unlike necromancers, who, in this series, attempt to command the dead through rituals, spells, bodily mutilation and sometimes necrophilia, a necroscope simply communicates with them without any physical interference.

The term "necroscope" originally (in Greek) meant someone that can "see" (scope) into the dead (necro). It was used as a formal legal and scientific term for "Coroner" up to the middle of the 20th century. After the 1950s it ceased to be used, but can still be found in early 20th century books and encyclopedias (see Helios' Encyclopedia, 1954 Athens). Necroscope, as a term for Coroner, came to be considered distateful as it was assosiated with the coroner's "tools" of the day, knives, saws and drills, and today is not in use (has been replased by the neutrally sounding term for the coroner, "doctor-judge" - iatrodikastis). Notably, in the series the "necroscope" communicates with the dead without any tools, or bodily mutilation, an ability normally attributed to a "necromancer" (in Greek), whereas the "necromancers" in the series use tools like those used by the real "necroscopes", the coroners.

The abilities of a necroscope are defined as a type of ESP.

Contents 1 Plot summary 2 The Vampires 3 Series bibliography 3.1 Necroscope 3.2 Vampire World 3.3 The Lost Years 3.4 E-Branch trilogy 3.5 Supplemental 3.6 New Adventures of the Necroscope 4 Related role-playing games 4.1 Supplements 5 Related comic books and graphic novels 6 Other media 7 External links

The protagonist of the Necroscope series of books, its main hero — or anti-hero, as the story unravels — is Harry Keogh. He is a son of a Russian mother and father. His mother later remarried and is eventually killed by Harry's stepfather. In his early childhood he (Harry) is raised in County Durham by other relatives. Keogh would eventually return to exact vengeance on his Russian stepfather.

Whilst at school, and not particularly popular or academically inclined, he discovers his ability to speak to people who have died, and through them learn what they know.

The author also puts forward the idea that death is not the end, and that whatever someone was or wished to be in life, he or she continues to be in death, within the restraints that death imposes. For example, a mathematician would continue perfecting his math, an inventor would keep inventing new things, and a psychic would continue to practice using their powers.

Not only can Harry speak to the dead (thus earning him their eternal admiration, almost amounting to worship), but he can also form a bond with them which allows them a degree of control over him when he permits. For example, when faced with a dangerous situation, Harry hands his mind over to the control of a former gym teacher who was an army sergeant, and learns martial arts skills. He does not forget what he learns, and continues to use this skill and many others throughout the series. In addition, if the dead are nearby and the physical situation permits, they will literally raise themselves up out of the ground and fight for him. This gives him powerful allies as, being dead already, they have nothing to lose and almost nothing to fear.

Thibor Ferenczy - Technically the first vampire to appear in the novels. Once a Wallachian barbarian transformed by Faethor Ferenzy. Conquers territories for hundreds of years until he is finally staked, chained, and buried beneath cruciform hills in Romania. Later discovered by necromancer Boris Dragosani. Faethor Ferenczy - An old and very powerful Wamphyri residing on earth in the Dark Ages in a keep at the top of a mountain range in Szgany territory. After transforming Thibor he is attacked by his progeny one night upon his return to his castle. Burned almost to death, he plummets into a river and re-emerges centuries later, finally to die during a bombing raid during World War II. Janos Ferency - Son of Faethor Ferenzy. Fess Ferenc - A monstrous Wamphyri from the vampire homeworld of Sunside/Starside and the supposed progenitor of the Ferenczy bloodline. His face and head have taken the standard form of the transformed Wamphyri; a mix of wolf and bat with great pointed ears and a convoluted snout.

Main article: Wamphyri

• Necroscope (1986)
• Necroscope II: Wamphyri (1988); US title: Necroscope II: Vamphyri! (1988)
• Necroscope III: The Source (1989)
• Necroscope IV: Deadspeak (1990)
• Necroscope V: Deadspawn (1991)

• Vampire World I: Blood Brothers (1992)
• Vampire World II: The Last Aerie (1993)
• Vampire World III: Bloodwars (1994)

• Necroscope: The Lost Years [Volume I] (1995)
• Necroscope: The Lost Years Volume II (1996); US title: Necroscope: Resurgence The Lost Years Volume II (1996)

• E-Branch: Invaders (1998); US title: Necroscope: Invaders (1998)
• Necroscope: Defilers (1999)
• Necroscope: Avengers (2000)

• Harry Keogh: Necroscope and Other Weird Heroes (2003)

• Necroscope: The Touch (June 13, 2006)

• Ed Bolme. The World of Necroscope (1995) published by West End Games.

• Miranda Horner, Daniel Scot Palter, Brian Sean Perry and Jesse VanValkenburg. Deadspeak Dossier (1995)
• Miranda Horner and George R. Strayton. The E-Branch Guide to Psionics (1996)
• Edward Bolme and Andrew Heckt. Wamphyri (1996)
• Mark Barnabo, Edward S. Bolme, Angel McCoy, and Christopher E. Wolf. Operation: Nightside (1997)

1. The Necroscope series of comic books published by Malibu Comics, collected in a graphic novel titled Necroscope:
   • October 1992
   • December 1992
   • February 1993
   • April 1993
   • June 1993
2. The Necroscope Book II: Wamphyri series of comic books was published by Malibu:
   • August 1993
   • November 1993
   • January 1994
3. Another series of comic books entitled Necroscope was published by Caliber Comics:
   • 1997
   • 1998

• German heavy metal band Rage released a song based on the Necroscope series titled "Talking to the Dead" on their End of All Days album in 1996.

• Necroscope pages at Brian Lumley's website
• Necroscopy: A Guide to the Necroscope series