There Are More Things
Encyclopedia
"There Are More Things" is a short story
written by Argentine
writer
Jorge Luis Borges
in 1975
. It was first published in the short story collection The Book of Sand
, as the collection's fourth short story. The story tells of the encounter the narrator has with a monstrous extraterrestrial
inhabiting an equally monstrous house. Written in memory of H. P. Lovecraft
, the narrative holds many parallels with many of Lovecraft's stories, employing similar plot devices. The title alludes
to Hamlet
's lines "There are more things in heaven
and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy
" (Hamlet
I.5:159–167).
The story has been criticized because the episode of the encounter with the monster and the house —the heart of the story— which is described in the final two pages or so, is preceded by "eight pages of complicated subplots", spoiling "a basically sound idea". Borges himself was quite skeptical about his memorial to Lovecraft (as expressed in the book's epilogue), whom he in fact considered "an involuntary parodist of Poe
".
, receives the news of the death of his uncle, Edwin Arnett, in Lomas de Zamora
, Argentina. Shortly after, the deceased uncle's house is bought by a man called Max Preetorius, who immediately disposes of all the house's furniture and initiates a series of modifications, in opposition to Alexander Muir, the architect responsible for the original design of the house and best friends with Arnett. These modification, however, are performed under unusual conditions — during the night
time with all the windows and doors closed. In addition, all trees within the bounds of the property are cut down.
Arnett's nephew, surprised by these happenings, travels to Lomas de Zamora and decides to investigate, inquiring Alexander Muir and the carpenter that performed the changes to the house on the intentions of Preetorius and the purpose of the strange modifications. He is, however, unable to obtain any relevant information.
In his stay in the town, he soon discovers that its inhabitants deliberately avoid passing near the house. One of the locals tells him that one night, as his gaze wandered across the house's garden, he "saw something". It is also reported that a missing dog was once found dead on the house's lawn, decapitated
and mutilated
.
One rainy night, Arnett's nephew, caught off guard by the storm, is forced to enter the mysterious house, whose door happens to be unexpectedly open. Once inside, his nose immediately picks up what he describes as "a sweet, sickening smell".
Upon turning on the lights, he encounters all kinds of strange, incomprehensible pieces of furniture, such as a long, u-shaped desk
with circular holes on the two extremes and a ladder
with irregular holes on each of its steps.
Upon noticing that outside it has stopped raining, Arnett's nephew, horrified, immediately begins his way out. However, as he is leaving, he hears the rustle of the house's inhabitant's advance and realizes that, in order to get out, he will have to pass next to the creature. His curiosity overcomes his fear and he does not close his eyes as he does so.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
written by Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
writer
Writing
Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely...
Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo , known as Jorge Luis Borges , was an Argentine writer, essayist, poet and translator born in Buenos Aires. In 1914 his family moved to Switzerland where he attended school, receiving his baccalauréat from the Collège de Genève in 1918. The family...
in 1975
1975 in literature
The year 1975 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* August 12 — with the 20-year time limit stipulated by Thomas Mann at his death having expired, sealed packets containing 32 of the author's notebooks were opened in Zurich, Switzerland.* Writing under the...
. It was first published in the short story collection The Book of Sand
The Book of Sand (book)
The Book of Sand is a short story collection by Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, published in 1975. According to the author's opinion, the collection, written in his last days , is his best book, an opinion not shared by most critics, who prefer his other works such as Ficciones.Referring to...
, as the collection's fourth short story. The story tells of the encounter the narrator has with a monstrous extraterrestrial
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
inhabiting an equally monstrous house. Written in memory of H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
, the narrative holds many parallels with many of Lovecraft's stories, employing similar plot devices. The title alludes
Allusion
An allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication. M. H...
to Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
's lines "There are more things in heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
" (Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
I.5:159–167).
The story has been criticized because the episode of the encounter with the monster and the house —the heart of the story— which is described in the final two pages or so, is preceded by "eight pages of complicated subplots", spoiling "a basically sound idea". Borges himself was quite skeptical about his memorial to Lovecraft (as expressed in the book's epilogue), whom he in fact considered "an involuntary parodist of Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
".
Plot
The story's protagonist, while in Austin, TexasAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, receives the news of the death of his uncle, Edwin Arnett, in Lomas de Zamora
Lomas de Zamora
Lomas de Zamora is a city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, located next to the border of Buenos Aires City and within the metropolitan area of Greater Buenos Aires.It is the capital of Lomas de Zamora Partido and has a population of 111,897....
, Argentina. Shortly after, the deceased uncle's house is bought by a man called Max Preetorius, who immediately disposes of all the house's furniture and initiates a series of modifications, in opposition to Alexander Muir, the architect responsible for the original design of the house and best friends with Arnett. These modification, however, are performed under unusual conditions — during the night
Night
Night or nighttime is the period of time when the sun is below the horizon. This occurs after dusk. The opposite of night is day...
time with all the windows and doors closed. In addition, all trees within the bounds of the property are cut down.
Arnett's nephew, surprised by these happenings, travels to Lomas de Zamora and decides to investigate, inquiring Alexander Muir and the carpenter that performed the changes to the house on the intentions of Preetorius and the purpose of the strange modifications. He is, however, unable to obtain any relevant information.
In his stay in the town, he soon discovers that its inhabitants deliberately avoid passing near the house. One of the locals tells him that one night, as his gaze wandered across the house's garden, he "saw something". It is also reported that a missing dog was once found dead on the house's lawn, decapitated
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
and mutilated
Mutilation
Mutilation or maiming is an act of physical injury that degrades the appearance or function of any living body, usually without causing death.- Usage :...
.
One rainy night, Arnett's nephew, caught off guard by the storm, is forced to enter the mysterious house, whose door happens to be unexpectedly open. Once inside, his nose immediately picks up what he describes as "a sweet, sickening smell".
Upon turning on the lights, he encounters all kinds of strange, incomprehensible pieces of furniture, such as a long, u-shaped desk
Desk
A desk is a furniture form and a class of table often used in a work or office setting for reading or writing on or using a computer. Desks often have one or more drawers to store office supplies and papers. Unlike a regular table, usually only one side of a desk is suitable to sit on . Not all...
with circular holes on the two extremes and a ladder
Ladder
A ladder is a vertical or inclined set of rungs or steps. There are two types: rigid ladders that can be leaned against a vertical surface such as a wall, and rope ladders that are hung from the top. The vertical members of a rigid ladder are called stringers or stiles . Rigid ladders are usually...
with irregular holes on each of its steps.
Upon noticing that outside it has stopped raining, Arnett's nephew, horrified, immediately begins his way out. However, as he is leaving, he hears the rustle of the house's inhabitant's advance and realizes that, in order to get out, he will have to pass next to the creature. His curiosity overcomes his fear and he does not close his eyes as he does so.