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See also Necronomicon: Book of the Dead for a complete list of references to clarify differences between these closely named or closely related articles.
The Necronomicon is a fictional grimoire that has appeared in various iterations throughout horror literature, film and even comic books. The Necronomicon was first conceived by Gothic horror writer H.P. Lovecraft and has appeared or been referenced in many of his short stories, most of which revolve around his famous Cthulhu Mythos. It was first mentioned in Lovecraft's 1924 short story "The Hound", where it was revealed to have been compiled by Abdul Alhazred, the "Mad Arab" in the year 730. Known in Arabic as Kitab al-Azif, the Necronomicon is said to possess the knowledge of the Old Ones as well as the means by which to summon them. Other writers, many of whom were contemporaries of Lovecraft, such as August Derleth, have expanded upon Lovecraft's idea of the Necronomicon and incorporated it into their own stories, thus keeping the Cthulhu Mythos alive. This book of ultimate evil was also the subject of a 1993 film called Necronomicon: Book of the Dead. An alternate version of the Necronomicon played a key role in the Evil Dead series of films, comics and video games. Bound in human flesh and written in human blood, the Book of the Dead was of Samarian origin and contained ancient funerary rites as well as possessing the key towards opening up the mystical doorway to allow the Army of Darkness, or Deadites, loose upon the whole of reality. Working class hero and department store clerk Ash Williams stands as humanity's last hope against the forces of darkness. One of the incantations associated with this version of the Necronomicon is "Klaatu Barada Nikto". This phrase is required in order to safely remove the book from it's resting place. However, Ash mis-speaks the words and unwittingly releases the deadite army upon Medeivel England.
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Also referred to as the Book of the Dead and Necronomicon: Ex Mortis.
