The phrase “Silver Key” most famously refers to “The Silver Key”, a 1926 fantasy short story written by American horror fiction author H.P. Lovecraft. However, because it is a highly popular name and concept, it also represents a famous artifact in Lovecraftian lore, a recurring item in popular video games, and various real-world entities. The most common meanings are broken down by category below. H.P. Lovecraft Lore & Literature
The Short Story: Written in 1926 and published in Weird Tales in 1929, the story follows Randolph Carter, a recurring Lovecraft character who loses his ability to dream and entry into the magical Dreamlands.
The Artifact: Within the story, Carter discovers an ancient, heavily inscribed silver key in his childhood attic. It is an artifact of ancient Hyperborean origin that unlocks the gates of space and time, allowing him to travel back to his childhood and alter his existence.
The Sequel: The narrative continues in the sequel Through the Gates of the Silver Key, co-written with E. Hoffmann Price, where the key is used to cross cosmic thresholds. Video Games
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