Lazarus

'Lazarus' is a supernatural return-of-the-living-dead short story by Leonid Andreyev that offers a ubiquitously novel, weird and nihilistic rendition of the Christian resurrection story. Andreyev's profound skepticism bordering on cynicism regarding Christian teachings is spearheaded by Lazarus himself, who comes back from the grave to wreak havoc upon and bring death to the living. A shockingly pessimistic tale that verges on the outer rim of nihilism and cosmic horror, 'Lazarus' is a story to be handled with care, but remains a must for Andreyev's fans, as well as for horror aficionados. A highly recommended read for fans of Mikhail Bulgakov, Edgar Allan Poe, Fyodor Dostoyevsky and H.P. Lovecraft. -