History Main / TomeofEldritchLore

* It doesn't have a name, but Winifred's book in ''Film/HocusPocus'' qualifies. Given to her by {{Satan}} himself, it is bound in human flesh and cannot be destroyed by any known method (when the protagonist tries to burn it, it doesn't burn). It's also ''alive'', proven by an eyeball set in the cover, which moves around on its own accord. Among the evil spells that Winnie casts from this book is the curse she places on Thackery which [[BalefulPolymorph turns him into a cat]] and makes him unable to die, and a spell which raises her ex-lover Billy from the dead as a [[OurZombiesAreDifferent zombie]]; it also contains the recipe for the potion used to keep her and her sisters forever young — at the cost of the lives of children.

** A recurring parody of the ''Necronomicon'' is the ''Necrotelicomnicon'', translated as "On Communing with the Deceased" or the "Phonebook of the Dead". It was written by "Achmed the Mad", who prefers to be known as "Achmed the [[InsistentTerminology Sometimes I Just Get These Headaches]]" — his AboutTheAuthor page [[IncendiaryExponent spontaneously combusted]], leaving only the "Other Books by the Same Author" page (which has only one entry, ''Achmed the I Just Get These Headaches's Book of Humorous Cat Stories''). Reading it will drive a man insane, and ''Literature/EqualRites'' recounts the unfortunate case of a mage who tried to read it and was not only never seen again, but whose compatriots noticed that the book became several pages thicker. It's kept at the Unseen University library by the Librarian, who deals with the book containing [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow things man was not meant to know]] by being [[BalefulPolymorph an orangutan]] and thus [[LoopholeAbuse not technically a "man"]] — but he does get a headache and a nasty rash. The ''Necrotelicomnicon'' also appears in Pratchett's collaboration with Creator/NeilGaiman, ''Literature/GoodOmens'', and from there to Gaiman's ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' (under its alternate title ''Liber Paginarum Fulvarum'', which is [[CanisLatinicus Dog Latin]] for "The Book of the Yellow Pages").

* The ''Literature/MalleusMaleficarum'' is a book written by fifteenth-century [[TheWitchHunter witch-hunters]] to record said witches' alleged depraved practices, and the equally cruel tortures that were visited on suspected witches. However, its recommendation by the reigning Pope was forged; he actually ''denounced'' the book as heretical (even though he did overturn previous canon stating that belief in witchcraft was ''itself'' heretical), claiming that the book's authors were acting outside the authority and beliefs of the Church. This didn't stop Protestants, or secular authorities in Catholic-dominated areas, from using it in their {{witch hunt}}s, though. It was written by a German monk (who co-credits another "author" without his permission, pissing him off royally once he found out) who was [[AuthorAppeal so hopelessly obsessed with demon rape]] that he got tossed from every monastery he was sent to just by not shutting up about it.

* The ''Literature/MalleusMaleficarum'' is a book written by fifteenth-century [[TheWitchHunter witch-hunters]] to record said witches' alleged depraved practices, and the equally cruel tortures that were visited on suspected witches. However, its recommendation by the reigning Pope was forged; he actually ''denounced'' the book as heretical (even though he did overturn previous canon stating that belief in witchcraft was ''itself'' heretical), claiming that the book's authors were acting outside the authority and beliefs of the Church. This didn't stop secular authorities from using it in their {{witch hunt}}s, though. It was written by a German monk (who co-credits another "author" without his permission, pissing him off royally once he found out) who was [[AuthorAppeal so hopelessly obsessed with demon rape]] that he got tossed from every monastery he was sent to just by not shutting up about it.

* The ''Literature/AnarchistCookbook'' has this reputation, as it deals with shady techniques like creating homemade explosives. However, most of the "recipes" are woefully unreliable, meaning that uninformed {{Mad Bomber}}s who use the book are far more likely to injure ''themselves'' than to commit any effective terrorism. Worse, since the early days of TheInternet, sites like Website/{{Usenet}} have been circulating various other "anarchist cookbooks" that are even less accurate than the original.
* [[UsefulNotes/MarieCurie Marie Curie's]] notebooks are so radioactive, even many years since her death, that they require protective equipment to handled, and are kept in a lead-lined box.

* The grimoire in the eponymous novel ''Liber Lilith'' is a highly disturbing, and often blasphemous [[{{UsefulNotes/Gnosticism}} Gnostic]] text, apparently written in the early Common Era that is attributed to Lameth, the son of Cain in the Bible. It describes Lilith as the creation of the Demiurge Samael who was the true creator of Adam, as well as being the Serpent who tempted Eve (who was created by Samael, causing Lilith to become jealous). The rest of the grimoire describes the grotesque rituals needed to worship Lilith in exchange for great power and enlightenment, which often involve ingredients such as baby fat and mensural blood; the rituals themselves ranging from mere possession by her to (spoilered for NauseaFuel) [[spoiler:what the disclaimerr at the beginning describes as [[{{Squick}} "sexual necromancy"]] .]] Much of the book is a reproduction of the diary of a German occultist named Karl Steiger who attempts to worship Lilith as the book describes, only to be driven to insanity, being tormented by horrific nightmares, and becoming increasingly paranoid and distrustful of the outside world before losing contact with reality altogether and committing suicide.

* The end of the first act of ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'' has Max, while closing in on Jack Lupino, coming across his collection of occult books, such as "Necronomicon", "Witchcraft", "Literature/ParadiseLost", the "Literature/MalleusMaleficarum" and "De Umbrarum Regni Novem Portis", as well as stacks of horror videos and Ouija boards. Subverted in that the books don't contain any kind of dark magic at all, but are a sign that Lupino has lost his mind due to being hopped up on [[FantasticDrug Valkyr]].

-->'''Max Payne:''' The only thing I could take seriously was Lupino taking it seriously. He'd been spending a lot of time getting intimate with the guy downstairs.

* The end of the first act of ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'' has Max, while closing in on Jack Lupino, coming across his collection of occult books, such as "Necronomicon", "Witchcraft", "Literature/ParadiseLost", the "Literature/MalleusMaleficarum" and "De Umbrarum Regni Novem Portis". Subverted in that these tomes don't contain any dark magic at all, but are very indicative that Lupino has lost his mind due to being hopped up on [[FantasticDrug Valkyr]].

* The end of the first act of ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'' has Max, while closing in on Jack Lupino, coming across his collection of occult books, such as "Necronomicon", "Witchcraft", "Poetry/ParadiseLost", the "Literature/MalleusMaleficarum" and "De Umbrarum Regni Novem Portis". Subverted in that these tomes don't contain any dark magic at all, but are very indicative that Lupino has lost his mind due to being hopped up on [[FantasticDrug Valkyr]].

* In ''Film/{{Warlock}}'', the Grand Grimoire is a Satanic book that was broken up long ago. When brought together it reveals the hidden name of God, which if said backwards will undo all that he created and destroy the world.

* Creator/KurtBusiek's ''The Wizard's Tale'' revolves around a Tome of Eldritch Lore which the [[IneptMage inept]] and not particularly evil wizard must locate and cast spells from. [[spoiler:Fortunately, he learns that the good guys hid it rather than destroyed it because it contains a spell to banish evil. He [[HeelFaceTurn casts it instead]].]]
* ''Franchise/GreenLantern'':

* The ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' also brings us the Sith holocrons: essentially audio/video/Force recordings of a [[TheCorrupter Sith Lord's teachings]] and accumulated dark wisdom. They're almost always hidden someplace unpleasant, and if you can find one and disarm all the booby traps, you ''might'' get [[SarcasmMode lucky]] enough to [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity learn something]]. Have fun!

** In the ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' setting, one of the most powerful (if not ''the'' most powerful) artifact are ''The Nether Scrolls'', two sets of 50 scrolls made of gold or platinum sheets. They are completely harmless by themselves, but they contain near-limitless amount of magical knowledge; no matter how many times the scrolls have been perused, there is always new information to be gained. In fact, the Netherese grew to be the most dominant magical empire ever known simply by the power of this artifact.

** The ''Necronomicon'' has now become so ingrained in Western culture as the definitive Tome of Eldritch Lore that it's been {{Defictionaliz|ation}}ed, to an extent. Obviously, no one can print a ''Necronomicon'' that actually drives you mad, but enterprising pranksters have inserted fake library card entries for the book (using its ostensible author "A. Alhazred", from the books' "Abdul Alhazred [[InsistentTerminology the Mad Arab]]"). The book has also been used as a sort of shorthand for the Cthulhu mythos as a whole (for example, ''My First Necronomicon'', a primer to the mythos for children, bound in soft felt no less). Some people [[DaydreamBeliever aren't convinced it's fictional]], and during the "[[YouCanPanicNow Satanic Panic]]" of the 1980s, several instructional guides on [[CouldThisHappenToYou how to tell if your kid was involved in Satanism]] asked if they had ever read the ''Necronomicon''. Among the books calling themselves the ''Necronomicon'' are:

* AncientEgypt had the ''Book of Going Forth by Day'', popularly known as the ''Book of the Dead''. It was a collection of various spells for different Pharaohs printed on the walls of their tombs. These spells or "prayers" differed from individual to individual, although some were very similar or even identical, but each combination was unique and could only be used by the Pharaoh to whom they belonged. The spells were usually some form of magical protection against demons in the underworld, or incantations to help one reach paradise.

* A comedic variation in ''{{Webcomic/Nodwick}}'', where the scroll of ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow causes heads to explode... if they're men. Women who read it are not only fine, they gain insight into the male mind ([[http://comic.nodwick.com/?comic=2001-11-21 such that one had a fit of laughter and couldn't stop cracking up on seeing a man, knowing what he was sensitive about]]).

** Then in true 40k fashion, it goes [[UpTo11 overboard]] with the Black Library: an entire extradimensional stronghold full of forbidden lore, guarded by [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot space elf ninja clowns]] who worship a god that managed to trick other gods into '''eating each other'''. Named the Laughing God of course.

** And again in ''Series/WandaVision'', used by [[spoiler:Agatha Harkness]]. And then by [[spoiler:Wanda]] herself.

-->"I'm never stocking them again, never! It's been bedlam! I thought we'd seen the worst when we bought two hundred copies of ''The Invisible Book of Invisibility'' — cost a fortune, and we never found them."

** Notably, it's part of a two-tape set. The other tape, Chapter White, records the best ''good'' deeds ever done by humans, and you're not supposed to watch one without the other. [[WhatAnIdiot Guess what Sensui did]].

** In the episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E23InspirationManifestation Inspiration Manifestation]]", the book that Spike finds with the spell to help Rarity is hidden in the old Everfree Castle, hidden by a secret wall, behind a locked gate, and on a rock stairway that immediately crumbles when the book is removed from the pedestal. It's made of stone and even has spikes sticking out of the cover. [[WhatanIdiot Spike seems to think it's safe]]. The only spell actually used from it, the titular Inspiration Manifestation, gives Rarity the power to create or "improve" anything she imagines — at the cost of [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity slowly turning her into a megalomaniac]] [[MadArtist determined to transform the world into an artistic masterpiece.]]

* The various books you read in ''VideoGame/CultistSimulator'' can besides eldritch lore occasionally give you Fascination or Dread, which may lead you down a SanitySlippage or a DespairEventHorizon respectively

* ZigZagged by the UsefulNotes/{{Columbine}} High School Massacre. The two left behind a treasure trove of home videos, diaries, and other records that detailed their thought processes, attitudes, and plans for the massacre. While the diaries have been made publicly available, the home videos were [[SealedEvilInACan sealed away from the public by local law enforcement]] until the sheriff approved their destruction in 2011 with the support of the culprits' and victims' families for fear that they could inspire further violence. Instead, [[https://lostmediawiki.com/The_Basement_Tapes_(partially_found_Columbine_killers_video_diary;_1999) transcripts were made available]]. As a result professionals in the field of criminal psychology have had books' worth of material to write about the attack, which helped further the understanding of how a young troubled person becomes radicalized and could have curbed future attacks [[ImmoralJournalist if the mainstream media didn't actively sensationalize attacks like these to this day despite the warnings]] [[JackTheRipoff they're only making it worse]].

* ZigZagged by the UsefulNotes/{{Columbine}} High School Massacre. The two left behind a treasure trove of home videos, diaries, and other records that detailed their thought processes, attitudes, and plans for the massacre. While the diaries have been made publicly available, the home videos were [[SealedEvilInACan sealed away from the public by local law enforcement]] until the sheriff approved their destruction in 2011 with the support of the culprits' and victims' families for fear that they could inspire further violence. Instead, [[https://lostmediawiki.com/The_Basement_Tapes_(partially_found_Columbine_killers_video_diary;_1999) transcripts were made available]].