driver on 18/6/2006 at 01:52
I'm always surprised when people show a blank face when the name HP Lovecraft is mentioned. When I was growing up, HP Lovecraft and Cthulhu were as known to me as say Dickens and Oliver, and I never even read that much classic literature (That which I did read was usually at gun point by my English teacher).
thefonz on 19/6/2006 at 12:41
I was in the FP megastore just off Oxford Street a few weekends ago. It started out as just an innocent saturday afternoon browse, but as I looked closer in the books section, I found a feast of Lovecraft literature; from the 3 tales from the necronomicon books of all his stuff to the actual necronomicon book itself (even peeked a look at it).
When I get back to London in July I'm definately going to pick them up since Lovecraft is one of my favourite authors.
Sypha Nadon on 19/6/2006 at 15:54
Which Necronomicon was it? I only ask because there's more than one. Personally, I know it's a cliche but I really loved the Simon edition (which is probably the easiest of the Necronomicons to find in bookstores... even the store I work at carries it). I love the whole Sumerian vibe and the sigils inside the book are really beautiful to look at. Too bad it has very little to actually do with Lovecraft, but maybe that's for the best.
Dr_Octogon on 19/6/2006 at 16:20
The world "swarthy" is quintessential Lovecraft to me. I once read a Cthulhu story set in the “wilderness” of rural Swansea where the locals where described as having a “swarthy complexion” and a savage, guttural speech. It’s not Lovecraft without the comedy racism option. He’s always going on about sinister negro rites or the barely human complexion of Polynesian islanders.
Sypha Nadon on 19/6/2006 at 16:45
Yeah, the racism thing is one of the few aspects of Lovecraft's work I don't enjoy, but you have to look past it. I remember a letter he wrote where he said that he liked Hitler (this was pre-WW2 and the Holocaust, of course, but still....)
Much more amusing is when he tries to write dialogue, especially if the character is a backwoods hick, bumpkin, or hayseed: See his short story "The Picture in the House" for an example of this. I love that story, but man, is the dialogue bad.
elkston on 23/4/2008 at 02:30
Quote Posted by Sypha Nadon
Yeah, the racism thing is one of the few aspects of Lovecraft's work I don't enjoy, but you have to look past it. I remember a letter he wrote where he said that he liked Hitler (this was pre-WW2 and the Holocaust, of course, but still....)
What color are you? Because personally I could not continue to read and enjoy the works of someone who felt people of my ethnicity were less than human.
Its easier to let it slide if you're not the one being targeted.
SubJeff on 23/4/2008 at 07:02
I think he might have changed colour since 1998 2006
Brian T on 23/4/2008 at 09:28
HP Lovecraft is a bit like Blue Oyster Cult; cool when you're younger, silly when you get older. Cosmic horror! Wooooooo!
Anyway, "eldritch" is probably his top word. "Unwholesome" makes it into the top ten too.
Moi Dix Mois on 23/4/2008 at 15:09
I'm always suprised when people recommend Call of Cthulhu as an example of 'good' Lovecraft. Am I the only person who found it dull and anticlimactic?
It's not just Call, either. In a lot of stories, he seemed to blow his load too soon (so to speak) for my liking. I always expect something a bit 'more', and come away feeling dissatisfied.
Bearing that in mind, I still thought Shadow Over Innsmouth was
much better than Call. I also liked The Thing on the Doorstep, though everybody else I've spoken to seems to hate it with a passion.
Same goes for Cool Air, The Rats in the Walls, The Horror at Red Hook and The Dunwich Horror.
Anyway: (
http://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/) complete works.
Matthew on 23/4/2008 at 15:25
The Rats in the Walls scared me silly.
