The faint terrestrial echo of the hideous laughter of blind mad gods
September 12, 2015 3:11 PM Subscribe
Alex Gonzalez's "Lovecraft Letters" re-imagine problematic online dating messages as NSFW communication with unnameable creatures from beyond (1 2 3 4). Mallory Ortberg's hilarious "Texts from H.P. Lovecraft" focus on HPL himself, while Richard Svensson's brief video "The Lovecraft Alphabet" and David Haden's "Consult Mr. Lovecraft" plot generator present cute illustrations or parodies of HPL's work.
On a much more serious note, David Haden also maintains Open Lovecraft, a bibliography of Lovecraft / weird fiction scholarship available online. Linked there is James Machin's recent blog post publishing a 5,000 word letter from HPL, notable for its hints about the novel that "Azathoth" might have been and also for the moment it represents: Lovecraft's near miss at becoming editor of Weird Tales. And HPL's passing remark that "I don't take myself too seriously," though dubious in its context, suggests why his correspondent would also eventually offer him a job adapting jokes for a humor magazine. On his own, Lovecraft did write humor pieces of a sort and often referred to fellow writers jokingly as cultists participating in his mythology. But neither job worked out, and Lovecraft's infamous residence in Brooklyn persisted instead.
On a much more serious note, David Haden also maintains Open Lovecraft, a bibliography of Lovecraft / weird fiction scholarship available online. Linked there is James Machin's recent blog post publishing a 5,000 word letter from HPL, notable for its hints about the novel that "Azathoth" might have been and also for the moment it represents: Lovecraft's near miss at becoming editor of Weird Tales. And HPL's passing remark that "I don't take myself too seriously," though dubious in its context, suggests why his correspondent would also eventually offer him a job adapting jokes for a humor magazine. On his own, Lovecraft did write humor pieces of a sort and often referred to fellow writers jokingly as cultists participating in his mythology. But neither job worked out, and Lovecraft's infamous residence in Brooklyn persisted instead.
I am not sure what "mind-swopping" is, but I am certain that we need to legislate against it now.
posted by Zarkonnen at 3:41 PM on September 12, 2015
posted by Zarkonnen at 3:41 PM on September 12, 2015
Why in the name of all that is, um, Ia! Nyarlathotep! would you want to re-invent that particular wheel?
posted by sneebler at 3:55 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by sneebler at 3:55 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Anyone anyone can write like that
anyone anyone can be a hack
but if one only one just understands
take em in take em in take em in to my den....
I'm telling you there's something you don't see,
coming any day now.
4000 years make them wiser...
posted by vrakatar at 4:17 PM on September 12, 2015
anyone anyone can be a hack
but if one only one just understands
take em in take em in take em in to my den....
I'm telling you there's something you don't see,
coming any day now.
4000 years make them wiser...
posted by vrakatar at 4:17 PM on September 12, 2015
MEET HOT LOCAL SINGLES, LURCHING FROM THE GLOOM, WAILING A CHORUS OF MADNESS
posted by weston at 4:34 PM on September 12, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by weston at 4:34 PM on September 12, 2015 [5 favorites]
The Lovecraft Alphabet was fantastic, never-mind all the other great links - thanks Monsieur Caution
posted by BinaryApe at 1:44 AM on September 13, 2015
posted by BinaryApe at 1:44 AM on September 13, 2015
Lovecraft Letters 1: Your eyes-such an attractive disaster.Am love in it [...] I am love with only your attractive eyes.nothing elseThat's an unnerving horror story even before Gonzalez rewrote it into Lovecraftiana.
While I just can't get on board with MetaFilter's collective love of Mallory Ortberg, I really enjoyed the other above-the-fold links (especially The Lovecraft Alphabet) and am looking forward to deep-diving into the more that lurks inside.
Consult Mr. Lovecraft: A FISH-FROG SUCKS HIS DREAMS INTO AN INTERDIMENSIONAL PORTAL.NO YOU TORE MY DREAMS AWAY FROM ME
posted by brianrobot at 6:45 PM on September 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
Lovecraft in Brooklyn, now that takes me back....
posted by Chrysostom at 9:01 PM on September 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:01 PM on September 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
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Not... entirely without promise.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:24 PM on September 12, 2015