The summary ‘abstracts’ of papers delivered at the recent Zurich conference “Transitions and Dissolving Boundaries in the Fantastic”, 13th to 16th September 2012. Two of the papers on Lovecraft have abstracts…

“Cosmic Fear. H.P. Lovecraft, die Poetik des Unaussprechlichen und der Horrorfilm” (In German. Translates as: “Cosmic Fear: H.P. Lovecraft, the poetics of the unspeakable, and the horror film”).

“Hybrids as the monstrous in H.P. Lovecraft’s writing” (In English. Examines… “the question of hybridity in three of his short stories”).

A classroom-based education day at City Lit in London, Anthropology: H.P. Lovecraft, esotericism and popular culture. 6th October 2012. Cost is £38. It…

“explores the extensive cultural influence of the work of author Howard Phillips Lovecraft and his fictional ‘Cthulhu Mythos’ upon a range of contemporary ‘alternative’ beliefs such as ufology, cryptozoology and esotericism.”

Those who have paywall access to the prestigious science publication Nature may like to have a look at the two page article in the latest issue, “Science Fiction: the radium age” [1903-1934]… Nature 489, 13th September 2012, pp.204–205…

“Joshua Glenn explores the dark, fascinating, largely forgotten science fiction of the early twentieth century”

The Bodley Head / Financial Times Essay Prize aims to…

“attract the best young talent in long-form essay writing. Open to writers aged 18 to 35, the competition prize is £1,000. Plus an e-publication with Bodley Head, and a mentoring session with a Bodley Head or a FT writer.”

I completely missed the news of the Weird Council: an International Conference on the Writing of China Mieville, which finished yesterday in London. But there’s news that an edited book collection of essays on China Mieville will come out in 2013, arising from the conference.