I find I had overlooked a work from 2018, the Spanish book El sonador de Providence: El legado literario de H. P. Lovecraft y su presencia en los videojuegos (‘The Dreamer of Providence: on the literary legacy of H.P. Lovecraft and his influence on videogames’). Published from Seville by Heroes de Papel.
Said when it appeared to be “a detailed review of videogames inspired by Lovecraft’s work, that have appeared since the 1970s.” However the book runs to 320 pages, and seems to be about more than the publisher’s initial “it’s-for-gamers” marketeering might have suggested. The blurb, in approximate translation, gives a fuller picture…
For many the author H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937) represents the definitive point of connection between the gothic terror tale that culminated in Edgar Allan Poe, and the new weird literature and modern science fiction. We all know his creations such as Cthulhu that have now seeped deep into the culture, thanks in part to their powerful impact on fans. But he also raised important points about the place of mankind in the cosmos, the fear of the possible existence of creatures older than Earth, and the discovery of the absence of gods and protective spirits. Aesthetics also meet philosophy in his work and, when woven into innovative narratives, this admixture allures readers with its dreamlike glitter. The Dreamer of Providence is a detailed study drawing on the latest works on Lovecraft, and also a journey through the works of his own masters and his many correspondents. The aim is to build a new and fuller picture of the author for Spanish readers. The book also analyses the influence his creations have had on the language and mechanics used in videogames, and also board or role-playing games. The book especially considers some of the most important videogames, ones that draw most deeply on his philosophy and aesthetic vision.
A Spanish gamer’s recent review indicates that the videogames take a back seat in the first half, and he comments on the clarity of the writing and the clear conveying of a wealth of new-to-the-Spanish information about Lovecraft and his circle. This half also touches on Lovecraft’s distorted Derleth-ian afterlife. It’s in the second half that the games are considered. Apparently Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture is a Lovecraftian videogame? Well… maybe. It seemed more like a distillation of about 20 old 1970s British sci-fi TV series, to me, with a dash of evangelical Christianity. Some Spanish games are also said to be considered, ones that are rarely if ever considered in the Anglosphere.
