Author Archives: asdjfdlkf

‘We’re gonna need a bigger letter-box!’

03 Thursday Jan 2019

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S.T. Joshi has a new blog post that announces he has finished work on…

“His Own Most Fantastic Creation, an original anthology of stories using Lovecraft (or a Lovecraft-like figure) as a fictional character.”

And the post has the contents list for this. It’s PS Publishing, so I expect it will probably be an expensive paper edition to start with. It’s set for “later this year” according to Joshi.

Hippocampus books of Lovecraft letters, said to be expected for early in 2019, are also noted by Joshi…

“the compilation of the letters between Smith and August Derleth; Lovecraft’s Letters to Family and Family Friends (a 1200-page book!); Letters to Wilfred B. Talman and Helen V. Sully; Letters to Donald Wandrei and Others”

The Dealings of Daniel Kesserich

03 Thursday Jan 2019

Posted by in Historical context, New books

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New to me, The Dealings of Daniel Kesserich by Fritz Leiber. It’s of interest for being an early strongly Lovecraft-influenced tale of substantial length, and for being left out of the book Fritz Leiber and H.P. Lovecraft: Writers of the Dark. Apparently the setting is the California of the small desert towns. It was drafted by a young raw Fritz Leiber in 1936, under the influence of Lovecraft.

There’s no mention of it in Joshi’s survey book Rise and Fall of the Cthulhu Mythos, and Joshi remarks elsewhere that it “it is not to be considered a ‘Lovecraftian’ story” even though it does include Lovecraft’s “style and trademark concepts” — which makes it sound even more interesting than a simple Mythos monster romper-stomper. Early attempts by major writers at Lovecraft’s style and themes are always of interest here at Tentaclii and I’m pleased to find a substantial non-Derleth one that I was previously unaware of. There’s more… the Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction Literature also terms it “a Wellsian romance”, and Supernatural Fiction Writers calls it “clearly influenced by H. G. Wells” — which again appeals due to my interest in Wells’s The Time Machine. Definitely one for my reading pile, and it’s short enough to pick up when in the mood and to get through fairly quickly.

Presumably Lovecraft was sent a carbon of the draft of Dealings of Daniel Kesserich? Joshi writes of… “Fritz Leiber, who had shown some of his first attempts at sword-and-sorcery to his correspondent H. P. Lovecraft” so it might be fairly safe to assume he could have also sent the draft of “Daniel Kesserich”.

Later the tale was revised and pitched at the pulp magazine Unknown Worlds. Presumably it was then rejected or held, or sent back for revision, since it was filed and lost for around 50 years.

There’s no audiobook or ebook. A free “to borrow” copy is available on Archive.org, and I see that the slim hardback edition is currently available at a fairly modest price on Amazon.

D’Arkham a Malpertuis: Jean Ray & Lovecraft

02 Wednesday Jan 2019

Posted by in New books

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I’m still picking up on news of items I missed during the summer 2015 – summer 2018 hiatus. One such is a 2016 paperback, D’Arkham a Malpertuis: Jean Ray & Lovecraft, Patrice Allart makes the case that Lovecraft’s influence can be found throughout the works of the Belgian writer Jean Ray. The author also surveys other writers of France and Belgium who were also subject to influence from Lovecraft. I’m uncertain if this includes the wealth of comics writers and artists to be found in France and Belgium, but Ray was also a comics writer (a far more culturally-valued role in France and Belgium, note) and the book’s blurb suggests the survey is very comprehensive…

“No one can doubt it now: the Great Old Ones haunt the writings of the author of Malpertuis. And that’s not all: Patrice Allart takes the opportunity to draw up a list of the French-speaking heirs of the two Masters of Fantasy. Some names are sure to surprise. The extensive bibliographies that complete this essay will be the source of many discoveries, even for the experienced reader.”

That latter part might be something that a Francophile Lovecraftian could consider using to write a comprehensive survey of the pre-1985 material in French, perhaps for The Lovecraft Annual?

Who was Jean Ray? I can’t say he’s a name on the tip of my tongue, and it appears he’s a writer who is little known in the Anglosphere. The basics are…

Jean Ray (1887-1964), pseudonym of Jean Raymond Marie De Kremer, Belgian novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. Known for his prolific output of pre-war crime fiction, and his later more considered narratives of horror and the fantastic in both French and Flemish. He also published comics under the pseudonym John Flanders. His Malpertuis (1943) was filmed with Orson Welles in the leading role.

Cool French Comics called him… “The most famous author of Belgian fantastique”. Other informed comment suggests he occupies “a literary meeting ground between H.P. Lovecraft and Charles Dickens” and was “a cross between Lovecraft and Seabury Quinn, with a touch of Robert Bloch”. He’s still highly regarded in France, if this 2017 issue of Bifrost is anything to go by…

Also, alongside Jean Ray & Lovecraft in the same book series, ‘La Bibliotheque d’Abdul Alhazred’ [The Library of Alhazred], I note L’enigme du livre qui rend fou: Histoire d’Abdul al-Hazred & du Necronomicon [The enigma of the forbidden book of madness: the story of Abdul al-Hazred and The Necronomicon].

Lovecraft and Borges

01 Tuesday Jan 2019

Posted by in Lovecraftian arts

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A new blog article on “Borges, Lovecraft, and Metaphysical Horror”. Be warned, there are huge plot-spoilers for Borges, in so far as he has plots.

Borges actually explores hidden knowledge [and its implications] … Borges’ horror is [thus] the culmination of Lovecraft’s program

Previously on Tentaclii:

“Lovecraft to Borges: cities in deserts”; “Borges leitor de Lovecraft”; “The Necronomicon seen from the Aleph: pseudo-intertextuality in Lovecraft and Borges”; and “Mathematical Monstrosity: Lovecraft’s geometry, Borges’s infinity, and beyond”.

Yes! We Have Bananas!

31 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in Lovecraftian arts, Odd scratchings

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The sheet music for the song “Yes! We Have No Bananas” by Robert King and James F. Hanley slips out-of-copyright in America at the start of 2019, having been held up for 20 years by the Mickey Mouse Protection Act.

One H.P. Lovecraft once crept (rather naughtily) up to the organ loft of the Providence First Baptist church and tried to play this tune to liven things up a bit. Now it can be played whenever and wherever one spots a handy organ loft, royalty free.

In terms of being a 1923 publication one assumes that the Lovecraft revision story “The Horror at Martin’s Beach” (1923), written with Sonia, is affected by this? His other 1923 fiction is already in the public domain. His 1924 collaborations “The Loved Dead” and “Imprisoned with the Pharaohs” also seem likely to be affected at the start of 2020, as the annual conveyor-belt of releases now starts up again after the 20 year hiatus.

The 1923 Harry Clarke edition of Poe’s Tales of mystery and imagination also seems of interest for its outstanding illustrations by the Irish artist. It appears to be a New York first edition, but is actually a reprint from 1919 but with new illustrations including new colour plates.

This 1923 Life cover is also rather good…

Wladyslaw T. Benda died 1948, so presumably his art also comes out of copyright under the 70 years rule?

In terms of “70 years” literature from authors who died in 1948, and likely to be of interest to readers of this blog, see this post. Canada and New Zealand have life plus 50 years, and so get Mervyn Peake’s work (Gormenghast).

New books from Modiphius

31 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in Lovecraftian arts, New books, REH, Scholarly works

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A new 120-page book claims to catalogue all the monsters of Robert E. Howard. Conan: Horrors of the Hyborean Age appears to be one of those PDF books for gamers that that give them the monster ‘stats’, but which are also rather useful for the reference shelves of writers.

Not sure about the cover, though. I recently re-read the Howard Conan stories in audiobook and I don’t quite remember Wonder Woman fighting a T. Rex, as per this book’s cover. Nor the distinctly LOTR orc who flanks Conan.

As a gamebook it needs to be interflipped with the Robert E. Howard’s Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed core rule-book. There appear to be other catalogue-like guide books to Conan’s world in the same series, one on Ancient Ruins & Cursed Cities and a guide to Nameless Cults, Cosmology and Gods. Apparently they all have inspiring art inside, and I’d guess also some maps.

New book – The Cracks of Doom: Untold Tales in Middle-earth

31 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in New books, Scholarly works

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New book! The Cracks of Doom: Untold Tales in Middle-earth. This new book is available now in paper. It is a side-project from my larger scholarly Tolkien book, and should be of interest to RPG makers as well as to fan-writers of Tolkien stories set in Middle-earth.

The Cracks of Doom is a comprehensive, fully annotated and indexed list of ‘Untold Tales’ in Middle-earth, pointing out the ‘cracks’ where new fan-works or role-playing might be developed. There are 125 entries and these usually lightly suggest ideas for story development and connections that might not otherwise be considered. This book is intended as a handy and inspiring reference work for writers, game makers, role-players, performers and daydreamers. It will also be useful for scholars seeking to understand what Tolkien “left out” and why, or those interested in ‘transformative works’ and fandom.

1. Introduction: “On Untold Tales in Middle-earth”.

2. Writing guidance: “Faith, Duty and Fun: plan and style in Middle-earth fiction”.

3. The list: ‘Openings, Gaps and Cracks’. 125 entries. Note that this is only for LOTR, inc. the Appendices. It also draws on Unfinished Tales, books in the History series, and for one item I also reference the Letters. It does not, of course, delve into the vast amount of material in The Silmarillion.

Sample:

PDF sample with the Index. The full book has 64 pages, about 22,000-words, with place and character Index. The book is wholly unofficial, and very respectful of Tolkien’s vision.

Happy New Year

30 Sunday Dec 2018

Posted by in Odd scratchings

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Wishing you, dear reader, a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

This month I count 16,000 words posted on my H.P. Lovecraft blog, along with numerous pictures, several maps and a couple of lengthy reviews. Also many Web links to new books, a major rock album, and scholarly works including one new free PhD thesis by a fantasy writer on R.E. Howard. Plus my year-end round-up, to be found in the post “Lovecraft’s 2018: a year in review”.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading your daily Tentaclii during December. If you were thinking of making a few New Year resolutions, it would be great if support for ‘Tentaclii’ could be one of them!

Please help me continue doing this blog, by supporting me on Patreon. Currently my Patreon is at $24 a month, and my current aim is $50 a month. It would be very encouraging to me if you were to add just $1 a month on top, or perhaps more!

Gloom Number

30 Sunday Dec 2018

Posted by in Historical context, Lovecraftian arts

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As we say goodbye to an irrationally gloom-shrouded year, it seems surprisingly fitting that I stumble on the newly-posted cover of Life magazine’s “Gloom Number” from July 1914. One imagines Lovecraft must have noticed this in the Reading Room of the Public Library, and on the magazine racks, at the start of July 1914.

Presumably the death of John Barleycorn, dated to 1st July 1919 on the central tombstone, had some relevance to the anticipated legal and political moves toward prohibition of alcohol? The cartoonist would thus be implying that the planned prohibition of alcohol would not work. If that’s the case then he also implied that those who promoted prohibition were gloomy killjoys, long past the age at which fun might be had.

London Lovecraft Festival returns in 2019

29 Saturday Dec 2018

Posted by in Lovecraftian arts

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The London Lovecraft Festival Returns…

“This year [2019] the festival is one day longer and many productions will be larger, with several one-off performances especially created for the festival. These include: a staged reading of “Cool Air” originally done at the 2005 Seattle Lovecraft Festival; a production of “Shivers”, the cult favourite spooky tales and music event; and a first-ever “Night of a Thousand Tentacles: Lovecraft” burlesque evening on opening night, co-produced with the Clocktopus Cabaret. There is also an interactive production “Patient 4620” which will place over all seven days of the festival, off-site at the Royal Museum of Contemporary Art. […] Two brand new, fully-realized productions will make their world premiere at the festival: “Late Night with Cthulhu”, a look at life after the Old Ones take over; and “Lovecraft After Dark”, an expansion of story-teller Jonathan Goodwin’s excursion into weird fiction. […] two nights of the show “Providence”, a blending of Lovecraft’s life and stories; a reading of “Pickman’s Model” by master storyteller Robert Lloyd Parry; two nights of a puppet-enhanced version of “The Lurking Fear”; and a sound-effects/radio play presentation of “The Colour out of Space. The festival also has a new writing strand…”.