Reading H.P. Lovecraft
#26258 posted by
killpixel on 2015/10/25 18:28:51
I stumbled across the complete works of H.P. Lovecraft in Barnes & Noble a few weeks ago and decided it's about time I check him out. I was concerned that the Lovecraftian stuff I absorbed from pop culture would ruin the mystery of it all, that turns out to not be the case.
I really appreciate the scope of most if his stories and the ease in which events taking place across vasts amounts of time and space are conveyed. I'm not very well read and the only thing I can really compare it to is Paradise Lost and the Divine Comedy, both of which are awesome. I also like the pulpy format which keeps it from getting tiring after a while.
I started off with shorter stories like Pickman's Model, Cool Air, In The Vault, The Temple, The Nameless City, and of course, The Call of Cthulhu. Of these, I found The Temple to be particularly compelling. I feel that it could easily be adapted to film and be really sweet. The Nameless City screamed Quake, or really just video games in general. It was interesting to see that Quake's aesthetic really only has bits of Lovecraft influence instead of a full-on copy. Quake is basically medieval fantasy with a dash of Lovecraft.
Not sure where I'm going with this, perhaps just to say that if you haven't read Lovecraft already it may be worth your time to pick it up. The atmosphere and aesthetic leave quite a bit of room for interpretation and could inspire some pretty cool landscapes and playspaces. I see the irony in suggesting Lovecraft on a Quake forum, but I think Quake only tapped into a small facet and that there is much more that could be expanded upon.
#26259 posted by
Lunaran on 2015/10/25 19:17:06
Kell, who hasn't been seen around here in a while, loves Lovecraft so much he made a hidden shrine in Contract Revoked with his picture and an epitaph. And he basically put half the HPL bestiary in Quoth.
There's Lovecraft influence in Quake because of two things:
1) ID level designer Sandy Petersen also created the Call of Cthulu pen and paper RPG
2) They kind of rushed at the end and put in whatever
Quake clearly isn't an HPL game, but HPL is the thing it borrowed from most visibly.
The Dream-Quest Of Unknown Kadath
#26260 posted by
mankrip on 2015/10/25 21:35:59
Is massively huge. As a non-native English speaker, it was a challenge to fully read it.
In some of Lovecraft's stories our perspective changes so much in the end, that it's compelling to read everything again.
Others, like The Music of Eric Zahn, are more entertaining than challenging; a joy to read from start to finish.
The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward
#26261 posted by
ijed on 2015/10/26 02:56:06
At The Mountains Of Madness
#26262 posted by
ijed on 2015/10/26 02:56:36
Yeah...
#26264 posted by
bal on 2015/10/26 11:45:52
North Face Jackets Clearance is one of the best HPL stories, very under-rated.
LOL.
#26265 posted by
Shambler on 2015/10/26 12:12:50
Leaving that one in for comedy value!
Oh Lawdy
I didn't even realise it was a bot and not ijed.
Huahah
#26267 posted by
ijed on 2015/10/26 12:43:26
That takes the edge off Monday morning.
Guys
#26268 posted by
DaZ on 2015/10/26 14:32:16
WHO says bacon and other processed red meats are a cause of bowel cancer.
Why bacon. why. Kill me
How Processed Is Uncured Unsmoked Back?
#26269 posted by
Shambler on 2015/10/26 15:39:44
Also, vote Dead Pig Oral Sex Guy.
#26270 posted by
JneeraZ on 2015/10/26 16:31:48
They're already backing away from the clickbait headline. It's fine. Everyone relax and eat bacon.
