H.P Lovecraft

* We know for certain that "Abdul al-Hazred" is fictional, since that is a grammatically impossible construction in Arabic (double article). The rest are likely fictional too; rather, it's a credit to Lovecraft's writing skill that they seem so convincing. There are numerous published "Necronomicons" floating about, which you can find in your local bookstore. I have 4 or 5 myself.

*Also, the observaition that he's not even consistent with his use of "Elder Gods," "Great Old Ones," "Ancient Ones," etc. is quite good evidence to me that there's no occult mystery behind it. Nor to mention the fact that Lovecraft himself was an avowed atheist.

I say that Lovecraft is best appreciated as good fiction. To try to make his work out to be some secret history of the occult world is to diminish his writing for what it is -- simple old-fashioned good storytelling.
 
Ruel,

I just have to say that I really enjoyed your website. I found it all interesting but I have to admit that I especially enjoyed the bellydancer pages. Keep up the good work :D .
 
Cool link.

There was a collerction of stories under the title: Cthulhu 2000" that came out on the millenium, shirts by Roger Zelazny, Bruce Sterling, Gene Wolf, and others. Fun stuff.

In the Preface, Lovecraft gives his definition of the true function of fantasy: "...to give the imagination a ground for limitless expansion, and to satisfy aesthetically the sincere and burning curiosity and sense of awe which a sensitive minority of mankind feel toward the alluring and provocative abysses of unplumbed space..."

Keith
 
I very much agree with Ruel about the power of the "original" Lovecraft works. I have not read anything by others that even approximate Lovecraft's works.

The idea that there are "nodal points" where our reality touches other dimensions seems somehow frighteningly "right."

I was very into science fantasy books as a younger man. Lovecraft was one of the few writers who scared me. Most of the others were interesting, but did not have the reality -- the darkness -- the power -- he exhibited.

Later as a student of comparative religions I have begun to see parallels in many cultures that could be interpreted as being based in these tenets.

I do not mean to step on any toes here and apologize in advance if I do, I mean this merely as a comentary on the "sameness" that underlies religion.

A sameness that fascinates me from studies of the inner teachings of many religions, Hebrew, Hindu, Christian, Islam, also various animistic religions and cults.

A sameness that seems to point that there is an underlying "hardwiring" of humanity. Something in our progamming, perhaps DNA, perhaps instinctual racial memories.... Jung's racial unconsciousness?

Some of you may be aware of the magical connections existant in Indonesia where a delicate balance of good and evil, -- Rangda and Barong --, --sekala and niskala--, exist.

It is NEVER a battle that is won by "good" or "evil" but a balancing. A centering. Yet for the Indonesians, Hindu and Muslim --- even Christian, a constant awareness of the "invisible world", and where it interacts with the visible ON A DAILY BASIS!

The Theyyam of Malabar. Strange mystics who invite demonic (wrathful) gods and goddesses to posses them and speak of strange worlds beyond. I have one of their shamanic "kits," sword, shield, anklets and belt.

The Batak of northern Summatra with their strange ship-like houses and their animistic beliefs that so strangely underlay their "Christian" conversion. Same with the Nagas of northern India.

Dare I even mention charismatic Christians? Speaking in tongues? "Gifts" of the Pentacost?

Hey, what do I know? I am a Baptist.

"Nodal Points?" Where other dimesions touch ours? I think that there are many. I hope that the ones that Lovecarft wrote about are covered. The five pointed star he mentions is a powerful protective symbol. But also if there are bad guys, there must be good guys, or else would the Universe stay in balance?

Would we not now already be overrun with "rugose cone-shaped beings?" Would not Chtulu be awakened and the earth rendered uninhabitible to humans? Hell, if we don't curb our nuclear weapons, it may happen.

Would "fiction" like Lovecraft wrote about affect us so powerfully if there were not some basis? At least in our instinctual reality?

Holy Smoke!!!!
 
* Thanks Jebadiah! Of the several sections my website has devolved into, the Bellydance and Fashion sections have reaped the greatest and most immediate rewards. Now to find a bellydancer with a khukuri....! :cool:


* Bill,

On another section of my site, I'm planning to tackle these same connections -- modern horror/traditional belief -- in relation to another contemporary mythology, Clive Barker's Hellraiser. Like Lovecraft, Barker created being (his Cenobites) who are really supposed to be beyond good and evil, and thus follow Lovecraft's perspective in contrasting the world of everyday experience with a hidden world of vast and extreme experiences which are beyond the ability of the sane mind (or body, in Barker's case) to comprehend.

And unfortunately, also like Lovecraft, Barker's imitators have drifted away from the original intent and turned his Cenobites, like Lovecraft's Ancient Ones, into ordinary 'demons locked in some hidden realm waiting to be released.'

"EXPLORERS IN THE FURTHER REGIONS OF EXPERIENCE": A Tribute to the Cenobites of HELLRAISER

There's especially alot of affinity between the Cenobites and many of the wrathful Tantric dieties worshipped in Nepal.
 
Being from Leng myself, I think H.P. got it right on. Seriously though, I think the power comes from what is implied. Even his choice of adjectives and general writing style lends itself to the imagination. Lovercraft never boldly stated What was or Why or How. His descriptions were vague, his monsters even more so. It really lets your mind run wild. Some writers after who picked up on his themes tried too hard to flesh it all out. I think it was best left cloudy and nebulous.
 
* Exactly -- horror characters lose their horror if they're overused. This happened to both Lovecraft's Ancient Ones and Barker's Cenobites.

* The "Frozen Plateau of Leng" is actually real: It's a region in Tibet. And Sarnath, from the Lovecraft story "The Doom that came to Sarnath," is also the site of the Buddha's first sermon, though I think it's just coincidence.
 
Right on Keith. Read the opening paragraph of "The Call of Chutulu". That in a nutshell was Lovecraft's entire premise. We don't know even a small percent of what we think we do, and there is more we never imagined.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top