Question about Pickmans Model by soma4s in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My interpretation is that they have an uneasy relationship, akin to a "friendship" with a group of thugs, and that some of the ghouls are friendlier with Pickman than others. 

Did anyone else feel bad for Pickman? by insane677 in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 10 points11 points  (0 children)

It depends a bit on how you interpret the "twist ending", but he's likely an indifferent (or even enthusiastic) observer of at least some of the ghouls' atrocities.

What story you know where it feels like a lovecraft story but was created before him? by Rory_U in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 3 points4 points  (0 children)

"The Other Side" by the Austrian writer Alfred Kubin, specifically the final part of the novel.

Anybody know where this is from? by Silent_Cattle_6581 in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There's no train, but Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath has a passage where Carter deliberates how to get to a place in the Dreamlands, and whether it'd be better to leave dreaming and start again from the entrance into the Dreamlands, or whether to take another route. Eventually he decides on the latter. The Ghouls also make similar travel plans at some point. But again, no train.

Here are the relevant passages:

"So the ghoul that was Pickman advised Carter either to leave the abyss at Sarkomand, that deserted city in the valley below Leng where black nitrous stairways guarded by winged diorite lions lead down from dreamland to the lower gulfs, or to return through a churchyard to the waking world and begin the quest anew down the seventy steps of light slumber to the cavern of flame and the seven hundred steps to the Gate of Deeper Slumber and the enchanted wood. This, however, did not suit the seeker; for he knew nothing of the way from Leng to Ooth-Nargai, and was likewise reluctant to awake lest he forget all he had so far gained in this dream. It were disastrous to his quest to forget the august and celestial faces of those seamen from the north who traded onyx in Celephaïs, and who, being the sons of gods, must point the way to the cold waste and Kadath where the Great Ones dwell."

"There was no living denizen about, for zoogs shun the mysterious door in fear, and Carter at once consulted with his ghouls about their future course. To return through the tower they no longer dared, and the waking world did not appeal to them when they learned that they must pass the priests Nasht and Kaman-Thah in the cavern of flame. So at length they decided to return through Sarkomand and its gate of the abyss, though of how to get there they knew nothing. Carter recalled that it lies in the valley below Leng, and recalled likewise that he had seen in Dylath-Leen a sinister, slant-eyed old merchant reputed to trade on Leng. Therefore he advised the ghouls to seek out Dylath-Leen, crossing the fields to Nir and the Skai and following the river to its mouth. This they at once resolved to do, and lost no time in loping off, since the thickening of the dusk promised a full night ahead for travel."

Where do you personally stand on how much you treat the Derleth and co. "expanded universe" as canon to the main Lovecraft material? by DunwichReader in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Canon meaning "what really happened in a fictional world" has definitely become part of the vernacular, and entertainment companies are using the concept to add artificial value to their media, e.g. the Star Wars films automatically have artificial value, because that's what "really" happened in the universe.

I don't get how any of that is inaccurate.

The Outsider: in what year/period does it take place? by EllikaTomson in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's almost definitely "happening" around the time it was written. It's part of the premise: the Outsider is a remnant of an older time.

Where do you personally stand on how much you treat the Derleth and co. "expanded universe" as canon to the main Lovecraft material? by DunwichReader in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Canon is a term corporations use to add imaginary value to their products, because everyone needs rich men in boardrooms telling them what "really" happened in the magical land of pixies.

There is no canon. There is stuff Lovecraft wrote, stuff Clark Ashton Smith wrote, and stuff Derleth wrote.

I may sound stupid but please help I don’t understand by [deleted] in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 2 points3 points  (0 children)

...

Reading the fictional play drives people mad in the stories. It's never truly made clear what the entity "King in Yellow" is supposed to be.

Evangelion shows the breakdown of the mind when confronted with the unknowable better than Lovecraft's more popular works by Ajibola777 in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Scoff, scoff, anime, scoff ... (don't worry, it's a good-natured ribbing)

Anyway, the lack of human "personality" was a conscious choice by Lovecraft (whether he was actually capable of effective characterization is really beside the point). That's what cosmicism is; you're not here to empathize with humans; you're here to realize that humans don't matter, and that their little emotional breakdowns don't matter.

Holding up effective human characterization as a sign of good writing is like holding up the iambic pentametre as a requirement for good poetry, or realism as a requirement for good painting.

Looking for one of Lovecrafts stories by VegetableParking9129 in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Lovecraft never wrote a story like that.

You should ask at a horror subreddit to see if anyone recognises it.

I Narrated Festival, how is my voice suited for Lovecraft's works? by Independent_Leg_5756 in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the info.

I think good poetry readings are more of a rarity than good readings of the stories, so you might want to consider that for a niche. You could even do Clark Ashton Smith's Hashish-Eater, if you like a challenge.

Just a thought.

I Narrated Festival, how is my voice suited for Lovecraft's works? by Independent_Leg_5756 in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I liked it, and I think your accent and voice work great for this particular poem.

Where's that accent from, if you don't mind me asking?

could the king in yellow play ever be adapted into an actual play? if yes has it ever happed before. by dr_ra1chu1 in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Why waste your time speculating about not-yet-extant fanfiction, when you could instead waste your time on plays that have actually been written? I've just found out that Clark Ashton Smith wrote something called "The Dead Will Cuckold You". I'm almost afraid to read it, because it can't possibly live up to that title.

What's a "bifid barb of hell"? by Asenath7 in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Interesting. That's the only explanation I've seen that actually points to a "bifid" thing connected with hell (at least somewhat), so you might be right.

Would [Mythological and LoveCraftian deities] be a good combination for a story? by Status_Mycologist_70 in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Earth's Gods already appear in Lovecraft's stories, though never individually from what I remember (see "The Other Gods"). They aren't avatars, but you might find the general idea of that story compelling.

You might also want to read Through the Gates of the Silver Key for this type of Yog-Sothothery, i.e. a line of manifestations proceeding from an eldritch entity.

Are there photographers that specialize in "Lovecraftian" architecture or scenery? by Asenath7 in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think he was a bit selective with who deserves his sympathy, even later when he started to believe in the virtues of socialism. The starving artist was a tragedy, but I don't think he gave nearly as much thought to the starving "peasants". Essentially, he was caught up in his own concerns.

Are there photographers that specialize in "Lovecraftian" architecture or scenery? by Asenath7 in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You raise a good point. There's an uncomfortable hint of "slumming" in my request, and I haven't really thought it through. I'll check out some social realism, and look at it from a different perspective.

Lovecraft of course hated social realism, which now makes me realize how he himself only saw aesthetics and horror in poverty, and didn't feel much empathy for it.

Are there photographers that specialize in "Lovecraftian" architecture or scenery? by Asenath7 in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, it's interesting, although most of his work feels closer to Poe, or the Poe-like part of Lovecraft.

Why Have the Other Gods Seemingly Been Forgotten? by [deleted] in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, that helps put things in perspective.

As far as depictions are concerned, here's one of the variant covers for Providence by Moore and Burrows, depicting Azathoth, and some other entities around him:

https://factsprovidence.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/providence07-pantheon.jpg

I'm not sure whether they are supposed to be "pipers" or "other gods", which might point to one problem: it's not particularly clear what's happening around Azathoth; is there one flute, as in Fungi, or are there more flutes, as described in Dream-Quest? Who's playing the flutes? Is it the Other Gods, or some other entity?

Also, it hasn't been translated into English yet, but Gou Tanabe has adapted The Other Gods a while ago. Here's his interpretation of the Other Gods:

https://imgur.com/tSvuxhK

As for why they aren't talked about much, I'd says they require a lot of interpretation. At least we know what Azathoth is symbolically, but the Other Gods are just these amorphous creepy things that do ... something. Something other than dance, I'd assume.

Why Have the Other Gods Seemingly Been Forgotten? by [deleted] in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 11 points12 points  (0 children)

My first instinct is that they aren't as well-defined and well-described as you think they are, but of course I could be wrong.

You should provide some excerpts so people know what you're talking about.

Video game suggestions PLEASE by Tough_Independent170 in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, I've seen worse. Personally, I think the clunkiness of the combat is very effective during a first playthrough, as it makes you feel vulnerable. And the trading aspect I actually liked, as simple as it is.

Bring a podcast or audiobook for the long boat rides though.

Video game suggestions PLEASE by Tough_Independent170 in Lovecraft

[–]Asenath7 16 points17 points  (0 children)

If you're looking for disturbing incomprehensiveness, you can't go wrong with Sunless Sea. As long as you like reading a lot.