Lovecraft and Gorey have certainly influenced me. I've written a bit about Lovecraft in the Lost Way to the Good, mostly in connection with Houellebecq, but have also had some Cthulhu-mythos short stories published in Lovecraftiana. They would certainly have a spot in the snug, should this virtual pub come to exist. I'm wondering whether it's just too much of a gimmick, though...
I look forward to the article! And you are right. His universe was one of fear because he was afraid - which partly explains, though doesn't excuse, his frequent sojourns into barely concealed racism. What he feared was precisely the disenchanted universe as cosmic warzone which, I think he rightly saw, atheistic materialism implies. His "gods" are all physical entities. The Dreamlands mark an interesting exception to his materialism, though I suspect that even that realm could be explained by some sort of physicalist theory of collective consciousness: I'd need to look into it more. It interests me that Houellebecq started his writing career with a monograph on Lovecraft, and yet portrays his own (fictional) funeral as happening in a Catholic church after a secret late-life baptism. Houellebecq gets it: the options are theophany or warzone. There is nothing in between. He just can't quite seem to take the leap into the former option.
I am sad he only borrowed Lord Dunsany's literary style instead of his character and faith. I feel, to him, redemption and grace were as the outer gods, speaking in dissonant tongues. So tragic.
It's like Lovecraft and Edward Gorey spent a sleepless weekend together at a B&B that offered to take pictures instead of cash.
Lovecraft and Gorey have certainly influenced me. I've written a bit about Lovecraft in the Lost Way to the Good, mostly in connection with Houellebecq, but have also had some Cthulhu-mythos short stories published in Lovecraftiana. They would certainly have a spot in the snug, should this virtual pub come to exist. I'm wondering whether it's just too much of a gimmick, though...
Fr. Plant, would you do me an honor and read my article, https://heapcoup.substack.com/p/anastomosing-architecture
I am a little rough on Lovecraft, although I enjoy his writing. He very much needed Christ in his life.
I look forward to the article! And you are right. His universe was one of fear because he was afraid - which partly explains, though doesn't excuse, his frequent sojourns into barely concealed racism. What he feared was precisely the disenchanted universe as cosmic warzone which, I think he rightly saw, atheistic materialism implies. His "gods" are all physical entities. The Dreamlands mark an interesting exception to his materialism, though I suspect that even that realm could be explained by some sort of physicalist theory of collective consciousness: I'd need to look into it more. It interests me that Houellebecq started his writing career with a monograph on Lovecraft, and yet portrays his own (fictional) funeral as happening in a Catholic church after a secret late-life baptism. Houellebecq gets it: the options are theophany or warzone. There is nothing in between. He just can't quite seem to take the leap into the former option.
I am sad he only borrowed Lord Dunsany's literary style instead of his character and faith. I feel, to him, redemption and grace were as the outer gods, speaking in dissonant tongues. So tragic.