H. P. LOVECRAFT - IN MEMORIAM

[August 20, 1890 - March 15, 1937]

Read More → H. P. LOVECRAFT - IN MEMORIAM

ABANDON $ ALL YE WHO READ THIS DREAD NECRONOMICON

Those of you familiar with the weird fiction of H. P. Lovevcraft will know that among the varied devices he employed in efforts to add authenticity to his stories was the "dread Necronomicon of the Mad Arab Abdul-Alhazred". Well, this Necronomicon was supposed to be a book that contained the worst imaginable for the human race and anybody that attempted to use its power was destined for a bad end.

In 1977, a book appeared for sale published by Shlangekraft, Inc. that was purported to be a Greek version of the Necronomicon. While its contents is far afield from the abhorrent text that Lovecraft assumed, it nevertheless sent a ripple through the fantasy, science-fiction, and occult communities at the time of its publication. Controversy spread as to who this so-called "Simon" character was that wrote a lengthy introduction included in the book.

The Simon Necronomicon has been the subject of much speculation and discussion over the ensuing years. A supposed genuine copyright was tracked down that revealed the author -- or at least the person securing the rights -- was one, Peter Levenda. Levenda was an acquaintance of Herman Slater, who ran the Magickal Childe bookstore in New York. Some say it was Slater who was the author, and some maintain that it was a collaboration between the two. In any case, the books has enjoyed a rather enthusiastic cult following. A mass market paperback edition was published by Avon Books in 1980, and, like another blasted tome that sits near it in the "Metaphysical" section of your local bookstore, Anton Szandor La Vey's THE SATANIC BIBLE, I believe it has never gone out of print.

The Necronomicon has enjoyed an interesting, if exclusive, existence in films as well. It was Wilbur Whately's raison d'etre in AIP's THE DUNWICH HORROR (1970) and was an animated prop in Sam Raimi's EVIL DEAD series.

The book was originally published in hardcover in several editions, including a deluxe limited leatherbound edition, and was advertised in various "fringe" magazines such as HEAVY METAL and THE TWILIGHT ZONE magazine.



An ad for the clothbound edition of the NECRONOMICON.
From HEAVY METAL magazine.

As one might guess, these original editions have become collector's editions. Several years ago, I saw a copy in a display case at a local bookstore with a selling price of $800 (!). It was gone the next time I looked.

Shown here in today's post is a copy of the Necronomicon up for sale by Weiser Antiquarian Books, who distribute a catalogue every so often dealing with subjects of the occult and metaphysics. It is one of the original, Schlangekraft, Inc. limited edition leatherbound copies, with a price tag of $600. With a book in that range, why not have a bit of fun and charge an extra $66, I say!

Read More → ABANDON $ ALL YE WHO READ THIS DREAD NECRONOMICON

H.P. LOVECRAFT (MINI) FILM FESTIVAL

To top off LOVECRAFTIANA week I thought presenting a few Lovecraftian-inspired short films might be in order. Included are stop motion and animated films that, in many ways, capture the atmosphere of a Lovecraft story better than live action. What do you think?









Brought to you by:

Read More → H.P. LOVECRAFT (MINI) FILM FESTIVAL

LOVECRAFTIANA (PORTAL FIVE)

Hollywod special effects man Paul Blaisdell and his pal, Bob Burns, are revered by the legions of monster movie fans out there. Bob, of course, is still alive and possesses one of the largest collections of monster movie memorabilia imaginable. Entire books have been published on his collection that, in my estimation, is second only to Forry's Horde. Blaisdell was the "man in the rubber suit", as well as prop guy for numerous Atom Age B-Movies like THE SHE CREATURE and IT CONQUERED THE WORLD.

Beginning in 1962, they produced seven issues of FANTASTIC MONSTERS OF THE FILMS, a popular collectible for monster magazine fans. Intended as a showcase and "how-to" of Paul's special effects work, it evolved into a monster movie 'zine like others on the newsstands of the day. What was distinctive about FMOTF was its use of color and large, two-page spreads of photos that were not seen in the competition. Unfortunately, they had teamed up with an unscrupulous publisher who eventually ran off with not only their money, but a lot of their collectible film stills as well.

Coverage of the Poe-titled and Lovecraft-inspired THE HAUNTED PALACE was in Issue #6.

Read More → LOVECRAFTIANA (PORTAL FIVE)

LOVECRAFTIANA (FOURTH PORTAL)

I mentioned that H.P. Lovecraft's influence reaches far and wide. While not necessarily ubiquitous, he generally ends up sooner or later with a nod in many monster magazines. This article is from DEEP RED #3.

Author Dennis Daniel's frame of reference for Lovecraft begins rather late in the game with the film RE-ANIMATOR. However, he does the best thing someone who is interested in H.P. Lovecraft for the first time can do . . . pick up three Arkham House editions of his fictional works.

Daniel writes conversationally and enthusiastically about Lovecraft in this article. He also gets it right when he states that the oft-referred term "Cthulhu Mythos" was coined after his death. All-in-all a nice little introduction to Grandpa.

Read More → LOVECRAFTIANA (FOURTH PORTAL)

LOVECRAFTIANA (THIRD PORTAL)



Occasionlly one could see Lovecraft-derived film photos in FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND. This one for DIE! MONSTER, DIE!, starring Boris Karloff and Nick Adams, is from Issue #36 (Dec. 1965). Looks like a denizen of Matango Island, doesn't he?

Read More → LOVECRAFTIANA (THIRD PORTAL)

LOVECRAFTIANA (SECOND PORTAL)

In CASTLE OF FRANKENSTEIN #18 (Gothic Castle, 1972), H.P. Norton offers a "caco-daemoniacal" essay on Lovecraft and his films. And, to those of you who still hold on to the belief that Editor Calvin Beck was "above" using Forryisms, I direct your attention to the intro at the top of the first page.

Read More → LOVECRAFTIANA (SECOND PORTAL)

LOVECRAFTIANA (FIRST PORTAL)

Having been an active member of the H.P. LOVECRAFT AMATEUR PRESS ASSOCIATION for a few years, as well as participating in the dialogue with its varied and distinguished 35-plus membership affectionately known as THE ESOTERIC ORDER OF DAGON, I have to say that the Olde Gentleman has a lot going for him these days. I don't believe there is, at present, a greater group of people at the genius loci of Lovecraftian scholarship. Moderated by prolific horror historian S.T. Joshi, his leadership has spurred on the continuing reasearch of this most interesting of literary personalities.

Lovecraft did not leave much in the way of his fiction writing. It is nearly all found in fan 'zines and pulp magazines of the 1920's and 1930's. However, he wrote thousands of pages of letters to such correspondents as Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, and Robert Bloch. His letters are where one can find a little of what made this "Rhode Island Recluse" tick. Still, his legacy of horror -- or weird fiction as he called it -- is not only timeless, but dynamic. At the present time, it is safe to say that Lovecraft is today singularly influential from that group of "classic era" horror authors, surpassing even that of Poe.

Lovecraftian influence can be seen everywhere in literature and pop culture. Oddly enough, despite attempts at cannonizing him along with other literary greats, he remains largely a cult figure. Everybody seems to recognize the name, but not everyone can say they've actually read his writing.

When it comes to films, it's even a greater stretch. Who can say they realize that a film such as THE HAUNTED PALACE, while an obvious Poe title, was based more on a Lovecraft story (with a superb Charles Beaumont script)? The running and only half-joking phrase that's used by critics and fans is "Lovecraft, The Unfilmable" -- partly due to the fact that the true impact of his writing lends more towards the cerebral than visual.

Nevertheless, a handful of feature films and numerous short films have managed to capture the general essence of Lovecraft's "cosmic horror". In Issue #43 (Sept. 1975) of THE MONSTER TIMES, this theme is expounded upon.

Welcome to the First Portal of LOVECRAFTIANA WEEK here at MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD. I'll be posting various articles about movies based on Lovecraft's works, along with one or two biographical articles that include discussion of his influence on horror cinema. Enjoy!

Read More → LOVECRAFTIANA (FIRST PORTAL)

HAPPY 121ST BIRTHDAY, HPL!

Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890 - 1937)

Read More → HAPPY 121ST BIRTHDAY, HPL!

THE DUNWICH HORRORA

Among other creative accomplishments, artist Pete Von Sholly is noted for his humorous perspective on Monster Kid culture. For instance, he has created an entire line of "HORRORA" fantasy model kit box art. Just one example of the kit that "should've been made but wasn't" is THE DUNWICH HORROR.

At least one of these ideas has been realized. Just check out the previous post here at MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD.

Thanks for sharing the art, Pete!

Read More → THE DUNWICH HORRORA