gytrash

"In order to better understand the extent and importance of Lovecraft’s conception of “cosmic horror,” we need to recognize it as a transvaluation of a term already widely circulating in the first thirty years of Lovecraft’s life. During this era, the term “cosmic horror” derived primarily from the (at the time, highly influential) writings of American physician, ophthalmologist and medical lexicographer, George Milbry Gould. This short essay builds on one small part of the larger argument of “The Birth of Cosmic Horror from the S(ub)lime of Lucretius,” included in the essay collection New Directions in Supernatural Horror Literature, published by Palgrave in 2018 (if you’re looking for a peer-reviewed and properly citational version of the basic argument, use that.) I develop these connections further and more formally in my in-progress book, which offers a literary-historical genealogy of cosmic horror..."

"Portuguese filmmaker Edgar Pêra’s new movie Telepathic Letters (Cartas Telepáticas) was even created with AI images. Screening in Locarno’s out-of-competition lineup, it explores “invisible links” between authors H.P. Lovecraft and Fernando Pessoa in a way that will surely stand out, both visually and in terms of sound. Check out the trailer..."

"Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride's designer has just released his first new game as a solo-developer, and it's maybe the last thing you'd expect from the casual game maestro.

Since leaving the small-screen swipers behind, developer Luke Muscat has been hammering away at Feed the Deep, a spooky "Lovecraftian roguelike" that sends you down into pitch-black ocean depths and procgen undersea caves to feed the eldritch horror lurking below - while trying not to become water Cthulhu food yourself..."

"I’ve likely mentioned hitting Lovecraft fatigue so often that it’s now evolved into a second phase of Lovecraft-fatigue fatigue. This is not the same as Lovecraft refreshment, no matter how much I might want to return to the days before old one plushies and Cthulhu children’s books terrorised the internet en masse. There’s not quite enough information about “story generator” sim Marry a Deep One: Innsmouth Simulator for me to confidently say it’ll cut through my exhaustion with all things tentacular and horrifically be-gilled. But it is beguiling, isn’t it? There’s all sorts of little widgets and details shown off that remind me of everything from Sid Meier’s Pirates to classic adventure games, and maybe even a little Rimworld? It’s a heady soup, although one I’d recommend against quaffing, given where the water comes from..."

"Japanese artist Gou Tanabe made his first appearance at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Known for his manga adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's novels, Tanabe first started with the publication of The Outsider in 2007 and has continued his work to now. His take on The Shadow Over Innsmouth was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Adaptation from Another Medium. After meeting fans at the Dark Horse booth, he spoke with Anime News Network on his approach to visualizing Lovecraftian horror and publishing them in the seinen manga magazine Comic Beam. Joined alongside him were his editor, Hayato Shimizu, Michael Gombos (Sr. Director of Licensed Publications at Dark Horse), and Zack Davisson (translator for The Shadow Over Innsmouth)..."

"Archaeologists have unearthed a "stunning" Bronze Age burial chamber on one of Dartmoor’s most isolated hills.

Experts discovered a stone-built box, sometimes known as a cist, at Cut Hill during a three-day dig earlier this month.

Radiocarbon dating of charcoal found inside suggests the chamber, used to bury the dead during prehistoric times, is about 3,900 years old.

Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA), which led the project, said the discovery had been prompted by reports of a feature being visible in the peat..."

"Japanese artist Gou Tanabe made his first appearance at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Known for his manga adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's novels, Tanabe first started with the publication of The Outsider in 2007 and has continued his work to now. His take on The Shadow Over Innsmouth was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Adaptation from Another Medium. After meeting fans at the Dark Horse booth, he spoke with Anime News Network on his approach to visualizing Lovecraftian horror and publishing them in the seinen manga magazine Comic Beam. Joined alongside him were his editor, Hayato Shimizu, Michael Gombos (Sr. Director of Licensed Publications at Dark Horse), and Zack Davisson (translator for The Shadow Over Innsmouth)..."

"What happens when a director mixes a classic Lovecraft novella with the genre’s gothic predecessor? Tate Steinseik’s 2020, Castle Freak, starring Clair Catherine is what! Based on one of H.P. Lovecraft’s most iconic tales, “The Dunwich Horror,” and an adaptation of Stuart Gordon’s 1995 film of the same name, Castle Freak is an ambitious attempt at portraying incomprehensible cosmic horror on the big screen..."

"Arkham Horror: The Terror at the End of Time #1 (written by Cullen Bunn, with art by Andrea Mutti and colors by Valerio Alloro) brings the Arkham Horror games and books to life. Set in the Jazz Age of the 1920s, this premier issue introduces us to wealthy socialite Jenny Barnes, who always has a priceless necklace and two pistols as part of her wardrobe, and Private Investigator Joe Diamond, who’s also much more than he seems.

The first half of the book feels like a classic Mickey Spillane mystery, with a wealthy damsel-in-distress desperate to find her missing sister. There’s a scene in a diner where Jenny and Joe have a conversation, gauging each other while not wanting to open up to the other person, and I could easily see this scene playing out in a classic Bogart/Bacall film like The Big Sleep. The dialogue’s as sparse and efficient as a Spillane potboiler, with an added level of menace with mentions of an ancient cult lurking in the background and the overall feeling of dread that looms over the city of Arkham..."

"It's no surprise that Soulslike gamers and Lovecraft fans are like peas in a pod, which is exactly why playing the best Lovecraft Soulslike games is a true delight. Both Lovecraft stories and Soulslikes focus on struggling against enemies of cosmic scale, inscrutable lore, and a sense of foreboding that permeates every word and pixel..."

"Science fiction meets cosmic horror in Dark Empty Void by hit comic creator Zack Kaplan, fan-favorite artist Chris Shehan, rising star colorist Francesco Segala and Ringo-nominated letterer Justin Birch..."

"Director David Prior's unique storytelling in The Empty Man's intro offers a cryptic, eerie glimpse into a cosmic horror tale..."