What to Do When You Meet Cthulhu: A Guide to Surviving the Cthulhu Mythos - Softcover

Gray, Rachel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1934501182 ISBN 13: 9781934501184

Verlag: Elder Signs Press, 2010

Inhaltsangabe

Providing insight into the famed Cthulhu mythos of H. P. Lovecraft as well as the countless mythical threats that creep among Earth’s population, this comprehensive handbook explores the transdimensional beings, subterranean creatures, and fantastical beasts that lurk in the corners of time. From encounters with Barnabas Marsh and Wilbur Whateley to dangerous seaside communities, this witty exploration covers the multitude of imaginary dangers, escape options, and chances of survival when confronting these horrors. Shoggoths, Nightgaunts, ghouls, and Cthulhu all have ventured into popular culture in the form of cuddly toys, but as this entertaining overview proves, these monsters are not so warm and fuzzy when met face-to-face, face-to-muzzle, or face-to-tentacles. Authoritative and hilarious, this “survival guide” sheds light on the mysterious and often unimaginable world of Cthulhu.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Rachel Gray is a software writer. She has worked as a freelance copy editor, author, and designer for numerous publishers specializing in H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. She is the author of several dark fiction, fantasy, and science fiction stories. She lives in Detroit, Michigan. William Jones is an English professor and game designer. He is the author of The Strange Cases of Rudolph Pearson and Voodoo Virus and the editor of Dark Wisdom magazine as well as the anthologies Arkham Tales, High Seas Cthulhu, Horrors Beyond, and R'lyeh Rising. He lives in Metamora, Michigan.

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What To Do When You Meet Cthulhu

A Guide to Surviving the Cthulhu Mythos

By Rachel Gray, William Jones

Elder Signs Press

Copyright © 2010 Elder Signs Press, Inc.
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-934501-18-4

Contents

Introduction, 
Arkham, 
Dunwich, 
Kngsport, 
Innsmouth, 
Providence, 
New York, 
Other Places, Other Times, 
The Art of the Mythos, 
Crypts and Cemeteries, 
Not Dead, But Dreaming, 
More Mythos Monsters, 
What to do When You Meet Cthulhu, 
Cthulhu Quick Reference, 

CHAPTER 1

Arkham

He was in the changeless, legend-haunted city of Arkham, with its clustering gambrel roofs that sway and sag over attics where witches hid from the King's men in the dark, olden years of the Province.

— H.P. Lovecraft, "Dreams in the Witch House"

Welcome to the town of Arkham, a city with a long, and strange, history. Nestled upon the Miskatonic River, Arkham is H.P. Lovecraft's most popular literary location. Not only did Lovecraft often return to Arkham within his tales, it also appears in works by countless authors. Even DC Comics' favorite character, Batman, was not unfamiliar with Arkham — many of his insane, menacing rivals were said to be housed within the walls of Arkham Asylum — although DC Comics makes it clear that their "Arkham" is not connected to Lovecraft's "Arkham." Just a coincidence I guess. Or, in other words, all that Batman nonsense is just crazy-talk. The Arkham Asylum is a place of fiction. Batman's villainous jokers never set foot in Lovecraft's Arkham or in its actual asylum — Arkham Sanitarium.

H.P. Lovecraft's Arkham was founded in the late 1600s. Arkham is the residence of choice for countless ghouls, witches, horrors unseen, floating colors, and plenty of things far worse — namely college students. Don't underestimate these critters — one of them managed to reanimate the dead and cause quite a bit of trouble in and about Arkham.

In any case, if you want to learn how to survive the perils of the Mythos, the best place to start is Arkham. Or, you might be considering enrollment at the town's pride and joy, Miskatonic University , in which case you'll still need to consult this chapter if you want to survive four years at such an unusual, and sometimes deadly university....

Miskatonic University

Like any other college town, Arkham bustles with the innocuous activities of campus life. Football games. Tailgating parties. midterm exams. Periodic monster attacks. When trouble stirs in Arkham, as it often does, Miskatonic is usually at the center of the maelstrom.

Despite a lengthy history of trouble, the university has gained honor, recognition and prestige over the years. Although many argue that Miskatonic's distinction derives from its ill-fated expeditions, unique faculty, students, and mysterious library archives.

Miskatonic Library Archives

The Necronomicon

This world renowned tome is one H.P. Lovecraft's most famous creations. Mythos fan or not, most everyone has heard about it, and even a few are in search of it as you read this. The Necronomicon, or the "Book of Dead Names," was penned by the mad Arabic author, Abdul Alhazred. One of the few copies in existence dwells in the Miskatonic University library archives. The book's contents in its entirety are not known by a solitary human — such a vast mass of Mythos knowledge would pulverize the human brain. But the tome does contain great magic. Powerful spells used to get inside a person's head. Formulas to summon gods. Descriptions of the great beasts lurking about.

The Necronomicon, and its variations, appear throughout literature, film and popular culture. It's no coincidence that the powerful grimoire generating trouble in the Evil Dead movie series is Necronomicon Ex-Mortis. And there is the similarly-titled and equally powerful Book of the Dead in the delightfully Lovecraftian film, The Mummy. When librarian Evelyn Carnahan states "No harm ever came from reading a book," prior to flipping it open, any Lovecraft fan or scholar knows it's time to take cover.

The Book of Eibon

Appearing in many Lovecraft tales, the Book of Eibonis attributed to author Clark Ashton Smith, one of Lovecraft's contemporaries and friends. In this tome, Eibon, a wizard from the ancient, mythical land of Hyperborea, chronicles his lifelong adventures and journeys to distant lands. Eibon discovered powerful magical spells during his travels, recording them in The Book of Eibon. Unfortunately, only tattered fragments of the book remain. It is sometimes referred to as "The Black Book." Its creation by Smith was a nod to Lovecraft's Necromonicon.

Unaussprechlichen Kulten

Another popular tome, this time created by Lovecraft's friend, Robert E. Howard. This mysterious volume appears throughout the Mythos. The German name roughly translates to Unspeakable/Nameless Cults — at least that's what Howard was going for. The book itself focuses on various cults around the world, as well as their practices and rituals. Since most of the Mythos monsters have unspeakable names, it follows that their cult names are equally unpronounceable. So this title works well. Or, it might be that these cults are so notorious, so dangerous, so deadly that it is best to leave their names unspoken. So perhaps it's best not to write any jingles with names from this book — just in case you get on the bad side of one of the cults. And that's pretty much that — there isn't much more to say about Unaussprechlichen Kulten — otherwise it would need to be renamed Speakable Cults.

The Faces of Miskatonic

Plenty of notable folks have graced the halls of New England's most (in)famous university. This section provides a brief description of some of Miskatonic's more well-known students and faculty, as well as where to find them in this guidebook.

Henry Armitage

Henry Armitage served as the head librarian at Miskatonic University for many years. He delved into the university's copy of the Necronomicon on occasion. Maybe a few too many times. He was a fount of knowledge in his day, and has become a legend in the Mythos. Read more about Armitage in the Dunwich chapter.

Albert Wilmarth

Professor of Literature at Miskatonic, and debunker of legends regarding strange, crab-like flying creatures spotted in Vermont.

Although his debunking skills turn suspect when he actually encounters the crab-like race called the Mi-Go. Wilmarth's adventures appear in the More Mythos Monsters chapter.

Professor William Dyer

This geology professor directed the unfortunate Pabodie Expedition to Antarctica. The Pabodie Expedition is covered later in this chapter. You're not quite ready for that yet.

But if you really want to skip ahead, there is a Miskatonic Expeditions section just a few pages from this spot.

Herbert West

One of Miskatonic University's most famous medical students is Herbert West. He is well known for a number of risky experiments — notably his experiments on the dead. Or, perhaps better put, once he was done experimenting with them, the not-so-dead, "undead." Read more about Herbert West in the Need a Doctor? Section of this chapter. And honestly, don't go skipping around these pages too much. A little information in the wrong order can...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Elder Signs Press
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2010
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1934501182
• ISBN 13: 9781934501184
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 256
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar