Just when you thought all the eldritch had been wrung out of
H.P. Lovecraft’s so-called Cthulhu Mythos, along comes a series of new
collections of his writings, freshly illuminated by none other than the man who
has earlier this year given the world the “History of Monsters” 22-panel mural,
Mr. Pete Von Sholly.
If you’ve yet to read any of HPL’s stories, I can’t think of a better place to start than with these books by Peter Crowther and Simon Conway’s UK-based PS Publishing. Beginning with The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, Lovercraft’s homage to the British master of fantasy, Lord Dunsany, the series has been quickly followed by The Dunwich Horror and The Dreams in the Witch House.
A true anachronism, Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) no doubt would have been elated to see his work printed in England, as he fancied himself always loyal to the “King and country” of a bygone age. And while but a scant few drawings are known to exist of Lovecraft’s imagining of his cosmic creatures that were drawn by his own hand, I am equally certain that he would have approved of Mr. Von Sholly’s renderings as well.
Nicely reproduced in the pages of these volumes, I was immediately struck by the colors (…out of space, perhaps?) and the thematic palette that Von Sholly deftly puts to use. I believe he captures beautifully the cosmic horror that Lovecraft envisioned.
By no surprise, the books are introduced by Lovecraft scholar S.T. Joshi with additional essays and commentary by other students of Lovecraftiana.
All in all, while Lovecraft’s work has been printed and reprinted to death, one would be hard pressed to find another series as visually appealing, thanks in large part to Pete Von Sholly’s artistic talent and long-time dedication to the legacy of Lovecraft.
You can order the books HERE.
MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD gives this series 8 tentacles up!
If you’ve yet to read any of HPL’s stories, I can’t think of a better place to start than with these books by Peter Crowther and Simon Conway’s UK-based PS Publishing. Beginning with The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, Lovercraft’s homage to the British master of fantasy, Lord Dunsany, the series has been quickly followed by The Dunwich Horror and The Dreams in the Witch House.
A true anachronism, Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) no doubt would have been elated to see his work printed in England, as he fancied himself always loyal to the “King and country” of a bygone age. And while but a scant few drawings are known to exist of Lovecraft’s imagining of his cosmic creatures that were drawn by his own hand, I am equally certain that he would have approved of Mr. Von Sholly’s renderings as well.
Nicely reproduced in the pages of these volumes, I was immediately struck by the colors (…out of space, perhaps?) and the thematic palette that Von Sholly deftly puts to use. I believe he captures beautifully the cosmic horror that Lovecraft envisioned.
By no surprise, the books are introduced by Lovecraft scholar S.T. Joshi with additional essays and commentary by other students of Lovecraftiana.
All in all, while Lovecraft’s work has been printed and reprinted to death, one would be hard pressed to find another series as visually appealing, thanks in large part to Pete Von Sholly’s artistic talent and long-time dedication to the legacy of Lovecraft.
You can order the books HERE.
MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD gives this series 8 tentacles up!
