Underkoffler's Overviews: Cthulhu (101), Shmthulhu (101), As Long As I'm Rich

[chadu]

Nota bene: I hate the Cthulhu Mythos. With the burning intensity of a bajillion burning things.

I have, however, started reading Cthulhu 101, by the inestimable Kenneth Hite (princeofcairo), and I am. . .

. . .

. . .enjoying it.

Indeed, I find it quite charming.

So, take that "mini-overview" how you will.

Comments

[chadu]

Not that I know of.

Let's just say I have a wider idea of what the human mind can encompass -- and the ability of it to ignore/adapt to what it can't -- than HPL did.

[chadu]

Oh, another thing was the sort of "that triangle's angles add up to more than 180 degrees!" -- when I had seen something like that already (and an explanatation for) in a freaking Piers Anthony book.

ANSWER: Warped space.

[bar_sinister]

I'm not a huge Mythos/HPL fan either. Like you, I also whole-heartedly endorse Cthulhu 101. It's hilarious.

[reverancepavane]

It is interesting to note that as far as horror is concerned the Cthulhu mythos is rather old hat by now. The old ideas are not horrific any more; if you survey the literature a lot of the modern uses of the mythos tend to be almost farcical. My favourite example is Isaac Azathoth, the science-fiction author that gibbers and shrieks at the heart of the universe (which, when you think about it, could be classed as a bajillion burning things). It has become an accepted trope, much as vampirism or zombies. Recognizable. And has thus lost much of it's intensity.
This is probably why I liked the take taken by the d20 Call of Cthulhu and the idea that the mythos creatures are "the plutonium of the mind." Wonderful idea, which refreshes the genre. Their very existence contaminates the mind, rather than it being our reaction to them.
Ken Hite's discussions on the mythos are always interesting (as is his discussions on obscure occult conspiracies). His Trail of Cthulhu doesn't really nail down anything, just provides a source of options

[zonemind]

Oh. I knew there was a reason we were friends.

I don't hate Cthulhu with the burning intensity of anything, but that's because my hate centres are… busy. Even so. Cthulhu is lame, cosmic horror is lame, and anybody who's really truly terrified by the notion of an evil God really shouldn't have anything to do with Calvinism… especially not as a child.

[chadu]

Mang, I CHALLENGE you to post an explication and expansions of your thoughts here in your LJ.

(And, indeed, you are one of those I count as dear friends, despite never having met you physically. NOTE -- I met Jess Nevins in person, and he was EXACTLY as I expected, precisely as he portrayed himself online. Was good.)

[zonemind]

I am tentatively taking up your challenge, in my own space of course. Workloads are heavy, and I've offered another friend a meditation of the problem of evil viewed from the issue omniscience rather than omnipotence… but I'd rather bag on Cthulhu. And John Calvin. Feel free to nudge me if you're still thinking of it in a day or two and I don't have a rough draft up.