Steven’s Comments (group member since Nov 15, 2008)

Steven’s comments from the The New Weird group.

I've never heard of this one. I'll have to put that on my list. Thanks.

Amanda wrote: " I really do want to read this book, but I'm not sure if i can really afford to get it right now cause i'm going back to college next week and am not quite certain of my student loan status. I hav..."

It's a fun book. Do grab it when your loan money comes in :-)

I promise the current book, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, is not so challenging.

Another favorite part for me was when the one guy made out with the Lovecraftian statue and killed like a 100 guys with his vomit.

Amanda wrote: "thanx for the welcome!"

No problem. What's your opinion on the best Non-Bas-lag story? I've just read the three Bas-lag books and Un Lun Dun.

Thanks for all the information, Amanda.

I found Perdido Street station slightly better than Scar. The ending is a bit stronger in my opinion, but, I must say when the Possible Sword is finally used in Scar that was one of the best scenes from any novel I ever read.

Welcome to our club.

This book won our poll, so I"m headed to get my copy now.

I invite you all to join me in reading this.Pride and Prejudice and Zombies The Classic Regency Romance - Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem!

I've been meaning to buy a nice copy of this book anyway. So, I am definitely down.

Nate: Weird we can believe in.

Nate wrote While I do think that Lovecraft was trying to get at just that with, "The best approximation one can make is to grunt, bark, or cough the imperfectly formed syllables Cluh-Luh with the tip of the tongue firmly affixed to the roof of the mouth", the greek is distinctly airy and is heavy on the dental/palatal sounds. I imagine chthulu is much more like clearing a phlegm filled throat using glottal and rear dorsal (tounge on roof of mouth) stops to create a harsh guttural sort of noise.
That's my two cents at least. I'm sure there could be a whole thread on just how to pronounce his name.

Nate nailed this one. I was secretly listening to the audio version of "Call of Chthulu" at work earlier. The actor that was reading the story said Chthulu much as Nate describes.

I think Nate should get to decide what we read next. Any objections?

I think this theme of the unknown that runs through HP's works might be one of the things that makes him so influential and popular. I think for a lot of people religion stands as a barrier between them and the unknown, like a sheet thrown over an old couch.

By the way, I found this.

http://www.greylodge.org/gpc/?p=106

Thanks for the explanation of Chthulu, Nate. I'm glad it's not pronounced just Thulu :-)

If you say, there are somethings the human mind cannot and should not grasp, I think HP would agree with you. That seems to be a running theme in his stories. And, when people go looking at things they shouldn't, it usually turns out bad, very bad.


Here, this is from the beginning of "Fact concerning the late Arthur Jermyn and His family". Enjoy! It's very uplifting.



Life is a hideous thing, and from the background behind what we know of it peer daemoniacal hints of truth which make it sometimes a thousandfold more hideous. Science, already oppressive with its shocking revelations, will perhaps be the ultimate exterminator of our human species—if separate species we be—for its reserve of unguessed horrors could never be borne by mortal brains if loosed upon the world. If we knew what we are, we should do as Sir Arthur Jermyn did; and Arthur Jermyn soaked himself in oil and set fire to his clothing one night.

I think for HP, looking into the Unknown is right up there with grave robbing. Don't do it kids. You could wake an Elder God.

Jonathan wrote: "Mr. Ballard has "Weird" down. As Josh could tell you, his weirdness progressed into rock-solid crazy later in his life.

One of his stories, Chronopolis, is about a society that has banned watche..."

Couldn't they just look at the time on their Cell-Phones?

Did Christian Bale play his part?

Tell us more.

Jonathan wrote: "I was curious what was the most interesting part of Call of Cthulu to you guys... And why you like that part."

You know what really amazes me the most: So many horrible movies are based on Call of Chthulu/Chthulu Mythos and it's all dreadful. If someone would just do a movie like HP lays it out, it could be great.

But, to answer your question, the human sacrifice outside of New Orleans was nice.

CM wrote: Does that mean I should be pronouncing my name Arissa?

Depends. Do you often talk to yourself in third person?

Josh wrote: "I guess we shouldn't be surprised, then, by the name of the university that figures so heavily in the mythos--Miskatonic University.

The school is named after the Miskatonic River, and rather th..."

Ah, yes. The home of Herbert West, the original reanimator.

I was just talking to my friend from Hong Kong. I said, "Do you know who Chthonic is?"

She said, "That's stupid."

Jonathan wrote: "I just read Call of Cthulhu, as per the group suggestion. There wasn't as much "I can't describe it, or you'll go mad" as I expected. The overall mood was creepier than any dread the narrator impa..."

This is why Call of Cthulhu is one of my favorites by him, not that I mind others. But, in "Call" we actually get to see Cthulhu unleashed in all his horribleness.

By the way, I've been saying Kah-thul-hu, but I now suspect that I have been incorrect, because in my studies of all things arcane I came across this word:

chthon·ic     (thŏn'ĭk)  
adj.   Greek Mythology
Of or relating to the underworld.

Notice the silent CH and no doubt this was where Lovecraft found the word. Probably telling everyone something they already knew, but if you didn't well there you are.