Within Madness Hide The Monsters

When I first started reading H.P. Lovecraft stories I was just expecting some old literature. What I didn't expect was learning about the beginnings of horror entirely. The earliest horror never had sci-fi themes with flying cars and force fields, etc. One's imagination had to create things that would scare people back then, like gods of madness and torment. Sounds effective to me. Gods that emerged from the sea to rule over...

When I first started reading H.P. Lovecraft stories I was just expecting some old literature. What I didn't expect was learning about the beginnings of horror entirely. The earliest horror never had sci-fi themes with flying cars and force fields, etc. One's imagination had to create things that would scare people back then, like gods of madness and torment. Sounds effective to me. Gods that emerged from the sea to rule over mankind. Their rule was put on indefinite hiatus but those that go mad could release them. It's so inventive that you have to love the concept. H.P. Lovecraft started true psychological horror and took it to fantasy realms not heard of much even now. It's like creating "The Matrix"; anything after that will always be influenced by the original in one way or another. If people hear the word 'matrix' they'll think of that movie, and likewise, if people hear about 'gods' or 'madness' then more often than not people will refer to it as Lovecraftian. The irony is that most big authors weren't big in their living years. The destiny that some take doesn't get fully realized until the work has had a chance to have a profound effect on a new generation. You can't do that in your lifetime. Some do get big but to get as big as this would require at least two lifetimes to witness. He feeds on the fear of the unknown as his biggest source of imagination. The oldest fear in the book according to him. That's ingenious. The symbol of the sea is a symbol of our fear of what lives in it. We all know we fear what lurks in the deep sea. His visions of people on forgotten town islands worshipping sea gods where people sacrifice visitors are so darkly delicious. When you go for the bizarre it usually turns out entertaining. He will live on for sure. And we will still fear the unknown. The beasts that come to punish us.
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Guest Commentator BONE COLLECTOR says: "Why does everyone blame me when a huge beast is released on Earth? I don't even live on Earth!"