CHAPTER 2: THE MONOLOG
THE ROAD TO "BOB"
H.P. Lovecraft is more known and read in death than he ever was in his own life. Science fiction fans published fanzines, small print journals usually of less than 100 copies exploring the works of the popular pulp fiction writers of the day. Often they would try their own hand at pulp writing in these zines, and these are the publications you would have to go to read his work. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/sundayfeature/pip/t8iz3/
He was the science fiction nerd before anyone knew the term, retreating into his home with his mom for years at a time to read. He battled anti-social behavior most of his life, going as far as to name his cat "Nigger" so his neighbors would often only see him on his porch calling for the cat!
His friends grew to protect him, bring him out of the house, and reawaken his spirit. Usually showing up to help him as he turned suicidal.
After his death his friends started Arkham House to publish his works. Del had them all. The stories of beings from other dimensions, of secret Middle Eastern texts that summon things better left unnamed would have a profound impact on the people who read them. Lovecraft was never a best selling author, yet everyone who read him seemed to go into creative fields. Filmmakers, playwrights, comic book artists, pulp authors, even the occult world studied his work. Lovecraft himself did not believe in summoning demons, but after reading him many of his readers did. Del loved his Arkham collection, which had survived brutal poverty, drug and alcohol addiction, abrupt relationship endings. He wrote on the wall of his home next to his bed that I was to receive the books upon his death. I often wondered what women thought as they noticed this writing on the wall next to his bed! I'm still waiting on those books.
Del and Lovecraft missed the world of blogs. Or folks like me writing a book using the blog concept with something fanzines could never have- links, for further study.
Orson Welles wanted a camera, and his mom would hock her jewelry to get him one. Kenneth Anger wanted to make movies, so he took the family silverware and split from his stifling home. He had shot FIREWORKS in his home when his family was away, and he had caught the film bug. Ken had read Lovecraft and the pulps, he'd been part of the science fiction fandom of the time, he had exploded in the art world when many still debated whether film could be an art form. Jean Cocteau in France wanted to meet him, so goodbye family! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Anger
Ken had also discovered the writings of Aleister Crowley. His films reflected on Crowley's teachings, which in an odd way were similar to the world created by Lovecraft. Both men were atheists in the traditional sense, though while Lovecraft was shy of the public, Crowley loved tweaking societies nose. Crowley took mushrooms and performed rituals- in public. He wrote of the joys of hashish. He introduced the west to yoga and Oriental philosophy ( though his emphasis was speculation on tantric sex) and his work as a secretary to the founder of the Wicca movement would be felt to the present day. http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/confess/
Del collected first editions of Crowley's work as well as Lovecraft. Ken collected Crowley. Artwork, his diary, letters and more. All of which I was allowed to study when I visited Ken in NYC with Art Girl. As a result of our NY trip we had fallen deeply in love, so much so that I would overlook Art Girls numerous outside liaisons and would one day be left waiting to board a boat for a Press Club party as she told me she would be married in two weeks, but that we could still see each other.
Today I would have said yes, but then I stood crushed, my eyes filled with tears.
I hit a wall of pain.
The world as we know it, is filled with pain. Aleister Crowley
Posted at 11:49 am by
Psychomike
