Lovecraft reading group

[mogora]

I've always had mixed feelings about this story. I like some of the ideas a great deal - space/time travel though dimensional doorways, 'magic' as an advanced science, the glimpse of the Old Ones city, but think the execution lacked a bit. To me at least, the story seems rushed and I think it might have benefited from a longer length.

I don't think Keziah knew the concepts behind what she was using. She happened upon them and used them to further her goals which were anything but pure research into the sciences. And while I understand her instinctive reaction to the cross as a product of her upbringing, the way it's presented seems awkward and rough.

As for the Old Ones and their portrayal - Dyer came to seem them in a sympathetic light but who is to say they would see humans the same way? In any case, I think they show that time as well as space is involved in Keziah's traveling as well as establishing the high degree of civilization of an utterly alien species. While we don't know exactly all that was going on, I don't get the impression the Old Ones were following Keziah around on her baby-killing sprees.

Anyway, all this talk of Old Ones is making me anxious for Mountains...

[Randolph]

I can't say much that hasn't really been said, but I'd like to add that, as a Lovecraftian character, Brown Jenkin seemed a bit mundane to me. I believe the character was based on a dream of his, and I'm sure what HP was imagining in his head when he wrote it was terrifying, but a rat with a man's head just seemed silly to me and ended up spoiling the mood a bit. The odd sense of detachment I get when reading really good Lovecraft is what attracted me to his work, and this is one of the few stories that fails in that department, unfortunately. That's not to say it's a poor story at all - I really enjoyed reading it - it just doesn't quite live up to his other later work.

[j. d. worthington]

Without meaning to end discussion -- which should certainly continue if anyone has more to add... what would be the next selection? Preferences?

[HoopyFrood]

Woo, I should be able to join in this time!

And if the story were to be one from The Call of Cthulhu or The Thing on the Doorstep anthologies then I have the books here and ready to be read *hint hint*

Heh, seriously now, I don't mind what we read next

[j. d. worthington]

Well, then... throw out a suggestion, Hoops! Jeez, some people.......

[HoopyFrood]

I just said I didn't mind! Dear me, I'm only one girl, I can't take this kind of pressure!

Hmm...*flick flick flick* I'm not sure. Maybe The Rats in the Walls? I haven't read that on yet...

Just a suggestion

[HardScienceFan]

Colour out of Space?
Pickman's Model?

[j. d. worthington]

Okay, we've got three nominations for the next HPL tale, all three relatively short. Any others... or do we take votes to pick one of these?