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Author Topic: Lovecraft The First To Popularize The Idea Of “Demons” As Simply Aliens?  (Read 2003 times)

Offline Cacique Caribe

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1978
  • Gelatinous Legal Alien
I’m an absolute newbie when it comes to Lovecraft, and am trying hard to understand many aspects, particularly the gaming appeal.  So I have a couple of very basic questions to ask:

1) So ... was H.P. Lovecraft the very first author to popularize the idea that “demons” (godlike powerful psychic non-human entities that are hostile to mankind) are nothing but ancient extraterrestrial/offworld species with great powers?

2) And does that re-interpretation of “demonic” entities ever affect how you play your Lovecraftian games?

Thanks

Dan
« Last Edit: January 11, 2020, 07:07:41 PM by Cacique Caribe »

Offline carlos marighela

  • Elder God
  • Posts: 10737
  • Flamenguista até morrer.
No, it’s been a long standing tradition in both your country and this one. Seems to have peaked in recent times under our respective governments.
Em dezembro de '81
Botou os ingleses na roda
3 a 0 no Liverpool
Ficou marcado na história
E no Rio năo tem outro igual
Só o Flamengo é campeăo mundial
E agora seu povo
Pede o mundo de novo

Offline Cacique Caribe

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1978
  • Gelatinous Legal Alien
No, it’s been a long standing tradition in both your country and this one.

So which popular authors predate Lovecraft in that practice then?

Dan

Offline dadlamassu

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  • Posts: 1534
    • http://www.morvalearth.co.uk
There is a book "Lovecraft and Influence:His Predecessors and Successors" Edited by Robert H. Waugh that may answer your question(s).  There are probably others.

http://www.hplovecraft.com/study/litcrit/lihps.aspx
'He could have lived a risk-free, moneyed life, but he preferred to whittle away his fortune on warfare.'
-- Xenophon, The Anabasis

Offline Blackwolf

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Have a look at Arthur Machen,in particular The Great God Pan,and the Novel of the Black Seal,also Lord Dunsany's stories,both influenced Lovecraft,oh and Algeron Blackwood.
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http://greywolf1066.blogspot.com.au/

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Offline Cacique Caribe

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1978
  • Gelatinous Legal Alien
Excellent leads guys.  Looks like I have a lot of reading to do.

Thanks so much.

Dan

Offline kmfrye

  • Assistant
  • Posts: 32
Dan, I would suggest you find Lovecraft's essay "Supernatural Horror in Fiction" and he will tell you in his own words who his influences were.

Regards,
Keith F.

Offline Cacique Caribe

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1978
  • Gelatinous Legal Alien
Thanks Keith.  I’ll look it up.

Dan

Offline Ultravanillasmurf

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 9286
    • Ultravanillasmurf
Dan, I would suggest you find Lovecraft's essay "Supernatural Horror in Fiction" and he will tell you in his own words who his influences were.

Regards,
Keith F.
http://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/essays/shil.aspx

Offline Cacique Caribe

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1978
  • Gelatinous Legal Alien
Perfect.  Thanks!

Dan