The Letters of H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard

[Cyril Tourneur]

it seems as if these are the next volumes of letters at Hippocampus; somewhere I read that the next ones are about the correspondence between HPL and the young A. Derleth

The Letters of H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard - Hippocampus Press

[Odalisque]

Thanks Tobias! That's very interesting. Mind, I'm not sure that everyone would agree that Howard and Lovecraft are titans of literature. These volumes seem a bit pricey compared with the books from this publisher that I've bought.

[hopfrog]

The two volumes of Lovecraft/Derleth letters are fascinating. They deal moftly with things of literary nature, rather than with HPL's philosophy, &c. Derleth was a young egotist who talked moftly about himself. The books are lovely. The HPL/REH volumes should be really interesting, because both men had strong views on everything. I've actually read very little of REH's fiction as I'm not into ye sword-&-sorcery genre; but the little I have read impresses me.

[ChrisPerridas]

Egads! Lovecraft is set to pick another $100.00 from my pocket. When will these books be available?

[Daisy]

Quote Originally Posted by wilum hopfrog pugmire, es

I've actually read very little of REH's fiction as I'm not into ye sword-&-sorcery genre; but the little I have read impresses me.

Just the other day, when I was revisiting my copy of Nyctalops 16 (March 1981), I came across this elegant letter, written by W. H. Pugmire in response to an essay by Darrell Schweitzer:

"I like R. E. Howard; as a person, maybe he was insane, but very few of us are not. Having had a lover locked up in an asylum, I have become friendly with a number of psychopaths, & as a bunch they are nice, interesting people. Insanity interests me because I suffer from it myself. It is interesting to know that you are crazy, & to try and be aware of it. My mind will remind me, 'What you are doing is insane,' and sometimes I continue the action regardless. Violent insanity is very interesting; and, yes, spooky. REH was not violently insane, and so Darrell's calling REH's last days as 'chilling' is a mistake. My lover is violently insane, & some of the stuff he did is chilling and sick-making; not so of REH. REH was a good kid, and an interesting person. I am looking forward to de Camp's book on REH."

On the subject of good kids and interesting people . . . Welcome to TLO, Mr. Pugmire!

Best wishes,

Nicole (a.k.a. Daisy)

	TLO THOMAS LIGOTTI ONLINE

[hopfrog]

O MY GAWD! Whut a pretentious twit I was in yem long-ago days, Whut I didn't mention was that my "boyfriend" was locked up in ye asylum as a sexual psychopath and was living with other rapists. My cousin, Dianne, had me drive her to ye state hospital so as to visit her boyfriend, who got busted for raping/beating prostitutes. I had but only recently come out as queer and hungered for "love". Sexual psychopaths are extremely tuned into those who are desperate, and they know how to lure. Harvey seduced my pathetic little gay-boy brain and had me under his pernicious spell. It was sick, almost as bad as the months I deprav'd my soul by working the streets as a male whore, the worst experience in my sorry little "life". I thought it was so "artistic" to claim madness -- but then, falling in love with a child rapist isn't a sign of sanity, is it?

[hopfrog]

S. T. told me when he thinks they'll be available, but I've forgotten. They will be an amazing collection, really vital. S. T. kind of mocks the correspondence between HPL and Derleth because it's moftly center'd on Augie's writing and doesn't touch on all of the philosophical stuff, which S. T. finds so compelling. Did REH write "Pigeons from Hell"? Ghod, my mind is going. Did any of you see the tv adaptation of that on Thriller, the show hosted by Karloff? Bleeding amazing. (That reminds me, it's my nature to cus, but I'm trying not to use extreme language online. Is there an unspoken policy about dirty-mouth?)

[Daisy]

Dear Wilum,

Please forgive me for posting that letter. I didn't find it pretentious, but humane; and when I saw you commenting on R.E.H. here earlier today, I couldn't resist quoting it in this thread. I am sorry if I dredged up any bad memories, and will remove the post immediately, if you wish.

Best regards,

Nicole

[hopfrog]

Have I responded personally to your kind friendship request? I was up all night reading stuff on yog-sothoth.com and my mind is frazzled -- I shall have to have a wee nap before I begin work on the next revision. I'm so out of it that I'll go on a site to answer private responses, and then I'll go offline but I'll forget to log-out. I'm determined to answer emails and responses from groups pormptly, because I know that if I don't the entire thing will be beyond management.

[hopfrog]

No, my dearest. Post anything. My past is beyond me. I'm glad it touched something in you. I am hugely critical of myself, you know, the love/hate nonsense that writhes in so many of us "artistic" types. Nothing is taboo as far as my past is concern'd. I just find my young self very annoying at times. Streisand does the same thing: whenever she comments on one of her past tv appearances or whutever, she always refers to herself in third person: "She was so affected," she said about seeing one of her early tv appearances, as if talking about a person she didn't know. Be not afraid, my love, I hate my younger self (and modern self) but when I see a letter like that I also remember whut a wonderful time that was to be a Lovecraftian. Ah, Nyctalops!!!!!!! Jerad Walters is arranging it so that Harry Morris Jr., my punk/Lovecraftian brother, will illustrate my forthcoming Centipede Press omnibus, due for publication probably in 2012. Harry Morris illustrating one of my books!!!!!!!:c ool: