WALL STREET JOURNAL FEATURE ARTICLE: "Penguin Classics to Publish Ligotti Stories"

[dr. locrian]

A version of yesterday's Thomas Ligotti story by Michael Calia from page A9 of today's Global print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Dave Felton's gorgeous portrait highlighted.



"A Master of Horror Blows Up" Ha ha!



BOOM!

[miguel1984]

Quote Originally Posted by luciferfell

With the entering of Ligotti's work into the mainstream.. it seems to me to also herald the end of his writing. I don't believe we will see more new work from Ligotti. But we shall see the increasing commodification and commercialization of his work. Its the end of an era.

I think what you said is a little bit harsh (but really well written); maybe his work will be commodified and commercialized, but not Ligotti himself. I think that if he stops writing and publishing it would be for entirely different reasons. Also, his work was sold and bought before, so it was, in a way, already commercialized.

I see no way his work will become mainstream in his lifetime as long as usual western thought is as it is. I don't think I'd even consider the reading of short story collections to be a mainstream activity any more. Then we have to consider how the core message of his fiction completely runs against the prevailing attitude of today. People want stories that tell them life is precious, they are unique and that they can surmount the odds.

I see him becoming a major cult icon and the acknowledged modern master of horror among literary circles, but his work is too complex, strange and dark for most people to enjoy. The public didn't even take to the recent masterful TV show Hannibal, and that had more of a romantic and optimistic spirit behind it than is found in Ligotti's work. By the work's very nature it cannot be mainstream, although I expect within a few years his cult following may multiply significantly. He has all the makings of an internet meme generator like Lovecraft, for better or for worse.

The important thing is that he's essentially guaranteed to be in print for a century now. His posterity is assured.

[luciferfell]

1. Ligotti has pretty much already stopped writing. 2. Board games and plush toys of Ligotti's settings and creatures are something I do not want to see. But this is the start of the road that ends in it. 3. Ligotti was already considered a master years ago. Its nothing new to say he is the most important horror author since HPL. It is new for the mainstream to be talking about him. 4. Hannibal did catch on in a big way with mainstream audiences. I cant go 10 feet without someone trying to get me to watch that show.

[dr. locrian]

Quote Originally Posted by luciferfell

2. Board games and plush toys of Ligotti's settings and creatures are something I do not want to see.

I for one look forward to my Doctor Thoss Furby.

“Yes, my name is Thoss.”

“I am a doctor.”

[symbolique]

nil

[Arthur Staaz]

Any true fanatics can start now with a collection of ventriloquist dummies.

They may be creepy, but ventriloquist figures could fetch high price | Local News - WMUR Home

[symbolique]

nil

[Kevin]

Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Staaz

Any true fanatics can start now with a collection of ventriloquist dummies. They may be creepy, but ventriloquist figures could fetch high price | Local News - WMUR Home

Happy Hazard is the bomb!

[Frater_Tsalal]

Here's my contribution to the Ligotti Meme Revolution: