Polemic Litany

More On Robert M. Price

There was a huge debate when August Derleth was still alive about whether or not the Cthulhu Mythos paralleled Christianity. Derleth’s steadfast insistence that this was true splintered the 50s and 60s writers of Mythos fiction and literally drove many of them away.

Price has led the reconciliation since Derleth’s death by stating that even though August Derleth was wrong by bending the facts toward his opinion, his heart was in the right place for keeping the Lovecraftian traditions alive. As a Biblical expert Robert Price could see where Derleth was pounding square peg concepts into round hole theories. He has several essays showing where even though that vision wasn’t really true to Lovecraft, it provided some very interesting (if wrong) stories and concepts.

His scholarship and examination of the minutia is almost scary.

This is not going to be the definitive work on Robert M. Price, the
ultimate Lovecraft scholar. For one thing the man is so brilliant
that even his short criticisms and scholarly essays would be too long
to list here.

I hope you’re aware of Chaosium Books. Yes, these is the same
Chaosium that puts out the Call Of Cthulhu and other games and holds
gaming rights for much of the Mythos and Mythos oriented trademarks.

Anyway the editor for Chaosiums Lovecraft line is Robert M. Price,
professor, scholar, essayist, critic, and, oh yes, Anglican Minister.
What is this, do you say? A stuffy conservative minister for the C
of E is the world’s most renouned scholar of H.P. Lovecraft, his
followers, disciples, students and wierd cult figures, can that be?

Short answer–yep!

Price has delved into and edited pieces devoted to Mythos deities and
demons: such unpronouncable names as Yog-Sothoth, Nyarlathotep, Shub
Nigguarth, and Cthulhu himself. He’s also edited books by noted
mythos authors: Brian Lumley, Henry Kuttner, Ramsey Campbell, Richard
Tierney, and uhh…that H.P. Lovecraft guy.

You could do far worse than to look into Price’s work whether his
criticism, his editing, or his fiction (as few and far between as his
works seems to be). Is it worth your time?

In my humble opinion–absolutely!

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I bet you always wondered why dragons are attracted to jewels? In the following excerpt from novel Phlogiston published by Aspen Mountain Press, I offer my explanation.

SET UP — Master Scholar Heufric, his Apprentic Gwyneth and the Merchant Prince Galduric are discussing what must be done to gain an appointment to question four Fyredammes in their own lair.

EXCERPT:

“It’s my understanding that you’d prefer to keep your visit to [The Dragon
Queen] Smothurl and her brood under wraps until you’re fully prepared, is that not correct?” He waited until both scholars inclined their heads in agreement. “In that case, I’ll explain to both of you what we must obtain in order to secure you an audience at Ignispecus. First we must secure a jewel of significant size and interest for a discerning fyredamme.”

“A what?” Master Heufric coughed, cleared his throat. “At what expense? I’m not sure his lordship would allow–”

“His lordship’s thriftiness is well known throughout Cymru. No, the jewel I
have in mind for our needs must either be obtained by barter or possibly
purloined.”

“I see.” Gwyneth brightened with a flash of understanding. “So in the latter
case an escort would–let us say–slow us down.”

Prince Galduric bowed slightly to the apprentice. “Precisely.”

“You know, I don’t understand this desire which firedrakes have for jeweled
baubles,” Heufric sat on a nearby bench and began to massage his foot. “You’d think that dragons would be beyond collecting pretty trinkets.”

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