Title: Ketil and Yitzy's Adventure in the House of Lost Dreams
Author: Team Netherworld Creations
Publisher: Naughty Netherworld Press
Quote: [Yitzy] "had a conical body with a three-eyed head on a stalk."
About a hundred years ago the writer known as H.P. Lovecraft published the very "pulpy" horror stories that made up the Cthulhu Mythos: Horror-fiction monsters, inspired by but not really based on the deep sea creatures oceanographers were beginning to describe and the not-quite-human creatures of folklore and fiction, are the future of humankind. People discover this through adventures narrated floridly, not particularly well, but with a positive delight in long or obscure words and a certain morbid glee.
Literary critics agreed that it was dreadful. Most readers never got into Cthulhu but Lovecraft's work attracted a following of people who read his work as a guilty or rebellious pleasure. Here was nothing educational, enlightening, or inspiring; just delight in gross-outs. For some Lovecraft's sesquipedalian words are part of his charm.
And so, unto this day, when publishers invite manuscripts of speculative fiction, they still find it necessary to state whether they are or are not willing to read any more fan contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos.
This "novelette" is typical. It's set on a world that died before Earth was born, but its characters use recent Earth slang and references. Ketil is a Swedish ghost; Yitzy is an alien who lets itself be called "he" just to fit in, though its species don't have genders. They will soon be joined by a pair of English ghouls who call themselves Robin Hood and Little John, and seldom miss a chance to talk about their taste for decomposing human flesh.
Most people don't get into the Cthulhu Mythos. I don't; I don't like the practice of sending out "sample chapters" instead of complete novels, but in this case the e-book breaking off just where the characters drank the gruesome-sounding potion and divded into the murky liquid came as a relief. I say this in a friendly and supportive way. A Cthulhu story is not an ideal gift to a person you don't know well. For those who do like Cthulhu stories, however, this one seems the sort of mix of gross-out, comedy, and adventure they'll enjoy. Publishers who are willing to consider Cthulhu stories should take a long look at this one. Cthulhu fans? Run don't walk.
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