The Temple of Dagon

I heard by word of mouth from a suquamish man by the name of Thundercloud that H P Lovecraft was influenced by the native americans. I honestly dont know enough about Native American mythology to stipulate on whether(or not) he used their ideas for his stories; but what I really wonder is if he ever made referrence to them in his letters and (non-fictional)writings.I havent seen any evidence that he ever met a Native American in person-even though they may still have been a few left in that part of the country. What I have come to understand though is that as much as Lovecraft disliked non-whites, he seemed to have a more favorable view of Native Americans and aboriginal peoples in general.

Whats that one guy whos like a giant Yeti?

Eternities End wrote:Whats that one guy whos like a giant Yeti?

Ithaqua: the Windwalker (aka the Wendigo)

Rhan_Tegoth wrote:I heard by word of mouth . . . that H P Lovecraft was influenced by the native americans . . . . What I have come to understand though is that . . . he seemed to have a more favorable view of Native Americans and aboriginal peoples in general.

Algernon Blackwood was influenced by them, at least enough to use the Wendigo, an old Algonquin mythological figure, as the basis for one of his stories. August Derleth later took it one step further and made the Wendigo a Great Old One named Ithaqua.

I suspect that Lovecraft was neither influenced by American Indians nor prone to admire them. He was a racist bastard, though apologists will just say it was a sign o' the times. I can't recall any specific instance of his use of their culture (besides place names) in his stories, but considering the way they were looked down upon as somewhat mystic primitives during Lovecraft's lifetime, they would have been ideal for use in many a Mythos tale.

Lovecraft certainly was racist. But I have to wonder if he ever met a person of color in his life. Because based on his writings it seems his racism stems primarily from ignorance. However, he very well might have made an exception for the Native Americans...

Yah lovecraft sure didn't like black people, and mexicans, and asian...

i would like to read a story about hpl working in an auto upholstery shop in tijuana. somebody write that, and i'll read it

JJ Burke wrote:i would like to read a story about hpl working in an auto upholstery shop in tijuana. somebody write that, and i'll read it

Um...Why

Never ask "why?", anywhere. It'll ruin your life. Ask "why not?".

Yah negitive Nancy...shit...plus that would be a sweet story...I would like to see one were hpl works on a sugar plantation in Virginia to pay of his depts

I would like to read more Lovecraft stories period. Ive just about read them all but its such a shame that no of all these Mythos writers come close to being as good as H P Lovecraft.

have you read all this stuff yet?
have you read my story?

Rhan_Tegoth wrote:its such a shame that no of all these Mythos writers come close to being as good as H P Lovecraft.

R.E. Howard came close.

Yah he wasn't bad...Derleth wasn't too far off too

Derleth wrote a series of detective stories about Solar Pons, who was Sherlock Holmes, thinly disguised.
They are quite good-they were reissued in the '70's in paperback.