I believe you're something of a horror buff, so I'm surprised you haven't mentioned HP Lovecraft here, whose spectral presence looms over this post. The concept of a damned (and damning) codex pops up again and again in his writing - usually styled as the Necronomicon, but he imagines others also. I hadn't heard that nugget about de Sade's intentions before, but Lovecraft was well-read, so perhaps he knew of the background to 120 Days and drew inspiration from it. Of course his are tomes of necromancy rather than a bluffer's guide to sexual depravity, but the two concepts are not unrelated, and to cite just one example I believe comics master Alan Moore has explored the magic-perverse practices connection in some of his more lurid work. Turning back to your own efforts, the transformation of Phillip into an otherworldly aquatic creature appears to directly echo Lovecraft's famous (and quite decent) novella "The Shadow Over Innsmouth". The conceit of discovering one's horrifying transformation through an unfortunate glance in the mirror features prominently in that story too, in the denouement. So I'm left to wonder if Lovecraft's ouevre is rattling around inside your head with its influence merely unstated, or if perhaps you are unfamiliar, or not a fan...
Hi Adam, thanks so much for this comment, really interesting. I don't see myself as a horror buff, more of an enthusiastic dabbler - and I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I've never read any Lovecraft! There was something, sometime, that put me off - I can't remember what and likely it was something silly anyway. I've heard of the Necronomicon though and now I'm going to look out "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" - thank you! I think there are stories I've read over the years that have seeped in - one was in a Gerald Durrell book, The Picnic and Suchlike Pandemonium - a really creepy story about a man cataloguing a library in the French countryside (like Phillip) and seeing a beast behind him in the mirror each night. More recently, at the medieval women exhibition at the British Library, there was a story of a "vain woman" who was punished for her vanity when she looked in the mirror by seeing the devil behind her, showing his rear end! But that was too late to include in this comic... Anyway, is there an easy way into LC that you'd recommend, shall I start with the story you mention?
Interesting stuff, Tor. And no worries about being unfamiliar with Lovecraft, he's terribly influential but his prose is often overwritten and clunky. He's nevertheless a fabulously compelling idea smith and painter of atmosphere. And yes, The Shadow Over Innsmouth is indeed an excellent entry into his work. Often it is reprinted in collections of his selected short fiction, and of these some highlights are Pickman's Model, The Outsider, The Whisperer in Darkness, The Dunwich Horror, The Thing on the Doorstep, and The Dreams in the Witch-House. Some of these works, and others, are tied together by a shared concept of an indifferent universe inhabited by vile alien entities so beyond human comprehension that to interact with them is to court madness. Collectively they are labelled the Cthulhu Mythos, after the octopus-headed demigod perhaps best known in popular culture. Good luck hunting him up (Lovecraft, not Cthulhu!) and I look forward to hearing what you make of him.
Loved this, Tor. And that Paris Review article was brilliant and quite inspiring. It reminded me of a Guardian article I kept for years, where writers shared their writing habits, or advice, or something. I know there are loads of those but there were some particularly fine bits in there. I'll try and find a link, but it was probably 15+ years ago.
Thanks Joe, I'm glad you enjoyed the PR article too! And if you do find that Guardian article, I'd love to see it! I know what you mean, there are lots of those types of articles, but I usually read them, and the good ones are so helpful!
Woweeee that mullet, that video. I have loved Hazard for so long, and am 100% convinced of Richard's innocence. Whenever my husband hears the song he likes to taunt me that the boy did the terrible deed, that he "swears" (adopting a very sarcastic tone) he left her by the river, but I know he left her safe and sound.
Well now Miriam. I too had always thought that Richard was innocent, BUT having just rewatched this video and properly taken it in, I'm not so sure. What's all that stuff about him burning the house down when his dad leaves his mum for another woman? He's got form. I'm starting to agree with your husband, and very sad to have to do so, sorry Richard :-(
I believe you're something of a horror buff, so I'm surprised you haven't mentioned HP Lovecraft here, whose spectral presence looms over this post. The concept of a damned (and damning) codex pops up again and again in his writing - usually styled as the Necronomicon, but he imagines others also. I hadn't heard that nugget about de Sade's intentions before, but Lovecraft was well-read, so perhaps he knew of the background to 120 Days and drew inspiration from it. Of course his are tomes of necromancy rather than a bluffer's guide to sexual depravity, but the two concepts are not unrelated, and to cite just one example I believe comics master Alan Moore has explored the magic-perverse practices connection in some of his more lurid work. Turning back to your own efforts, the transformation of Phillip into an otherworldly aquatic creature appears to directly echo Lovecraft's famous (and quite decent) novella "The Shadow Over Innsmouth". The conceit of discovering one's horrifying transformation through an unfortunate glance in the mirror features prominently in that story too, in the denouement. So I'm left to wonder if Lovecraft's ouevre is rattling around inside your head with its influence merely unstated, or if perhaps you are unfamiliar, or not a fan...
Hi Adam, thanks so much for this comment, really interesting. I don't see myself as a horror buff, more of an enthusiastic dabbler - and I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I've never read any Lovecraft! There was something, sometime, that put me off - I can't remember what and likely it was something silly anyway. I've heard of the Necronomicon though and now I'm going to look out "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" - thank you! I think there are stories I've read over the years that have seeped in - one was in a Gerald Durrell book, The Picnic and Suchlike Pandemonium - a really creepy story about a man cataloguing a library in the French countryside (like Phillip) and seeing a beast behind him in the mirror each night. More recently, at the medieval women exhibition at the British Library, there was a story of a "vain woman" who was punished for her vanity when she looked in the mirror by seeing the devil behind her, showing his rear end! But that was too late to include in this comic... Anyway, is there an easy way into LC that you'd recommend, shall I start with the story you mention?
Interesting stuff, Tor. And no worries about being unfamiliar with Lovecraft, he's terribly influential but his prose is often overwritten and clunky. He's nevertheless a fabulously compelling idea smith and painter of atmosphere. And yes, The Shadow Over Innsmouth is indeed an excellent entry into his work. Often it is reprinted in collections of his selected short fiction, and of these some highlights are Pickman's Model, The Outsider, The Whisperer in Darkness, The Dunwich Horror, The Thing on the Doorstep, and The Dreams in the Witch-House. Some of these works, and others, are tied together by a shared concept of an indifferent universe inhabited by vile alien entities so beyond human comprehension that to interact with them is to court madness. Collectively they are labelled the Cthulhu Mythos, after the octopus-headed demigod perhaps best known in popular culture. Good luck hunting him up (Lovecraft, not Cthulhu!) and I look forward to hearing what you make of him.
Yours is one of the newsletters I've subscribed, actually read AND enjoy every time!
Thanks for the song, I hadn't heard it. And the article sounds fun, I saved it for later.
Thank you Katerina, what a nice thing to say! It's a great song isn't it - very 80s with a nice creepy story! And I hope you'll enjoy the article too.
I wrote you a long comment but the app deleted it before I could hit send, so here is a less good one just to say I loved this post.
Oh no!! Horrible app!! Thanks so much Katie! x
Loved this, Tor. And that Paris Review article was brilliant and quite inspiring. It reminded me of a Guardian article I kept for years, where writers shared their writing habits, or advice, or something. I know there are loads of those but there were some particularly fine bits in there. I'll try and find a link, but it was probably 15+ years ago.
Thanks Joe, I'm glad you enjoyed the PR article too! And if you do find that Guardian article, I'd love to see it! I know what you mean, there are lots of those types of articles, but I usually read them, and the good ones are so helpful!
Woweeee that mullet, that video. I have loved Hazard for so long, and am 100% convinced of Richard's innocence. Whenever my husband hears the song he likes to taunt me that the boy did the terrible deed, that he "swears" (adopting a very sarcastic tone) he left her by the river, but I know he left her safe and sound.
Well now Miriam. I too had always thought that Richard was innocent, BUT having just rewatched this video and properly taken it in, I'm not so sure. What's all that stuff about him burning the house down when his dad leaves his mum for another woman? He's got form. I'm starting to agree with your husband, and very sad to have to do so, sorry Richard :-(
Loved this, Tor! And will definitely check out that Paris Review article! Helen x
Thank you Helen! Yes it's a fun read! x