In the Mountains of Madness

The Life, Death, and Extraordinary Afterlife of H.P. Lovecraft

By: W. Scott Poole

Narrated by: Tim Campbell

In the Mountains of Madness: The Life, Death, and Extraordinary Afterlife of H. P. Lovecraft interweaves the biography of the legendary writer with an exploration of Lovecraft as a phenomenon. It aims to explain this reclusive figure, while also challenging some of the general views held by Lovecraft devotees, focusing specifically on the large cross-section of horror and science fiction fans who know Lovecraft through films, role-playing games, and video games directly influenced by his work, but know little or nothing about him.

More than a traditional biography, In the Mountains of Madness will place Lovecraft and his work in a cultural context, as an artist more in tune with our time than his own. Much of the literary work on Lovecraft tries to place him in relation to Edgar Allan Poe, M. R. James, or Arthur Machen; these ideas have little meaning for most contemporary listeners. In his provocative new book, W. Scott Poole reclaims the true essence of Lovecraft in relation to the comics of Joe Lansdale, the novels of Stephen King, and some of the biggest blockbuster films in contemporary America, proving the undying influence of this rare and significant figure.

©2016 W. Scott Poole (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Thoroughly enjoyable and highly readable." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Might ruffle some feathers. Good.

A fascinating book, that tackles a complex figure like Lovecraft with a mixture of admitted admiration and clear-headed investigative rigor. Few stones feel left unturned here, even if the reader is inclined to disagree with Poole’s POV in some cases, I think the presentation and justifications are rock solid. It might help that I was completely sold, with a number of other books and topics I wanted to explore more fully mentioned here.

Dig up his grave

I really enjoyed this book but chapter 44 discuses Lovecraft’s distaste for subgroup persons of various races who don’t do a credit to their own racial parent group illustrates the current lack of cogent scholarship on the topic of what it means to have members of any group of people not be a credit to that group

A fascinating modern look at HPL

Poole tackles the squishy tentacular monster that is the strange life of H P Lovecraft. Unflinching in its look at HPLs good and unsavory bits, I think this is a must-read for fans who want to take up scholarship or more intense fandom within the worlds created by the old man from Rhode Island.

Nice

This is a nice contemporary biography of Lovecraft and history of the growth of his stature as a writer and influence upon literature and popular culture.

This is at least my second time to listen to the recording and I think I’ve read it around four times.

I recommend this book.

An Insightful Look

Lovecraft is one of those authors whom has not aged well, this book takes the reasons for that head on with a fairly compelling thesis. For those that might be skeptical or hesitant into a heavy biographical examination of the man, know that all controversies and narratives are addressed. This really did allow me to understand Lovecraft's work so much better.