Crypt of Cthulhu/Issues 1-25

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Issues 1-25 · Issues 101-125 · Issues 26-50 · Issues 51-75 · Issues 76-100

Issue 1

Crypt of Cthulhu #1 was published in November 1981. It had 24 pages. It was a part of mailing 36 of Esoteric Order of Dagon APA.

Contents

Cover of the issue #1 by Robert M. Price
  • Cover Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "Lovecraft’s Concept of Blasphemy" by Robert M. Price [essay] (3–15)
  • [The words “SADAY” and “HOMOVSION”…] by Robert M. Price [notice] (15)
  • "The Fun Guys from Yuggoth" by Robert M. Price [essay series] (16–17)
  • [[H.P. Lovecraft] was not himself an occultist…] by Marc Edmund Jones [notice] (17)
  • "R’lyeh Texts" [review] (18–22)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" by Robert M. Price (23)
  • "Describing de Scribes" by Robert M. Price [notes on contributors] (24)

The issue can be read here.

Reactions and Reviews

[Nick Limansky]: Congratulations on founding a publication devoted solely to the Mythos! Lovecraft fans and lovers of horror in general have needed something like this for years. I have read and re-read the issues I have and enjoy them immensely. I was especially fascinated by your excellent article in Vol. 1, No. 1, "Lovecraft's Concept of Blasphemy", which, I felt, was superbly prepared and presented.

Issue 2

Cover of the issue #2 by Robert M. Price
Illustration for The Statement of Lin Carter by Robert M. Price, showing Zoth-Ommog, creature from the story by Lin Carter

Crypt of Cthulhu #2 was published in December 1981. It had 28 pages.

Contents

  • Cover Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "What Was the “Corpse-Eating Cult of Leng”?" by Robert M. Price [essay] (3–8)
  • Was Lovecraft Pentecostal? by H. P. Lovecraft [notice] (8)
  • Oops! by Robert M. Price [notice] (8)
  • "Lovecraft the Name-Dropper" by Charles Garofalo [essay] (9–10, 19)
  • "The Statement of Lin Carter" by Robert M. Price [essay] (11–19)
    • Zoth-Ommog by Robert M. Price [illustration] (16)
  • "A Fun Guy from Yuggoth" [essay series] (20, 26)
  • "Are You a Deep One?" by Robert M. Price [illustration] (21)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (22–24, 26)
  • Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letters of comment] (25)
  • Mysteriis [puzzle] (26)
  • "Describing de Scribes" by Robert M. Price [notes on contributors] (27)
  • "Next Time" [preview for next issue] (28)

The issue can be read here.

Letters of Comment

[L. Sprague de Camp]: Many thanks for CRYPT OF CTHULHU. On reading your piece on HPL's use of "blasphemy", it struck me that you could have connected the second meaning, the tabu on unauthorized mixing, with HPL's own outspoken hatred of racial, cultural, fee. mixing. : : : As you doubtless know, some EODers still regard me as something from under a flat stone because in my LOVECRAFT I presented HPL in a somewhat less than heroic light. lä!

[Gerry de la Ree]: Thanks for the copy of CRYPT OF CTHULHU. I have never belonged to the EOD, although I did receive the first four or five mailings of the organization some years back. I'm sure your attractive booklet outshines most of the material submitted to EOD and similar APA groups.

Reactions and Reviews

[Michael H. Cline]: Thank ye most kindly for the second issue of CRYPT OF CTHULHU. It pleased me very much to find it lurking so blasphemously within the nethermost abysses of my foetid mailbox.

As with #1, I enjoyed it thoroughly. The articles and reviews are highly readable and very interesting and informative. I also find that there are very definite artistic talents lurking in your depths. Especially liked "Kermit Marsh III" and "Zoth-Ommog".

Your format for CRYPT is well thought out and executed. Very nice quality. Keep up the keeping with CRYPT.

[Robert C. Carey, Jr.]: I have just found the second issue of Crypt of Cthulhu, and am most interested in issue #1 and future subscription. Many thanks, and may I say that it is delightful to see someone working to make the world safe for Cthulhu.

Issue 3

Cover of the issue #3 by Jason C. Eckhardt

Crypt of Cthulhu #3 was published in February 1982. It had 24 pages.

The theme of the issue was Robert E. Howard.

Contents

  • Cover Art by Jason C. Eckhardt [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "The Strange Case of Robert Ervin Howard" by Charles Hoffman and Marc A. Cerasini [essay] (3–7)
  • "The Borrower Beneath: Howard’s Debt to Lovecraft in “The Black Stone” " by Robert M. Price [essay] (8–10)
  • "Yag-kosha the Elephant Man" by Robert M. Price [essay] (10–11)
    • "Yag-kosha" by Robert M. Price [illustration] (11)
  • Mysteriis Solved! [puzzle] (11)
  • "Gol-Goroth, A Forgotten Old One" by Robert M. Price [essay] (12–13, 17)
  • "Genres in the Lovecraftian Library" by Robert M. Price [essay] (14–17)
  • "A Fun Guy from Yuggoth" [essay series] (18–19)
    • "The Call of Cthulhu’s Cadillac" by John Anthony [humor] (18–19)
  • "Yago-Sothoth" by Robert M. Price and Richard Abate [illustration] (20)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (21–22)
    • "New Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos" (Arkham House, 1981) edited by Ramsey Campbell; reviewed by C. J. Henderson (21–22)
    • "The Tomb" (Del Rey Books, 1981) by H. P. Lovecraft; reviewed by R. M. P. (Robert M. Price) (22)
    • "At the Mountains of Madness" (Del Rey Books, 1981) by H. P. Lovecraft; reviewed by R. M. P. (Robert M. Price) (22)
    • "The Lurking Fear" (Del Rey Books, 1981) by H. P. Lovecraft; reviewed by R. M. P. (Robert M. Price) (22)
    • "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" (Del Rey Books, 1981) by H. P. Lovecraft; reviewed by R. M. P. (Robert M. Price) (22)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letters of comment] (23)
    • Letter by Ed Babinski (23)
    • Response by Robert M. Price (23)
  • Describing de Scribes by Robert M. Price [notes on contributors] (24)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

The issue can be read here.

Letters of Comment

[Ed Babinski]: Dear Bob,

Reading HPL for the first time was a disappointment. Not to say that I wasn't quite revved up enough for the experience. I read various articles, digested HPL's essay "Supernatural Horror in Literature" and studied your magazine quite well. To no avail! The first taste was bitter compared with the sweet enchantment you held out to me on a silver spoon. No, I don't mean that I prefer to be spoon fed, and I'm certainly not blaming HPL's literary inadequacies on his personal cosmic philosophy. It's just that HPL is much less a writer than, say, Edgar Allan Poe. HPL is a gross horror stylist; he lacks subtle adjectives. All his plot lines, as far as his major tales go ("The Colour Out of Space", "At the Mountains of Madness", "The Dunwich Horror", "The Shadow Out of Time", etc.) are rather monotonous, guessable "lead-up-to's" --- boy meets thing, Peter Pan-demon-ium from Nether-Nether-Land, etc.

EAP could twist my heart strings round his pinky: high notes, low notes, excitement, despair, terror, madness, tension, ecstasy, etc. But HPL just seems to write stories that slowly chug uphill at a grinding pace, like the little engine that could, slowly increasing the ratio of grotesque adjectives to nongrotesque ones, a page at a time, until the last page is reached. And then the full apprehension, the high watermark of each tale bursts, or pops off like the cork on a stale bottle of champagne.

Your blasphemous, cyclopean, putridescent octopus-arachnid eyed, literary critic from un-fathomed abysses of time and space,

Ed Babinski

[Robert M. Price]: Well, now! This ought to prove that Crypt of Cthulhu isn't just one more of those obsequious zines that is so slavishly devoted to Lovecraft that any word of criticism is regarded as near-blasphemy! Never mind the fact that Babinski may soon find himself nervously looking over his shoulder and hearing floorboards ominously creaking behind him. But anyway, we think he's scored some pretty legitimate points against HPL (forgive us, Grandpa!) that needed to be shared. Incidentally, believe it or not, an upcoming issue of Crypt (on "Lovecraft and the Inklings") will feature an article by Ed --- provided he can evade the Deep Ones long enough to write it, that is! --- Editor

Issue 4

Cover of the issue #4 by Jason C. Eckhardt

Crypt of Cthulhu #4 was published in March 1982. It had 40 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Lovecraft and Modern Science".

Contents

  • Cover Art by Jason C. Eckhardt [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "Lovecraft’s Other Planets" by S. T. Joshi [essay] (3–11)
  • "Living on Borrowed Time (A Biologist Looks at “M. Valdemar” and “Cool Air”)" by Bert Atsma [essay] (11–13)
  • "Coolaire" by Robert M. Price and Richard Abate [illustration] (14)
  • "The Cosmology of Azathoth: Modern Physics and the Idiot Chaos" by Nevil Kingston-Brown (H. P. Lovecraft) [essay] (15–22)
  • "A Note On Lovecraft, Mathematics, and the Outer Spheres" by Donald R. Burleson [essay] (23–24)
  • "Seneca Lapham on Scientific Paradigm Revolutions" by Robert M. Price [essay] (25–27)
  • "The Mischief out of Time" by Robert M. Price [essay] (27, 30)
  • "A Fun Guy From Yuggoth" [essay series] (28–30)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (31–35)
  • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (35)
  • Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letters of comment] (36–39)
    • Letter by Robert Bloch (36)
    • Letter by Colin Wilson (36)
    • Letter by L. Sprague deCamp (36–37)
    • Letter by Darrell Schweitzer (37–38)
    • Letter by Michael H. Cline (38)
    • Letter by Robert C. Carey, Jr. (38)
    • Letter by James Piatt (39)
  • Cartoon by Darrell Schweitzer [illustration] (39)
  • Describing de Scribes by Robert M. Price [notes on contributors] (40)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Most of the issue can be read here.

Letters of Comment

[Robert Bloch]: My warmest thanks for the copies of CRYPT OF CTHULHU. What a delight it is to see this continuing interest in HPL! And how astonished he would have been had anyone predicted that one day a magazine such as this would become a reality!

[Colin Wilson]: I've got quite a large collection of odd bits and bobs of Lovecraft and things about him --- and although you don't mention it, I'm sure you know our awful little book THE NECRONOMICON. This is, of course, a spoof although I get a lot of letters from people asking me for further details about it, quite convinced that it is all true.

[Sprague de Camp]: Many thanks for CRYPT 3. Your readers might like to learn the origin of the strange name "Fvindvuf" as von Junzt's given name (p. 15). When Robert Bloch wrote THE SHAMBLER FROM THE STARS, he asked Lovecraft's permission to kill a character obviously modeled on Lovecraft. Lovecraft sent formal permission signed as witnesses by Abdul Alhazred, von Junzt, Gaspard du Nord, and the Tcho-Tcho Lama. This document is reproduced facing p. 311 of MARGINALIA (Arkham House, 1944).

HPL evidently went to the trouble of mastering the conventions of German longhand, which are quite different from those of English. Hence "Friedrich", as written by a German, looks like "Fvindvuf" to one unfamiliar with that script. In letters to Lovecraft, Howard stated Junzt's full name as Friedrich Wilhelm von Junzt.

Other subjects discussed: the inaccuracy of Abdul Alhazred's name, zines and APA about Robert Howard, reviews of "Lovecraft's Concept of Blasphemy" from the first issue and the article on the Corpse-Eating Cult of Leng from the second one, harsh opinion about Lin Carter and praises of the previous issues of the zine.

Reactions and Reviews

[Charles Gray]: Today I received in the mail issues 2, 3, and 4 of CRYPT OF CTHULHU, and was just really tremendously impressed by them. They are absolutely tremendous, works of indubitable quality, and you, as editor and occasional writer are obviously an entity of impeccable taste, as well as being a gentleman, scholar, and true participator in the Cause.

Issue 5

Cover of the issue #5 by Robert M. Price

Crypt of Cthulhu #5 was published in May 1982. It had 44 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Lovecraft and Occult Cosmology".

Contents

  • Cover Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "HPL and HPB: Lovecraft’s Use of Theosophy" by Robert M. Price [essay] (3–9)
    • "Kuthumi" by Robert M. Price [illustration] (6)
    • "Cthulhu" by Robert M. Price [illustration] (7)
  • "Monsters of Mu: The Lost Continent in the Cthulhu Mythos" by Robert M. Price [essay] (10–14)
  • "Reincarnation in Lovecraft’s Fiction" by Robert M. Price [essay] (15–20)
  • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (20)
  • "Chariots of the Old Ones?" by Charles Garofalo and Robert M. Price [essay] (21–24)
    • "The Real Cthulhu?" by Robert M. Price [illustration] (22)
  • "Lovecraft and Witchcraft" by Morgana A. LaVine [essay] (24–25, 27)
  • "The Witches in “The Witch House” " by Ronald Shearer [essay] (26–27)
  • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (27)
  • "Jung and Lovecraft on Prehuman Artifacts" by Robert M. Price [essay] (28–32)
  • "Who was “Metraton”?" by RMP (Robert M. Price) [essay] (32)
  • "The Pseudo-Intellectual in Weird Fiction" by Robert M. Price [essay] (33–35)
  • "Dubious Chorazin" by Robert M. Price [essay] (35)
  • "Fun Guys From Yuggoth" [essay series] (36, 38)
  • "R’lyeh Reviews" [review] (37–38)

Most of the issue can be read here.

Letters of Comment

[Robert Bloch]: A brief note to CTHUL-HU-it-may-concern: it is my hunch that "Alhazred" is HPL's pun on "All-has-read", referring to the erudition of the mad Arab.

[Frank Belknap Long]: The influence of HPL in the scientific world today --- in physics new and old, and other areas, is so close to non-existent that to categorize it as Nevil Kingston-Brown does creates an injustice to his actual stature as a serious literary figure in an important branch of literature, perhaps the peer of Poe. His exact standing in the glory realm still remains for the future to determine but, despite certain defects of style, I have never for a moment doubted that it will be a very high one. (That is, if man doesn't blow himself off the face of the planet In the next quarter of a century, reducing all human value systems to atomic vapor!)

Other subjects discussed: possible similarities between a scene in a story by Robert Howard and one from a movie with Douglas Fairbanks, whether the previous issue exaggerates connections between Lovecraft and science, rebuttal of Ed Babinski's attack on Lovecraft in Crypt of Cthulhu #3, problematical use of geometry in "The Shadow out of Time".

Reactions and Reviews

[Robert Bloch]: Let me tell you how very pleased I am with #5 and its contents. You're doing an outstanding job --- no wonder you get praise from your readers!

Issue 6

Cover of the issue #6 by Jason C. Eckhardt

Crypt of Cthulhu #6 was published in June 1982. It had 40 pages.

The theme of the issue was August Derleth.

Contents

  • Cover Art by Jason C. Eckhardt [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "The Lovecraft-Derleth Connection" by Robert M. Price [essay] (3–8)
    • "Hastur the Unspeakable" by Robert M. Price [illustration] (8)
  • "Solar Pons Meets Cthulhu: Detective Elements in Derleth’s Mythos Tales" by S. T. Joshi [essay] (9–12, 31)
  • "A Day in Derleth Country" by Lin Carter [essay] (13–16)
  • [The Four Winds] by Robert M. Price [editorial note] (16)
  • "August Derleth: Myth Maker" by Robert M. Price [essay] (17–18)
  • "Legacy of the Lurker" by Robert M. Price [essay] (19–23)
  • [Derleth Data] by Robert M. Price [editorial note] (23)
  • "What Kind of Man Reads Crypt of Cthulhu?" by Robert M. Price [illustration] (24)
  • "The Fragments at the Threshold" by H. P. Lovecraft [fiction] (25–28)
    • "The Round Tower" by H. P. Lovecraft [fiction] (25)
    • "Of Evill Sorceries Done in New-England of Daemons in No Humane Shape" by H. P. Lovecraft [fiction] (25–27)
    • "[The Rose Window]" by H. P. Lovecraft [fiction] (27–28)
  • "Derleth’s Cthulhu" by Robert M. Price [illustration] (28)
  • "The Derleth Horror" by Robert M. Price [fiction] (29–31)
  • "Hastur—Whose Side is He On?" by RMP (Robert M. Price) [essay] (31)
  • "Fun Guys from Yuggoth" by Donna Death (Donna Tod) [fiction] (32–33)
    • Photo of Donna Death [illustration] (32)
  • "Crypt-o-Cthulhu-Gram" by Carol Selby (Carol Selby Price) [puzzle] (33)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (34–36)
  • Crypt-o-Cthulhu-Gram Solution by Carol Selby (Carol Selby Price) [puzzle] (35)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letter] (37–40)
  • Describing de Scribes by Robert M. Price [notes on contributors] (40)

Most of the issue can be read here.

Letters of Comment

[Darrell Schweitzer]: By the way, I found a new Mention of HPL, for those that catalogue such, in The Eureka Years: Boucher & McComas's Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction 1949-54, ed. Annette Peltz McComas (Bantam 1982). Lovecraft is mentioned in correspondence between Bradbury and the editors (pp. 43-44). Boucher & McComas were having Bradbury revise "The Exiles". It was their idea that HPL appear in this tale. Boucher asks for "The real HPL, that is --- not the saintly wonder man that Augie and Wandrei have created." McComas adds: "We think that what we mean by the 'real' Lovecraft emerges somewhat even from the most idolatrous accounts. . . . A curious introvert, frustrated sexually, financially and creatively, ridden by neurotic dreads of cold and fish (and almost morbidly devoted to his one debauchery: ice cream), seeking refuge in thoughts of an Eighteenth Century which he did not understand but created in his own image, compensating in tremendous letter-writing for his failures in personal relations." Lovecraft appears in the story itself as so preoccupied with letter writing & ice cream that he won't help the various spirits of fantasy writers to resist the landing (on Mars) of the book-burning neo-Puritans of the scientific age.

Other subjects discussed: that Fairbanks movie, contemporary Mythos writers, could Lovecraft and Howard be called "pseudo-intellectuals", whether the issue #4 exaggerates connections between Lovecraft and science, what Dr. Munoz ate.

Reactions and Reviews

[Nick Limansky]: Also, I enjoyed Vol. 1, No. 6, and its preoccupation with Derleth. I have always enjoyed his pastiches --- though many do not --- and found the issue to be quite fair in its contents and criticisms.

Issue 7

Cover art of the issue #7 by Robert M. Price

Crypt of Cthulhu #7 was published in August 1982. It had 40 pages.

Contents

  • Cover Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "The Offering" by Lin Carter [fiction] (3–6)
  • "The Transition of Colin Wilson" by Charles Hoffman and Marc A. Cerasini [essay] (7–16, 26)
  • "Lovecraft and Classic American Literature" by Peter Cannon [essay] (17–19)
  • "Pickman’s Gallery" by Rick Bryant [illustration] (20–21)
    • Interior Art by Rick Bryant [illustration] (20)
    • Interior Art by Rick Bryant [illustration] (21)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letters of comment] (22–23, 39)
    • Letter by Edward P. Berglund (22)
    • Letter by Bernadette Bosky (22)
    • Letter by Roger Bryant (22–23, 39)
  • "Was There a Real Brown Jenkin?" by Will Murray [essay] (24–26)
  • "The Pine Barrens Horror" by Robert M. Price [essay] (27–30)
    • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (30)
  • "Beget Me Not" by Robert M. Price [essay] (30)
  • [Grafitti spotted on a men’s room wall…] [editorial note] (30)
  • "Is Abdul Alhazred Still Alive?" by Robert M. Price [essay] (31–32)
  • "Crypt-O-Cthulhu-Gram" by Carol Selby (Carol Selby Price) [puzzle] (32)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (33–35)
    • Poltergeist directed by Steven Spielberg; reviewed by RMP (Robert M. Price) (33–34)
    • "The Gunslinger" (Donald M. Grant Publisher, Inc.; 1982) by Stephen King; reviewed by RMP (Robert M. Price) (34–35)
  • [Oops!] [editorial note] (35)
  • "Fun Guys From Yuggoth" [essay series] (36–38)
    • "Life Is Not a Hideous Thing" by S. T. Joshi [essay] (36–38)
  • [Alhazred Again!] [editorial note] (38)
  • Crypt-O-Cthulhu-Gram Solution by Carol Selby (Carol Selby Price) [puzzle] (38)
  • Describing de Scribes by Robert M. Price [notes on contributors] (40)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Part of the issue can be read here.

Letters of Comment

[David E. Schultz]: I'm for abolishing the whole damned debate about Lovecraft & his "mythos". There just is no such thing. I think we'd all be better off (and HPL would probably benefit the most) if we would just ditch the terms "Lovecraft mythos" and "Cthulhu mythos" and "Yog-Sothoth Cycle of Myth" and all that other rot. The man wrote dream stories; stories based on or conceived in dreams, stories about dreams, stories that are dreams, you name it. Few stories don't fit under this broad cloak ("In the Vault" comes to mind) and those stories are generally not stories from Lovecraft's heart, but stories forced upon him: "Lurking Fear", etc.

Other subjects discussed: August Derleth and the previous issue about him, "The Derleth Mythos", Derleth's outlook, Ubbo-Sathla and Abhoth, Derleth's non-Mythos writings, dialects in Lovecraft's stories, Masterton's Manitou novels, "The Lurker at the Threshold".

Reactions and Reviews

[Colin Wilson]: A thousand thanks for that really splendid article by Marc Cerasini and Charles Hoffman ["The Transition of Colin Wilson," Vol. 1, No. 7]. It really made my day. I chuckled like mad at the last pages describing the basic difference between me and Lovecraft! Please congratulate them and say it is one of the most perceptive articles on me I have ever read.

Issue 8

Cover art of the issue #8 by Rick Bryant, illustration for “Medusa’s Coil” by H.P. Lovecraft and Zelia Bishop

Crypt of Cthulhu #8 was published in September 1982. It had 32 pages.

Contents

  • Cover Art (“Medusa’s Coil”) by Rick Bryant [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "H.P. Lovecraft" by Colin Wilson [essay] (3–10)
  • "Homosexual Panic in “The Outsider”" by Robert M. Price [essay] (11–13)
  • "Crypt-O-Cthulhu-Gram" by Carol Selby (Carol Selby Price) [puzzle] (13)
  • "Lovecraft and the Male Gender Role" by Morgana LaVine [essay] (14–15)
  • "In Search of a Mythos Genealogy" by Bernadette Bosky [essay] (16–22)
  • "The Attestation Formula in the Necronomicon" by Robert M. Price [essay] (23–24)
  • "Two Burgers To Go . . . Mad!" by Ronald Shearer [fiction] (25–27)
  • "Famous Last Words" by Robert M. Price [essay] (28–29)
    • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (29)
  • "Fun Guys From Yuggoth" [essay/fiction series] (30–31)
  • Describing de Scribes by Robert M. Price [notes on contributors] (31)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (32)
  • Crypt-O-Cthulhu-Gram Solution by Carol Selby (Carol Selby Price) [puzzle] (32)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Part of the issue can be read here.

Issue 9

Cover art of the issue #9 by Michael H. Cline

Crypt of Cthulhu #9 was published in November 1982. It had 32 pages.

The theme of the issue was "All-Cthulhu Issue". Most of the articles were written by Price under a variety of one-short pseudonyms.

Contents

  • Cover Art by Michael H. Cline [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "Cthul-who? How Do You Pronounce “Cthulhu”?" by Henry Akeley (Robert M. Price) [essay] (3)
  • "Cthulhu and King Kong" by Seneca Lapham (Robert M. Price) [essay] (4–6)
  • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (6)
  • "Sea-Monster Reports and the Johansen Narrative" by Victor von Doom (Robert M. Price) [essay] (7–8)
  • "Apocalyptic Expectation in “The Call of Cthulhu” " by Laban Shrewsbury (Robert M. Price) [essay] (9–10)
  • "“Dagon” and “The Madness from the Sea” "by Joachim Feery (Robert M. Price) [essay] (11–12)
  • Describing de Scribes by Robert M. Price [notes on contributors] (12)
  • "Cthulhu Elsewhere in Lovecraft" by George Gammell Angell (Robert M. Price) [essay] (13–15)
  • "Pickman’s Gallery" by Robert M. Price [illustration] (16–17)
    • "Gill Next Door" by Robert M. Price [illustration] (16–17)
  • "Cthulhu in Southeast Alaska" by Richard L. Tierney [essay] (18–19)
  • "Cthulhu in Mesoamerica" by Richard L. Tierney [essay] (19–21)
  • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (21)
  • "A Cthulhu Challenge" by John Anthony [puzzle] (22)
  • The Real Father Dagon by Harold Hadley Copeland (Robert M. Price) [essay] (23–24)
  • "A Cthulhu Challenge . . . Met!" by John Anthony [puzzle] (24)
  • "St. Toad’s Hagiography" by Alonzo Hasbrouch Typer (Robert M. Price) [essay] (25–26)
  • "Derleth’s Use of the Words “Ichthic” and “Batrachian” " by Kermit Marsh III (Robert M. Price) [essay] (26–28)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [reviews] (28–30)
    • "Different Seasons" (Viking) by Stephen King; reviewed by RMP (Robert M. Price) (28–30)
    • Creepshow (New American Library) text by Stephen King; art by Berni Wrightson; reviewed by RMP (Robert M. Price) (28–30)
    • “It Grows on You” (in Death, Playboy Press) by Stephen King; reviewed by RMP (Robert M. Price) (28–30)
    • "The Running Man" (Signet) by Richard Bachman (Stephen King); reviewed by RMP (Robert M. Price) (28–30)
    • Interior Art (“King's Lot”) by Robert M. Price [illustration] (30)
  • "Fun Guys From Yuggoth" [fiction series] (31)
    • "St. Toad’s Church, Innsmouth, Massachusetts: Bulletin and Announcements" by Marc A. Cerasini [fiction] (31)
  • Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (32)
    • Letter by Colin Wilson (32)
    • Letter by Nick Limansky (32)
    • Letter by Dennis O’Rourke (32)
    • Letter by Ken Humphreys (32)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (32)

The issue can be read here.

Letters of Comment

[Nick Limansky]: Congratulations on founding a publication devoted solely to the Mythos! Lovecraft fans and lovers of horror in general have needed something like this for years. I have read and re-read the issues I have and enjoy them immensely. I was especially fascinated by your excellent article in Vol. 1, No. 1, "Lovecraft's Concept of Blasphemy", which, I felt, was superbly prepared and presented.

Other subjects discussed: Colin Wilson praising the article about Colin Wilson, praise of the previous issues.

Issue 10

Cover art of the issue #10 by Robert M. Price

Crypt of Cthulhu #10 was published in December 1982. It had 60 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Ashes and Others by H.P. Lovecraft & Divers Hands".

Contents

  • Cover Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (front cover)
  • Introduction by Robert M. Price [essay] (1–3)
  • "Ashes" by C. M. Eddy, Jr. and H. P. Lovecraft [fiction] (5–10)
  • "The Sealed Casket" by Richard F. Searight [fiction] (11–15)
  • "The Sorcery of Aphlar" by Duane W. Rimel and H. P. Lovecraft [fiction] (16–17)
  • "Dreams of Yith" by Duane W. Rimel and H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (18–19)
  • "Dreams of Yid" by Duane W. Rimel [poetry] (20)
  • "The Diary of Alonzo Typer" by William Lumley [fiction] (21–25)
  • "The Automatic Executioner" by Adolphe de Castro (aka Gustav Adolphe Danziger) [fiction] (26–30)
  • "A Sacrifice to Science" by Adolphe de Castro (Gustav Adolphe Danziger) [fiction] (31–45)
  • "The Lord of Illusion" by E. Hoffmann Price [fiction] (46–56)

Part of the issue can be read here.

Reactions and Reviews

[Tore Stokka]: I have just finished reading, with great pleasure, Crypt of Cthulhu #10 and Bran Mak Morn: A Play and Others. I want you to know that I think you're doing great work. Always nice to have someone rescue unpublished texts or moldering stories that appeal only to the hardcore fan.

Issue 11

Cover art of the issue #11 by Robert M. Price

Crypt of Cthulhu #11 was published in February 1983. It had 56 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Lovecraft’s Revisions".

Contents

  • Cover Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "Lovecraft’s Revisions: How Much of Them Did He Write?" by S. T. Joshi [essay] (3–14)
  • [Marginal Readings from Yith] [editorial note] (14)
  • "The Revision Mythos" by Robert M. Price [essay] (15–19)
  • "Crypt-O-Clulu-Gram" by Carol Selby (Carol Selby Price) [puzzle] (19)
  • "Mu in “Bothon” and “Out of the Eons” " by William Fulwiler [essay] (20–24)
  • "The Elder Thing" by William Lumley [poetry] (24)
  • "“Yig,” “The Mound” and American Indian Lore" by Michael DiGregorio [essay] (25–26, 38)
  • "Who Wrote “The Mound”?" by S. T. Joshi [essay] (27–29, 38)
  • “The Mound”: An Appreciation by Peter H. Cannon [essay] (30–32, 51)
  • "Dark Passion: A Comparison of “Medusa’s Coil” and “Black Canaan” " by Marc A. Cerasini [essay] (33–36)
  • Crypt-O-Clulu-Gram Solution by Carol Selby (Carol Selby Price) [puzzle] (36)
  • "A Factual Basis for “The Green Meadow”?" by Ralph E. Vaughan [essay] (37–38)
  • "Did Lovecraft Revise “Doom Around the Corner”?" by Will Murray [essay] (39–40)
  • "Doom Around the Corner" by Wilfred Blanch Talman [fiction] (41–44)
  • "Who Were the Boupa Priests?" by Robert M. Price [essay] (44)
  • "Imprisoned with Hazel Heald" by Robert M. Price [essay] (45–46)
  • "The Allegory of Yig" by Robert M. Price [essay] (46)
  • "Fun Guys From Yuggoth" [fiction series] (47)
    • "Did Lovecraft Revise This Article?" by Robert “Theobald” Price [fiction] (47)
  • [Error Out of Time] [editorial note] (47)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (48–51)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letters of comment] (53–55)
    • Letter by Frank Belknap Long (53)
    • Letter by Robert Bloch (53)
    • Letter by Brian Lumley (53)
    • Letter by Robert Anton Wilson (53)
    • Letter by Patrice de Joubert (53)
    • Letter by L. D. Blackmore (54)
    • Letter by Richard A. Frank (54)
    • Letter by Daniel Gobbett (54)
    • Letter by Peter Cannon (55)
    • Letter by Steve Behrends (55)
    • Letter by Dave Siegel (55)
  • Describing de Scribes by Robert M. Price [notes on contributors] (56)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Issue 12

Cover art of the issue #12 by Nick Petrosino

Crypt of Cthulhu #12 was published in March 1983. It had 44 pages.

  • Cover Art (“Antarktos”) by Nick Petrosino [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "My Debt to H.P. Lovecraft" by Robert Anton Wilson [essay] (3–4, 16)
  • "H.P. Lovecraft, Prose Stylist" by Steve Mariconda [essay] (5–12)
  • [See Yog-Sothoth!] [editorial note] (12)
  • "The Chesuncook Witch-Cult" by Will Murray [essay] (13–16)
    • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (16)
  • "A Lovecraftian Taxonomy" by Robert M. Price [essay] (17–19)
  • "H.P. Lovecraft on the Screen (or, Yog-Slob and Other Disasters)" by Denise Dumars [essay] (20–24)
  • "Godzilla versus Cthulhu (What Would Happen if Toho Studios Ever Discovered Lovecraft?)" by Crispin Burnham [essay] (25–26)
    • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (25)
    • Interior Art by RLT (Richard L. Tierney) [illustration] (25)
  • "Crypt-O-Cthulhu-Gram" by Carol Selby (Carol Selby Price) [puzzle] (26)
  • "Lovecraft and Antarctica" by Ralph E. Vaughan [essay] (27, 29)
  • "What Face Wears Nyarlathotep?" by Edward DeGeorge [essay] (28–29)
  • "Limericks from Yuggoth" by Lin Carter [poetry] (30–31)
  • "Kadath" by Brian Lumley [poetry] (31)
  • "Fun Guys From Yuggoth" [fiction series] (32, 39)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (33–39)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letters of comment] (40–43)
    • Letter by R. L. Tierney (40)
    • Letter by Richard Fawcett (40–41)
    • Letter by Steve Kane (41–42)
    • Letter by Edward P. Berglund (42)
    • Letter by David E. Schultz (42–43)
    • Letter by Steve Behrends (43)
  • Crypt-O-Cthulhu-Gram Solution by Carol Selby (Carol Selby Price) [puzzle] (43)
  • Describing de Scribes by Robert M. Price [notes on contributors] (44)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[Chris Gross]: About two weeks ago, I found a copy of Crypt #12; which was the first time I'd seen it in the bookstore. Maybe they got in a new set of back issues just before I got there. . . . I liked the articles on HPL's prose style; I agree that a lot of people who disagree with his choice of words seem to think he did it unconsciously. It's strange that the Reader's Guide to Fantasy (mentioned in Steve Mariconda's article) condemns HPL's writing and praises Mervyn Peake's, since they can both be wordy --- Peake even more so than Lovecraft! I like them both, though --- I sort of enjoy reading dense books

[Jeff Newman]: Of course it is the serious articles that give Crypt its lasting value. Steve Mariconda's "H. P. Lovecraft, Prose Stylist" [ Crypt #12] is precisely the kind of close textual (or stylistic) analysis Lovecraft's work deserves, and also is a worthy polemical essay. For it stands as a sturdy refutation of the regrettably wide spread assertion (best exemplified by Edmund Wilson) that Lovecraft was a poor stylist given to purple prose. If Lovecraft ever receives the sort of grudging respect mainstream criticism now accords Raymond Chandler it will be due to persuasive essays like Steve's.

Issue 13

Cover art of the issue #13 by Thomas Brown

Crypt of Cthulhu #13 was published in May 1983. It had 48 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Lovecraft and the Inklings".

Contents

  • Cover Art by Thomas Brown [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "The Inklings, Lovecraft, and the Kalems" by Peter H. Cannon [essay] (3–5)
  • "Middle-Earth, Narnia and Lovecraft’s Dream World: Comparative World-Views in Fantasy" by Leigh D. Blackmore [essay] (6–15, 22)
  • "Lovecraft’s Theology of Fear and Williams’ Theology of Romance" by Edward T. Babinski [essay] (16–22)
  • "Kadath and Mordor: The Quest in Lovecraft and Tolkien" by Ben P. Indick [essay] (23–24)
  • "The Dueling Cosmoses of H.P. Lovecraft and G.K. Chesterton" by Edward T. Babinski [essay] (25–30, 36)
  • "Surprised by Horror: The Fantasy Short Stories of C.S. Lewis" by S. T. Joshi [essay] (31–34)
  • "Williams, Waite, and the Golden Dawn" by Robert C. Carey [essay] (35–36)
  • "A “Lovecraftian” Scene in Perelandra" by Charles Garofalo [essay] (37)
  • "Screwtape’s Letter to Cthulhu" by Robert M. Price [fiction] (38)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letters of comment] (39–45)
    • Letter by Robert Bloch (39)
    • Letter by Gahan Wilson (39)
    • Letter by Brian Lumley (39)
    • Letter by Ramsey Campbell (39)
    • Letter by David Drake (39–40)
    • Letter by Darrell Schweitzer (40–41)
    • Letter by S. T. Joshi (41–42)
    • Letter by Carolyn Lee Boyd (42–43)
    • Letter by Jim Boisclair (43)
    • Letter by Robert Finnan (43)
    • Letter by Steve Behrends (43)
    • Letter by Ken Faig, Jr. (43)
    • Letter by Roger Bryant (43–44)
    • Letter by Michael H. Cline (44)
    • Letter by Roger G. Knuth (44)
    • Letter by Bob Finnan (44–45)
    • Letter by Daniel Gobbett (45)
    • Letter by Steve Behrends (45)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (46–47)
  • Describing de Scribes by Robert M. Price [notes on contributors] (48)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[Diane Fox]: I'd very much like to make some comments on Crypt of Cthulhu No. 13, which I bought at a recent convention. As I've been an enthusiastic fan of J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and H. P. Lovecraft for a great many years, your magazine came as a pleasant surprise. I wouldn't have thought of connecting the mythoses (mythi?) of Lovecraft and the Inklings, yet now that I've seen it done, the idea seems obvious!

I agree definitely with Edward T. Babinski's comment that fear is not the only or even the strongest emotion in Lovecraft's tales. There is also a rather anarchic glee at "letting the gorilla out of his cage", to quote Stephen King.

Another thought on Babinski's Lovecraft/Williams article: there are a couple of extremely Lovecraftian images in Williams "Arthurian" sequence of poems. There is an evil Empire, apparently ruled by a "headless" entity (like Azathoth, mindless), supported by "tentacled", shapeless creatures that eat souls.

Robert C. Carey's comments on the Golden Dawn were as intriguing as any material on this mysterious group of brilliant and talented wizards always is. I wonder if they gave Tolkien the idea for Gandalf and the Istari?

Charles Garofalo's description of the very "eldritch" giant insect in Perelandra makes me wonder if C.S. Lewis ever read anything by Lovecraft? He was a great reader of science fiction and wrote Out of the Silent Planet partly to refute the cliched concept of "nasty aliens".

"Screwtape's Letter to Cthulhu" was a most unnerving and enlightening piece of correspondence. Also very funny. A good piece of pastiche, and made its point well!

[Masaki Abe]: Crypt of Cthulhu is highly enjoyable to read and very valuable. The articles are written not from a maniac fan's narrow viewpoint but a wide and fresh one. They bring much new knowledge and scholarly vision. Especially unique features like "HPL and the Inklings" reached a new level of Lovecraft study.

[Miss R. M. Calverley]: Crypt is a publication I read with unalloyed delight not only for the articles about HPL and his associates but for insights into the works of other fantasists --- and of course the inimitable humour. "Screwtape's Letter to Cthulhu" [Crypt #13] could have had unfortunate consequences for me since it made me laugh out loud on the top deck of a London bus; not usually the scene of much merriment. Other passengers could not have been much more perturbed had I sprouted tentacles and slithered away down the stairs.

Issue 14

Cover art of the issue #14 by Wolfius

Crypt of Cthulhu #14 was published in June 1983. It had 48 pages.

Contents

  • Cover Art by Wolfius [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "Baring-Gould and the Ghouls: The Influence of Curious Myths of the Middle Ages on “The Rats in the Walls” " by Steve Mariconda [essay] (3–7, 27)
  • "Lovecraft’s Ghouls" by Will Murray [essay] (8–9, 27)
  • "Has Kadath Been Sighted?" by Richard L. Tierney [essay] (10–11, 33)
  • Swamp Call by Brian Lumley [poetry] (11)
  • "A Letter on the Lovecraft Mythos" by Pierre de Caprona (12–20)
  • [Lovecraft Typo!] [editorial note] (20)
  • "Unpronounceable Update" [essay] (20)
  • "Contra Capronam" by Lin Carter (21–27)
  • "Lovecraft as I Seem to Remember Him" by F. Gumby Kalem (Robert M. Price) [fiction] (28–29)
  • "Making a Friend of Horror" by Charles Hoffman [essay] (30–31)
  • "Crypt-O-Cthulhu-Gram" by Carol Selby (Carol Selby Price) [puzzle] (31)
  • "Some Stray Bits of Lovecraftiana" by Darrell Schweitzer [essay] (32–33)
  • "Fantasy Gaming for Lovecraftians: “The Call of Cthulhu”" by Sam Gafford [essay] (34–35, 42)
  • "Fun Guys from Yuggoth" [essay series] (36–37)
  • Crypt-O-Cthulhu-Gram Solution by Carol Selby (Carol Selby Price) [puzzle] (37)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (38–40)
  • "Advice to the Lovecraft-lorn" by Donna Death (Donna Tod) [fiction] (41–42)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letters of comment] (43–48, 40)
    • Letter by Karl Edward Wagner (43)
    • Letter by Gahan Wilson (43)
    • Letter by Fritz Leiber (43)
    • Letter by Frank Belknap Long (43–44)
    • Letter by L. Sprague deCamp (44)
    • Letter by Ben Indick (44)
    • Letter by S. T. Joshi (44–47)
    • Letter by Patrice de G. Joubert (47)
    • Letter by William Fulwiler (47–48)
    • Letter by Ronald Shearer (48, 40)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Issue 15

Cover art of the issue #15 by Jason C. Eckhardt

Crypt of Cthulhu #15 was published in August 1983. It had 36 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Lovecraft’s Dunsanian Fiction".

Contents

  • Cover Art by Jason C. Eckhardt [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "Some Comments on the Dunsany-Lovecraft Influence" by Donald R. Burleson [essay] (3, 29)
  • "The Dream World and the Real World in Lovecraft" by S. T. Joshi [essay] (4–15)
  • "Tentacles in Dreamland: Cthulhu Mythos Elements in the Dunsanian Stories" by Will Murray [essay] (16–18)
  • "“The Other Gods” and the Four Who Entered Paradise" by Robert M. Price [essay] (19–20)
  • "Pombo and “The Other Gods” " by Robert Schwartz [essay] (21)
  • "On “Polaris”" by S. T. Joshi [essay] (22–25)
  • "The Horror of “Polaris”" by Ralph E. Vaughan [essay] (26–27)
  • "Something About the Cats of Ulthar" by Jason C. Eckhardt [essay] (28–29)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (30–33)
  • "Fun Guys from Yuggoth" [essay series] (34, 20, 27)
    • "What Lovecraftdom and I Have Done to Each Other" by Peter H. Cannon [essay] (34, 20, 27)
  • "Advice to the Lovecraft-lorn" by Donna Death (Donna Tod) [fiction] (35)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letter] (36)
    • Letter by Ramsey Campbell (36)
    • Letter by Robert Finnan (36)
    • Letter by David E. Schultz (36)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[Robert Bloch]: Crypt No. 15 is an excellent issue. I was naturally quite interested in your reviews of Psycho II --- book and film. You are one of the few who noticed how I gave various characters certain of Norman Bates's attributes, and also my reasons for doing so. It's comforting to know I'm not entirely without perceptive readers!

[Steve Behrends]: Your latest Crypt [No. 15] had many great moments --- and the cover was one of them! (Read; Eckhardt should be canonized!) The two "Polaris" articles, and "Pombo" were very good, but the Fun Guy and "Cats" seemed unexceptional. Murray's article on the Mythos discussed a great topic, but what did we learn that a cursory reading of the stories couldn't have told us? Lastly, Joshi's long article was probably best, but I think he turned a blind eye to the simplest explanation of the Dream World vs. Real World controversy: that certain places and events in one world have an adumbration in the other, much as a three-dimensional object casts a two-dimensional shadow (pardon the overused analogy). He seems very reluctant to accept this; similarly that passages between the worlds exist (such as would allow Pickman to travel from Boston to Pnath. . . . ). Joshi really is awe-inspiring, though.

Issue 16

Cover art of the issue #16 by Steve Fabian

Crypt of Cthulhu #16 was published in September 1983. It had 60 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Tales from the Crypt of Cthulhu".

Contents

Reactions and Reviews

[Robert Bloch]: I'm quite pleased with issue No. 16 [Tales from the Crypt of Cthulhu] --- closest thing to being in Weird Tales again that I can imagine!

[Brian Lumley]: Tales from the Crypt of Cthulhu is probably your best shot to date and I love it! It has style; so very evocative of the late lamented EC; a great job by your "thinkers" and by Fabian. Just love it.

[Richard L. Tierney]: The Fabian cover [of Tales from the Crypt of Cthulhu] is just terrific --- I like to busted a gut when I saw it. "The Old Gent" --- ha! ha!

[David S. Siegel]: Issue No. 16 is, in my judgment, the best yet.

While it is fun to read some of the issues that, seriously or otherwise, see a bit of Lovecraft wherever they look, the best of your issues have always contained examinations of the better Weird Tales writers in terms of their own contributions to the genre. I would rather read someone's views on a particular Lovecraft tale (or the tale of one of his contemporaries) than someone trying to connect Lovecraft to some outlandish ideas. (One of the worst issues contained the King Kong connection ["Cthulhu and King Kong", Crypt No. 9]).

No. 16 is so good because it feeds us what the pulps fed us: fiction that pretended to be nothing but fiction. Fiction that was exciting and unsettling.

[Darrell Schweitzer]: I have been perusing various recent issues of your fine, eldritch & damnable journal. The cover on #16 (Tales from the Crypt of Cthulhu) is wonderful, wonderful, the best visual gag I have seen since Todd Klein's illos for my ill-fated Eldritch Laughter From Beyond. At the same time, the solid scholarship in these issues is tremendously impressive. I admire the way you've mixed an irreverent attitude with genuine substance. Crypt is a really impressive amateur achievement in the truest sense of the term, and I hope you get a World Fantasy Award someday for it. Keep up the good work.

Issue 17

Cover art of the issue #17 by Robert M. Price

Crypt of Cthulhu #17 was published in November 1983. It had 52 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Revisions Issue II".

Contents

  • Cover Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "A Symposium on “The Tree on the Hill”" [essay series] (3–21, 24)
    • "Lovecraftian Branches in Rimel’s Tree" by Donald R. Burleson [essay] (3–4)
    • "Who Wrote “The Tree on the Hill”?" by Peter Cannon [essay] (5)
    • "Some Comments on “The Tree on the Hill”" by William Fulwiler [essay] (6)
    • "On “The Tree on the Hill”" by S. T. Joshi [essay] (6–9)
    • "Lovecraft’s Role In “The Tree on the Hill”" by Steven Mariconda [essay] (10–12, 24)
    • "Examining “The Tree on the Hill”" by Will Murray [essay] (13–14)
    • "A “New” Lovecraft Tale" by Robert M. Price [essay] (15–19)
    • "Regarding Lovecraft’s Hand in “The Tree on the Hill”" by David E. Schultz [essay] (19–21)
  • "Self-Parody in Lovecraft’s Revisions" by Will Murray [essay] (22–24)
  • "On “The Loved Dead”" by David E. Schultz [essay] (25–28)
  • "New Clues to Lovecraft’s Role in “Out of the Eons” and “The Crawling Chaos”" by Robert M. Price [essay] (29–31)
  • "Mysteries of the Hoggar Region" by Will Murray [essay] (32, 39)
  • "Lovecraft’s Contribution to “Till A’ the Seas”" by S. T. Joshi [essay] (33–39)
    • Till A’ the Seas by Robert H. Barlow and H. P. Lovecraft; edited by S. T. Joshi [fiction] (33–39)
  • "Irony" by Wilson Shepherd [poetry] (40)
  • "The Wanderer’s Return" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (41)
  • "Lost Revisions?" by Robert M. Price [essay] (42, 52)
  • "Advice to the Lovecraft-Lorn" by Donna Death (Donna Tod) [fiction] (43)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (44–47, 21, 39)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letter] (48–52)
    • Letter by Robert Bloch (48)
    • Letter by Duane Rimel (48)
    • Letter by Karl Edward Wagner (48)
    • Letter by Brian Lumley (48)
    • Letter by Richard L. Tierney (48)
    • Letter by David S. Siegel (49)
    • Letter by Ken Humphreys (49)
    • Letter by D. B. Vance (49)
    • Letter by Daniel Gobbett (49)
    • Letter by William Fulwiler (50)
    • Letter by Steve Behrends (50)
    • Letter by Diane Fox (50–51)
    • Letter by M. Eileen McNamara, M. D. (51–52)
    • Letter by Ronald Shearer (52)
    • Letter by E. T. Caldwell (52)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Part of the issue can be read here.

Letters of Comment

[David S. Siegel]: While it is fun to read some of the issues that, seriously or otherwise, see a bit of Lovecraft wherever they look, the best of your issues have always contained examinations of the better Weird Tales writers in terms of their own contributions to the genre. I would rather read someone's views on a particular Lovecraft tale (or the tale of one of his contemporaries) than someone trying to connect Lovecraft to some outlandish ideas. (One of the worst issues contained the King Kong connection ["Cthulhu and King Kong", Crypt No. 9]).

[E. T. Caldwell]: I've enjoyed your publication since sometime last year --- picked up at "The Turning Page" in Milwaukee. I enjoy the theme issues, as long as you also feature "Fun Guys", Reviews, "Mail-Call", Editorial, and Donna Death. Yours is nearly the perfect journal --- perhaps some HPLish/CAS type poetry and a portfolio or two would be good also.

Other subjects discussed: "The Tree on the Hill", Robert Howard's "The Hand of Obeah", Clark Ashton Smith and drug imagery, discussion of R. L. Tierney's "Has Kadath Been Sighted?" from the issue #14, Lovecraft's "Dunsanian" stories, possible interpretations of "Polaris", comments on the issues #15 and #13, discussion of the article "Homosexual Panic in 'The Outsider' from the issue #8, the genre of horror literature.

Issue 18

Cover art of the issue #18 by Robert M. Price

Crypt of Cthulhu #18 was published in December 1983. It had 40 pages.

This issue wasn't themed.

Contents

  • Cover Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "The Cthulhuers" by John Strysik [fiction] (3–8)
  • "H.P. Lovecraft As I Knew Him" by Duane Rimel [essay] (9–11)
  • "The Lurker in the VCR: More H.P. Lovecraft on the Screen" by Denise Dumars [essay] (12–13, 20)
  • "Lovecraft’s Influence on Stephen King" by Sam Gafford [essay] (14–15)
  • "Scales of Horror" by Bert Atsma [essay] (16–18)
  • "Obed and Obadiah Marsh" by Tani Jantsang [essay] (19–20)
  • “Lovecraftianity” and the Pagan Revival by Robert M. Price [essay] (21–23, 25)
  • "The Cthulhu Controversy" by Edward DeGeorge [essay] (24–25)
  • "Locating Lovecraft" by Ralph E. Vaughan [editorial note] (26–27)
  • [Lovecraft and the Mythos in Stephen King] [notice] (27)
  • "The Not-So-Great Race" by John A. Buettner [essay] (28)
  • "Mearle Prout and “The House of the Worm”" by Will Murray [essay] (29–30, 39)
  • "More Limericks from Yuggoth" by Lin Carter [poetry] (31, 34)
  • "Fun Gals from Yuggoth" [essay series] (32–34)
  • [“Stranger Still”] [editorial note] (34)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (35–39)
  • "Advice to the Lovecraft-Lorn" by Donna Death (Donna Tod) [fiction] (40)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letter] (40)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[Steve Behrends]: Thanks as always for the latest Crypt [# 18]. I enjoyed most especially the Obed Marsh and Derl-Yith articles. I seem to remember that either "Shadow Out of Space" or "Dark Brotherhood" has the cone-shaped creatures living ON YITH! Quite a faux pas, no? It's certainly strange how Derleth behaved like an amateur, armchair HPL enthusiast at times!

[Dan Gobbett]: Just a few lines to let you know that Crypt of Cthulhu #18 was great as always, one of the few I read from cover to cover. The cover really took me back! "The Cthulhuers" was a real "Fun Guy" item! How about "Ozzie and Harriet and Nyarlathotep" or "Dragnet for Dagon"?

As for the best of the issue, it would be hard to say; Murray, Gafford, Rimel, and "'Lovecraftianity' and the Pagan Revival" would be high on the list, but all were of interest, even dear ol' Donna Death's column.

[Richard L. Tierney]: Thanks for Crypt #18. l especially liked Bert Atsma's "Scales of Horror". I've often thought that the Deep Ones can't really be all that distantly related to us or they couldn't reproduce with us as easily as they do.

[Darrell Schweitzer]:In the 18th issue I enjoyed "The Cthulhuers" greatly.

Issue 19

Cover art of the issue #19 by Stephen E. Fabian

Crypt of Cthulhu #19 was published in February 1984. It had 40 pages.

This theme of the issue was Brian Lumley.

Contents

  • Cover Art by Stephen E. Fabian [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "Brian Lumley—Reanimator" by Robert M. Price [essay] (3–13)
  • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (13)
  • "Demoniacal" by David Sutton [fiction] (14–20)
  • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (20)
  • "The Kiss of Bugg-Shash" by Brian Lumley [fiction] (21–34)
  • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (34)
  • "The Statement of One John Gibson" by Brian Lumley [fiction] (35–51)
  • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (51)
  • "An Interview with Brian Lumley" by Robert M. Price; interview of Brian Lumley (52–55)
  • "Sea Fret" by Brian Lumley [poetry] (56)
  • "Mammoth Rider" by Brian Lumley [poetry] (56)
  • "Advice to the Lovecraft-Lorn" by Donna Death (Donna Tod) [fiction] (57)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (57)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letter] (58–60, 55)
    • Letter by Patrice deG. Joubert (58)
    • Letter by Paul R. Wilson (58)
    • Letter by Donna Tod (58)
    • Letter by Tore Stokka (58)
    • Letter by Masaki Abe (58)
    • Letter by Steve Behrends (58–59)
    • Letter by William Fulwiler (59)
    • Letter by Ronald Shearer (59)
    • Letter by Robert Bloch (59)
    • Letter by Dan Gobbett (59)
    • Letter by Stephen R. Jennings (59–60)
    • Letter by Ralph E. Vaughan (60)
    • Letter by Laurence C. Bush (60)
    • Letter by Richard L. Tierney (60)
    • Letter by Darrell Schweitzer (60, 55)
    • Letter by R. Alain Everts (55)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Part of the issue can be read here.

Letters of Comment

[R. Alain Everts]: I take issue with the letter from M. Eileen McNamara [in Crypt #17] concerning an article on "homosexual panic" and HPL's "The Outsider". Lovecraft, despite his words, did not have an unhappy childhood, nor one cast out from his friends --- at least this is at variance with the testimony of HPL's childhood friends, and also with his own in which he stated that his childhood up to the death of his grandfather Whipple in 1904 was quite a good one. Even Dr. McNamara will have to agree that all such psychological patterns were inculcated long before age 14 --- more like around age 4. Also, I am sick and tired of hearing that HPL's mother dressed him like a girl. Of course she did --- this was the fashion for those times; I have dozens of baby photos of my own ancestors, taken from the same Victorian period, replete with baby curls like girls. When the curls were cut off was quite a celebration, akin to the later wearing of long pants. Do you think that Buster Brown with the pageboy hairdo was a girl?

There's no denying that Lovecraft's mother smothered him; but he rather did manage to live with any damage there, as Sonia Lovecraft has amply testified. One thing I learned in college is that you cannot draw any psychological conclusions from anything a subject has written unless the subject has himself been psychoanalyzed.

[Stephen R. Jennings]: I, for one, consider Crypt of Cthulhu the most consistently outstanding, informative, and humorous Lovecraft periodical now, or ever, published. There are just too many gems stashed away in those early Crypts for any to remain out of print. The book reviews alone are indispensable. My vote is cast that you keep up a steady reprint policy, or find some other solution so that the new generation of Lovecraftians will never be deprived of their rich and rightful heritage.

Other subjects discussed: readers expressing their opinions on Brian Lumley and the issue about him, incoming Japanese anthology of translated Lovecraftian stories, whether the title of Lovecraft's unwritten novel "The House of the Worm" was actually the working title for "The Shunned House", discussions of Denise Dumars' article "The Lurker in the VCR" in the issue #18 and Lovecraft's adaptations, "The Cthulhuers" in the issue #18 and other possible crossovers with TV shows, praises of the zine in general, Bert Atsma's "Scales of Horror" and possibility of genetic link between humans and Deep Ones, the quality of "The Tree on the Hill".

Reactions and Reviews

[David A. Sutton]: I was delighted to receive my complimentary copies of Crypt of Cthulhu 19. It was good to see my story and Brian's sequel together again and reaching a wider audience, as I doubt many will have seen Jon Harvey's Spectre Press edition in the USA. Your piece on Lumley is excellent! It is thorough and critically honest and I enjoyed it a lot. Brian's interview was direct --- he's that sort of guy! So all in all, a good issue, I thought, though maybe rather lightweight on artwork. I'd prefer to see illustrations at the beginning or in the text of stories, rather than as tail-pieces, but that's a personal taste.

[Lin Carter]: Crypt #19 was a fine issue (they all are) and I sat right down and read it cover to cover the day I got it (I always do). I found this issue of particular interest, because Brian Lumley and I are old friends, and I like his stuff. We've never met, but we've exchanged many a letter over the years.

It was great to see two new Mythos stories from his hand! Brian and I are just about the only two full-time professional writers who still produce regularly in the Mythos, and we have this little game: he'll pick up some new invented lore from a recent yarn of mine and drop references to it in whatever he's writing, and I usually return the favor, when I can. A good guy and a grand writer.

I thought "Brian Lumley --- Reanimator" was a fair and just overall examination, and done with just the right touch of lightness. Nothing kills the Mythos for me more than to see it dealt with in tones of solemn reverence. The Mythos is fun stuff, and not to be taken all that seriously.

Hope I come in for the same sort of just and fair appraisal when the long-delayed, eagerly awaited "Carter issue" appears.

[Joel D. Lane]: Your "Brian Lumley Issue" had about the right note of appreciative but guarded appraisal.

Issue 20

Cover art of the issue #20 by Jim Garrison

Crypt of Cthulhu #20 was published in March 1984. It had 52 pages.

This theme of the issue was "Lovecraft’s Poetry".

Contents

  • Cover Art by Jim Garrison [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "H.P. Lovecraft’s Fungi from Yuggoth" by David E. Schultz [essay] (3–7)
  • Two Discarded Drafts of “The Well” by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (8)
  • "The Story in Fungi from Yuggoth" by Ralph E. Vaughan [essay] (9–11)
  • "Preference" by Clark Ashton Smith [poetry] (11)
  • "The Lack of Continuity in Fungi from Yuggoth" by David E. Schultz [essay] (12–16)
  • "Nepenthe" by Samuel Loveman [poetry] (16)
  • "Illuminating “The Elder Pharos” " by Will Murray [essay] (17–19)
  • "Wings of Dream" by Duane Rimel [poetry] (19)
  • "“St. Toad’s” Revisited" by Robert M. Price [essay] (21)
  • "Poet of the Unknown" by Dirk W. Mosig [essay] (22–24)
  • "Quatrain" by Samuel Loveman [poetry] (24)
  • "Two Spurious Lovecraft Poems" by S. T. Joshi [essay] (25–26)
  • "The First Cthulhu Mythos Poem" by Will Murray [essay] (27–29)
  • "An Errata List to A Winter Wish" by S. T. Joshi [essay] (31–45)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (46–48)
    • Fungi from Yuggoth (Necronomicon Press) by H. P. Lovecraft; cover by Jason C. Eckhardt; reviewed by Robert M. Price (46)
    • Interior Art by Jason C. Eckhardt [illustration] (46)
    • The Illustrated Fungi from Yuggoth (Dream House) by H. P. Lovecraft; illustrated by Robert Kellough; reviewed by Robert M. Price (46)
    • Interior Art by Robert Kellough [illustration] (46)
    • A Winter Wish and Other Poems (Whispers Press) by H. P. Lovecraft; edited by Tom Collins; reviewed by Robert M. Price (46)
    • “Discovery of the Ghooric Zone—March 15, 2337” in Chrysalis I (Zebra Books, 1977 and 1980) by Richard A. Lupoff; reviewed by Robert M. Price (46–47)
    • Rhyme of the Three Slavers by Robert E. Howard; reviewed by Robert M. Price (47)
    • “The Return of the Deep Ones” in Fantasy Book, March 1984 by Brian Lumley; reviewed by Robert M. Price (47)
    • Weirdbook #19 edited by W. Paul Ganley; reviewed by Robert M. Price (47–48)
    • “Mirrors of the Soul” in The Fantasy Gamer by C. J. Henderson; reviewed by Robert M. Price (48)
  • "The Frozen Waterfall" by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (48)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letter] (49–50)
    • Letter by Daniel Gobbett (49)
    • Letter by L. D. Blackmore (49)
    • Letter by Will Murray (49)
    • Letter by Steve Behrends (49–50)
    • Letter by M. Eileen McNamara, MD (50)
  • "Untitled" by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (50)
  • "Above the Loud Sea" by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (50)
  • "The Ship" by Duane Rimel [poetry] (51)
  • "The Questioner" by R. H. Barlow [fiction] (51)
  • "To Heine" by Samuel Loveman [poetry] (52)
  • "The Lake of Enchanted Silence" by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (52)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Issue 21

Cover art of the issue #21 by Rick Bryant

Crypt of Cthulhu #21 was published in March 1984. It had 68 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Saturnalia and Other Poems by H.P. Lovecraft".

Contents

  • Cover Art by Rick Bryant [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Introduction" by S. T. Joshi [essay] (v–vi)
  • "On the Creation of N*ggers" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (1)
  • "To Mr. Munroe, on His Instructive and Entertaining Account of Switzerland" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (1–2)
  • "To an Accomplished Young Gentlewoman on Her Birthday, Decr. 2, 1914" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (2)
  • "The Decline and Fall of a Man of the World" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (2)
  • "The Road to Ruin" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (3)
  • "Verses Designed to be Sent by a Friend of the Author to His Brother-in-Law on New-Year’s Day" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (3)
  • "On an Accomplished Young Linguist" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (3)
  • "To “The Scribblers”" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (4–5)
  • "The Isaacsonio-Mortoniad" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (5–7)
  • "Providence Amateur Press Club (Deceased) to the Athenaeum Club of Journalism" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (8–9)
  • "Gryphus in Asinum Mutatus" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (9–11)
  • "To the Arcadian" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (11)
  • "To the Nurses of the Red Cross" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (11–12)
  • "To the A.H.S.P.C. on Receipt of the May Pippin" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (13–14)
  • "To the A.H.S.P.C. on Receipt of the Christmas Pippin" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (14–15)
  • "Sors Poetae" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (15)
  • "“The Poetical Punch” Pushed from His Pedestal" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (16)
  • "To Mr. Kleiner, on Receiving from Him the Poetical Works of Addison, Gay, and Somerville" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (16–17)
  • "To Col. Linkaby Didd" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (17–20)
  • Epigrams by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (20–21)
    • "On a Poem for Children, writ by J.M.W." by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (20)
    • "On ———’s Gaining in Weight" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (20)
    • "Lines on a Dull Writer Having Insomnia" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (20)
    • "On a Pathetick Poem, by J.M.W." by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (20)
    • "Idle Lines on a Poetick Dunce" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (20)
    • "On the Habit of Letter-Writing" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (21)
  • "On Collaboration" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (21–24)
  • "With a Copy of Wilde’s Fairy Tales" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (25)
  • "On Receiving a Portraiture of Mrs. Berkeley, ye Poetess" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (25–26)
  • "To S.S.L.: Christmas 1920" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (26)
  • "To Saml Loveman Esq." by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (27)
  • "To Saml: Loveman, Gent." by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (27)
  • "To Two Epgephi" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (28)
  • "Damon and Lycë" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (28–30)
  • "To Mr. Baldwin, upon Receiving a Picture of Him in a Rural Bower" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (30–31)
  • "Saturnalia" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (31)
  • "To Xanthippe, on her Birthday—March 16, 1925" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (31)
  • "Hedone" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (31–32)
  • "Veteropinguis Redivivus" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (33–34)
  • "My Lost Love" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (34–35)
  • "To a Young Poet in Dunedin" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (36)
  • "On an Unspoil’d Rural Prospect" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (36–37)
  • "Christmas Greetings" by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (37–54)
  • Notes by S. T. Joshi [essay] (55–60)

The poems from the issue can be read here.

Reactions and Reviews

[Karl Edward Wagner]: Thanks for Crypt #20 and for HPL's Saturnalia. Your publications are always interesting, and I was particularly interested to see the Lovecraft booklet. As Joshi aptly remarks, while HPL's verse may not be brilliant, it is of interest --- to his fans certainly. You are doing here what I view as the essential purpose of the fan press: making worthwhile esoterica readily available to an appreciative readership. Far more praiseworthy than contrived deloox first editions of the latest billion-seller mass-market opera from Asimov, King, etc. Keep up the fine work!

[Robert Bloch]: I'm down with the flu, so only a few lines to thank you for a fine Crypt and a spectacular Saturnalia --- the latter is particularly appreciated, and both will help me through my convalescence.

[Joel D. Lane]: The collection Saturnalia is unmitigated garbage. I don't see what kind of service it can be to Lovecraft to preserve such crap, in defense of which it can certainly be said that it was never meant for such treatment. These sub-literary doodles undoubtedly kept his hands busy while his mind was elsewhere. I just couldn't believe Joshi's reverential introduction, peppered with words like "very amusing," "especially remarkable," "a keen commentator on his time," "genuinely meritorious," "all the fluency, delicacy and pathos of Thomas Gray," "subtle imagery," ad nauseam. It would have had Lovecraft in stitches. More seriously, when is Joshi--a man whose contribution to Lovecraft appreciation is ummeasurable--going to come to terms with the offensiveness of some of his hero's utterances? Opening the collection with "On the Creation of Niggers" was courageous in a way--it made comment unnecessary. Well, perhaps.

Issue 22

Cover art of the issue #22 by Allen Koszowski

Crypt of Cthulhu #22 was published in May 1984. It had 60 pages.

The issue wasn't themed.

Contents

  • Cover Art by Allen Koszowski [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "The Thing Under Memphis" by Lin Carter [fiction] (3–5)
  • "The Priest of Mlok" by Gary Myers [fiction] (6–7)
  • "The Fear-Master" by Robert E. Howard [fiction] (8–12)
  • "John Buchan: A Possible Influence on Lovecraft" by Sam Moskowitz [essay] (13–17)
  • Comments on Robert M. Price’s “Brian Lumley—Reanimator” by Brian Lumley [essay] (18–21)
  • [Wendy-Smith’s demise is rhapsodized in…] [editor's note] (21)
  • "Reuterdahl, Relativity and the “Aimless Waves”" by Richard L. Tierney [essay] (22–25, 47)
  • "Robert W. Chambers" by S. T. Joshi [essay] (26–33, 17)
  • "A Weird Tales Filmography" by William Fulwiler [essay] (34–37)
  • "Lovecraft’s “Weird Families”" by Ralph E. Vaughan [essay] (38–39, 47)
  • "H.P. Lovecraft and Isadora Duncan: Contemporaries and Artists" by Carolyn Lee Boyd [essay] (40–43)
  • "The Unpleasant Dreams of H.P. Lovecraft" by M. Eileen McNamara, MD [essay] (44–47)
  • "Supernatural Horror in Lovecraft’s Literature" by Charles Hoffman [essay] (48–50)
  • "Did Lovecraft Read Middlemarch?" by Peter Cannon [essay] (51)
  • "Fun Guys from Yuggoth" [essay series] (52, 55)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (53–54)
    • Collected Poems: Nightmares and Visions (Arkham House, 1981) by Richard L. Tierney; reviewed by Lin Carter (53–54)
    • “The Soul of Kephri” in Space & Time (number 66, Summer 1984) by Richard L. Tierney; reviewed by Robert M. Price (54)
  • "Advice to the Lovecraft-Lorn" by Donna Death (Donna Tod) [fiction] (55)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letter] (56–60)
    • Letter by Gahan Wilson (56)
    • Letter by Karl Edward Wagner (56)
    • Letter by Robert Bloch (56)
    • Letter by David A. Sutton (56)
    • Letter by Lin Carter (57)
    • Letter by S. T. Joshi (57)
    • Letter by Phil Panaggio (57–59)
    • Letter by Steve Mariconda (59–60)
    • Letter by Chris Gross (60)
    • Letter by Richard Hyll (60)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Parts of the issue can be read here.

Letters of Comment

[Gahan Wilson]: I suppose, no, let's make that I am sure that a complete file of Crypt will become one of those items collectors of HPLiania will have to have even if the children starve, and that appalling prices will be paid at auctions for copies of it, some badly watermarked with missing pages and occasional obscene annotations scrawled in the margins, some in mint condition --- unreadable due to being sealed up in blocks of plastic, true, but definitely in mint condition --- and there will be indexes and concordances and scholarly references and God only knows what else, and something living in a settlement revolving around a star in Orion will stay up late because it has just purchased a complete set, the actual original, printed on paper held together with those metal things (how do you suppose they got them on, anyhow?), and it knows it ought to dematerialize or it'll be all sticky in the morning, but it has to have one last look, one last touch of the pages, one last gloat over actually owning the legendary thing.

Other subjects discussed: Lovecraft's poetry, Brian Lumley, can critics be good writers, necessity to correct textual errors in Lovecraft's texts, disagreement with Dirk W. Mosig's interpretation of HPL's poem "The City", Will Murray's article on "Mearle Prout and 'The House of the Worm'", disagreement with the suggestion that "The House of the Worm" is "The Shunned House" from the letter in the issue #19, HPL's prose style, a poem mourning the lack of the Donna Death column.

Reactions and Reviews

[Robert Bloch]: That illo for "The Haunter of the Dark" [cover, Crypt #22] is striking work and please congratulate the artist--! have never seen a better likeness of me!

Your issue is great, too. The piece on HPL and Isadora Duncan is most intriguing.

[L. Sprague deCamp]: Thank you for Crypt #22. I was much impressed by Doctor McNamara's piece on Lovecraft' s dreams. If it had been available when I wrote Lovecraft, it would have affected my book.

[Brian Lumley]: Crypt 22 is a very good issue. Cover by Koszowski: excellent! He has a real talent and seems to improve each time I see him. Dave Carson was round my place the other night and saw this; he called it great but he did point out that it was sup- posed to be a three-lobed burning eye, not a three-eyed burning lobe!

Carter, Myers, Howard, Moskowitz, Tierney and Fulwiler were all splendid, which is what you'd expect.

[Peter H. Gilmore]: Your magazine continues to be a fascinating forum for Lovecraft lore, though I could do without the deadly dull R. E. Howard entry ["The FearMaster, " in Crypt #22].

Allen Koszowski's cover for #22 was marvelously lurid and dramatic.

[John Borkowski]:Crypt #22 was a good one, starting with Allen Koszowski's outstanding cover. When I look at something like that it makes me feel that, as artists, we're all just twiddling our thumbs. Beautiful.

The rest was typically fascinating. But someone should look into Weird Tales on TV as a follow-up to the "Weird Tales Filmography."

[Jeffrey Weinberger]: Crypt #22 was a good issue, not spectacular, but a nice effort.

I am trying to restrain myself on the subject of "The Fear-Master" as I am too furious to do so reasonably.

Brian Lumley's comments were amusing (his defense of himself, not his weak humor). But he had better learn to read his HPL. His own quote: "The Old Ones had. . . Shoggoth tissue from which to breed stone-lifters . . ., and other protoplasmic matter to mold into phosphorescent organisms for lighting purposes" (emphasis mine). Sorry, Lumley, but you've lost this round.

"Reuterdahl, Relativity and the 'Aimless Waves'" was, to my mind, the gem of the issue. The confusion of fact and fiction was complete, it was well written, and truly entertaining

"The Unpleasant Dreams of H. P. Lovecraft" was an important essay. I knew most of what it had to say, but it was good to see it all in one place, and stated so cleanly and concisely.

"Supernatural Horror in Lovecraft's Literature" was also interesting. Yet I feel, much as we love him, we cannot credit HPL with "eschewing as 'tradesmanlike' any commercial considerations. " Indeed, his revisions alone are almost purely commercial, but a number of good points are made. Especially regarding old movies.

[Bruce Walker]: Koszowski's covers, especially for Crypt #22 and "The Tomb Herd," are most impressive.

Issue 23

Cover art of the issue #23 by Peter H. Gilmore

Crypt of Cthulhu #23 was published in June 1984. It had 56 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Books of the Mythos".

Contents

  • Cover Art (“Stele of Cthulhu”) by Peter H. Gilmore [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "The Necronomicon, John Dee’s Translation" by Frank Belknap Long [fiction] (3)
  • "The Revelations of Glaaki" by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (4)
  • "Cthaat Aquadingen" by Brian Lumley [fiction] (5)
  • "The Third Cryptical Book of Hsan" by Gary Myers [fiction] (6)
  • "The Necronomicon: Concerning Them from Outside" by Lin Carter [fiction] (7–8)
  • "The Book of Eibon: The Unbegotten Source" by Lin Carter [fiction] (9–11)
  • Interior Art by Rodolfo A. Ferraresi [illustration] (11)
  • "Confessions of the Mad Monk Clithanus: The Incantation of the Elder Sign" by August Derleth and Mark Schorer; missing text restored by Lin Carter [fiction] (12–13)
  • Interior Art by Rodolfo A. Ferraresi [illustration] (13)
  • "The Necronomicon: The Origin of a Spoof" by Colin Wilson [essay] (14–16)
  • "Preface to The Necronomicon" by L. Sprague deCamp [fiction] (17–20)
  • "The Case of Simon’s Necronomicon" by Robert C. Carey [essay] (21–24)
  • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (24)
  • "Lovecraft’s Necronomicon: An Introduction" by Robert M. Price [essay] (25–29)
  • "Reconstructing De Vermis Mysteriis" by Robert M. Price [essay] (30–33)
  • "Some Notes on the Eltdown Shards" by Robert M. Price [essay] (34–37)
  • Interior Art by Mike MacKenzie [illustration] (37)
  • "The Pnakotic Manuscripts: A Study" by Robert M. Price [essay] (38–42)
  • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (42)
  • "Prehuman Language in Lovecraft" by Will Murray [essay] (43–47)
  • Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (47)
  • "Fun Guys from Yuggoth" [fiction series] (48)
    • "From The Good News Necronomicon (Today’s English Version)" by Steve Behrends [fiction] (48)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (49)
    • “The Fire of Mazda” in Orion’s Child #1 (Orion Press) by Richard L. Tierney; reviewed by Robert M. Price (49)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letters of comment] (50–56)
    • Letter by Robert Bloch (50)
    • Letter by L. Sprague deCamp (50)
    • Letter by Brian Lumley (50–52)
    • Letter by Patrice deG. Joubert (52–53)
    • Letter by Richard L. Tierney (53)
    • Letter by William Fulwiler (53–54)
    • Letter by Darrell Schweitzer (54–55)
    • Letter by Peter H. Gilmore (55)
    • Letter by John Borkowski (55)
    • Letter by Elmer R. Mudgett (56)
    • Letter by Jeffrey Weinberger (56)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Letters of Comment

[Richard L. Tierney]: I read Hoffman's "Supernatural Horror in Lovecraft" and thought it good. This sort of horror is hard to put a finger on. Personally I find "real-world" horror much more horrifying, but it is. lacking in fascination. Nothing fascinating about being mauled by animals, knifed by punks, lynched by rednecks or paralyzed in a car wreck. In such real-world dis- asters the horror is in the scuzziness of it all--the realization of being undone by forces inferior, stupid, even mindless. I find tales of such things unpleasant, and would never read a story for horror alone. No, fascination's the thing. Lovecraft's "wrongness" never really horrifys me, and I doubt it did him. Violation of natural laws is at least as fascinating as it is fear-inspiring. Personally, I would love to violate the restrictions of time, space and natural law, but would be horrified to see them violated by anyone else. I'd never trust anyone but myself with such powers!

[Peter H. Gilmore]: It was quite admirable for you to print Brian Lumley's rather scathing reply to your article on his works. Such controversy galvanizes the atmosphere of your publication, as well as revealing abit about the personality of the author.

Other subjects discussed: reviews of the previous issues, influence of historical novels by Robert W. Chambers on Robert E. Howard, importance (or lack of) of correcting errors in HPL's texts, writers and creativity, subjectivity of criticism, Lovecraft and sex, Brian Lumley criticizing the critics, Patrice de G. Joubert proclaiming Brian Lumley a bad writer but a good humorist, continuing discussion of whether "The House of the Worm" was the provisional title of "The Shunned House", Lovecraft and Buchan's stories.

Reactions and Reviews

[Richard A. Frank]: This current Crypt [#23] --- goshl I haven't seen a lineup of big names in a fanzine like this since old friend Charlie Hornig's Fantasy Fan ran original stuff by HPL, C. A. Smith, Derleth, Howard, etc.

[John Rectenwald]: I find myself rereading the forbidden books issue [# 23] again and again. The idea of translations from various Mythos books is fantastic, and the writing is great.

[Ramsey Campbell]: #23: I confess I liked the Lin Carter stuff best in the issue, with De-Camp's and your own articles close behind. The other fragments from the various books were also interesting (F. B. Long hasn't lost his touch)... Alas, I wasn't much taken by the cover.

Issue 24

Cover art of the issue #24 by Stephen E. Fabian

Crypt of Cthulhu #24 was published in August 1984. It had 56 pages.

The theme of the issue was Richard L. Tierney.

Contents

  • Cover Art by Stephen E. Fabian [illustration] (front cover)
  • Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "The Seed of the Star-God" by Richard L. Tierney [fiction] (3–27)
  • "The Howler in the Dark" by Richard L. Tierney [fiction] (28–47)
  • "Simon of Gitta: A Chronology and Bibliography" by Robert M. Price [essay] (47)
  • "An Interview with Richard L. Tierney" by Robert M. Price; interview of Richard L. Tierney (48–50)
  • "The Nameless City" by Richard L. Tierney [poetry] (51)
  • "Harag-Kolath" by Richard L. Tierney [poetry] (51)
  • "The Derleth Mythos" by Richard L. Tierney [essay] (52–53)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (54–55)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letter] (56, 53)
    • Letter by Robert Bloch (56)
    • Letter by L. Sprague deCamp (56)
    • Letter by Roger G. Knuth (56)
    • Letter by Richard A. Frank (56)
    • Letter by Miss R. M. Calverley (56)
    • Letter by Steve Mariconda (56, 53)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

The issue can be read here.

Letters of Comment

[Robert Bloch]: I think the theme of #23 is the most intriguing one of all. Naturally I was especially interested in your analysis of De Vermis Mysteriis, but in reading it I found --- much to my surprise and dismay --- that a great deal of what you quoted seemed totally unfamiliar to me. Worse still, in the absence of recollection, I seemed to be reading about another writer's work rather than my own. Of course I haven't looked at some of those stories for over forty-five years. But the other examinations you made fascinated me without a flutter, and I compliment you on your formidable abilities as a researcher!

[Steve Mariconda]: The praise of Eileen McNamara's "analysis" of Lovecraft (Crypt #22) sadly reflects the fact that many myths about him are still widely believed. The books which the author chose as her sources, by Carter and DeCamp, are not "excellent" but rather riddled with errors of fact and interpretation; Miss McNamara has simply distorted these errors even further in her article. She implies, for example, that Lovecraft habitually avoided the company of friends; he did so only for a brief period at the end of his "New York Exile" --- at the emotional low-point of his life. Lovecraft's diary of 1925, in manuscript at the John Hay Library, shows him engaged in a very busy round of social activities with his circle of friends, and is all the evidence required to quell Miss McNamara's speculation regarding Lovecraft's "schizoid" personality. There are many other errors of this type here, though of more minor aspect, that Lovecraft biographers R. Alain Everts and Kenneth W. Faig could point out better than I. For example, Miss McNamara's assertion that Lovecraft's mother kept him in dresses until age six is obviously mistaken. Likewise, Susan Lovecraft did not "insist throughout her life" that Lovecraft was "hideously ugly" --- nor, it would seem, did she ever make such a statement to Howard. Articles such as this do nothing but perpetuate the tired old cliches which current Lovecraft biographical scholarship has done so much to dispel.

Other subjects discussed: Sprague de Camp correcting an error in his previous letter, praises of Crypt of Cthulhu and comparisons with some legendary old fanzines.

Reactions and Reviews

[Frank Belknap Long]: Crypt #s 22, 23, and 24 contain a great abundance of material of a totally "not to be found elsewhere" nature. In the entire range of Lovecraftian scholarship I can think of no other publication that has presented quite so much that is new, challenging, and intellectually stimulating since its inception.

[David S. Siegel]: Without doubt your last several issues have been your best. The more fiction you publish, the better the issue. Number 24 is excellent and I look forward to issue No. 25 which (based on your NEXT TIME description) will contain some terrific writers. The combination of fiction and article is far superior to your earlier issue which were almost 100 perscent articles (and some of them too much tongue in cheek).

I hope your publication goes on forever. At your current rate you should be expanding and perhaps publishing newer Mythos fiction of your own (Arkham House beware).

[Ramsey Campbell]: #24: In comparison, the cover of this one is a stunner; and Fabian is a master of contrast! Of Tierney's two tales "The Howler" pleased me most. It's a satistying Mythos story and deserves presenting, I think, in a book with a larger circulation; that's not to knock Crypt, but I've read worse than this in many a so-called "professional" magazine.

[Paul R. Wilson]: Crypt of Cthulhu has consistently excelled in depicting the unimaginable scenes from the various stories in the Mythos, far better than Arkham House ever tried to. Often I can identify the picture from the text of a story it invokes from memory. But when it has Chaugnar Faugn strike a human pose (#42) or depicts Cthulhu with quite human genitalia (#39) it falls short. The cover of #24 was more appropriate for your Risque Stories than here.

Issue 25

Cover art of the issue #25 by Stephen E. Fabian

Crypt of Cthulhu #25 was published in September 1984. It had 56 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Weird Tales tribute".

Contents

  • Cover Art by Stephen E. Fabian [illustration] (front cover)
  • "Editorial Shards" by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • "Gateway to Forever" by Frank Belknap Long [fiction] (3–10)
  • "Josephine Gage" by Carl Jacobi [fiction] (11–21)
    • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (11)
    • Interior Art by Jeff Dee [illustration] (21)
  • "Strange Shadows" by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (22–31)
    • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (22)
  • "The Supreme Moment" by Robert E. Howard [fiction] (32–34)
    • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (32)
  • "Just the Two of Us" by Hugh B. Cave [fiction] (35–40)
    • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (35)
    • Interior Art by Allen Koszowski [illustration] (40)
  • "The Hampdon Horror" by Duane Rimel [fiction] (41–45)
    • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (41)
  • "R’lyeh Review" [review] (47–52)
  • "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" [letter] (53–56, 10, 21, 52)
    • Letter by Ramsey Campbell (53–54)
    • Letter by S. T. Joshi (54)
    • Letter by L. Sprague deCamp (54–55)
    • Letter by David S. Siegel (55)
    • Letter by Basile M. Bourque, Jr. (55–56)
    • Letter by Joel D. Lane (56, 10)
    • Letter by Brian Lumley (21, 52)
  • Next Time [preview for next issue] (back cover)

Letters of Comment

[Basile M. Bourque, Jr]: In regards to the Lin Carter version of the John Dee translation of the Necronomicon in issue #23, it appears to be from a deliberately inaccurate edition probably printed by the Roman Inquisition about 1650. A late professor of anthropology at Miskatonic University showed me photo-copies off similar material seven years ago. This version while containing some authentic portions is mostly papal doggerel. The clear-cut struggle between the Elder Gods and the Old Ones was apparently an inclusion, albeit unconscious, of Catholic dogma into the forgery. Its purpose was to entrap Protestant scholars. Evidently the spells or invocations (calling up that which is beyond) do not contain puissant protections from that which is called up. In other words, the (heretically) intellectually curious were being led to their deaths or worse. Not a suprising action on the part of an organization which twenty years before had tried Galileo.

Scientific comparison proved the connection. The chemical compositions of the paper proved it a production of Italy or Spain, not England or northern Europe. The actual print was even more revealing. Evidently some of the type font used in the production of this book, when studies under the microscope, is identical to that used by Giovanni Ucello's shop. This establishment regularly published tracts under the sigil of the Roman Inquisition.

Unfortunately I cannot furnish proof of my assertions. The professor, carrying his notebooks, jumped into an operating carding maching on a sheep station in New Zealand while on a field trip. Miskatonic University was unable to locate any copies of his unpublished material. His rooms were totally destroyed one week after his departure in a fire of suspicious origin.

[Joel D. Lane]: I haven't seen your article on "Homosexual Panic in 'The Outsider'," so don't know exactly what your argument was; but the readers' letters on this subject are very interesting. The obvious barrier to any discussion of homosexual elements in Lovecraft is the tendency of some readers to consider the very word an appalling slur. It really doesn't count for much one way or another whether he had an "abnormal" childhood or was oppressed by his mother--if one allows that these influences contributed to his rather isolated and solipsistic adult life, it is an arid kind of special pleading to argue that they may have "induced" latent homosexual tendecies. As for whether Lovecraft's fiction is implicitly misogynistic (the spot-the-symbolic-pudendum argument)--surely this is a common feature of heterosexual psychology. One is more inclined to doubt the emotional maturity of a thirty-year old man who writers something as twee and limp-wristed as "The Quest of Iranon" than of one who plunges resolutely into the darkest abysses his imagination can evolve.

I don't know whether you have remarked on or noticed the extreme similarity of "The Outsider" to Wilde's "The Birthday of the Infanta." There is a strong Wildean tinge to "Hypnos," a story which could well be said to bear homosexual undertones. There is a recurrent fear of the male seducer, personified as an untrustworthy guide and initiator in many stories: Abdul Reis; the handsome young man with "the fascination of a dark gold or fallen archangel" who represents Nyarlathotep; Joseph Curwen; the whisperer in darkness; the evil clergyman. Usually the victim is at risk when dreaming, and the seducer (whose real nature is corrupt) invades the victim's body and usurps his identity.

Other subjects discussed: responses to Brian Lumley's thoughts on critics and writers, the definition of "schizoid" and how it applies to Lovecraft and Howard, historical novels by Robert Chambers, treating Lovecraft too seriously, quality of Lovecraft's poetry, Brian Lumley as a writer, is Derleth a good writer.

Reactions and Reviews

[Brian Lumley]: The cover of Crypt 25 is one of your best ever: Fabian is, to my taste, superb. This one so reminded me of Bok that it had me searching for his sigil! F. B. Long and Carl Jacobi (long-time favourites of mine), CAS, REH, Cave, and Rimel formed a splendid line-up, and all extremely interesting--which is what you'd expect.

Also, I note that your interior artwork has gone up in quality and quantity, putting your magazine on an even higher level. I hope it isn’t just for this rather special issue? What's more, a bit of controversy invariably livens up the scene a little. All very entertaining.

[Robert Bloch]: For a moment you almost had me fooled--the Weird Tales issue comes pretty close to its prototypes, and the lineup is certainly imposing. Judging from this, plus the announced contents of the next two issues, you have been busy indeed!

[Carl Budka]: Crypt #25 is a knockout, as usual, especially Long’s "Gateway to Forever."

[Allen Koszowski]: I received Crypt #25 and loved it. Wonderful Bokish cover by Fabian. I loved it. Enjoyed all the fiction, but my favorites, I think, were by Cave and Rimel. Nice to see my small piece appear in such a fine issue.

[Dan Gobbett]: Crypt 25 was excellent as always. Nice to see the Smith and REH pieces. "Gateway to Forever" by Long was a let-down for me, though. Long has always been one of my favorites of the ol' WT gang. The Hounds of Tindalos being one of my favorite Arkham collections, but this piece just did not work for me; it read more like a first draft. He has done much better. Other than that, an excellent issue of admittedly minor pieces by the great and near-so of the WT authors. I hope you can put another together in the near future.

[Steve Behrends]: The WT memorial was a real gas to read. Jason Eckhardt's art is just wonderful. His headers for "Strange Shadows" and "The Hampdon Horror" were marvelous. It's great news that you'll be reprinting Rimel's fiction; I look forward greatly to readingit, not to mention the Gary Myers fiction you have stacked up.

[Jeff Newman]: Fabian and Eckhardt have always done attractive work in Crypt, but this time they've outdone themselves. The cover [of #25] really has the feeling of a Bok illo, and the interior art captures perfectly the quaintly pedestrian quality of 1930s pulp artwork. The Allen Koszowski illo on p. 40 is also exceptional. You really captured the look and spirit of Weird Tales. (The only thing you didn't--or couldn't--reproduce is the marvelous pulp smell it had.)

[Ben Indick]: Crypt of Cthulhu #25 was most impressive! I loved Steve's cover pastiche of Bok. Remarkable issue.

References

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