Crypt of Cthulhu/Issues 26-50

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

Issue 26

Cover art of the issue #26 by Allen Koszowski

Crypt of Cthulhu #26 was published in November 1984. It had 52 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Clark Ashton Smith analysis".

Contents

• Cover Art (“The Mother of Toads”) by Allen Koszowski [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• Clark Ashton Smith and his World of Fantasy by Jean Marigny; translated by S. T. Joshi [essay] (3–8)
• The Last Hieroglyphs: Smith’s Lost or Unpublished Fiction by Steve Behrends [essay] (9–12)
• The Clark Ashton Smythos by Will Murray [essay] (13–15)
• An Annotated Chronology of Smith’s Fiction by Steve Behrends [essay] (17–23)
• The Feaster from the Stars by Clark Ashton Smith and Lin Carter [fiction] (25–29)
• CAS & Divers Hands: Ideas of Lovecraft and Others in Smith’s Fiction by Steve Behrends [essay] (30–31)
• The Price-Smith Collaborations by Will Murray [essay] (32–34)
• The History of Averoigne? by Glenn Rahman [essay] (35–41)
• Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (41)
• Susran by Lin Carter [poetry] (42–43)
• Advice to the Lovecraft-lorn by Donna Death (Donna Tod) [fiction] (45)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (46–47)
  • The Night of the Ripper (Doubleday, 1984) by Robert Bloch; reviewed by Marc A. Cerasini (46–47)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (48–52, 23)
  • Letter by Frank Belknap Long (48)
  • Letter by Brian Lumley (48)
  • Letter by Robert Bloch (48)
  • Letter by Carl Budka (48)
  • Letter by Allen Koszowski (48)
  • Letter by Dan Gobbett (48)
  • Letter by Steve Behrends (49)
  • Letter by Jeff Newman (49)
  • Letter by James Ambuehl (49–50)
  • Letter by David A. Kraklow (50)
  • Letter by Darrell Schweitzer (50–51)
  • Letter by Ben Indick (51)
  • Letter by S. T. Joshi (51–52, 23)
  • Letter by Peter Cannon (23)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Letters of Comment

[David A. Kraklow]: Begrudgingly I'm extending my subscription to your Crypt of Cthulhu. "Begrudgingly"??? Where's Donna!?! Where's the humor???

It’s CRYPT OF CTHULHU not LOVECRAFT STUDIES!!!

I don't want or expect MAD Magazine... but let's not get too serious!

"Mail-Call's" getting a little old... Too many big name who's who's! I like new and different alternatives!

[S.T. Joshi]: When shall I "come to terms with the offensiveness of some of [my] hero's utterances"? "Offensiveness" is a matter of opinion; perhaps some of Lovecraft's remarks give some people offense and others not; perhaps some things Lovecraft said (like his racialist remarks) would not have caused so much offense in his time as they do in ours. My pointis not to pass judgment on Lovecraft (for in fifty or a hundred years time someone else may pass an entirely different judgment and deem my own ridiculous) but to view him as a literary and historical and cultural figure. What do you want me to do? Slap Lovecraft figuratively on the wrist for some of his statements? What will this accomplish? I want to understand why Lovecraft said and did the things he did, not to chastise him for it; perhaps, in the end, I may find that he had very good reasons for saying what he did (which is not necessarily to say he was right in so saying it). Nothing is accomplished by getting worked up about some of Lovecraft's more controversial views.

Other subjects discussed: praises of the previous issue, Brian Lumley continuing to blast critics, suggestions for future author-centered issues, comparisons between Lovecraft and Poe, is Lovecraft's poetry good, should Lovecraft be considered a great writer, The Quest of Iranon and immaturity, possible influence of William Beckford's Vathek on the description of Nyarlathotep in the Dream-Quest.

Issue 27

Cover art of the issue #27 by R. M. Calverley

Crypt of Cthulhu #27 was published in November 1984. It had 48 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Untold Tales by Clark Ashton Smith".

Contents

• Cover Art by R. M. Calverley [illustration] (front cover)
• Introduction by Steve Behrends [essay] (ii–iv)
• Nemesis of the Unfinished by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (1–4)
• The Dart of Rasasfa by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (5–8)
• The Brahmin’s Wisdom as by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (9–11)
• The House of Haon-Dor by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (12–14)
• In a Hashish-Dream by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (15–16)
• Slaves of the Black Pillar by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (17–19)
• The Point of the Jest by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (20–21)
• Unquiet Boundary by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (22)
• Shapes of Adamant by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (23)
• Mandor’s Enemy by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (24)
• Asharia by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (25–27)
• The Master of Destruction by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (28–31)
• Synopses: by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (32–37)
  • The Ocean-World of Alioth by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (32–33)
  • Vizaphmal in Ophiuchus by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (33–34)
  • The Feet of Sidaiva by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (34)
  • The Sorceress of Averoigne by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (34–36)
  • Queen of the Sabbat by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (36)
  • The Werewolf of Averoigne by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (37)
  • The Hyperborean City by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (37)
  • The Rebirth of the Flame by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (37)
• Notes by Steve Behrends [essay] (38–43)

Reactions and Reviews

[Alan Ziebarth]: I've especially liked your single author issues (particularly the ones on Tierney and Smith). A Ramsey Campbell issue might be nice since Scream Press is bringing out his collected Mythos stories, Cold Print, in March of this year.

[Don Herron]: I very much enjoyed the two Clark Ashton Smith issues, with the exception of the "posthumous collaboration" by Lin Carter. I noted some years ago that the first so-called "collaboration" by CAS and Carter bore the perfect name --- "The Utmost Abomination".

[Jean-Luc Buard]: I am a weird fiction (and Clark Ashton Smith in particular) enthusiast and I was very happy to learn and read about him in Crypt of Cthulhu.

These are two marvelous issues!

The unpublished material by CAS is of great importance to complete the knowledge of his work, and any word he wrote is of interest: fragments, synopses, etc. Every text shows his artistry and deep poetic sense. The Untold Tales are delightful and wonderful.

I discovered Steve Behrends as a fine CAS scholar, and I read all the articles with pleasure. The unpublished Clark Ashton Smith is a complex problem. I didn't see a single word about such unfinished or unpublished stories as "The Scarlet Succubus"or "The Alkahest" quoted by D. Sidney-Fryer in his bibliography. . . .

Issue 28

Cover art of the issue #28 by Robert M. Price

Crypt of Cthulhu #28 was published in December 1984. It had 36 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Lovecraft’s Non-Mythos Horror Tales".

Contents

• Cover Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• Sources for “The Colour out of Space” by Will Murray [essay] (3–5)
• The Humor at Red Hook by Robert M. Price [essay] (6–8)
• Photo of Red Hook Church located by Marc A. Cerasini and Charles Hoffman; photographed by Steven Mariconda [illustration] (9)
• Abnormal Longevity in “The Picture in the House” by Darrell Schweitzer [essay] (10–12)
• Lovecraft and the Regnum Congo by S. T. Joshi [essay] (13–17)
  • Simiæ magnatum deliciæ by W. H. Wesley [illustration] (15)
  • Butcher’s Shop of the Anziques Anno 1598 by W. H. Wesley [illustration] (16)
• The Great Old Boys? by CAS (Clark Ashton Smith); to HPL (H. P. Lovecraft) (17)
• The Terrible Old Cat by Will Murray [essay] (18–19)
• A Note on “Cool Air” by Will Murray [essay] (20–21)
• Truth is Stranger than Lovecraft [essay] (22)
  • Doc seeking to keep his dead wife on ice [essay] (22)
  • Man’s Legs Shortened to Fit Coffin [essay] (22)
• The Slitherer from the Slime by Lin Carter [fiction] (23–26)
• Advice to the Lovecraft-Lorn by Donna Death (Donna Tod) [fiction] (26)
• Fun Guys from Yuggoth [essay] (27–32)
  • In Pickman’s Footsteps by Will Murray [essay] (27–32)
• Interior Art by Jeff Dee [illustration] (32)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (33–34)
  • Fantasy Empire “Lovecraft Special” (New Media Publishing, 1984) reviewed by Robert M. Price (33)
  • The Dunwich Horror (Embassy, 1984) directed by Daniel Haller; reviewed by Robert M. Price (33–34)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (35–36)
  • Letter by Karl Edward Wagner (35)
  • Letter by Robert Bloch (35)
  • Letter by Gahan Wilson (35–36)
  • Letter by Richard L. Tierney (36)
  • Letter by Donald R. Burleson (36)
  • Letter by Duane Rimel (36)
  • Letter by Hugh B. Cave (36)
  • Letter by Frank Belknap Long (36)
  • Letter by Carl Jacobi (36)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[Richard L. Tierney]: I must have especially enjoyed Crypt #28 because I read it all at one sitting. The "Truth Is Stranger Than Lovecraft" items were quite striking.

My favorite article was Will Murray's description of your trip to Copp's Hill Burying Ground, which reminded me of my first visit there in 1964 (though I didn't find any open tombs or bones!).

I hadn't caught that business about Suydam being a self-lampoon of Lovecraft's ["The Humor at Red Hook"], but as soon as you pointed it out I realized that it had to be so.

[Laurence Bush]: #28's most interesting feature was Will Murray's "In Pickman's Footsteps". I expected a punchline or an "April Fool" at the end. I thought, "What cleverly disguised fiction," and then it dawned on me this was a "true" story. Yow!

[Darrell Schweitzer]: S. T. shows us all up again with his thorough scholarship. His article on "Lovecraft and the Regnum Congo" [#28] fulfills the highest (and often neglected) purpose of critical research: it actually adds to the general knowledge on the subject. Now we know something we didn't.

[Richard A. Zotara]:Contrary to what you stated in the Editorial Shards of issue 28 (". . . we know you are interested in our subject matter, not in the personalities of our staff . . ."), I thoroughly enjoyed every vicarious step taken with you on your Boston field trip as described by Will Murray in "In Pickman's Footstep"s. This certainly ranks high in the annals of literary archaeology.

[Dan Gobbett]: Crypt #28 and #29 were fantastic as always. Will Murray's "In Pickman's Footsteps" (#28) was great! It was like being with the "ghoul gang" on your nocturnal Boston outing! Wish I had been with you --- a truly fantastic tour.

Issue 29

Cover art of the issue #29 by Stephen E. Fabian

Crypt of Cthulhu #29 was published in February 1985. It had 52 pages.

It was an all-fiction issue.

Contents

• Cover Art by Stephen E. Fabian [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• The Vault Beneath the Mosque by Lin Carter [fiction] (3–6)
  • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (6)
• The Gods of Drinen by Gary Myers [fiction] (7–9, 36)
  • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (9)
• The Waiting Dark by Eddy C. Bertin [fiction] (10–18)
  • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (18)
• The Wedding of Sheila-Na-Gog by G. Arthur Rahman and Richard L. Tierney [fiction] (19–32)
• Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (27)
• Goodbye, Joe by Duane Rimel [fiction] (34–36)
  • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (35)
• I Am Your Shadow by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (37–44)
  • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (41)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (45, 51)
  • H.P. Lovecraft: Juvenilia, 1895–1905 (Necronomicon Press, 1984) by H. P. Lovecraft; edited by S. T. Joshi; reviewed by Robert M. Price (45)
  • House of Cthulhu and Other Tales of the Primal Land (Weirdbook Press, 1984) by Brian Lumley; reviewed by Robert M. Price (51)
• Truth is Stranger Than Lovecraft contributed by Richard Zotara [essay] (47)
  • ‘Demon’ Doctor Loses License contributed by Richard Zotara [essay] (47)
  • Evidence of Vast Antarctic Crater Created by Meteorite Is Reported contributed by Richard Zotara [essay] (47)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (48–50)
  • Letter by Ramsey Campbell (48)
  • Letter by John Rectenwald (48)
  • Letter by Richard L. Tierney (48)
  • Letter by Laurence Bush (48)
  • Letter by Steve Behrends (48–49)
  • Letter by Fritz R. Leiber (49)
  • Letter by Karl Edward Wagner (49)
  • Letter by Darrell Schweitzer (49–50)
  • Letter by Richard A. Zotara (50)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Parts of the issue can be read here.

Letters of Comment

[Richard A. Zotara]: I think it's fascinating, too, how there seems to be some universal socio-psychological phenomenon at work that causes people to band together for the purpose of sharing tales of horror and fright perhaps as the means to control unseen forces or to exorcise in some round of psychic aerobics. Straub's Chowder Society hearkens back to Lovecraft's Kalem Club which I suppose hearkens to the Shelley's sojourn at the Villa Diodati along Lake Geneva which in turn goes back to what? Primitive man sitting around a campfire explaining the mysteries of nature? Or perhaps primitive is the wrong term since people still gather around campfires to tell ghost stories and tales of the "hook". It's in our genes, our blood, our bones (there's that souvenir again, sorry), isn't it? For some it becomes a dominant trait. Therefore, don't speak apologetically about including personality profiles or anecdotal material in Crypt. It was like the Real People show of Crypt of Cthulhu granting your readers an opportunity to empathize. I, for one, would welcome more of it. Sort of a look into hands-on Lovecraft studies.

Other subjects discussed: previous issues, especially Will Murray's articles, Red Hook, writers and research.

Reactions and Reviews

[Robert Bloch]: Congratulations on yet another fine issue! I don't know how you manage to maintain such high standards for such a length of time, but you've done it again with this fiction-oriented issue.

[Brian Lumley]: You must still be doing something right, because I once more found myself trapped into reading Crypt (#29) right through at one sitting. But with this issue it's hard to figure out what kept me going. Lin Carter continues to cement together bits of Mythos lore --- entertainingly, I think, and with a degree of novelty. But I found the Gary Myers piece lacking in almost everything except mood. Stories as monochrome as this (full of dark mood) have to be deeper, I think. They have to have something to chew on. Similarly, Eddy Berlin's story is good old Weird Tales stuff, but it would have been better if it didn't read so much like a rough draft.

I'm not sure I quite know what to make of the CAS piece; in places it's as down-to-earth as R. E. Howard. Except it hasn't got his fire. The idea is so good! --- but the treatment? . . . Unfortunately Duane Rimel's story has been done to death: a very conventional ghost, this. Personally, I found the Tierney/Rahman piece the only substantial, thing in the issue. Simon of Gitta grows on you. (No, not like a wart!)

Artwork: well, the cover's a Fabian --- Fabulous Fabian --- but the interiors? . . . With the exception of the drawing on p. 41, which I found nicely macabre, they are merely mundane. But God knows the poor artist didn't have much to work on!

Then there's your letters column, which is somewhat better. Here's Fritz Leiber pointing a very accurate finger at a Lovecraft source (can't think why all the Lovecraft scholars haven't spotted this before now. Or have they?). And the invariably interesting and amusing Darrell Schweitzer (Aunt Gemima Gibber, indeed!). And here's Ramsey Campbell, still determined to draw my fire, failing to see that I just can't find any value in his comments or take them seriously. But good for a giggle anyway. Overall, while I did read the whole thing, I have to say it isn't one of your best. I tried hard but for me it just didn't lurk. Maybe it'll be better next time. . . .

Issue 30

Cover art of the issue #30 by Chris Gross

Crypt of Cthulhu #30 was published in March 1985. It had 60 pages.

Contents

• Cover Art by Chris Gross [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• Believers in Lovecraft by Ralph E. Vaughan [essay] (3–5, 28)
• [Excerpt from “The Secret World of Witchcraft”] by Brian Doyle; contributed by Jim Shoffner [essay] (5)
• The Brotherhood of Cthulhu? by Richard L. Tierney [essay] (6–7, 58)
• Lovecraft’s New York Exile: Its Influence on His Life and Writings by David E. Schultz [essay] (8–14)
• The Innmsouth Look by Bert Atsma [poetry] (15)
• Interior Art by Robert M. Price [illustration] (15)
• On the Revision of “Dreams of Yith” by Edward P. Berglund [essay] (16–17, 45)
• Charnel Knowledge by Joel Lane [essay] (18–20)
• Some Ancestors of Vathek: The “Eastern Stories” of John Hawksworth in The Adventurer, 1752–54 by Darrell Schweitzer [essay] (21–28)
• Weird Tales on Television compiled by William Fulwiler and Graeme Flanagan [essay] (29–32, 52)
• Yet More Lovecraft in the Cinema by Chester Malon [essay] (33–34)
• Lovecraft in the Comics by Will Murray [essay] (35–37)
• Lovecraft in Rock Music by John Stanton [essay] (38–39)
• Poetry by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (40–45)
  • On the Achievements of a Popular Writer by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (40)
  • The Members of the Men’s Club of the First Universalist Church of Providence, R.I., to Its President, About to Leave for Florida on Account of His Health by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (41)
  • Theobaldian Aestivation by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (42–45)
• Mythos Trivia! [notice] (45)
• Synopses by Clark Ashton Smith by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (46–52)
  • Beyond the Rose-Arbor by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (46)
  • Offspring of the Grave by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (46–47)
  • The Pilgrim of Eternity by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (47)
  • The Transformation of Athanor by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (47)
  • A Gift from the Beloved by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (47)
  • Between Two Worlds by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (47)
  • The Entity of the Sands by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (47)
  • The Thing from the Antarctic by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (47)
  • Prisoners of the Black Dimension by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (47)
  • The Destination of Gideon Balcoth by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (48)
  • The After-Men by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (48)
  • The Embassy to Tilrath by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (48)
  • The Lunar Brain by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (48)
  • The Vapor from the Void by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (48)
  • A “Vintage” [Jar] from Atlantis by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (48–49)
  • The Cairn by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (49–50)
  • The River of Mystery by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (50)
  • Men of the Macrocosm by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (50)
  • The Lunar Path by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (50)
  • The Scarab by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (50)
  • “Vulthoom” [Beach Combers of Mars] by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (50–51)
  • The Demon “from” [of] Alphard by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (51)
  • The Inverse Avatar by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (51)
  • Hecate by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (52)
  • The Dome in the Ice by Clark Ashton Smith [fiction] (53)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (53–58)
  • The Dunwich Horror and Others (Arkham House, 1985) by H. P. Lovecraft; reviewed by Stephen Mariconda (Steven J. Mariconda) (53–55)
  • “The Dead Valley” (Necronomicon Press, 1984) by Ralph Adams Cram; reviewed by Will Murray (55)
  • The House of Cthulhu and Other Tales of the Primal Land (Weirdbook Press, 1984) by Brian Lumley; reviewed by Robert M. Price (55–56)
  • Brian Lumley: A New Bibliography (Dark Press) by Leigh Blackmore; reviewed by Robert M. Price (55–56)
  • Tales of Horror and Damnation #6, “Special Clark Ashton Smith Tribute Issue” edited by Robert Schwartz; reviewed by Robert M. Price (56)
  • H.P. Lovecraft—Out for Blood (Blackstone Publications, 1984) by Richard Huber; reviewed by Robert M. Price (56–58)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (59–60)
  • Letter by Robert Bloch (59)
  • Letter by Alan Ziebarth (59)
  • Letter by Roger G. Knuth (59)
  • Letter by Don Herron (59)
  • Letter by David T. Pudelwitts (60)
  • Letter by Jean-Luc Buard (60)
  • Letter by L. Sprague deCamp (60)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Parts of the issue can be read here.

Letters of Comment

[Roger G. Knuth]: Long may Crypt of Cthulhu prosper. It comes as a welcome breath of fresh air after the pomposity and ponderousness that are nowadays infesting the fantasy field as Lovecraft and Howard rapidly become academic cottage industries.

Other subjects discussed: praises of previous issues, mostly Clark Ashton Smith-related, Smith's "posthumous collaborations" by Lin Carter, Smith's stories rewritten by E. Hoffmann Price, possibility of resurrecting Weird Tales, unpublished stories by Clark Ashton Smith, Sprague deCamp confirming an anecdote from his life.

Reactions and Reviews

[Charles Garofalo]: Good issue, Crypt #30. Especially liked Chester Malon's and Edward P. Berglund's articles, though Joel Lane's necrophiliac piece was probably the best.

[Steve Behrends]: Crypt #30 was terrific, as per our expectations. Tierney's article was especially fun, as was his "Has Kadath Been Sighted" awhile back. Both of these address what Ralph Vaughan discussed in his article: Tierney shows that some of us enjoy "filtering" the world through Lovecraftian glasses. While I've never tried to summon a night-gaunt (I'm not self-destructive, after all!), every time I see dark hills in the distance, or thick forest, or a sudden thunderstorm, I tend to playfully throw in some Mythos allusions. "Investing the world with wonder" is part of the Lovecraftian allure!

Schultz's article, as usual, was very good and very informative, but I'm not sure it's as well organized as some of his others.

Well, there's stuff for a scholarly dispute in #30, too. What Berglund listed as HPL's "final revision" of that "Yith" stanza, Ashes and Others [Crypt #10] listed as Rimel's original! Ahem!

I think the only article that left me cold was "Charnel Knowledge" by Joel Lane. I could honestly not figure out what he was saying (and just to fly-speck him, Smith's original title for that story was "The Epiphany of Death", later changed by WT to "Who are the Living". Smith hated that change!).

[Kenneth W. Faig, Jr.]: I enjoyed Crypt #30 --- chock full of interesting material, as usual.

[Chris Beekman]: And why wasn't there any "Truth is Stranger than Lovecraft" in #30? Not to go against what I just said about not believing, but they're fun to use for scaring the hell out of relatives and religious groups who say we're worshipping the Devil.

[David T. Pudelwitts]: I've been reading your Eastertide issue [#30] and found it quite fulfilling, as usual.

Issue 31

Cover art of the issue #31 by Stephen E. Fabian

Crypt of Cthulhu #31 was published in May 1985. It had 52 pages.

It was all-fiction issue.

Contents

• Cover Art by Stephen E. Fabian [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• The Tomb of Neb by Gary Myers [fiction] (3–6)
  • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (3)
• Discovery Time by Frank Belknap Long [fiction] (7–14)
  • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (7)
• The Monument by Carl Jacobi [fiction] (15–19)
  • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (15)
• Chief White Cloud by Duane Rimel [fiction] (20–24)
  • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (20)
• Mnomquah by Lin Carter [fiction] (25–30)
  • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (25)
• Nemesis of the Unfinished by Clark Ashton Smith and Don Carter [fiction] (31–35)
  • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (31)
• A Monument to Clark Ashton Smith [essay] (36)
• Golnor the Ape by Robert E. Howard [fiction] (37–40)
  • Interior Art by Jason Eckhardt [illustration] (37)
• Fun Guys from Yuggoth [essay] (42–43)
  • Howard Lovecraft and Bobby Fischer by Peter H. Cannon [essay] (42–43)
• Advice to the Lovecraft-lorn by Donna Death (Donna Tod) [fiction] (43)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (45)
  • The Three Infernal Jokes directed by Charles Schneider; reviewed by Robert M. Price (45)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (46–52)
  • Letter by Dan Gobbett (46)
  • Letter by Brian Lumley (46)
  • Letter by Raymond T. Funamoto (46)
  • Letter by Charles Garofalo (47)
  • Letter by Steve Behrends (47)
  • Letter by Kathy Corcoran (47)
  • Letter by Kenneth W. Faig, Jr. (47–50)
  • Letter by Chris Beekman (50–51)
  • Letter by Armando D. Marini, Jr. (51)
  • Letter by Richard M. Jefts (51–52)
  • Letter by Kenneth M. Humphreys (52)
  • Letter by Ramsey Campbell (52)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Parts of the issue can be read here.

Letters of Comment

[Steve Behrends]: Tierney shows that some of us enjoy "filtering" the world through Lovecraftian glasses. While I've never tried to summon a night-gaunt (I'm not self-destructive, after all!), every time I see dark hills in the distance, or thick forest, or a sudden thunderstorm, I tend to playfully throw in some Mythos allusions. "Investing the world with wonder" is part of the Lovecraftian allure!

Other subjects discussed: responses to the previous issue, reviews of the stories, Lovecraft and church, Lovecraft's young years, criticism of Brian Lumley, do roleplayers take their games seriously, new Re-Animator movie, Caltiki as a Lovecraftian movie.

Reactions and Reviews

[Will Murray]: Contrary to Brian Lumley's comment of late, I think Jason Eckhardt's art in your recent fiction issues really spruced up both issues. He is beginning to remind me--although Jason has a style all his own--of some of Denis Taini's work. In any case, I hope to see Jason do another Crypt cover soon. He's good!

[Chris Beekman]: After reading #31, I don't suppose there's any way of talking Lin Carter out of using Elder Gods. Sigh!

Issue 32

Cover art of the issue #32

Crypt of Cthulhu #32 was published in June 1985. It had 52 pages.

The theme of the issue was "At the Mountains of Madness".

Contents

• Cover Art by Jim Garrison [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2
• An Autopsy on the Old Ones by Bert Atsma [essay] (3–7)
• Lovecraft’s Alien Civilizations: A Political Interpretation by S. T. Joshi [essay] (8–24, 31)
• Lovecraft’s POElar Adventure by Ben P. Indick [essay] (25–31)
  • Interior Art by Lance Brown [illustration] (32)
• At the Mountains of Madness as a Sequel to Arthur Gordon Pym by Peter Cannon [essay] (33–34)
• The Trouble With Shoggoths by Will Murray [essay] (35–38, 41)
  • Interior Art by Allen Koszowski [illustration] (41)
• Fun Guys from Yuggoth [essay] (39–41)
  • Analects from the Mainstream #1: Of Lovecraft and Sam Loveman by Don Herron [essay] (39–41)
• Advice to the Lovecraft-lorn by Donna Death (Donna Tod) [fiction] (41)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (43–45)
  • Sixty Selected Poems (New Establishment Press, 1985) by Joseph Payne Brennan; reviewed by Will Murray (43)
  • The Private Life of H.P. Lovecraft (Necronomicon Press) by Sonia H. Davis; reviewed by Robert M. Price (43–44)
  • “Ralph Wollstonecraft Hedge: A Memoir” in The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction, Ninth Series (Ace Books) by Ron Goulart; reviewed by Robert M. Price (44)
  • Lovecraft Remembered (The Count Dracula Fan Club Annual) reviewed by Robert M. Price (44–45)
  • Lovecraft Studies #10 (Necronomicon Press) edited by S. T. Joshi; reviewed by Robert M. Price (45)
  • Cromlech: The Journal of Robert E. Howard Criticism #1 edited by Marc A. Cerasini; reviewed by Robert M. Price (45)
  • Footsteps V edited by Bill Munster; reviewed by Robert M. Price (45)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (46–52)
  • Letter by Richard L. Tierney (46)
  • Letter by Jessica Amanda Salmonson (46–47)
  • Letter by Nelson Bridwell (47–48)
  • Letter by Darrell Schweitzer (48–49)
  • Letter by Laurence C. Bush (49)
  • Letter by John Pelan (49)
  • Letter by Richard M. Jefts (49–50)
  • Letter by Peter H. Gilmore (50–51)
  • Letter by Duane Rimel (51)
  • Letter by Tani Jantsang (51–52)
  • Letter by Pierre Comtois (52)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[Ben P. Indick]: I've read the entire issue [Crypt #32] pronto--rather hard not to, since all the stuff is interesting, and remarkably unified, to icebergs as well as to HPL. I was a mite disappointed that STJ didn't come up with actual hidden political references HPL may have been making—not that I believe he actually was doing that, but that your introductory notes appeared to imply such. However, I was still awed by STJ's incredible researching--his information came from a resolution of numerous Lovecraftian writings, fused into a remarkable whole.

I wish Pete Cannon had written more, for I liked it very much; we agree at times and disagree at others. Skoal. Clearly, we were each very impressed with the brief HPL novel, and I hope readers who have not gotten around to the piece will quickly hasten to do so. Yet another chum is at hand, Don Herron, author of two superlative Bay City books, his Dashiell Hammett tour and his new Literary Sites in San Francisco--a superlative book, fascinating for the SanFran lover and also for anyone who has never had the opportunity to visit--and love--that beautiful city. Sam Loveman may have been a homosexual, as Don notes, but it wasn't that which destroyed his friendship with HPL; he was painfully aware of some dreadfully snide antisemitic comments he overheard, and point-blank the relationship was finished. I suspect HPL felt bad when Sam cold- shouldered him, and maybe wished he had kept his lantern-jaw shut, but it was too late. It often is.

I felt sympathy for Duane Rimel, whose poetry was used without his knowledge, although it is nice to know one's words are not so ephemeral after all. Lin Carter once used a quote by me, over my name, on the back cover of a paperback, which astonished me no end when I discovered the usage--I no longer even recalled saying those words! (I had, however, a good two decades earlier.) When, a few years later I met the redoubtable Carter, and asked him the why and wherefore, he raised an eyebrow, and told me not to complain, as, after all, he had made me "famous." Sic transit gloria mundi.

[Richard L. Tierney]: Many thanks for Crypt #32, which I greatly enjoyed. At the Mountains of Madness being perhaps my favorite HPL tale, or at least a close second to "The Shadow out of Time." I especially liked S. T. Joshi's long article.

[Will Murray]: Crypt #32 was a lot of fun. I'm still reading through it. Herron's "Fun Guys" installment was fascinating. Actually, I don't see much difference between Peter Cannon's Madness article and Ben Indick's. Both seem to make it clear that Madness is not an explicit sequel to Pym.

One quibble: somehow, between my sending corrections to my "Trouble with Shoggoths" article and the typesetter, my footnotes got mixed up. The place in the text footnoted #1 should not be so footnoted. Footnote #2 in the text should refer to footnote #1 in the end notes. (I. e., my point was that the white thing being worshipped by Night-Gaunts in "The Call of Cthulhu" might possibly be a proto-Shoggoth.) And footnote #2 in the end notes is a reference to my paragraph about the Shoggoths having grown slowly in HPL's mind prior to his writing Madness, which is not footnoted.

[Randy Palmer]: I must say. Crypt of Cthulhu #32 is the most enjoyable issue you've concocted in the last, oh, year or so! At the Mountains of Madness has always ranked high on my HPL favorites list, so this edition of Crypt was something very special for me. I especially liked Will Murray's piece on "The Trouble with Shoggoths," which helped me understand a bit better why the "monstrous climax" of At the Mountains of Madness always seemed somehow antlclimactic!

I hope you have planned other special issues which, like Crypt #32, will be devoted exclusively to other HPL "monsterpieces," sometime in the future.

Issue 33

Cover art of the issue #33

Crypt of Cthulhu #33 was published in August 1985. It had 48 pages.

The theme of the issue was Dirk W. Mosig.

Contents

• Cover Art by David C. Smith [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• The Great American Throw-Away by Dirk W. Mosig [essay] (3–8)
• The Prophet from Providence by Dirk W. Mosig [essay] (9–11)
• Lovecraft: The Dissonance Factor in Imaginative Literature by Dirk W. Mosig [essay] (12–23)
• Poe, Hawthorne, and Lovecraft: Variations on a Theme of Panic by Dirk W. Mosig [essay] (24–28)
• Interior Art by Mike MacKenzie [illustration] (28)
• Mosig at Last: My Years With the Greatest of Lovecraft Scholars by S. T. Joshi [essay] (29–35, 23)
• The Man Who Was Mosig by Peter Cannon [essay] (36)
• Fra Mosigius by Donald R. Burleson [essay] (37–38)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (39–44)
  • Re-Animator directed by Stuart Gordon; reviewed by Allen Koszowski (39–40)
  • Lovecraft’s Book (Arkham House, 1985) by Richard A. Lupoff; reviewed by Robert M. Price (40–42)
  • Cold Print (Scream Press, 1985) by Ramsey Campbell; reviewed by Peter Cannon (42–43)
  • Elak of Atlantis (Gryphon Books) by Henry Kuttner; reviewed by Robert M. Price (43–44)
• Truth is Stranger Than Lovecraft contributed by Alan Ziebarth [essay] (44)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (46–48)
  • Letter by Jean-Daniel Brèque (46)
  • Letter by William Fulwiler (46–47)
  • Letter by David Dello Monaco (47)
  • Letter by Will Murray (47)
  • Letter by John W. Rectenwald (47)
  • Letter by Chris Beekman (47)
  • Letter by David T. Pudelwitts (47–48)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Letters of Comment

[William Fulwiler]: The latest issue of the horror film magazine Fangoria (#45) reports that independent producer Fred Olen Ray is producing a "very loose adaptation" of Lovecraft's "The Tomb." The film "concerns the supernatural exploits of an Egyptian female vampire."

What's next in store for H. P. "Hollywood" Lovecraft? Perhaps The Outsider, starring Boy George. Or maybe The Thing on the Doorstep, with Elvira as Asenath Waite.

Other subjects discussed: Lovecraft in comics (and comix), works of Andreas and Francois Riviere, additions and corrections to the list of Thriller episodes in the issue #30, praises of Jason Eckhardt's art, Brian Lumley and the use of Elder Gods, a mention of Necronomicon in Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton.

Issue 34

Cover art of the issue #34

Crypt of Cthulhu #34 was published in September 1985. It had 64 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Best of the Providence Pals".

Contents

• Cover Art (“The Recurring Doom”) by Jason C. Eckhardt [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• The Recurring Doom by S. T. Joshi [fiction] (3–18)
• The Last Supper by Donald R. Burleson [fiction] (19–21)
• An Echo of Pipes by Jason Eckhardt [fiction] (22–25, 31)
• In the Dead of the Night by Marc A. Michaud [fiction] (26–31)
• Blood Atonement by Robert M. Price [fiction] (32–34)
• The Madness out of Space by Peter H. Cannon [fiction] (35–58)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (59)
  • Autobiographical Memoir (Necronomicon Press) by Frank Belknap Long; reviewed by Dabney Hoskins (Peter H. Cannon) (59)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (60–64)
  • Letter by L. Sprague deCamp (60)
  • Letter by Ben P. Indick (60–61)
  • Letter by S. T. Joshi (61)
  • Letter by Richard L. Tierney (61–62)
  • Letter by Will Murray (62)
  • Letter by Eric Kramer (62)
  • Letter by Rodolfo A. Ferraresi (62)
  • Letter by John Betancourt (62)
  • Letter by Randy Palmer (62–63)
  • Letter by Michael J. Lotus (63)
  • Letter by Richard A. Zotara (64)
  • Letter by Michael F. Albertini (64)
  • Letter by Carlos Waldraven (64)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Letters of Comment

[L. Sprague deCamp]: In Crypt #32, p. 40, Don Herron finds it "weird" that in Lovecraft I said nothing about Sam Loveman's homosexuality. I did not speak of it because, first, when I wrote the book Loveman was alive (he answered my letter of inquiry); and, second, I had no evidence beyond the casual remarks by a couple of my sources that Loveman was "probably" homosexual. I had nothing in print that I could quote. Before making such a statement about a living person, one should be sure that one's evidence would stand up in court. Besides, it would have been a poor return for his kindness in answering my query.

I was also informed that Loveman had been briefly but, according to his letter to me, happily married in his youth until the young woman died. Therefore, as far as my evidence went, Loveman might, like others I have known, have been a man of normal sexuality but suspected of deviation because of effeminate or mincing mannerisms acquired in childhood. The same might be said of Lovecraft.

Lovecraft's attitude towards sexually peculiar friends and correspondents (Barlow, Crane, and Derleth among others) paralleled that towards non-Anglo-Saxon ethnics. In the abstract, he detested sexual deviants as much as he did Jews, Negroes, and Latins. But when he met an individual of these classes, if the person used him with reasonable courtesy and friendliness, he was so delighted at being treated as a fellow human being that he was ready, willing, and eager to overlook the unfortunate category into which his new acquaintance fitted.

In later life, by the way, the "mainstream villain" Edmund Wilson became interested in Lovecraft as an individual and wrote a play, The Little Blue Light, with a major character obviously modeled on Lovecraft.

Shoggothily, L. Sprague deCamp

[Richard L. Tierney]: I agree with S. T. that it's hard to believe that the human dwellers in K'n-yan originally came from the stars. The way I figure it, their ancestors were originally servitors of star-beings who came to earth (perhaps those who later withdrew to red-litten Yoth or black, lightless N'kai?) and later incorporated fragments of those beings' history into their own origin-legends. The theological mind can always find a way. I'm a bit surprised that Lovecraft didn't spell it out that way rather than just vaguely suggesting. Maybe he figured readers were getting too sophisticated to suppose that humans could independently evolve on other worlds; if so, he gave credit where it was not (and still isn't) due. The term "parallel evolution" used to be used as a rationale in SF for the innumerable races of extraterrestrial humanoids in the genre; that term now seems to be forgotten, but it's still taken for granted in popular SF that humans can occur on other planets or even in "a galaxy far, far away." Still, if such humanoids were prohibited in SF it would spoil as much fun as prohibiting time-travel or hyperspace-flight, no doubt.

[Michael J. Lotus]: Speaking of wonderful, I'd like to see something more about that sense of wonder in Lovecraft. Mr. Mosig's pieces were very illuminating, and well written. However, I think Colin Wilson is right in claiming that Lovecraft's characters ought to have been fascinated not terrified by such revelations as they experience in "Shadow out of Time" and At the Mountains of Madness. His literary capacity to create the feeling of vastness, beauty, or strangeness seems to me to not necessarily be a result of his stated philosophic intent.

Other subjects discussed: Murray's "Trouble with Shoggoths", the white figure at the end of Poe's Pym, reviews of the previous issues, particularly #32, mysterious split in LaVey's "Church of Satan".

Issue 35

Cover art of the issue #35

Crypt of Cthulhu #35 was published in November 1985. It had 60 pages.

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

Contents

• Cover Art by John Borkowski [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2, 11)
• H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos by Robert M. Price [essay] (3–11)
• Errata [notice] (11)
• CAS to AWD by Clark Ashton Smith (12–16)
  • Letter (13 April 1937) from Clark Ashton Smith; to August W. Derleth (12–14)
  • Letter (21 April 1937) from Clark Ashton Smith; to August W. Derleth (14–15)
  • Letter (28 April 1937) from Clark Ashton Smith; to August W. Derleth (15–16)
• The Question of Shub-Niggurath by Rodolfo A. Ferraresi [essay] (17–18, 22)
• Narrathoth, the Forgotten by Will Murray [essay] (19–22)
• Cthulhu Cultists on TV [notice] (22)
• What was the Sussex Manuscript? by Edward P. Berglund [essay] (23–25, 27)
• Lovecraft on Eldritch Tomes by Edward P. Berglund [essay] (26–27)
• The Cthulhu Mythology by Francis T. Laney [essay] (28–34)
• The Fan Mythos by Randall D. Larson [essay] (35–51)
  • A Survey of the Cthulhu Mythos in the Small Press by Randall D. Larson [essay] (35–42)
  • A Listing of Cthulhu Mythos Stories Appearing in Small Press Magazines and Fanzines compiled by Randall D. Larson; with assistance from Edward P. Berglund, Loay H. Hall, and Mike Ashley [essay] (42–51)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (52–54)
  • Dark Gods (Viking Press, 1985) by T. E. D. Klein; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (52)
  • The New Devil’s Dictionary (W. Paul Ganley, Publisher) by J. N. Williamson; reviewed by Will Murray (52–53)
  • Obsession (Macmillan, 1985) by Ramsey Campbell; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (53–54)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (56–59)
  • Letter by Robert Bloch (56)
  • Letter by Daniel Gobbett (56)
  • Letter by Chris Gross (56)
  • Letter by Kevin S. Hall (56)
  • Letter by Richard L. Tierney (56–58)
  • Letter by David F. Godwin (58)
  • Letter by William Fulwiler (58–59)
  • Letter by Laurence C. Bush (59)
  • Letter by Darwin Ortiz (59)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (60)

Issue 36

Cover art of the issue #36

Crypt of Cthulhu #36 was published in December 1985. It had 48 pages.

The theme of the issue was Lin Carter.

Contents

• Cover Art (“Out of the Ages”) by Robert M. Price [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• The Doom of Yakthoob by Lin Carter [fiction] (3–4)
• The City of Pillars by Lin Carter [fiction] (5–8)
• The Acolyte of the Flame by Lin Carter [fiction] (9–13, 21)
• The Stone from Mnar by Lin Carter [fiction] (14–18)
• H.P. Lovecraft: The History by Lin Carter [essay] (19–21)
• Under the Eaves by Lin Carter [fiction] (22–23)
• High Atlantis by Lin Carter [poetry] (24)
• The Carter-Smith “Collaborations” by Steve Behrends [essay] (25–31, 39)
• A Response by Lin Carter (32–34)
• Call for Papers [notice] (34)
• Interior Art (“The Zanthu Tablets”) by Guy Cowlishaw [illustration] (35)
• An Interview with Lin Carter by Robert M. Price; interview of Lin Carter (36–39)
• Advice to the Lovecraft-lorn by Donna Death (Donna Tod) [fiction] (40)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (41–44, 4, 8, 18, 35)
  • Discovering Modern Horror Fiction 1 (Starmont, 1985) edited by Darrell Schweitzer; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (41–42)
  • The Collector’s Index to Weird Tales (Bowling Green State University Popular Culture Press, 1985) by Sheldon Jaffery and Fred Cook; reviewed by Robert M. Price (42–43)
  • Etchings and Odysseys #6 (The Strange Company, June 1985) reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (43–44, 4)
  • The Year’s Best Horror Stories XIII (DAW Books, October 1985) edited by Karl Edward Wagner; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (4, 8, 18, 35)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (45–47)
  • Letter by Jim Cort (45)
  • Letter by Stefan R. Dziemianowicz (45)
  • Letter by Pierre Comtois (45)
  • Letter by Robert Bloch (45)
  • Letter by Charles Garofalo (46)
  • Letter by Carl Ford (46)
  • Letter by Richard L. Tierney (46)
  • Letter by Tani Jantsang (47)
  • Letter by Matt Rogers (47)
  • Letter by Steve Behrends (47)
  • Letter by Will Murray (47)
• Interior Art by Joe Shea [illustration] (48)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[Kevin A. Ross]: I loved Steve Behrends' enlightening article on the Carter-Smith collaborations (in Crypt #36). These are my favorite Carter works, though I haven't seen all of them. Which brings me to my only complaint about Behrends' piece: why not tell some of us unenlightened folk where these stories appeared ? Similar information concerning the publishing future of Carter's Book of Eibon, Necronomicon. Terror Out of Time, and Yoh-Vombis and other Charnel House publications would also have been a boon to the Carter issue. Oh well, small complaints these on an otherwise fine issue. Get well, Lin!

[Richard L. Tierney]: I enjoyed the Lin Carter issue of Crypt [#36], especially the interview. Was glad to get the straight poop on Kadath, as I'm one of the many who paid for a copy and never got it. Hope Lin is getting over his medical problems.

[James Pontolillo]: I wish to extend especial thanks for Issue #36 dedicated to the Mythos related works of Lin Carter. As rare as his fragments are, your journal has performed an admirable service in widening their availability to interested parties.

Issue 37

Cover art of the issue #37

Crypt of Cthulhu #37 was published in February 1986. It had 60 pages.

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

Contents

• Cover Art by Chris Gross [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• The Structure of Lovecraft’s Longer Narratives by S. T. Joshi [essay] (3–17)
  • Interior Art by Chris Gross [illustration] (13)
• Lovecraft’s Cosmic History by Robert M. Price [essay] (18–24)
  • Interior Art by Lance Brown [illustration] (20)
• H.P. Lovecraft and The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath by S. T. Joshi [essay] (25–34, 59)
  • Interior Art by Chris Gross [illustration] (29)
• Real World Links in The Dream-Quest by Ralph E. Vaughan [essay] (35–36, 39)
• Do Shoggoths Lurk…? In The Case of Charles Dexter Ward? by Will Murray [essay] (37–39)
• The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters: An Unbridled Romp with Charles Dexter Ward through the Minds of Francisco Goya and C.G. Jung by Carolyn Lee Boyd [essay] (40–45)
  • Interior Art by Chris Gross [illustration] (41)
  • Interior Art by Pierre D. Lacroix [illustration] (44)
  • Interior Art by Darrell Schweitzer [illustration] (45)
• A Note on Nicholas Roerich by Ben P. Indick [essay] (46–48, 59)
  • Interior Art (“Island of Rest”) by Nicholas Roerich [illustration] (46)
  • Interior Art (“Kanchenjunga”) by Nicholas Roerich [illustration] (48)
• Further Notes on the Eltdown Shards by Edward P. Berglund [essay] (49–51, 55)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (53–55)
  • At the Mountains of Madness and Other Novels (Arkham House, 1985) by H. P. Lovecraft; reviewed by Steven Mariconda (53–54)
  • Lost in the Rentharpian Hills: Spanning the Decades with Carl Jacobi (Popular Press) by R. Dixon Smith; reviewed by Daniel Gobbett (54–55)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (56–59)
  • Letter by A. Beaufort (56)
  • Letter by Darrell Schweitzer (56)
  • Letter by Kevin A. Ross (56–57)
  • Letter by Steven Mariconda (57)
  • Letter by Rodolfo A. Ferraresi (57)
  • Letter by Charles Garofalo (57–58)
  • Letter by Robert Bloch (58)
  • Letter by Lin Carter (58–59)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[Kevin A. Ross]: Crypt #37 was very impressive. Once again the cover was stunning, and the interior art was equally creepy, especially Chris Gross' stuff. And Darrell Schweitzer's Curwen cartoon was hilarious.

[Jim Cort]: The cover illustration [for Crypt #37] by Chris Gross is especially striking.

[Charles Garofalo]: I received Crypt #37 yesterday and read the entire magazine in a night. This has been one of your best issues so far, a truly excellent collection of articles. I was happy to see what Nicholas Roerich's art actually looked like. The scenes from the mountains were not disturbing. I'll agree with Mr. Indick there, but the "Island of Rest" had a very brooding, somber quality about it.

My favorite piece was S. T. Joshi's article on Dream-Quest , followed by Vaughan's different piece on the same subject. In fact, I'd like to say I enjoyed everything in this book this time, even the advertisements. First rate issue, credit is deserved all around.

[Wilum Pugmire]: I loved this issue. Crypt #37, especially for the material concerning Charles Dexter Ward. And Will Murray, who is always a delight, charmed me with his wee piece on shoggoths.

I am learning much dark wisdom from Crypt, which is just as wonderful a treasure as any copy of the Necronomicon would be.

The cartoon on page 45 was splendid.

[Will Murray]: Ben Indick's "Note on Nicholas Roerich" was very illuminating. Thanks for reproducing those paintings. And speaking of art, I don't know where you got Chris Gross, but I hope you hold onto him. Great stuff--particularly the suggestive piece on page 41.

Issue 38

Cover art of the issue #38

Crypt of Cthulhu #38 was published in March 1986. It had 52 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Lovecraft’s lousier fiction".

Contents

• Cover Art by Chris Pelletiere [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• “The Hound”—a Dead Dog? by Steven Mariconda [essay] (3–7)
• Correction [notice] (7)
• “The Tomb” & “Dagon”: A Double Dissection by William Fulwiler [essay] (8–14)
• Interior Art by Allen Koszowski [illustration] (14)
• The Sources for “From Beyond” by S. T. Joshi [essay] (15–19)
• Spawn of the Moon-Bog by Will Murray [essay] (20–25, 37)
• Exploring “The Temple” by David E. Schultz [essay] (26–31)
  • Interior Art by Lance Brown [illustration] (29)
• Live in Providence? Take a Course on HPL [notice] (31)
• On “Beyond the Wall of Sleep” by M. Eileen McNamara, M. D. [essay] (33–34)
• The Little Tow-Head Fiend: Or the Problem of “Herbert West” by Will Murray [essay] (35–37)
• HPL’s Style by Ralph E. Vaughan [essay] (38–39)
• Fun Guys from Yuggoth [essay] (40–41, 43)
  • Lovecraft the Man, Lovecraft the Fan by Will Murray [essay] (40–41, 43)
• Three Who Died [essay] (42, 34)
  • L. Ron Hubbard [essay] (42)
  • Walter Gibson [essay] (42)
  • Christine Campbell Thomson submitted by Richard Dalby [essay] (42, 34)
• Advice to the Lovecraft-lorn by Donna Death (Donna Tod) [fiction] (43)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (44–48)
  • H.P. Lovecraft’s Re-Animator (Empire Pictures) directed by Stuart Gordon; reviewed by Marc A. Cerasini (44–46)
  • Alcestis: A Play (The Strange Company, 1975) by H. P. Lovecraft and Sonia Haft Greene-Lovecraft; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (46–47)
  • Faces of Fear (Berkeley, October 1985) by Douglas Winter; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (47–48)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (49–52)
  • Letter by Kevin A. Ross (49–50)
  • Letter by Leslie Skingle (50)
  • Letter by Stefan R. Dziemianowicz (50–51)
  • Letter by Thomas Owen (51)
  • Letter by Jim Cort (51)
  • Letter by Charles Garofalo (51–52)
  • Letter by Richard L. Tierney (52)
  • Letter by Wilum Pugmire (52)
  • Letter by Will Murray (52)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Letters of Comment

[Kevin A. Ross]: Geez, when you read my letter after Darrell Schweitzer's (in Crypt #37) I come off sounding like a one-man crusade against Brian Lumley. Presupposing the inevitable deluge of pro-Lumley letters I'll clarify the position my .45-caliber mouth got me into. First I'd like to point out that Bri's House of Cthulhu and Other Tales of the Primal Land (from Weirdbook Press) was one of my favorite fantasy reads of the past year. And like Schweitzer I greatly enjoyed "Lord of the Worms," finding it to be possibly Lumley's finest Mythos work. But I stand by my assessment of the Crow novels, and Lumley's tirade against critics is still embarrassing to behold.

[Stefan R. Dziemianowicz]: I really enjoy the digging people do to get at a definition of just what the Mythos is or, in some cases, to scrape off the accretion of misinterpretation. I wish I'd had your "H. P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos" [Crypt #35] around when I was first getting into Lovecraft. At the time, I accepted wholeheartedly whatever Derleth and Carter said, even though I knew in my heart that there was something wrong with trying to lock every story with a town, person, or book mentioned in a bona fide Mythos story into a system. I remember running all over the place trying to find a copy of the Howard poem "Arkham, " as per Carter's bibliography at the back of Lovecraft: A Look Behind the Cthulhu Mythos, and then, after reading it, thinking, "Well, it doesn't seem like it belongs with everything else, but if Lin Carter says so . . . "

The problem is that the reader shouldn't approach these stories with an either/or mentality. As you demonstrate, there is more than one myth cycle and occasionally they impinge on one another; but they have independent existences. Francis T. Laney mentions that there are gaps in the pantheon that need to be filled. This presumes that Lovecraft was working with the same design that we've imposed on his work. In an age of Frank Herberts and Robert A. Heinleins, who have calculated all of the dimensions for the superstructures on which they hang their stories, we keep forgetting that Lovecraft began "the Mythos" in a spirit of fun. Even the slight coherence he gave it towards the end of his life seemed more a way of thanking others for contributing to it than an attempt to found the First Reformed Church of Cthulhu. Any contradictions that exist probably exist because Lovecraft saw no need to clear them up.

Other subjects discussed: suggestion to make future issues dedicated to Robert Bloch, Frank Belknap Long, and Henry Kuttner, a new zine with Mythos fiction, notes on "Professor Peabody's Last Lecture", Lovecraft quote about ghouls, are shoggoths and custodes the same thing, where Henry Kuttner's Elak of Atlantis stories can be found, where Carter-Smith collaborations can be found, passage from the theosophist work "A Treatise On Cosmic Fire", a crossover story of Mythos and Wizard of Oz.

Reactions and Reviews

[James Rockhill]: Thank you for publishing two perceptive articles devoted to "The Hound." The tale may be overwrought, but succeeds by an audacious piling of one horrific detail upon another. It reads as though Lovecraft, thumb poised not far from his nose, were trying to outdo Poe by ringing the changes on as many Continental horror motifs as one tale could hold without slipping into direct parody. Lovecraft's phraseology, as has been mentioned by others, even echoes Poe's in several places. Mr. Jeffery's analysis [in #48] of the ambiguous interrelationship of the tale's many supernatural elements and Mr. Mariconda's treatment [in #38] of the tale's debt to the French decadent movement help explain why this among the dozens of minor tales haunts the memory after many more polished tales have faded into oblivion. "The Hound" and another oft-abused Lovecraft tale, "The Statement of Randolph Carter" seem to take place in the same horrorlocked world of the unconscious as "The Outsider." No amount of reference to the real world can disperse the darkness or terror of a mind trapped forever in its own nightmares.

Issue 39

Cover art of the issue #39

Crypt of Cthulhu #39 was published in May 1986. It had 60 pages.

It was an all-fiction issue.

Contents

• Cover Art by Peter H. Gilmore [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• The Madness out of Time by Lin Carter [fiction] (3–9)
  • Interior Art by Lance Brown [illustration] (6)
• More Dunwich Horrors [notice] (9)
• Offspring by Carl Jacobi [fiction] (10–17)
  • Interior Art (“The Evangelist”) by Robert H. Knox [illustration] (14)
• The Voice of Doom by Robert E. Howard [fiction] (18–22)
  • Interior Art by Jervas Dudley (unknown) [illustration] (21)
• [The gang that made Re-Animator has further plans…] by Carl Ford [notice] (22)
• Embrace of Clay, Embrace of Straw by Steve Rasnic Tem [fiction] (23–29)
  • Interior Art (“Chorus”) by Robert H. Knox [illustration] (26)
• Manly Wade Wellman [notice] (29)
• And When We Sleep by Hugh B. Cave [fiction] (30–46)
  • Interior Art (“Sacrifice”) by Robert H. Knox [illustration] (44)
• In the Tomb of Semenses by Frank Belknap Long [fiction] (47–52)
  • Interior Art (“Guard Duty on Yaddith”) by Robert H. Knox [illustration] (50)
• Wilfred Blanch Talman by Gerry de la Ree [essay] (54
• R’lyeh Review [review] (55, 54)
  • “small-press horror and Mythos magazines” reviewed by Robert M. Price (55, 54)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (56–60, 46, 52, 29)
  • Letter by Rah Hoffman (56)
  • Letter by Fritz Leiber (56)
  • Letter by Kevin Walsh (56)
  • Letter by Jeff Lefstin (56–57)
  • Letter by Carl Budka (57)
  • Letter by William Fulwiler (58–59)
  • Letter by Robert M. Price (59–60)
  • Letter by Robert Bloch (60)
  • Letter by Roger G. Knuth (46)
  • Letter by Henry J. Vester III (46, 52)
  • Letter by Wilum Pugmire (52, 29)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Issue 40

Cover art of the issue #40

Crypt of Cthulhu #40 was published in June 1986. It had 60 pages.

The theme of the issue was Robert Bloch.

Contents

• Cover Art by Allen Koszowski [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• The Sorcerer’s Jewel by Tarleton Fiske (Robert Bloch) [fiction] (3–13)
• Writer’s Bloch by Charles Garofalo [fiction] (14–16)
• Eldritch Egypt by Richard L. Tierney [poetry] (16)
• On “The Feast in the Abbey” by Randall D. Larson [essay] (17–20, 30)
• Bloch on the Box by Charles Garofalo [essay] (21–23, 47)
• The Cthulhu Mythos Fiction of Robert Bloch by Randall D. Larson [essay] (24–26)
• Interview 1 by Will Murray; interview of Robert Bloch (27–30)
• Interview 2 by Randall D. Larson; interview of Robert Bloch (31–33)
• More Mythos in Bloch by RMP (Robert M. Price) [essay] (33)
• The Hell Bound Train by Unknown [poetry] (34–35)
• The Books of Robert Bloch: A Bibliography by R. Dixon Smith [essay] (36–43)
• It Pays to Increase Your Weird Power: A Lovecraft Vocabulary Quiz by Jim Cort [puzzle] (45–47)
• From the Vaults of Yoh-Vombis by Lin Carter [essay] (48–50)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (51–58, 30)
  • New Tales of the Marvellous and the Ridiculous reviewed by Stefan R. Dziemianowicz (51–57)
  • Songs of a Dead Dreamer (Silver Scarab Press) by Thomas Ligotti; reviewed by Robert M. Price (57–58)
  • Slow (Footsteps Press) by Ramsey Campbell; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (58)
  • Tales After Dark reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (58, 30)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (59–60, 16, 33, 35)
  • Letter by Allen Koszowski (59)
  • Letter by Michael J. Lotus (59)
  • Letter by Mark Morrison (59)
  • Letter by Jim Cort (59–60)
  • Letter by S. T. Joshi (60)
  • Letter by Darrell Schweitzer (16, 33, 35)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[Jeff Newman]: Now I want to dole out some lavish, long-overdue praise to Stefan Dziemianowicz for "New Tales of the Marvellous and the Ridiculous" way back in Crypt #40. It was superb! —one of the top three or four most important articles you ever published, right up there alongside some of your own work, S. T. Joshi's, and Steve Mariconda's "H. P. Lovecraft, Prose Stylist." I see it as part of a vital sub-species of Lovecraft criticism that originated with Richard Tierney's now-classic essay, "The Derleth Mythos." I'd like to coin the term "Mythos-bashing" to describe this branch of badly-needed, corrective criticism which is essentially a protest against the trivializing of the Cthulhu Mythos. "New Tales" said things that have needed saying for a long time. I'm sure there are other readers like me who have shuddered {with disgust —not fright!) at these puerile efforts and realized they are "nonliterary dreck," without being able to say precisely why. Well, now Stefan D. has eloquently said it for us, identifying and analyzing their defects in gratifying detail.

Issue 41

Cover art of the issue #41

Crypt of Cthulhu #41 was published in May 1986. It had 68 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Henry Kuttner’s Cthulhu Mythos fiction".

Contents

• Cover Art by Robert H. Knox [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2, 68)
• The Secret of Kralitz by Henry Kuttner [fiction] (3–7)
• Happy Birthday Grandpa! [notice] (7)
• The Eater of Souls by Henry Kuttner [fiction] (8–9, 21)
• The Salem Horror by Henry Kuttner [fiction] (10–21)
• Want More Kuttner? [notice] (21)
• The Jest of Droom-avista by Henry Kuttner [fiction] (22–23, 55)
• The Invaders by Henry Kuttner [fiction] (24–34, 67)
• The Bells of Horror by Keith Hammond (Henry Kuttner) [fiction] (35–44)
• Yet More Dunwich Horrors [notice] (44)
• Hydra by Henry Kuttner [fiction] (45–55)
• Klarkash-Ton Remembered [notice] (55)
• The Hunt by Henry Kuttner [fiction] (57–67)
• Kuttner Horror Stories in Anthologies [essay] (68)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[John Pelan]: The last several issues of Crypt have been a delight, particularly the Kuttner issue. In regards to letters regarding the sad lack of a collection of Kuttner's best macabre tales, I hope that James Turner of Arkham House realizes such a book is long overdue, and that Arkham is perhaps the only publisher who could do it justice.

Issue 42

Cover art of the issue #42

Crypt of Cthulhu #42 was published in September 1986. It had 68 pages.

The theme of the issue was Frank Belknap Long.

Contents

• Cover Art by Allen Koszowski [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2, 44)
• The Eye Above the Mantel by Frank Belknap Long [fiction] (3–6)
• The Desert Lich by Frank Belknap Long [fiction] (7–11)
• The Devil-God by Frank Belknap Long [fiction] (12–20)
• Carnival of Crawling Doom by Frank Belknap Long [fiction] (21–37)
• The Creeper in Darkness by Frank Belknap Long [fiction] (38–44)
• Three Poems by Frank Belknap Long [poetry] (45)
  • Come, Let Us Make by Frank Belknap Long [poetry] (45)
  • Rufus (Catullus) by Frank Belknap Long [poetry] (45)
  • The Rebel by Frank Belknap Long [poetry] (45)
• The Work of Frank Belknap Long, Jr. by H. P. Lovecraft [essay] (47–50)
• Frank Belknap Long: Sojourner in Strange Worlds by Ben P. Indick [essay] (51–52)
• Frank Belknap Long: A Personal Tribute by Peter H. Cannon [essay] (53–55)
• From the Vaults of Yoh-Vombis by Lin Carter [essay] (56–58)
• The Keeper at the Crypt by Carl T. Ford [essay] (59–60)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (61–65)
  • The Hungry Moon (Macmillan, 1986) by Ramsey Campbell; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (61–62)
  • Lovecraft Studies #12 (Necronomicon Press) edited by S. T. Joshi; reviewed by Robert M. Price (62–63)
  • Psycho III directed by Anthony Perkins; reviewed by Robert M. Price (63–64)
  • Dark Gods (Bantam Books, 1986) by T. E. D. Klein; reviewed by Robert M. Price (64–65)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (66–68, 37, 44, 50, 58, 65)
  • Letter by Edwin Pouncey (66)
  • Letter by L. Sprague deCamp (66)
  • Letter by Wilum Pugmire (66)
  • Letter by Jim Cort (66)
  • Letter by Tani Jantsang and Philip Obed Marsh (66)
  • Letter by S. T. Joshi (67)
  • Letter by Jack Adrian (67)
  • Letter by Gahan Wilson (67)
  • Letter by Robert Bloch (67–68)
  • Letter by Karl Edward Wagner (68)
  • Letter by Daniel Gobbett (68)
  • Letter by Richard L. Tierney (68, 37)
  • Letter by Randall D. Larson (37)
  • Letter by Brian Lumley (37, 44)
  • Letter by L. Sprague deCamp (44, 50)
  • Letter by Wilum Pugmire (50, 58)
  • Letter by Tani Jantsang (58, 65)
  • Letter by Phil Marsh (65)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[Mike Mason]: Issue #42 of Crypt was the second copy of your ‘zine that I've read. I can only say that I'm very impressed with the production. In "GB" we have, as you know, only Dagon and Tales after Dark fanzines that really cover the Mythos, with Crypt as well. I feel that the work of Lovecraft is really becoming noticed and also being approached in a mature literary way.

I welcomed the Frank Belknap Long stories, having only read "Hounds of Tindalos" before. I was very impressed by "The Creeper in Darkness" and "The Eye above the Mantel"—two especially "weird" stories!

The "Keeper at the Crypt" column by Carl Ford was interesting and gave a wide view of Chosium's products. Hopefully in the future Carl will write more about the playing of the game, rather than the systems and scenarios.

All in all, Crypt #42 was a splendid issue and I await #43 with bated breath—Ramsey Campbell's a favorite author of mine, along with Brian Lumley—who says the British arn't biased!!

Issue 43

Cover art of the issue #43

Crypt of Cthulhu #43 was published in November 1986. It had 76 pages.

The theme of the issue was "The Tomb Herd and Others by Ramsey Campbell".

Contents

• Cover Art by Allen Koszowski [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• The Tomb Herd by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (3–9)
• The Other Name of Azathoth [essay] (9)
• The Face in the Desert by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (10–13, 19)
• A Madness From the Vaults I by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (14–19)
• The Tower from Yuggoth by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (20–36)
• The Plain of Sound by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (37–44)
• The Return of the Witch by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (45–52)
• The Mine on Yuggoth by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (53–60)
• The Stone on the Island by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (62–69)
• A Madness From the Vaults II by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (70–75)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (76, 75)
  • Letter by L. Sprague de Camp (76)
  • Letter by Lin Carter (76)
  • Letter by Robert Bloch (76)
  • Letter by Charles Garofalo (76, 75)
  • Letter by Virgil Utter (75)
  • Letter by Vic Ghidalia (75)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[Steve Rasnic Tem]: I picked up a copy of Crypt #43 in Providence and enjoyed it very much. It was fascinating to see Campbell's deft touch and atmospheric detail in evidence even in these early tales. Collecting them was certainly a worthy endeavor.

[Stefan Dziemianowicz]: I didn't want to let Campbell issue #43 get by without telling you what an extraordinary feat it was. I hope everyone realizes what an incredible job you're doing with these issues, filling in reader's/collector's gaps. Back in the early '70s, when I used to read critical descriptions of works by new and old members of the Lovecraft circle, I was so frustrated because most of them were in books that were long out of print or that were virtually OP by the time they hit the newsstands (assuming any bookstands would carry them). Now, as with the Kuttner ish, you've given us help in thoroughly charting the development of a writer. I think stories like the earlier and later versions of "A Madness from the Vaults" say it all. When Campbell first wrote the story he was obviously dwelling on the things he loved in Lovecraft without paying nearly as much attention to the plot as Lovecraft did. Not surprisingly, the story reads like a juvenile effort. The later tightened version is a more pleasant read, even when you know what is going to happen, because it was given a structure. It proves that Campbell became a good writer by paying attention to what it takes to write a good story, not just to writing pastiches of Lovecraft (pace Derleth).

Issue 44

Cover art of the issue #44

Crypt of Cthulhu #44 was published in December 1986. It had 72 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Medusa & Other Poems by H.P. Lovecraft".

Contents

• Cover Art by Jason C. Eckhardt [illustration] (front cover)
• Introduction by S. T. Joshi [essay] (iii–iv)
• The Members of the Men’s Club of the First Universalist Church of Providence, R.I., to Its President, about to Leave for Florida on Account of His Health by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (1)
• Providence in 2000 A.D. by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (1–3)
• Ad Criticos by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (3–6)
  • Liber Primus by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (3–4)
  • Liber Secundus by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (4–5)
  • Liber Tertius by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (5–6)
  • Liber Quartus by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (6)
• Frustra Praemunitus by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (7)
• To General Villa by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (7–8)
• To the Rev. James Pyke by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (8)
• New England by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (8–9)
• The Power of Wine: A Satire by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (9–10)
• 1914 by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (11–12)
• The Crime of Crimes by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (12–13)
• The Bookstall by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (14–15)
• An American to Mother England by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (16–17)
• The Teuton’s Battle-Song by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (17–18)
• Ye Ballade of Patrick von Flynn by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (19–20)
• Content by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (20–21)
• The Beauties of Peace by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (22–23)
• Brotherhood by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (23–24)
• Britannia Victura by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (24)
• Iterum Conjunctae by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (25)
• To Greece, 1917 by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (25–26)
• Prologue to “Fragments from an Hour of Inspiration” by Jonathan E. Hoag by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (26)
• Earth and Sky by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (26–27)
• On the Death of a Rhyming Critic by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (27–28)
• Autumn by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (29–30)
• Ver Rusticum by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (30–32)
• The Link by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (32–33)
• The Spirit of Summer by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (33–34)
• Hellas by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (34)
• Ambition by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (34–35)
• Spring by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (35)
• Damon—A Monody by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (36)
• Amissa Minerva by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (36–38)
• Hylas and Myrrha: A Tale by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (38–42)
• Helene Hoffman Cole by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (42–43)
• A Cycle of Verse by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (43–44)
  • Oceanus by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (43)
  • Clouds by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (43–44)
  • Mother Earth by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (44)
• Monody on the Late King Alcohol by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (45)
• The Pensive Swain by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (46)
• Wisdom by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (46–47)
• Bells by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (47–48)
• Cindy: Scrub Lady in a State Street Skyscraper by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (49)
• Ex-Poet’s Reply by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (49)
• October by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (49–50)
• To Alfred Galpin, Esq. by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (50–51)
• Theobaldian Aestivation by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (51–54)
• Medusa: A Portrait by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (55–56)
• To Zara by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (56–57)
• To Damon by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (57–59)
• To Rheinhart Kleiner, Esq., upon His Town Fables and Elegies by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (59–61)
• The Feast by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (61–63)
• Lines for Poets’ Night at the Scribblers’ Club by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (63–65)
• To an Infant by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (65–66)
• To Miss Beryl Hoyt by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (66)
• Ave atque Vale by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (67–68)
• Bouts Rimes by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (68)
  • Beyond Zimbabwe by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (68)
  • The White Elephant by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (68)
• The Odes of Horace: Book III, ix by H. P. Lovecraft [poetry] (69)
• Bibliography by S. T. Joshi [essay] (70–72)

Reactions and Reviews

[Dan Gobbett]: Crypt #44 (hard to believe you're up to #44 already, seems like yesterday...): The cover was great! a great "Medusa" by Eckhardt. I did enjoy some of these poems, even tho lesser HPL as noted. It was interesting to read at last (in full) the poems written to The Argosy in 1914 ("Ad Criticos") which I had heard of in Sam Moskowitz's fine work Under the Moons of Mars.

[Charles Garofalo]: Jason C. Eckhardt's cover [from Medusa] is a masterpiece.

Issue 45

Cover art of the issue #45

Crypt of Cthulhu #45 was published in February 1987. It had 44 pages.

This issue had no theme.

Contents

• Cover Art by Robert H. Knox [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• Digging Up Irem by Lin Carter [essay] (3–5)
• [Obituary of Robert Kenneth Jones] [notice] (5)
• Roots of the Miskatonic by Will Murray [essay] (6–9)
• The Birth of Ubbo-Sathla: Smith, Wandrei, Alfred Kramer, and the Begotten Source by Steve Behrends [essay] (10–13)
• Lovecraft on Radio & Record by Will Murray [essay] (14–18)
• Audio Fungi [notice] (18)
• The Lurking Beans: A Real-Life Martense Family by Jim Cort [essay] (19–21)
• Still More Dunwich Horrors [notice] (21)
• Anniversarium XVI by Brett Rutherford [poetry] (21)
• A Pre-Lovecraft Cthulhu Dreamer by Leon L. Gammell [essay] (23–25)
• From the Vaults of Yoh-Vombis by Lin Carter [essay] (26–28)
• The Keeper at the Crypt by Carl T. Ford [essay] (29, 28)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (31–39)
  • From Beyond directed by Stuart Gordon; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (31–32)
  • From Beyond (Empire Pictures) directed by Stuart Gordon; reviewed by Charles Hoffman (32–34)
  • H.P. Lovecraft: Uncollected Letters (Necronomicon Press) by H. P. Lovecraft; edited by S. T. Joshi; reviewed by Robert M. Price (34–35)
  • The H.P. Lovecraft 1987 Calendar (Necronomicon Press) by S. T. Joshi; reviewed by Will Murray (35–36)
  • Black Water (Clarkson N. Potter, 1983) edited by Alberto Manguel; reviewed by Lin Carter (36–37)
  • Hero of Dreams (W. Paul Ganley) by Brian Lumley; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (37)
  • Halloween Horrors (Doubleday, 1986) edited by Alan Ryan; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (37–39)
  • Black Wine (Dark Harvest, 1986) edited by Douglas Winter; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (37–39)
  • Cutting Edge (Doubleday, 1986) edited by Dennis Etchison; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (37–39)
  • Night Visions 2 (Dark Harvest, 1985) edited by Charles L. Grant; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (39)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (40–44)
  • Letter by Kenneth Hill (40)
  • Letter by Charles Gray (40)
  • Letter by H. P. Lovecraft (Robert M. Price) (40)
  • Letter by Jeff Kahan (40)
  • Letter by Johnson Becker (40–41)
  • Letter by Will Murray (41)
  • Letter by Kevin A. Ross (41–42)
  • Letter by Michael J. Lotus (42–43)
  • Letter by Karl Edward Wagner (43)
  • Letter by Stefan Dziemianowicz (43)
  • Letter by Wilum Pugmire (43)
  • Letter by Frank Belknap Long (43)
  • Letter by John Salonia (43)
  • Letter by Karl Edward Wagner (43–44)
  • Letter by Robert Bloch (44)
  • Letter by Bob Dickson (44)
  • Letter by Jim Cort (44)
  • Letter by Shawn Ramsey (44)
  • Letter by Brian Lumley (44)
  • Letter by Albert M. Engström (44)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[Kevin A. Ross]: Say, that Lovecraft fella is not only alive, but quick on the draw. In Crypt #45 he not only spots a typo but ends up in the letter column in the same issue in which the typo appears. Impressive.

[Sean Branney]: I especially enjoy the diversity of your articles and the wide range of reader opinions which you print (such as the opposed reviews of From Beyond). Individual perspectives are essential for constructing an intelligent approach to literature and its interpretation. The "R'lyeh Review" is always interesting and a good resource for those who cannot easily obtain Lovecraft related materials in their hometowns. I hope that you can continue to provide the addresses of publishers and distributors of the materials which you review. Thank you for the warped magazine which you give to us.

[Robert Bloch]: Thanks for Crypt #45--which is certainly catnip for the Lovecraft scholar! It continues to amaze me that there is still new data on HPL's work and that you are able to make it available. I was also greatly interested in the disparate verdicts of the gentlemen who reviewed From Beyond. Not having seen the film, I will refrain from comment, except to report that we occasionally get mail addressed to “Roberta Bloch"—apparently from computers with bisexual tendencies.

[Wilum Pugmire]: Leon L. Gammell's article on The Rod and the Snake was great. Gammell writes very well, keeping his prose flowing as he described plot and connection to HPL's fiction. Crypt of Cthulhu continues to attract a growing body of able-minded critics who write as well as they think.

Issue 46

Cover art of the issue #46

Crypt of Cthulhu #46 was published in March 1987. It had 64 pages.

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

Contents

• Cover Art by S. Thomas Brown [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• A Look at Lovecraft’s Letters by S. T. Joshi [essay] (3–12)
• Three Quotations and a Fabrication by William Fulwiler [essay] (13–14)
• Imaginative Allusions in Lovecraft’s Letters by Will Murray [essay] (15–27)
• Ethel Phillips Morrish [notice] (27)
• The First Lewis Theobald by R. Boerem [essay] (28–30)
• Lovecraft’s Letters to Vincent Starrett by H. P. Lovecraft (31–37)
  • Letter (11 April 1927) from H. P. Lovecraft; to Vincent Starrett (31)
  • Letter (24 June 1927) from H. P. Lovecraft; to Vincent Starrett (31–32)
  • Letter (23 August 1927) from H. P. Lovecraft; to Vincent Starrett (32)
  • Letter (6 December 1927) from H. P. Lovecraft; to Vincent Starrett (32–34)
  • Letter (10 January 1928) from H. P. Lovecraft; to Vincent Starrett (34–37)
• Lovecraft’s Letters to Adolphe de Castro by H. P. Lovecraft (38–54)
  • Letter (15 November 1925) from H. P. Lovecraft; to Adolphe de Castro (Gustav Adolphe Danziger) (38)
  • Letter (14 October 1934) from H. P. Lovecraft; to Adolphe de Castro (Gustav Adolphe Danziger) (39–42)
  • Letter (6 November 1934) from H. P. Lovecraft; to Adolphe de Castro (Gustav Adolphe Danziger) (42–46)
  • Letter (26 January 1935) from H. P. Lovecraft; to Adolphe de Castro (Gustav Adolphe Danziger) (46–47)
  • Letter (11 April 1935) from H. P. Lovecraft; to Adolphe de Castro (Gustav Adolphe Danziger) (47–48)
  • Letter (26 September 1935) from H. P. Lovecraft (48–50)
  • Letter (5 October 1935) from H. P. Lovecraft; to Adolphe de Castro (Gustav Adolphe Danziger) (50–52)
  • Letter (14 September 1936) from H. P. Lovecraft; to Adolphe de Castro (Gustav Adolphe Danziger) (52)
  • Letter (17 February 1937) from H. P. Lovecraft; to Adolphe de Castro (Gustav Adolphe Danziger) (52–54)
• Lovecraft’s Letters to Santa Claus: An Introduction by Robert M. Price [fiction] (55–56)
• Even More Dunwich Horrors [notice] (56)
• From the Vaults of Yoh-Vombis by Lin Carter [essay] (57–59)
• Low Tide by Brett Rutherford [poetry] (61–62)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (63, 30, 37, 56, 62)
  • Dagon (St. Marten’s Press, January 1987) by Fred Chappell; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (63, 30)
  • Lovecraft’s Providence and Adjacent Parts (Donald M. Grant, 1986, second edition) by Henry L. P. Beckwith; reviewed by Will Murray (30, 37)
  • Excavation (Avon Books, 1987) by Steve Rasnic Tem; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (37, 56, 62)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (64, 59, 12, 14)
  • Letter by Mike Mason (64)
  • Letter by Steve Rasnic Tem (64)
  • Letter by Stefan Dziemianowicz (64)
  • Letter by Dan Gobbett (64)
  • Letter by Charles Garofalo (64)
  • Letter by Robert Bloch (64, 59)
  • Letter by Tani Jantsang (59)
  • Letter by Wilum Pugmire (59, 12)
  • Letter by Brian Lumley (12, 14)
  • Letter by Shawn Ramsey (14)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Letters of Comment

[Wilum Pugmire]: Will Murray's delight for research is infectuous. Mr. Lotus, in his letter (Crypt #45, pp. 42/43) brought this topic up, the sense of community and friendship one feels while reading Crypt. We are the legacy handed down through the aeons by the original Lovecraft Circle. We are our own peculiar prize. Our spirit will live on as we pass from view, leaving to those who are now babes-in-arms the task and joy of continuous Lovecraft study. "That is not dead," indeed.

Other subjects discussed: does anyone have the round-robin story "Othuum", the origin of the name "Sarnath", why isn't Henry Kuttner published by Arkham House.

Reactions and Reviews

[Kevin A. Ross]: You continue to amaze me with your fine covers: Brown's unearthly mail-men (#46) and Eckhardt's bizarre pool-thing (#47) were excellent, not to mention Otto Bumberger's brooding view of the room in the steeple of the Church of Starry Wisdom (#48). Wow.

[Kalju Kirde]: Fortunately I obtained a copy of Crypt of Cthulhu #46 from a book dealer in London. It was the first issue of your journal that I have ever read. I appreciated highly the unpublished letters of Lovecraft to Vincent Starrett and Adolpho de Castro and the articles of S. T. Joshi and Will Murray ("Imaginative Allusions in Lovecraft's Letters"). I was delighted and stimulated to read more of Crypt of Cthulhu.

[James Rockhill]: Crypt #46, devoted to Lovecraft's letters was one of the very best tributes to HPL I have ever read and the best argument so far presented for devoting greater attention to the letters.

[Mike Ashley]: I can't think how long it is that I've kept meaning to write to you. I've been a regular reader of Crypt of Cthulhu almost from the start and find it becoming more and more a compulsive read. Yet I'm not a great fan of HPL's fiction, but I find his life and his letters endlessly fascinating. As a result Crypt #46, just received, was a delight, and what with your new presentation, made the issue a total fascination. There's something of a microcosm of wonder that you can slip into when Crypt arrives, and I have a horrible feeling I may be coming addicted to it. Heaven help us all.

[Jessica Amanda Salmonson]: I was very charmed by your "Lovecraft's Letters to Santa Claus."

Issue 47

Cover art of the issue #47

Crypt of Cthulhu #47 was published in May 1987. It had 64 pages.

It was an all-fiction issue.

Contents

• Cover Art by Jason C. Eckhardt [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
  • Introduction by Gerry de la Ree [essay] (2)
• The Pool by Donald R. Burleson [fiction] (3–9)
• Behind the Mask by Lin Carter [fiction] (10–19)
• Soul Proprietor by Robert Bloch [fiction] (20–26)
• Curse of the Crocodile by Richard L. Tierney [fiction] (27–38)
• Stamp Out HPL! [notice] (38)
• The Mark of a Bloody Hand by Robert E. Howard [fiction] (39–43)
• The Fantasy & Mystery Bookshop by Peter H. Cannon [fiction] (44–48)
• The Keeper at the Crypt by Carl T. Ford [essay] (49)
• Ethel M. Phillips Morrish: May 15, 1888–January 17, 1987 by Kenneth W. Faig, Jr. [essay] (51–52)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (54–62, 9)
  • Dagon and Other Macabre Tales (Arkham House, 1986, 2nd edition) by H. P. Lovecraft; reviewed by David E. Schultz (54–56)
  • Out of My Head (NESFA Press, 1986) by Robert Bloch; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (56–57)
  • Unholy Trinity (Scream Press) by Robert Bloch; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (57–59)
  • Night-World (Tor) by Robert Bloch; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (57–59)
  • Robert Bloch, Starmont Reader’s Guide 37 (Starmont, 1986) by Randal D. Larson; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (59–60)
  • The Complete Robert Bloch (Fandom Unlimited) by Randall Larson; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (60–61)
  • “Innsmouth Gold” Revisited reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (61–62)
  • Twentieth Century Literary Criticism, vol. 22 (Gale Research Company, 1987) edited by Dennis Poupard, Marie Lazzari, and Thomas Ligotti; reviewed by Robert M. Price (62)
  • Dagon #18 edited by Carl T. Ford; reviewed by Carl T. Ford (62, 9)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (63–64, 26)
  • Letter by Rah Hoffman (63)
  • Letter by Kevin L. O’Brien (63)
  • Letter by Roger G. Knuth (63)
  • Letter by Thomas R. Hall III (63)
  • Letter by Robert H. Daugherty (63)
  • Letter by Robert Hauser (63)
  • Letter by Kathy Corcoran (63–64)
  • Letter by Robert Bloch (64)
  • Letter by L. Sprague de Camp (64)
  • Letter by Charles Garofalo (64)
  • Letter by Roy A. Squires (64, 26)
  • Letter by Jim Cort (26)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[Scott Briggs]: I picked up Crypt #47 in Forbidden Planet. I read the Crypt on the train home, and almost flipped my lid upon reading Peter Cannon's "Bookshop" tale! When I got to the part where the cat flips the pages. I laughed out loud (no doubt drawing strange looks from the other passengers).

[Kevin A. Ross]: The fiction in issue #47 had some nice little tidbits in it, most notably the tales by Bloch and Cannon. As others have pointed out, "The Pool" telegraphed its ending well in advance. Lin Carter's "Behind the Mask" once again doles out the usual needless catalog of Mythos data, much to its detriment. Turning to Richard Tierney's Simon of Gitta tale, I found one brief passage oddly familiar; on page 32, the mad priest Argonius rants "He'll die before these eyes, and he'll know—he'll know—that it is I, Valerius Argonius, who has brought him to his doom!" Now compare Baron Harkonnen's raving speech from the movie Dune: "The Duke will die before these eyes, and they'll know— they'll know—that it is I, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, who encompasses Dune!" Interesting parallel, right down to the final rhyme ("doom" and "Dune"). I got a kick out of it, anyway.

And let's just assume for a moment that Peter Cannon's story may have been true. Okay, we'll accept for the moment that such "impossible" titles as The House of the Worm and Shaggai and Others exist. But a new collection of T.E.D. Klein's stories? Get real! The guy only writes fiction during the light of a full moon (or so it seems), so how could he possibly come up with "a dozen tales" in the relatively near future—say the next three or four years (about the time it would take for the Campbell/King collaboration to appear)? And the story further loses credibility when the narrator refuses to pay a measly $11.95 for this book! Any Klein book is a bargain at twice that!

(Just kiddin', all concerned. Cannon's story was very entertaining, and I'm sure that not a few fans were drooling over some of the imaginary titles on those shelves. Uh, Pete, just in case the story is true, you wouldn't be interested in xeroxing Shaggai, would you?)

[Mike D. Mason]: Issue 47 of Crypt was one of the best I've received for awhile. "The Pool" was interesting, even apart from the actual story. The introduction was almost like an original Lovecraft story; a scholar receives an age-old yellowed manuscript... Seriously, the revision was well-written and contained a good deal of atmosphere. The climax built up to a (if not unexpected) satisfying climax.

Lin Carter's "Behind the Mask" succeeded in creating a pleasing story and it was enlightening to hear about the "hobbies" of the Miskatonic library staff!

"Soul Proprietor" by Robert Bloch proved to be probably the best story in the issue (although I did like "The Fantasy and Mystery Bookshop" by Peter H. Cannon). Bloch's style is obvious and the "twists" at the end are always vivid, mostly darkly humourous and most of the time unexpected.

Robert E. Howard's "The Mark of a Bloody Hand" made a nice change from the usual Mythos stories you print. Howard's work holds the reader and are always enjoyable.

Having just read Fred Chappell's Dagon, I am in agreement with the letters in Crypt #48. It appears that Chappell uses the Mythos element to visualise his own need for an actual "centre" to the plot—a basis on which to build "his" story of a man's growing insanity. Without the Mythos element we have a man's thoughts and images conveyed through his madness. With the Mythos the plot is based better, and provides a depth and indeed a reason for the man's madness. I liked Phinas Kornegay's comment on the story being like Videodrome; it does have a sense of "what's going on now?" in it.

Issue 48

Cover art of the issue #48

Crypt of Cthulhu #48 was published in June 1987. It had 56 pages.

The issue had no theme.

Contents

• Cover Art by Otto Bumberger [illustration] (front cover)
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• New Fiction Policy by Robert M. Price [essay] (2)
• The Man Who Edited Lovecraft by Will Murray [essay] (3–5)
• Special Report: Lovecraft Graveside Memorial by M. Eileen McNamara [essay] (5, 31)
• Who Killed St. John? by Peter F. Jeffery (Petal Jeffery) [essay] (6–8)
• Crypt-O-Cthulhu-Gram by Carol Price [puzzle] (8)
• The Origin of Lovecraft’s “Black Magic” Quote by David E. Schultz [essay] (9–13)
• The Unbegotten is Unforgotten by Don Herron [essay] (14, 55)
• Dreams of the Black Lotus by Lin Carter [fiction] (15–18)
• Vastarien by Thomas Ligotti [fiction] (19–27)
• From the Vaults of Yoh-Vombis by Lin Carter [essay] (28–31)
• Crypt-O-Cthulhu-Gram Solution by Carol Price [puzzle] (31)
• Stigma by David E. Schultz [poetry] (33)
• Advice to the Lovecraft-lorn: Letters to Libidia by Libidia (Robert M. Price) [fiction] (33)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (34–41, 51–55)
  • H.P. Lovecraft: Commonplace Book (Necronomicon Press, March 1987) by H. P. Lovecraft; edited by David E. Schultz; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (34–36)
  • Lovecraft Studies 14 edited by S. T. Joshi; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (34–36)
  • Fat Face (The Axolotl Press, 1987) by Michael Shea; reviewed by Robert M. Price (36)
  • Darkscapes: Synthesized Symphonic Nightmares (Hell’s Kitchen Productions) by Peter H. Gilmore; reviewed by Allen P. Thornton (36–37)
  • HPL Audiocassettes reviewed by Robert M. Price (37)
  • Ship of Dreams (Weirdbook Press, 1986) by Brian Lumley; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (37–39)
  • Necroscope (Grafton, 1986) by Brian Lumley; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (37–39)
  • In Memoriam: Howard Phillips Lovecraft; Ethel M. Phillips Morrish (The Moshassuck Press) by Ken Faig, Jr.; reviewed by Robert M. Price (39)
  • The Borders Just Beyond (Donald M. Grant, 1986) by Joseph Payne Brennan; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (39)
  • The Chronology Out of Time: Dates in the Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft (Necronomicon Press) by Peter Cannon; reviewed by Robert M. Price (39–40)
  • Medusa (Footsteps Press, 1987) by Ramsey Campbell; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (40)
  • Tom O’Bedlam’s Night Out and Other Strange Excursions (Weirdbook) by Darrell Schweitzer; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (40–41)
  • Night Visions III (Dark Harvest, 1986) edited by George R. R. Martin; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (41)
  • Cthulhu (Baen Books) by Robert E. Howard; reviewed by Charles Hoffman (41, 51–53)
  • H.P. Lovecraft’s Re-Animator (Pocket Books) by Jeff Rovin; reviewed by Charles Hoffman (53–55)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (42–51)
  • Letter by Sandy Robertson (42)
  • Letter by Sean Branney (42)
  • Letter by Peter H. Gilmore (42)
  • Letter by James Rockhill (42–43)
  • Letter by Mike D. Mason (43)
  • Letter by Carl Aschmann (44)
  • Letter by Chris Beekman (44)
  • Letter by Mark Rainey (44)
  • Letter by Dan Gobbett (44–45)
  • Letter by Darrell Schweitzer (45)
  • Letter by Kenneth W. Faig, Jr. (45–46)
  • Letter by Peter H. Cannon (46)
  • Letter by Larry Baker (46–47)
  • Letter by Bob Weinberg (47)
  • Letter by Richard L. Tierney (47)
  • Letter by Phinas Kornegay (Robert M. Price) (47–48)
  • Letter by Charles Garofalo (48)
  • Letter by S. T. Joshi (48–49)
  • Letter by Michael Lotus (49)
  • Letter by Robert Bloch (50)
  • Letter by Karl Edward Wagner (50)
  • Letter by Stefan Dziemianowicz (50–51)
  • Letter by Ramsey Campbell (51)
  • Letter by Hugh B. Cave (51)
  • Letter by Morgan Holmes (51)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Reactions and Reviews

[Thomas R. Hall III]: No. 48 of Crypt was another excellent issue. I especially enjoyed the Thomas Ligotti story. Let's see some more of his work in the future.

[Joseph Curwen]: I fear that you and your equally illustrious readers have been the victim of an hoax: to wit, the purported passage from the Necronomicon presented by a certain Mr. Carter in the 48th number of your amusing journal. My reasons for recognizing the Falseness of it are these: Primus, that the writer seems to think that one achieves an "archaic" effect by using the wrong word, "bestride" when "astride" is meant, "didst" in the first person, etc. Both Dr. Dee and Alhazred (who was a poet of repute before he turned to the Elder Mysteries) were better, not to mention more grammatical writers than that. Secundus, that when the Yemenite (c. 750 A.D.) partakes of the Black Lotus and views the panorama of the Past, he sees the Third Crusade (late 12th century A.D.), over four centuries in his future. Surely that must have impressed you as curious, Mr. Editor, to say the least? And tertius that no such passage occurs in my use-proven and time-honored copy of the Necronomicon. The careful scholar must reject the whole narrative of the Black Lotus out of hand, not merely because of (obvious) apocryphal elements, but because there merely seems to be no reason to accept it.

[Wilum Pugmire]: In his "Notes" on ye translation of Dee's Necronomicon, Carter writes how members of ye Lovecraft Circle "...obviously had access to a copy of Dee's Necronomicon..." How can this be so? I always understood that one copy of this translation existed, and was given to Wilbur Whateley by his grandfather. If so, how could those other gents have access to it? If it never was translated, how did Lin Carter get ahold of it? Did he steal it from ye Whateley Farmhouse? Did Wilbur have it with him at ye scene of his death, and did someone get it then and, by means unknown. Carter discovered this and obtained it? I want some answers.

"Vastarien," literally, is a haunting tale. Ligotti is superb. His prose is beautiful, and his imagination unique. When I read something this wonderful, I want to think and work with all my might to, hopefully, produce a tale half as good.

I was amazed at Charles Hoffman's suggestion that "The House in the Oaks" should have been included in Baen Books' Cthulhu; but then I thought that perhaps a Derleth pastiche in a Howard book called Cthulhu wouldn't be so unsuitable. Such nonsense!

The issue reads very well, and I enjoyed ye diversity. I was thrilled to see yet another article on "The Hound," one of my favorite HPL tales. I also enjoyed the large number of letters published this time.

[Kevin A. Ross]: One of the more heartening pieces in Crypt #48 was Eileen McNamara's article on the Lovecraft graveside memorial. I was pleased to see that HPL's beloved hometown recognized his passing on the 50th anniversary of his death. I was quite skeptical at first of Peter Jeffery's exhumation of "The Hound," as I had always thought it a pretty straightforward tale—the hound, the skeleton, and the bats were three independent entities. The hound killed St. John and returned the amulet to the skeleton, accompanied throughout by the bats. On rereading the tale though, it seems likely that the hound and the skeleton are somehow very closely related. Hmm... Schultz's expose on the probable origin of the infamous "black magic quote" was enlightening, to say the least. I think Don Herron (and/or Dick Tierney) may have been reaching just a bit with the "Ubbo-Sathla is us" business. (Of course, we "are" Ubbo-Sathla, but the initials are just a coincidence.) And I think I've figured out why the Necronomicon is such a fearsome tome (James Rockhili take note): if Lin Carter's "translations" are any indication, the Necronomicon is filled with utterly abominable, horrible, ghastly fiction. In the end-notes Carter has the gall to claim that this passage inspired stories by Lovecraft, Howard, Smith, etc. Not bloody likely. And here we go again with this abhorrent genealogical garbage—"the Gugs serve the Nameless Mist, son of Googolplex, late of the planet Ysxgythl, in the dimension ..." Aaaaargh! Reading Thomas Ligotti's fine "Vastarien" after the Carter tale was a jarring experience. His is indeed a unique talent, though the tale itself brought to mind echoes of Chambers, Lovecraft, and Campbell. Very good.

[Charles Garofalo]: So far, of what I've read of Crypt #48, my favorite piece has been Ligotti's "Vastarien." It was very like a darker version of Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, with a less sympathetic protagonist than Randolph Carter. Like the Sunset City, Vastarien is obviously a world he created which yet somehow existed outside of his mind, a reflection of his memories of life (notably claustrophobic and self-centered) just as Carter's Sunset City was a development of his childhood memories. Hard to say whether the incident in the bookstore was what really happened or just Kerion's latest version of why he killed the dream-eater. A very good, spooky tale, easily a candidate for The Best of Crypt of Cthulhu if such a book is ever published.

Lin Carter's "Dreams of the Black Lotus," on the other hand, was merely a good, craftsmanlike story. Interesting concept, but I think Conan would disagree with Alhazred over where black lotuses really grow, and what they thrive on... swamp mud and the greenhouses of certain semideserted cities seem to do just as well as the slime of the proto-shoggoths. Carter's nostalgic evocation of The Wind in the Willows in his "Vaults of Yoh-Vombis" column was easily superior, as was his bit on fictional kings and his compilation of Lilliputian words and phrases (who'd want to go to Lilliput, however? It's interesting to read about, but I certainly wouldn't want to visit an island full of nasty, sneaky, three inch tall runts).

A close second to "Vastarien" was Peter F. Jeffery's "Who Killed St. John?" Exactly what the monster in "The Hound" was was always a bit hazy; Jeffery at least explores every possibility, and does it in a very entertaining way.

Don Herron's "The Unbegotten is Unforgotten" was also a piece which really deserved publication. One of Derleth's more unpalatable additions to the Mythos was his including the real origin of the Old Ones. Herron at least disproves Derleth's frankly disappointing theory.

[Darwin Chismar]: I always take pleasure in reading Crypt of Cthulhu, but the inclusion of a new Ligotti story considerably intensified my enjoyment of #48. Since reading Ligotti's "The Chymist" in Nictalops 16, I have admired his command of mood and atmosphere. Ligotti also appeared in two subsequent numbers of Harry Morris' magazine. Unfortunately, there have been no new issues of Nyctalops in the past three or four years, and I wondered where (if at all) Ligotti would resurface. Last year Silver Scarab's Songs of a Dead Dreamer. This year... Thanks, Bob. Only Lovecraft, Hodgson and M. R. James affect me as Ligotti does (perhaps, he's been sipping from the "six and three-quarter quarts" R. Alain Everts mentions in his recent monograph).

[Stefan Dziemianowicz]: My favorite out of Crypt #48 was Thomas Ligotti's "Vastarien." That's the first thing of his I've read, and it lived up to all the praise you and Ramsey Campbell have heaped on him. Dave Schultz was admirably meticulous in "The Origin of Lovecraft's 'Black Magic' Quote." I would like to think that Derleth didn't accept Farnese's word as gospel out of malice, but that he was so happy to find something that supported his idea of what the "Cthulhu Mythos" was all about that he didn't even think to question it. But dammit, you don't set up the interpretive foundation of another author's works on hearsay! He should have checked his facts. In his book The Anxiety of Influence, Harold Bloom theorizes that poets and authors distance themselves from their mentors by unconsciously misreading them. Articles like Schultz's, and Dave Herron's "The Unbegotten is Unforgotten" make it seem like Derleth had enough anxiety of influence for two men.

[Michael J. Lotus]: I'm interested to note your new fiction orientation for Crypt. A somewhat risky step but I'm sure you can manage it properly. The Thomas Ligotti piece is a great "kickoff" item: Lovecraftian in a broad sense. I think HPL would have had high praise for Ligotti.

Also, I like Lin Carter's "Yoh-Vombis" column. Please continue it.

[James Rockhill]: Mr. Murray's article, "The Man Who Edited Lovecraft" (in #48) filled me with frustration. How interesting and delightful it would be to read Lovecraft's comments and tirades against those who had adulterated his texts. How much may we have learned directly from Lovecraft's own hand about his concern for structural and atmospheric integrity? How explicit would he have been concerning textual variants? Alas, we will probably never know in this case beyond what he had written to other correspondents. This brief article in #48 made me wish again that you would devote more issues to the letters.

[Jeff Newman]: It looks like David Schultz has scored a remarkable coup by definitely identifying the exact passage, in Harold Farnese's April 11 letter to Derleth, that inspired the apocryphal "Black Magic" quote (Crypt #48). Evidently building on William Fulwiler's ground-breaking research in Crypt #46 (which was, in turn, inspired by the pioneering work of Richard L. Tierney and Dirk Mosig), Schultz finally located a passage by Farnese that is virtually identical to the infamous Quote That Never Was. I believe this will come to be regarded as one of the outstanding moments in Lovecraft scholarship, a signal contribution made possible by the communal efforts of four dedicated and resourceful critics. There's a genuine excitement, almost like the Thrill of the Chase, in following the course of this persevering literary detective work.

[Jessica Amanda Salmonson]: Lin Garter has written you some excellent stuff. I liked especially "Behind the Mask" and the effectively decadent "Dreams of the Black Lotus." The best single story in any issue is Ligotti's "Vastarien" which in fact exceeds in merit anything I've seen in any other magazine except something else by Ligotti.

[Abner Mozingo]: I found myself rather mystified reading Donald Burleson's deconstructionist treatment of "The Outsider" in Crypt of Cthulhu #48. (Articles like this might be more appropriate in Lovecraft Studies.) But I think Burleson did manage to get me looking at Lovecraft's symbolism with a new eye. For instance, isn't it beautifully symptomatic of HPL's dizzying dislocation of reality that the character receives perceptions through the wrong senses? The Outsider beholds a reflection in a glass, but it is finally by touching t he mirror, not seeing that he recognizes his own image!

[Richard L. Tierney]: Clad to read, in #48, that the mystery of HPL's "witchcraft" quote is finally cleared up.

Issue 49

Cover art of the issue #49

Crypt of Cthulhu #49 was published in August 1987. It had 68 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Lovecraft’s literary influences".

Contents

• Cover Art by Lance Brown [illustration] (front cover
• Editorial Shards by Robert M. Price [editorial] (2)
• Thematic Links in Arthur Gordon Pym, At the Mountains of Madness, and Moby Dick by Marc A. Cerasini [essay] (3–20)
  • Interior Art by Gavin O’Keefe [illustration] (10)
• Interior Art by L. L. McAdams [illustration] (20)
• Call Me Wizard Whateley: Echoes of Moby Dick in “The Dunwich Horror” by Peter H. Cannon [essay] (21–23)
  • Interior Art by Allen Koszowski [illustration] (22)
• More and More Dunwich Horrors [notice] (23)
• The Blind Idiot God: Miltonic Echoes in the Cthulhu Mythos by Thomas Quale [essay] (24–28)
• The Migration of Birds by Frank Belknap Long [essay] (28, 47)
• Postcard to Charles D. Hornig by H. P. Lovecraft (29)
• Commentary by S. T. Joshi [essay] (29–30)
• “The Pool”: Recommendations for Revision—Synopsis by H. P. Lovecraft (31–40)
• Aporia and Paradox in “The Outsider by Donald R. Burleson, Ph. D. [essay] (41–43)
  • Interior Art by Gavin O’Keefe [illustration] (42)
• At the Home of Poe by Frank Belknap Long [essay] (43)
• Edgar and Helen: An Imaginary Romance by Brett Rutherford [poetry] (46–47)
• From the Vaults of Yoh-Vombis by Lin Carter [essay] (48–50)
• The Keeper at the Crypt by Carl T. Ford [essay] (51–52)
• Advice to the Lovecraft-lorn by Libidia Gillman (Robert M. Price) [fiction] (54)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (56–58)
  • Through Time and Space with Lefty Feep (Creatures at Large) by Robert Bloch; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (56–57)
  • Midnight Pleasures (Doubleday) by Robert Bloch; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (56–57)
  • Bates Motel (NBC TV-movie) written and directed by Richard Rothstein; reviewed by Robert M. Price (57–58)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (59–68, 54)
  • Letter by John Pelan (59)
  • Letter by Shawn Ramsey (59)
  • Letter by James Rockhill (59)
  • Letter by Robert N. Bloch (59–60)
  • Letter by Scott Briggs (60)
  • Letter by Henry J. Vester III (60)
  • Letter by L. Sprague de Camp (60)
  • Letter by David E. Schultz (61)
  • Letter by Phinas Kornegay (Robert M. Price) (61–62)
  • Letter by Joseph Curwen (Darrell Schweitzer) (62)
  • Letter by Shawn Small (62)
  • Letter by Wilum Pugmire (62–63)
  • Letter by Darrell Schweitzer (63)
  • Letter by Kevin A. Ross (63–64)
  • Letter by David F. Godwin (64–65)
  • Letter by Charles Garofalo (65)
  • Letter by Peter F. Jeffery (Petal Jeffery) (65–66)
  • Letter by Darwin Chismar (66)
  • Letter by Stefan Dziemianowicz (66)
  • Letter by Kalju Kirde (67)
  • Letter by Michael J. Lotus (67)
  • Letter by R. E. Briney (67–68)
  • Letter by James Rockhill (68, 54)
  • Letter by Thomas R. Hall III (54)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Letters of Comment

[Henry J. Vester III]: I believe, also, that the Mythos cannot be so qualified that anyone can say just what it "should" be or do. The Mythos, like every arena of belief or expression, is plainly open to as many interpretations as there are interpreters, and the instillation of cosmic fear at the utter inconsequence and ultimate powerlessness of the human race is only one of the many legitimate objects of a Mythos tale.

[David F. Godwin]: Personally, I would prefer to see most fiction, except possibly for such things as your special Campbell and Kuttner issues, in a title such as the Tales publication and Crypt left for nonfiction. I do enjoy much of the fiction, but, at the same time, I miss the articles when you have an all-fiction issue.

[Darwin Chismar]: As to the argument concerning "potpourri" versus "theme" issues of Crypt of Cthulhu, I prefer both. I'm not all that big on the all-fiction issues; but I did enjoy the CAS, Robert Bloch and Ramsey Campbell specials. My advice is to continue as you have been. It's seen you through forty-eight Crypts, so far, hasn't it?

Other subjects discussed: suggestions of writers to dedicate future issues to, correction of Lin Carter's review of Alberto Manguel's Black Water, Lin Carter's Adult Fantasy Series, reply to Stefan Dziemianowicz's "Innsmouth Gold Revisited", what makes a Mythos story good, queen Thomyris and Massagetai, origins of Irem, corrections of Lovecraft's texts, thoughts on the From Beyond movie, comments on the "passage from the Necronomicon" in the issue #48, the "Black Magic" quote, interpretations of The Hound, origin's of Dagon's name, Nordine's reading of "The Rats in the Walls", non-existing book by Dorothy L. Sayers.

Reactions and Reviews

[Robert Bloch]: No. 49 is a truly amazing issue—it breaks new ground in Lovecraft scholarship, and that is no mean feat in view of all that has been written about HPL's work over the past half century.

I was, needless to say, very flattered by the book reviews—and delighted by Lin Carter's reference to Morgan Robertson and his memorable story. Robertson, by the way, was a former seaman turned author and much of his work was outside the SF or fantasy genres. A prolific writer, he is virtually forgotten today.

[Richard L. Tierney]: Many thanks for Crypt #49. I especially enjoyed the Pym, Milton and Melville articles, not to mention the F. B. Long article on Poe.

[Stefan Dziemianowicz]: I found Crypt #49 to be one of the most critically satisfying I have read. I pay Marc Cerasini's efforts in "Thematic Links in Arthur Gordon Pym, At the Mountains of Madness and Moby Dick" the highest tribute I know when I say it has induced me to go back and reread my Poe. Lovecraft's notes for "The Pool" are amazing. The context he creates for a story idea that was not even his own (although it all but becomes his own by the end) points out what I think is a fundamental difference between his work and that of his followers. Stories by Derleth (especially) and others read like single ideas blown up to larger (and not always suitable) proportions. Lovecraft's, on the other hand, are condensed down. Maybe this is one reason why Lovecraft's stories have a greater impact—they have the weight of a world of thought compressed into them. Most of what he suggests to Talman would never have appeared in the story, but the unified framework he constructs would have expressed itself in the story's final effect.

<...> I don't know that I can agree entirely with Phinas Kornegay's comments on Stuart Gordon's film of "From Beyond." I do think that if Cordon had put as much thought into the film as Kornegay put into his analysis of it, we might have had a better movie. And don't pay that Curwen guy no nevermind. In spite of his knowledge, I take everything he says with a grain of salt. After all, he has a rather checkered past. Several of them, in fact.

[Wilum Pugmire]: Crypt #49 from the cool cover to the promise of "Next Time" was pregnant with marvels.

It's too bad that H. Warner Munn burned his letters to HPL when he came to the Northwest (he would shake his head sadly when telling of destroying the letters due to space limitations). On a few occasions he mentioned that he was planning a sequel to Arthur Gordon Pym, got nowhere with it, and passed it on to HPL. I suspect that Lovecraft might have had this idea on his own, but didn't pursue it, knowing that Harold was at work on it. I never asked Harold if he kept what he had attempted of his sequel, but one doubts it.

Cerasini's article was meaty and read very well. I love articles of this type, showing as they do a love of subject matter and a bubbling intellect.

Cannon and Quale both contributed ideas and insights that I appreciated and that testify to wide reading.

One thing I found interesting in the HPL postcard to Hornig is the line, "I wish I could call on Farnsworth Wright and come away with a regular job." It made me think of Grandpa's refusal to move to Chicago so as to edit Weird Tales. I wonder: if HPL accepted the editorstiip, would he have included his own fiction in Weird Tales? Does a gentleman publish his own fiction?

I quite enjoyed Burleson's essay on "The Outsider." His is an impressive mind, and 1 hope to see many such articles from him in future issues.

I loved Rutherford's exquisite "Edgar and Helen."

[Charles Carofalo]: My favorite piece in Crypt #49 was Lovecraft's recommendations on how to revise "The Pool." Marc A. Cerasini's linking of Poe, Lovecraft and Melville and Peter H. Cannon's linking Lovecraft and Melville through a different path were equally good, and downright fascinating. Carter's "From the Vaults of Yoh-Vombis" was even better than usual. I enjoyed Frank Long's two pieces (how come "Migration of Birds" was not in the table of contents? I admit it was a minor piece, half fantastic essay and half prose poem in the manner of HPL's "What the Moon Brings" or "Nyarlathotep"). Thomas Quale's "The Blind Idiot God, Miltonic Echoes in the Cthulhu Mythos" did, like Pete Cannon's, seem to buttress the idea that the "good vs. evil" theme in the Cthulhu Mythos wasn't completely a creation of Derleth. Lovecraft did seem to use the Cthulhu Mythos figures as actual evil entities with weaknesses in several stories: "The Shadow over Innsmouth" (where the Elder Sign is used), "The Call of Cthulhu," "The Dunwich Horror," "The Dreams in the Witch House" (especially this one), to a lesser degree in "The Haunter of the Dark" and several of his revisions. Burleson's article was a tad hard to work through in spots, but worth it. And of course "R'lyeh Review" has me looking for the new Bloch books. Then again that ad for Grue magazine has me looking for that as well.

[Michael J . Lotus]: Marc Cerasini's article was good—an excellent critical article; interesting, illuminating, and not too contrived.

The "Miltonic Echoes" were good but not too awfully convincing as actual sources for HPL. A much better case could be made for Miltonic echoes in Clark Ashton Smith, unquestionably—particularly the poems.

Mr. Burleson's article reminds one of a joke: What do you get when you cross Don Corleone with a deconstructionist critic? An offer you can't understand. I do like this type of article, sort of, but I can't figure out quite what they are for. (Am I alone on this?)

The short F. B. Long pieces were lovely; pleasant surprises. If more such exist, I'd like to see them.

"The Pool—Recommendations" item was amazing! Clearly, hiring HPL as a consultant/ghost writer was a buck well spent!

I'm glad to see the "Mail-Call of Cthulhu" as an interactive part of the magazine, a real forum for discussion, suggestion, and constructive criticism. Also glad to see strong positive response to "Vastarien." You certainly know what your readership wants.

That Wise and Fraser doesn't have either "The Yellow Sign" or "Yellow Wallpaper" is pretty funny. It does seem like they ought to have been in there. Maybe Mr. Carter could in a future column give us his suggested one-volume "greatest hits" lineup. Modern Library giant size, of course!

Lots of interesting and worthwhile advertisements this issue—a truer sign of approbation I don't know of—clearly Crypt is the place to see and be seen.

[Brian Lumley]: Crypt 49: The cover is very good, and a nice idea to use the limited edition portrait in this way. Letters column: as usual very interesting, and in some of the scathing remarks I even seem to hear echoes of HPL himself. Myself, I've never mastered the subtle art of being quietly insulting. If I think something smells I yell shit! This time I found exploring Yoh-Vombis vaults with Lin Carter completely enthralling. This is nice evocative stuff; not as bitty as this column has been in the past. The Cerasini article was as good as anything I've read along these lines in many a moon, as was the Peter H, Cannon piece. So all in all, a pretty good issue. Now, if only you could get hold of some decent DC (Dave Carson) illos...?

[Will Murray]: I was fascinated by Marc Cerasini's "Thematic Links in Arthur Gordon Pym, At the Mountains of Madness and Moby Dick." The stuff about the star-headed Old Ones being sea cucumbers was brilliant! In a way, it makes Lovecraft's famous "Poor Old Ones!... Radiates, vegetables, monstrosities, star spawn—whatever they were, they were men!" quote seem almost humorously ironic. The frontiers of Lovecraft scholarship continue to be pushed outward.

[Shawn Ramsey]: The postcard and following commentary by S. T. Joshi was quite nice and enjoyable, as I am both a great Lovecraft and Hornig fan—his Fantasy Fan is great to read, if you can ever get ahold of it—you can really grasp the feel of fantasy fandom in the 'thirties.

Rutherford's poem was quite good, and because of its meaning, depth and quality deserved a home in your publication. But most of all, I should compliment your cover—minus the slightly sloppy press-type and title-lettering. It would have increased the art quality greatly I think if you would've used the title done by Fabian for #19 instead. But for all the bad, the focal point well made up for any flaws.

[Peter H. Cannon]: I read with great interest Marc Cerasini's excellent "Thematic Links in Arthur Gordon Pym, At the Mountains of Madness, and Moby Dick" in Crypt #49. Not the least of Mr. Cerasini's virtues is his willingness to acknowledge previously published critical work, a scholarly courtesy that ought to be more often observed in Lovecraft studies. While his arguments have persuaded me that there are more important linking details between Pym and ATMOM than, say, certainly I suggested in my brief and superficial treatment of the subject in Crypt #32 (I was especially taken with his comments on the DyerDanforth pairing and the notion that HPL found a major source for the Oid Ones in the sea cucumbers as described in Pym), I remain skeptical that the thematic similarities are anything very significant. In the typical longer Lovecraft tale, whether it be "The Whisperer in Darkness," "The Shadow over Innsmouth," or "The Shadow out of Time," the protagonist is threatened by madness, undergoes a crisis involving a discovery of Self, experiences a sense of man's diminished place in the universe, etc. To put it another way, I suspect HPL would've expressed the same world view in ATMOM had he never read Pym. Am looking forward to picking up the big 50th number of Crypt. Hope, like Alf Landon (or Landsdowne as HPL called him), we'll all be around to enjoy the 100th!

Issue 50

Cover art of the issue #50

Crypt of Cthulhu #50 was published in September 1987. It had 52 pages.

The theme of the issue was "Ghostly Tales by Ramsey Campbell".

Contents

• Cover Art by Allen Koszowski [illustration] (front cover)
• It Came from the Past by Ramsey Campbell [essay] (2–3)
• The Haunted Manor by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (5)
• The Oak Chest by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (6–7)
• The Hollow in the Woods by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (8–10)
• Things from the Sea by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (11–12)
• The Grave in the Desert by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (13)
• Accident by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (14)
• The Friend by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (15)
• The Devil’s Cart by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (16–17)
• Tem Bashish by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (18–19)
• The Whirlpool by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (20–21)
• The Whispering Horror by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (22–23)
• Bradmoor by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (24–33)
• Hybrid by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (34–35)
• The Tower by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (36–40)
• Conversation in a Railway Carriage by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (41–42)
• The Mask by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (43–47)
• Premonition by Ramsey Campbell [fiction] (48–49)
• R’lyeh Review [review] (51, 42, 47, 12)
  • The Death of a Gentleman: The Last Days of Howard Phillips Lovecraft (The Strange Co.) by R. Alain Everts; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (51, 42, 47)
  • An Epistle to the Rt. Honble Maurice Winter Moe, Esq. (The Strange Co.) by H. P. Lovecraft; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (51, 42, 47)
  • An Epistle to Francis, Ld. Belknap (The Strange Co.) by H. P. Lovecraft; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (51, 42, 47)
  • American Gothic (TOR, 1987) by Robert Bloch; reviewed by Stefan Dziemianowicz (47, 12)
• Mail-Call of Cthulhu [letter] (52, 21, 40)
  • Letter by Mike Ashley (52)
  • Letter by Maryanne Snyder (52)
  • Letter by Bruce Walker (52)
  • Letter by Sean Branney (52)
  • Letter by Robert Bloch (52)
  • Letter by Tani Jantsang (52, 21)
  • Letter by Mike D. Mason (21, 40)
• Interior Art by Ramsey Campbell [illustration] (Throughout)
• Next Time . . . [essay] (back cover)

Letters of Comment

[Maryanne Snyder]: Wilum Pugmire lent me a box of Crypts, and I haven't slept so poorly in weeks. I especially appreciate your theme issues, such as the CAS diad and the Lost Books issues. Perhaps you could devote a volume of arcane lore and theology to the women of weird tales? Surely the gentler sex has made many a contribution to the annals of fear and loathing?

[Tani Jantsang]: At least with Deep Ones you get into espionage, mind exchange, cloning. Deep Ones are intelligent enemies. Shoggoths are dumb and brutal... like sharks. For cosmic horror beyond anything HPL wrote: read Bastienne's two stories in Cthulhu Codex 1 and 2. If the plebeian mind can fathom what Bastienne is saying, the plebeian will be numbed with horror... unfortunately most plebeians will never understand those two stories.

Other subjects discussed: Morgan Robertson, Fat Face by Michael Shea, reviews of the previous issues.

Reactions and Reviews

[T.E.D. Klein]: Thanks for the latest Crypt. Filled, as usual, with wonderful stuff, including that touching Long piece on the migrating birds. And maybe that letter-writer's suspicion that I work only by the light of the full moon will get me writing again.

[Dan Gobbett]: Crypt #50! Wow, hard to believe! 50. Congratulations are in order, and this issue shows what makes Crypt so special. What a fascinating look at the very beginnings of one who is now a major force in the horror fiction field. Thanks to you, and to Ramsey Campbell for allowing its publication. I liked the shoggoth yarn the best, though "The Devil's Cart" with its classic line about "the afore-mentioned skeleton" will long linger in my mind, as they say in the ol' pulp letter columns.

[Darrell Schweitzer]: The horror! The horror! to coin a phrase. Your 50th issue's selection of Ramsey Campbell juvenilia is truly horrifying, but probably not in the way young Master Campbell hoped at the time. This will, I suspect, be one of your most amusing unread issues ever. The very thing for completists, either for Campbell, or for Crypt of Cthulhu. (Truly, you will know I'm dead when my run of Crypt changes hands.) But I wonder, how many folks actually read the whole thing? It's fun to dip and skim. In short doses the Ghostly Tales are very funny indeed. But I didn't feel any inclination to read every bloody (in every sense) word. In fact, the prospect fills me with nameless dread ... or maybe eldritch dread. One of those dreads.

I wonder, too, if by publishing them Campbell has truly protected himself from literary necrophiles who will, long after he's dead, want to unearth little-known and rare tales by this master of the macabre. Then, he's probably too sentimental to burn a manuscript that must have meant a lot to him at one time.

I doubt I shall ever become so famous that I face this dilemma. I, too, have files dripping with hideous verbal ichor which have thus far remained unburnt. I even had to look through them recently, for a Writer's Digest article— for an example of what not to do!

[Robert Bloch]: Ghostly Tales is a real coup and a most fitting vehicle for a fiftieth issue. Thanks to Ramsey and yourself, it's a unique contribution to the genre: aside from a few HPL items, I don't recall seeing early work of those who later became professional writers, and it's interesting to see where Ramsey was coming from, a full generation ago. Muchos gracias, as they say in Liverpool.

[Allen Koszowski]: I really got a kick out of Ramsey Campbell's stories and art—great fun. I can't tell you how much I have been enjoying all your publications. I particularly enjoy your fiction issues (which doesn't mean that I'm advocating all fiction and no articles), and you are to be commended for turning up so many enjoyable yarns. I really liked the Ligotti piece of a few issues back.

[Charles Carofalo Wayne]: The Ramsey Campbell stories were interesting... they read like the sort of stories you find in a juvenile's collection of ghost and horror stories, especially if one person writes them all. Simple and obvious stories, just the sort of thing to get a kid started before he experiences the deeper, more sophisticated thrills of Lovecraft, Bierce and Poe. The illos were not so hot, however.

[Stefan Dziemianowicz]: Crypt #50 will surely become a collectors item. My favorite was the short novel "Bradmoor." The best lines, undoubtedly: "I am a private psychic investigator" (How do you know when a psychic investigator isn't private?) and "Have you ever been in a pentacle on Walpurgisnacht?" (No, but then I had a very sheltered childhood.) Ramsey Campbell deserves a free drink from everyone for having the courage to show us his juvenilia when so many other authors have burned reams of theirs out of embarrassment. And while everyone is going to get a jolly good chuckle out of how far Campbell has come, I think there are things worth noting in Ghostly Tales. For the most part these stories were concerned with the conventional bogies, vampires and werewolves all of us cut our teeth on (and us them). Not surprisingly for a ten-year-old, there's a lot of his Catholic upbringing running through them too. Campbell eventually put that behind him in his Lovecraft pastiches, but as anyone who has read novels like The Hungry Moon or Obsession knows, a very Christian sense of good and evil has reappeared in his work. One doesn't want to make too much out of this, but it would appear that Campbell's earliest influence never completely left him, and is now coming out in a more mature and original form.

[James Rockhill]: I am happy to see the Crypt continuing into the fifties and beyond without any slackening of its amoral fibre. The mixture of scholarship, offbeat humor and debate maintain a climate not dissimilar to that encountered in Lovecraft's own correspondence. The occasional mysteriously located epistles from such exalted personages as Mr. Curwen help place matters in a welcome perspective. Campbell's Ghostly Tales, immature as they were, offered more genuine entertainment than most fiction offered in the fanzines. The occasional striking image and the frequent flatness of narrative tone made a few of the tales memorable if not entirely successful. A few others, notably "The Devil's Cart" and "Bradmoor," read like high camp variations on Hammer horror films. The speech given by the old villager in "Bradmoor," sounding like an odd combination of Lovecraftian rustic dialect and the barely intelligible ejaculations of Gabby Hayes or a fifth-rate pirate, was almost as worthy of praise as "the aforementioned skeleton."