Flying Squid Terrify Divers

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

More here. (via RaindancerAU)

One-man Poe Play 'Nevermore' Opening

Jeffrey Combs and Stuart Gordon, along with writer Dennis Paoli, have turned Edgar Allen Poe's life into a stage play. According to Gordon:

...people are going to be uncomfortable with it. When Nevermore starts off, audiences might be expecting a show like Hal Holbrook doing Mark Twain Tonight. And then that expectation goes haywire.

Nevermore: An Evening With Edgar Allen Poe runs from July 10 to August 2 at the Steve Allen Theater.

New Comic: The Strange High House in the Mist

Jason Thompson, the talented chap behind the pictures-and-words versions of The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath and Clark Ashton Smith's Hyperborea, has now turned his hand to Lovecraft's The Strange High House in the Mist. Check it out here.

Via Paul of Cthulhu.

Lovecraft via The Movies

Thanks to Grim Reviews and Denis Klotz, I'm on a Mythos machinima mission. So far, I'm only really turning up a few shorts made with Lionhead's The Movies, which is interesting for a couple of reasons. First, I would have thought Lovecraft would be a fertile ground for short fantasy films, and second, I always rated The Movies as mostly terrible either as a game or machinima tool.

Still, there's some fun to be had. Here's a selection:

The Hound

The Terrible Old Man

Dagon

The Shadow Over Innsmouth

The Thing on the Doorstep

The Music of Erich Zann

Lovecraft and Houdini

There are a few things interesting about that image on the right. First, it's part of a handwritten dissertation on astrology that was written by Lovecraft. Second, it has Houdini's signature on it. Third, the entire set of papers just got auctioned off on eBay for US$5,355.00.

More on Houdini, Lovecraft, and astrology here.

Link (via Paul of Cthulhu).

Reaching out across time and space

Seems that NASA spotted a space hand. They want us to believe a star exploded, resulting in an expanding gas cloud that just resembles a hand. Good one, NASA. You almost had me.

Keeping Cthulhu close

Madelyn Smoak's steampunked Cthulhu chain is:

...another transmogrification of the little Etsy Octo into the less cuddly Cthulhu! In this version the wings are represented by the "flaming" brass leaves he is riveted to. Above his head there is a safety pinion from an antique, but non-functioning pocket watch. There is a beautiful pattern engraved on the safety pinion along with the words "17 jewels". Hanging from the tentacles are fishing gear connectors. The cthulhu has received a rosy patina with golden highlights. His wingspan is about 5 1/2" and the whole centerpiece measures almost 4" from the top of the safety pinion to the bottom of the gear dangle. A 14" vintage gold tone chain supports the cthulhu.

It is also rather good. Check out the MadArt profile on Etsy for more of Madelyn's work.

Huge: Lovecraft, Ron Howard, Terrifying

It's difficult to articulate how I feel about this, so I'll just give you the facts. The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft is being made into a movie. Ron Howard will be involved. There is a possibility that the good name of Lovecraft will be tarnished. There is also a possibility that it will not be. A betting man would not put money on the latter.

Link.

Should the Necronomicon be taught in school?

I say yes. So does Charles West, member of the Arkham school board.

"The controversial school board member reportedly interrupted a heated discussion about adding fresh fruit to school lunches in order to bring his motion to the table. With the aid of a flip chart, West laid out his six-point plan for increased madness, which included field trips to the medieval metaphysics department at Miskatonic University, instruction in the incantations of Yog-Sothoth, and a walkathon sponsored by local businesses to raise money for the freshman basketball program."

Atlantis Definitely Not Found

Google denies this image has anything to do with Atlantis. That's because Atlantis is a myth. 

But there are other underwater cities. Oh yes.

Link. Or get the latest version of Google Earth and punch in these co-ordinates: 31 15'15.53N, 24 15'30.53W. Or just check it out on Google Maps.

Outrageous: No Lovecraft in Guardian's top 1000 novels

I have a lot of questions as to why Lovecraft and co. were overlooked by the Guardian in its top 1000 piece. Was it because Lovecraft didn't write novels? Well, he did write novellas (At the Mountain of Madness) and the list does include other novellas.

And what about Robert E Howard? We have Edgar Rice Burroughs on the list (and deservedly so), but not the man who created Conan? Granted, Howard didn't write anything approaching a novel, but the Conan chronicles -- widely available in single volume editions -- should surely qualify. And what about Lord Dunsany? He may seem obscure, but good old Dunsany, so often overlooked in the past, should be on any respectable SF list.

If I'm right, and I'm quite sure I am, then the only conclusion I can draw from these oversights is that this list just isn't respectable.

Shame, Guardian. May your noisome soul twist eternally in the Great One's bowels.

Mysterious Stonehenge Found in Lake Michigan

First, we had those pyramids in Wisconsin's Rock Lake, now there's a 'Stonehenge' beneath the surface of Lake Michigan. All we have now are some speculative sonar scans, so I'll reserve judgment until we send scuba divers down there and they return to the surface with their minds erased and speaking the language of the Deep.

Link to BLDGBLOG (via @houseinrlyeh).