August Derleth is a controversial figure in the world of the Cthulhu Mythos. He was the first to push for publication of Lovecraft’s work after his death, but his own writing didn’t quite live up to that of the Master. What do Great Old Ones have in common with Elemental Evil? Find out as we discuss three noteworthy stories.

 

www.nobleknight.com

 

August William Derleth

born February 24, 1909 in Sauk City, WI; died July 4, 1971

Best remembered as the first book publisher of the writings of H. P. Lovecraft; contributed to the Cthulhu Mythos; founded Arkham House in 1939 with his friend Donald Wandrei, which did much to bring supernatural fiction into print in the US that had only been readily available in the UK

1938 Guggenheim Fellow

Derleth considered his most serious work to be the Sac Prairie Saga, about life in Wisconsin as he knew it

He was a pioneering naturalist and conservationist

 

Derleth had been a correspondent and friend of Lovecraft since his teenage years

after Lovecraft’s death, Derleth founded Arkham House to publish Lovecraft’s work

first book was The Outsider and Others, 1939

Derleth invented the term “Cthulhu Mythos” (Lovecraft preferred “Yog-Sothery”)

wrote a number of stories based on fragments in which he was a “posthumous collaborator”

depicted Lovecraft’s universe as more hopeful, reflecting his Christian views

treated Old Ones as elemental forces

 

“The Return of Hastur”

first appeared in Weird Tales, March 1939

 

“Ithaqua”

first appeared in Strange Stories, February 1941

 

“Beyond the Threshold”

first appeared in Weird Tales, September 1941

 

My guest:

Louis Brenton

twitter - @revlouisbrenton

website - louisbrenton.com

 

Co-hosts:

Jeffrey Wikstrom

website - jeffwik.com

email - [email protected]

 

Geoffrey Winn

twitter - @geoffreydwinn

 

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