The H.P. Lovecraft Reading Club

[Stormbringer]

I know, it's just the whole 'applying modern science then it must have been this' hypothesis, when as he wasn't aware of all that then you surely can't apply that interpretation. But maybe that's just me.

I don't see why not.

I think you can take somebody's account from a specific period in history and say: "I'm taking this person's [albeit fictional] narrative of a series of events and applying what we now know to be true on it. This person at the time thought X, but because of what we know now, it turns out what they thought was X is actually Y."

[Sly Boots]

I know, it's just the whole 'applying modern science then it must have been this' hypothesis, when as he wasn't aware of all that then you surely can't apply that interpretation. But maybe that's just me.

I don't see why not.

I think you can take somebody's account from a specific period in history and say: "I'm taking this person's [albeit fictional] narrative of a series of events and applying what we now know to be true on it. This person at the time thought X, but because of what we know now, it turns out what they thought was X is actually Y."

Sure, if he was writing a factual account of something that happened but has fresh light thrown on it by advances in science, but seeing as it's fictional then I don't really see the value in that, sorry.

I'm trying not to come across as harsh here - I mean, it's fairly interesting I guess purely as a thought exercise, but in terms of the story he meant what he wrote, and the fact it couldn't have happened due to what was later learned about genetics can't really alter that.

[Stormbringer]

This is an interesting discussion because it makes me aware that some people really don't enjoy imaginative speculation about fictional worlds.

I remember my "friends" at school getting really annoyed with me and giving me an unbelievably hard time when we were about 14 years old, when I tried to talk about the characters in films and video games as if they were real people and tried to speculate about their lives outwith the confines of the story we were told on screen. The reactions were typically: "Doug, I don't give a SHIT about this!" or "It's not REAL, Doug! It's not REAL!"

[Sly Boots]

Personally I enjoy speculation to the point where it's about what a writer might have meant, but when it comes to stuff he couldn't possibly have known about, like this, then it loses me a bit I'm afraid, because that is unlikely to have been the author's intent. Horses for courses.

It's a bit like reading Romeo and Juliet and through comprehensive pharmaceutical knowledge identify the precise compound Juliet would have used to feign death, but seeing as that would have only been available in the Far East during that period of the Renaissance then Friar John must clearly have made a pilgrimage to the Orient at some point in his youth, where he would have discovered their techniques for... etc etc

[Stormbringer]

It's a bit like reading Romeo and Juliet and through comprehensive pharmaceutical knowledge identify the precise compound Juliet would have used to feign death, but seeing as that would have only been available in the Far East during that period of the Renaissance then Friar John must clearly have made a pilgrimage to the Orient at some point in his youth, where he would have discovered their techniques for... etc etc

Yeah, that kind of thing actually genuinely excites and interests me, so I can see we have some personality differences here. ¬_¬

[Sly Boots]

Fair enough

[Stormbringer]

Well, this is just a reminder to Sly...


...and ANYONE ELSE who might be interested...


...that this weekend's story is The Nameless City, continuing the theme of lost cities in exotic places containing stairways that lead down into unknown vaults beneath the earth.

[Snowy]

All done - exam questions please

[Sly Boots]

I too have finished it...

[Stormbringer]

Excellent.

I am hoping Gibby will join us this week...

[Gibby]

I have read it! Sorry to have missed a couple. Will type up thoughts later or tomorrow as I have to go out shortly.

[Sly Boots]

That whirlwind social life won't live itself ¬_¬

[Gibby]

It's a coincidence ¬_¬

[Stormbringer]

Sorry guys, to let you down, but I am going to be away in London for a few days. I will post my thoughts on Friday, God-willing, but you are welcome to contribute anything here in the meantime.

[Sly Boots]

If you find yourself in sunny Basingstoke, let me know and I shall stand you a beer or two at a local hostelry