Crypt of Cthulhu #68

Thomas Ligotti centered issue of Crypt of Cthulhu. Contains:The Prodigy of Dreams - by Thomas LigottiAllen and Adelaide - An Arabesque - by Thomas LigottiGhost Stories for the Dead - by Thomas LigottiStudies in Horror - by Thomas LigottiOrder of Illusion - by Thomas LigottiCharnelhouse of the Moon - by Thomas LigottiTen Steps to Thin Mountain - by Thoms LigottiSelections of Lovecraft - by Thomas LigottiThe Consolations of Horror - by Thomas LigottiEditor's Introduction:In Lin Carter's last letter to this magazine, he waxed enthusiastic about Thomas Ligotti's "Vastarien" and "The Mystics of Muelenherg." Lin in his capacities as anthologist and editor of the famous Adult Fantasy Series had a sharp eye for new talent, and one senses in Lin's praises that he saw in Ligotti a unique talent he rather wished he could have claimed the credit for discovering. What he said was, "This Ligotti chap astonishes me. Seems like he came out of nowhere just recently and is already an accomplished master, as far as I'm concerned. His subtlety of effect, control of mood and atmosphere, and sheer power of eerie suqge stiveness would have delighted Lovecraft himself, who admired that sort of thing but couldn't do it any more than can. Suggest you spin off another Cryptic sibling: Ligotti Tales, and put together everything he's pub- lished so far. He is a marvel!" Not a bad idea. Uncle Lin, not a bad idea! Thus this 68th issue of Crypt of Cthulhu collects various stray Ligotti tales not collected in the scarce Silver Scarab Press Songs of a Dead Dreamer, an expanded edition of which is to appear from The Weird Tales Library . Ligotti is all that Lin said above. Lin, by the way, saw only the Ligotti stories published in Crypt, and perhaps a couple of others. He received Songs of a Dead Dreamer in the hospital only days before he died and never had a chance to read it. But really any Ligotti tale is a microcosm of his whole ouvre . Tom Ligotti combines the traits of unbounded macabre imagination with fluence and prolificity. Everywhere one turns, at least in the small press, one sees his work. Despite occasional forays into the mass-market universe (inclusions in Salmonson [ed.| eroic Visions II and Winter led.) Prime Evil ), Ligotti is content to write for the small circle of lovers of the classical horror tradition. He will not accommodate himself to the style or subjects of modern "Dark Fantasy," nor will he compromise his artistry by working in novel length, too clumsy and blunt an instrument with which to work his intricate sorceries. And in this uncompromising attitude, this "weird for weird's sake" aesthetic integrity, Ligotti is at least as truly Lovecraftian as he is in mood and style. Most of the "Studies in Horror" are new to this collection, but all the rest of the items assembled here are taken from various now-unobtainable small press magazines. (If you want to know which ones, we suggest you consult the bibliography provided in the excellent Ligotti issue of Daqon. Most of the tales, however, have been somewhat touched up by the author for their appearance here. Robert M. Price, Editor