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Reader and Collector, v. 3, issue 6, January 1946

Page 1

BY THE WAY
OF
INTRODUCTION

by

H. C. Koenig

Two more chapters of Robert Butman's interesting essay Modern Mythological Fiction are presented in this issue. In Chapter II, on  Futuristic Fiction, Mr. Butman discusses the type of story found in Astounding and shows that the imaginary world described in these stories is very little different from the world "in which the mythologies of the past took place, in which Madam Blavatsky found her pre-adamic races, Wells his future wars, Heard his Atlantis, and Huxley his Brave New World."

The readers of H. P. Lovecraft's stories will find Mr. Butman's third chapter, on Fantastic Fiction, extremely interesting. The author points out the relationship between Lovecraft's tales and the works on  Theosophy. He calls attention to many striking points of similarity between the writings of Madam Blavatsky and those of Lovecraft. I must confess, that never having "studies" Lovecraft, the parallelisms (with one exception) were new to me. Many years ago in a conversation with Lovecraft - upon learning that his reference(?) books never existed - I commented "In other words, the Necronomicon, the Book of Eibon and Ludwig Prinn's DeVermis Mysteries are just as phoney as Madam Blavatsky's Book of Dyzan." But, that was as close as I got. And yet the book of Dyzan is listed as one of Lovecraft's inventions in the glossary appearing in the Arkham House publication "Beyond the Walls of Sleep."

It should be emphasized that Mr. Butman's essay is in no way to be interpreted as a disparagement of H. P. Lovecraft. Far from it. T
he emphasis on Blavatsky in regards to Lovecraft is made chiefly as a connecting link with the trend towards "religion" meaning in the literature the author calls "modern mythology." Also, by emphasizing Lovecraft's "unknown" connection with Blavatsky, the author trys to suggest how much influence is "unknown" in other writers.

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BY THE WAY OF INTRODUCTION by H. C. Koenig Two more chapters of Robert Butman's interesting essay Modern Mythological Fiction are presented in this issue. In Chapter II, on Futuristic Fiction, Mr. Butman discusses the type of story found in Astounding and shows that the imaginary world described in these stories is very little different from the world "in which the mythologies of the past took place, in which Madam Blavatsky found her pre-adamic races, Wells his future wars, Heard his Atlantis, and Huxley his Brave New World." The readers of H. P. Lovecraft's stories will find Mr. Butman's third chapter, on Fantastic Fiction, extremely interesting. The author points out the relationship between Lovecraft's tales and the works on Theosophy. He calls attention to many striking points of similarity between the writings of Madam Blavatsky and those of Lovecraft. I must confess, that never having "studies" Lovecraft, the parallelisms (with one exception) were new to me. Many years ago in a conversation with Lovecraft - upon learning that his reference(?) books never existed - I commented "In other words, the Necronomicon, the Book of Eibon and Ludwig Prinn's DeVermis Mysteries are just as phoney as Madam Blavatsky's Book of Dyzan." But, that was as close as I got. And yet the book of Dyzan is listed as one of Lovecraft's inventions in the glossary appearing in the Arkham House publication "Beyond the Walls of Sleep." It should be emphasized that Mr. Butman's essay is in no way to be interpreted as a disparagement of H. P. Lovecraft. Far from it. T he emphasis on Blavatsky in regards to Lovecraft is made chiefly as a connecting link with the trend towards "religion" meaning in the literature the author calls "modern mythology." Also, by emphasizing Lovecraft's "unknown" connection with Blavatsky, the author trys to suggest how much influence is "unknown" in other writers.