References

Lovecraft, Howard P. . "At the Mountains of Madness". At the Mountains of Madness: The Definitive Edition. New York, NY: The Modern Library.  (2005) [1936]

H. P. Lovecraft. Author. Howard Phillips "H. P." Lovecraft

29 April 2011 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._P._Lovecraft>

Thing vs Madness

John Carpenter's "The Thing" is a sci-fi horror film loosely based on H.P Lovecraft's story "At the Mountains of Madness".  John Carpenter's movie is also based in Antarctica and involve an alien, but the comparison stops there.  The researchers in "The Thing" are never truly identified by specialty, are from the early eighties, and do not uncover an ancient civilization described in an obscure religious text.  The main horror John Carpenter creates is based on the aliens ability to absorb and become any living thing.  Where as the aliens in "At the Mountains of Madness" are from an ancient race that afflicted mankind with awareness not absorbing their flesh. Both involve slowing going mad with horror, but the cause and time is completely different.

I actually recommend both the book and the movie, but the book definitely will leave you with a longer lasting chill.

Antarctica 1931

It is the early 20th century and mankind still is unaware of the treasures hidden deep with the ice and mountains of Antarctica.  Science is just beginning to understand the atom and how all life is interconnected in this world.  this pursuit leads a team of scientists to the most inhospitable place on earth.  A great sea of white that appears to be without end welcomes them to an almost certain end.  The great crags of stone and ice can only be passed with an aircraft.  Everyone is covered with furs, carrying drilling and scientific equipment, and a team of dogs treads their path ahead warily.

Past this immovable ice lies the true prize.  A great menagerie of stone carved to insurmountable proportions with designs and carvings that have no human imagination behind them.  The 'Great Depression' is the least of their worries now.  It is an air of death, terror, and a sublime awe that will consume them...be glad you are living in the year 2011.

Five Points of Insanity

The author of "At the Mountains of Madness" constantly describes the Elder Ones  as beings with plant and animal like features.  Almost all of the specimens unearthed have heads and feet with five points in a star pattern. Stars throughout human history have always been signs to follow and proof of the gods watching over us.  The author however uses this imagery to create an unknowable and ancient life form that may bring about the end of mankind.  The stars are not signalling favor from the gods, but certain doom.

The ancient civilization that the main scientists Pabodie, Danforth, Lake, Atwood and William Dyer find contain many pyramids and cylinders of 'Cyclopean' scale.  Pyramids are often associated with civilization, sacred knowledge, and God amongst us i.e dollar bill, pyramids of Giza, etc.  These scientists have discovered an ominous and ancient power that they cannot fathom or stay sane to comprehend.

What is Man compared to a God?

Throughout the narrative of "At the Mountains of Madness" the biological specimens and artifacts found by the scientists are constantly referred to descriptions found in a book called Necronomicon.  The narrator claims that this text explains the aliens as Elder Ones and made man with self-awareness and free will as a cosmic joke.  Mankind is a plaything of greater and more terrifying forces found throughout the universe.  The main theme I believe the author is trying to portray is that no matter how advanced mankind becomes there are things about our world that are more ancient and powerful then anything we have perceived before.  Humanity is literally a child walking among giants.

Who is H.P Lovecraft?

Born in Providence, Rhode Island on 20 August 1890.  Lovecraft was sickly most of the time and was schooled at home for most of his early life.  His parents died under mysterious circumstances due to a prognosis of insanity. When he was 16, he wrote the astronomy column in the Providence Tribune. Between 1908 and 1923, he wrote short stories for Weird Tales magazine. He died in Providence, in poverty, on March 15, 1937. His most famous novel is considered to be "At the Mountains of Madness," about an expedition to the South Pole, which discovers strange creatures beneath a mountain.  He is universally considered by most modern day horror novelists to be the father of modern horror stories.


Even though H.P Lovecraft's stories often were themed around Ancient God's or Aliens afflicted the human race he was a self proclaimed atheist.  Despite this belief many churches including the Temple of Set and the Church of Satan are based loosely on lore now known as "Cthulu Mythos" found within Lovecraft's stories.

"At the Mountains of Madness"

    The subject for my blog is the short novel "At the Mountains of Madness" by H.P Lovecraft.  I am choosing this story because it is my first story I read written by H.P Lovecraft and I love his horror stories.  This story in particular takes place in Antarctica and involves a team of scientists from the Miskatonic University in Rhode Island.  The scientists uncover an ancient alien horror hidden beneath the ice and few survive the encounter.  It is also the basis of a great horror movie called "The Thing" by John Carpenter.  Later on in my posts I plan on comparing the movie with Lovecraft's story.  Read on into my posts if you dare...