Enter the Octopus

A Lovecraft Retrospective: Artists Inspired by H. P. Lovecraft, published by Centipede Press

Something happened today. Something big. I came home to find – this – lurking at the threshold of my home: a copy of “A Lovecraft Retrospective: Artists Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft.” It’s a massive, deluxe-sized monster of a tome, truly “cyclopean” – if I might borrow a favored phrase from Providence, Rhode Island’s prophet of the damned – in proportions, measuring in at 12″ x 15.5.” Featuring 400 pages of stellar, sanity-blasting images culled from the work of decades of artists toiling under the influence of Cthulhu, this book is just – well – godlike.

I cannot imagine the painstaking work that this gorgeously dark book represents. It’s obvious that publisher Centipede Press left no stone unturned in their quest to assemble the finest collection of Lovecraftian art ever to haunt the bookshelves of this world. This is something special, people. Something that you do not want to pass by.

The book features full-color, beautifully reproduced plates from artists like John Couthart, H. R. Giger, Gahan Wilson, Lee Brown Coye, Virgil Finlay, J. K. Potter and many, many more. These images are mind-boggling in their diversity, and my mind was reeling from the visual overload after just flipping through a few pages. Then I discovered the essays, the introduction by Harlan Wilson, afterword by Thomas Ligotti and before I knew it I was just completely sucked in…literally devoured by this book.

The attention to detail is just marvelous. It’s such a well put together book, and the little touches will just amaze you. From the gold ribbon bookmark to the embossed black-on-black tentacles printed on the cloth cover, this is a book that serious book collectors will appreciate, and fans of Lovecraft and dark art will consider a necessity.

The book is pricey, but you pay for quality, and I guarantee you that you’ll never seen another book like this again. If you don’t get it now, you will regret it. Trust me.

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June 25, 2008 - Posted by Matt Staggs | Beautiful strangeness, Book Reviews | , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

11 Comments »

  1. ENVY!

    Comment by Ennis Drake | June 26, 2008 | Reply

  2. Me likey. Me no able to afford, but me wants it. We wants it, precious, we do.

    Comment by Steve Buchheit | June 27, 2008 | Reply

  3. [...] a loud scream Tentacles and Cosmic SF – Ann and Jeff VanderMeer on the art of Lovecraft. – More of the book – No, I don’t know what’s become of Pickman, and I don’t like to guess. Read More…. @ [...]

    Pingback by ..and when Pickman suddenly unveiled a huge canvas on the side away from the light I could not for my life keep back a loud scream | June 28, 2008 | Reply

  4. [...]   Subscribe Tentacles and Cosmic SF – Ann and Jeff VanderMeer on the art of Lovecraft. – More of the book – No, I don’t know what’s become of Pickman, and I don’t like to guess. posted by Artw (11 [...]

    Pingback by ..and when Pickman suddenly unveiled a huge canvas on the side away from the light I could not for my life keep back a loud scream | MetaFilter | June 28, 2008 | Reply

  5. I just broke down and ordered this from Amazon, after it got discounted a bit more down to around 255, with the shipping included. This is incredibly extravagant on my part, but Lovecraft is a patron saint of mine, and to be able to get this much artwork from out-of-print stuff (and I’m really hoping that the covers from the Arkham editions are in here: not the cheesy covers from the latest incarnation, but the kick-ass ones, including Cthulhu outside the temple, which haunted me in younger years), and to know that just the sheer work that goes into collecting together all this stuff means it will almost certainly never be reprinted, makes it seem like a worthwhile investment. I’m already seeing used copies on Abebooks going for more than list, which looks like a strong indication that this one is gonna be a real keeper.

    Comment by steve davis | July 18, 2008 | Reply

  6. [...] Enter the Octopus to see the pretty pictures. [...]

    Pingback by Lost Carcosa » Artists inspired by Lovecraft | July 25, 2008 | Reply

  7. i just saw my friend’s copy and it blew me away. i actually didn’t want to see it because i knew i’d probably be forced to buy it after even a brief perusal. my fears were not disappointed…

    Venger As’Nas Satanis
    Cult of Cthulhu High Priest

    Comment by Venger Satanis | July 26, 2008 | Reply

  8. [...] Press Scratch and Dent Sale is on! 19 08 2008 If you’ve been lusting for that “Artists Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft” book from Centipede Press, but didn’t have $395 to drop on your own copy you may be in luck. The Centipede Press people [...]

    Pingback by Centipede Press Scratch and Dent Sale is on! « Enter the Octopus | August 19, 2008 | Reply

  9. [...] Artists inspired by H.P. Lovecraft ♦ Balloon of Madness ♦ The Birth of Cthulhu ♦ Catographie Lovecraftienne ♦ Cthulhu Cake ♦ Cthulhu Origami ♦ Cthulhu Rises Through The Mist ♦ From Deviant Art [...]

    Pingback by The Great Geek Manual » Link Round-Up: H.P. LoveCraft | August 22, 2008 | Reply

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  11. I want to see more, I have some lovecraft artwork at

    http://jcarnal.com/comics/macabre-illustaions-concepts/love-craft-art-lovecraft/

    Comment by carnal | July 3, 2009 | Reply


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