The Appendix N Podcast - Episode 36 - “The Return of Hastur,” “Ithaqua,” and “Beyond the Threshold” by August Derleth

August Derleth is a controversial figure in the world of the Cthulhu Mythos. He was the first to push for publication of Lovecraft’s work after his death, but his own writing didn’t quite live up to that of the Master. What do Great Old Ones have in common with Elemental Evil? Find out as we discuss three noteworthy stories.   www.nobleknight.com   August William Derleth born February 24, 1909 in Sauk City, WI; died July 4, 1971 Best remembered as the first book publisher of the writings of H. P. Lovecraft; contributed to the Cthulhu Mythos; founded Arkham House in 1939 with his friend Donald Wandrei, which did much to bring supernatural fiction into print in the US that had only been readily available in the UK 1938 Guggenheim Fellow Derleth considered his most serious work to be the Sac Prairie Saga, about life in Wisconsin as he knew it He was a pioneering naturalist and conservationist   Derleth had been a correspondent and friend of Lovecraft since his teenage years after Lovecraft’s death, Derleth founded Arkham House to publish Lovecraft’s work first book was The Outsider and Others, 1939 Derleth invented the term “Cthulhu Mythos” (Lovecraft preferred “Yog-Sothery”) wrote a number of stories based on fragments in which he was a “posthumous collaborator” depicted Lovecraft’s universe as more hopeful, reflecting his Christian views treated Old Ones as elemental forces   “The Return of Hastur” first appeared in Weird Tales, March 1939   “Ithaqua” first appeared in Strange Stories, February 1941   “Beyond the Threshold” first appeared in Weird Tales, September 1941   My guest: Louis Brenton twitter - @revlouisbrenton website - louisbrenton.com   Co-hosts: Jeffrey Wikstrom website - jeffwik.com email - [email protected]   Geoffrey Winn twitter - @geoffreydwinn   Email us with your comments!   http://www.thetomeshow.com [email protected]  

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