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‘Political Correctness’ Won’t Ruin H.P. Lovecraft’s Legacy
The Atlantic ^ | 11/12/2015 | LENIKA CRUZ

Posted on 11/12/2015 12:37:31 PM PST by Borges

Removing the author’s image from the World Fantasy Award trophy signals that the genre is able to be inclusive to writers of color.

At the very first World Fantasy Convention in 1975, the theme was “The Lovecraft Circle.” The guest of honor, toastmaster, chairman, and judges were esteemed members of the speculative-fiction community who all also happened to be white men. Judging by appearances, not much has changed on this front, but a decision announced at this year’s convention on Sunday suggests a shift is under way. Starting next year, the World Fantasy Award trophy will no longer be modeled after the massively influential horror-fiction writer H.P. Lovecraft.

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
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1 posted on 11/12/2015 12:37:31 PM PST by Borges
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To: Borges

This again...


2 posted on 11/12/2015 12:37:53 PM PST by Borges
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To: Borges

Lovecraft was one of the greatest writers in the history of fantastic fiction. He was also a bigot— and that’s not just judging him by the PC standards of today. During the brief time he lived in New York, his friends would report how he would become enraged at having to sit in the same subway car as a black or a Jew. That doesn’t stop me from reading and enjoying his fiction, but it is a fact.


3 posted on 11/12/2015 12:47:59 PM PST by Lurking Libertarian (Non sub homine, sed sub Deo et lege)
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To: Lurking Libertarian

Nobody is denying it. This award isn’t about his social views but his influence as a writer. Strangely enough Lovecraft was married to a Jewish woman.


4 posted on 11/12/2015 12:51:33 PM PST by Borges
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To: Borges

C’thulhu is not pleased ...


5 posted on 11/12/2015 12:54:06 PM PST by NorthMountain ("The time has come", the Walrus said, "to talk of many things")
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To: Borges
The guest of honor, toastmaster, chairman, and judges were esteemed members of the speculative-fiction community who all also happened to be white men.

How Horrible!!!!

How Atrocious!!!!

There must be a proper selection of black, brown, sodomite, and female writers ... even if Sturgeon's Law is extremely optimistic regarding the quality of their writing.

6 posted on 11/12/2015 12:56:38 PM PST by NorthMountain ("The time has come", the Walrus said, "to talk of many things")
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To: Lurking Libertarian

The cat in “Rats in the Walls.” What was his name again?


7 posted on 11/12/2015 12:58:06 PM PST by D_Idaho ("For we wrestle not against flesh and blood...")
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To: D_Idaho

N***er Man


8 posted on 11/12/2015 1:00:52 PM PST by Borges
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To: NorthMountain

If you remove all the “White” authors of the genres, what have you got left? I never once picked up (or put down)a book because of of the skin color of the author. If there is a niggardly number of authors of color, perhaps it is themselves they should look to!


9 posted on 11/12/2015 1:05:03 PM PST by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: Borges
Strangely enough Lovecraft was married to a Jewish woman.

Yes, albeit very briefly. But nutty people aren't always very consistent.

10 posted on 11/12/2015 1:06:48 PM PST by Lurking Libertarian (Non sub homine, sed sub Deo et lege)
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To: Mastador1

When an author feels compelled to tell you about his skin color, genitalia, or what he likes to do with his genitalia, it’s probably because his writing is no good.


11 posted on 11/12/2015 1:07:48 PM PST by NorthMountain ("The time has come", the Walrus said, "to talk of many things")
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To: Borges

12 posted on 11/12/2015 1:08:13 PM PST by freedomson (Tagline comment removed by moderator)
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To: D_Idaho
“Rats in the Walls.”

Still one of the scariest short stories ever written.

13 posted on 11/12/2015 1:09:03 PM PST by Lurking Libertarian (Non sub homine, sed sub Deo et lege)
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To: Borges

Looks like fans might need to rise up and take back control of this award like they did the Hugos.


14 posted on 11/12/2015 1:37:41 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: Borges

I am Providence


15 posted on 11/12/2015 2:07:18 PM PST by Sparky1776
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To: Mastador1

” If there is a niggardly number of authors of color, perhaps it is themselves they should look to!”

I remember the ‘Niggardly’ blow-up. Some people are so ignorant they can’t pick up a dictionary or even spell the word.


16 posted on 11/12/2015 2:36:13 PM PST by dljordan (WhoVoltaire: "To find out who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.")
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To: Borges

It will raise the collectible value of the pre-non-visaged awards.


17 posted on 11/12/2015 2:37:02 PM PST by Terry L Smith
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To: dljordan
I remember the ‘Niggardly’ blow-up. Some people are so ignorant they can’t pick up a dictionary or even spell the word.

Precisely why I chose it :^{ )

18 posted on 11/12/2015 2:40:35 PM PST by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: Borges

I'll treasure it always.

19 posted on 11/12/2015 2:49:47 PM PST by dr_lew
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To: Borges

His THE RATS IN THE WALLS is one of my favorite stories! Probably why they hate him because of what he named the
cat.

Wonder what they think of the adventure stories THE LOST GOD and Other Stories by John Russell that were printed in Magazines back in the 1910s and 1920s.

And I bet they absolutely HATE the name of the dog in THE DAM BUSTERS.


20 posted on 11/12/2015 2:58:36 PM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar
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