Episode 21 – The Outsider
No insiders here. Just… The Outsider!
Special thanks to this week’s reader, Dennis Calero, talented artist and all-around swell guy!
Next Week: The Other Gods!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
No insiders here. Just… The Outsider!
Special thanks to this week’s reader, Dennis Calero, talented artist and all-around swell guy!
Next Week: The Other Gods!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
A random aside on the story to show how Lovecraft stretches through pop culture. In the 1960s, under editor Julius Schwartz (former literary agent who sold at least one of Lovecraft’s stories) they killed off Alfred. Either by plan or because of the tv show, they decided to bring Alfred back and they brought him back as the villain The Outsider.
The origin is particularly Lovecraftian with a scientist doing studies in a cemetary at night, hearing a moan from Alfred’s crypt, and exposing Alfred to unknown radiation to restore him, only for it to go wrong and turn Alfred into a ghoulish villain.
Regarding HPL’s dense language; Lovecraft is like sex, I can hear the cries of “What the …?”. But consider, in the throes of passion sex is about the best thing there is and when “tangled” in HPL’s writing your skin will get up & walk off. However, when looked at in the cold, hard light of day both are at best ridiculous if not just disgusting.
For me, this story breaks suspension of disbelief when you realize that people aren’t characters in a first person shooter, and should be able to see their own limbs and torso without needing a mirror.