One of the highlights of the Indianapolis BOUCHERCON was the panel on Edgar Allan Poe. Mike Connelly, Sue Grafton, Peter Lovesey, John Lutz, and Sara Paretsky delighted the SRO audience with their insights on Poe. And, immediately after hearing their incisive commentary, I wanted to reread some Poe. I think it was Sara Paretsky who mentioned the special aspects of Poe’s only novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. I reread it and rediscovered the haunting story that influenced H. P. Lovecraft’s “Call of Cthulhu.” If you haven’t read The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket be prepared to be creeped out. Poe throws in horror, madness, and high adventure to create his own special blend of weird fiction. What better way is there to celebrate Poe’s 200th Birthday than to read one of his forgotten works.
Poe was the master, Bierce the great student, Lovecraft never up to the model. But HPL helped inspire Bloch and Leiber (and Ramsey Campbell and Fred Chappell, and TED Klein and Thomas Ligotti, and Arkham House and HELLBOY, so much is forgiven).
You’re right about Poe being the master, Todd. All those great writers on the BOUCHERCON Poe panel paid homage to Poe’s influences on their writing.
Though it’d be hard to agree that nearly anything Poe wrote, till you get to the hoaxes and other journalism, is Truly Forgotten.
Poe’s output was uneven because of alcoholism and illness, Todd. It’s hard to imagine writing anything while enduring some of Poe’s miseries.
This one is new to me. So maybe not forgotten as much as missed.
Poe’s short stories steal the show, Patti. But THE NARRATIVE OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM OF NANTUCKET, although problematic, conveys much of Poe’s intense power.
I know of this, but have not read it. I liked – still like – his short stories, but I’m not sure I could take Poe in long form.
Todd – I’m curious, has Mike Magnola ever credited Lovecraft was an influence?
FYI, there are two current day and recent day posts of Poe artwork – illustrations by Dulac and comic book titles, at http://goldenagecomicbookstories.blogspot.com/
Richard, Mignola is explicit in his credit to Robert Bloch and both Bloch’s Lovecraftian and more mature work.
Sadly, George, he wasn’t the only great writer both afflicted by and with a career cut short by such problems, self-inflicted and otherwise. Alcoholism is, after all, the Writer’s Disease.
Sad, but true, Todd. Poe’s afflictions led him to an early grave.
Todd – very interesting. In my reply to your comment on my blog I noted I’d missed the Bloch influence.