CTHULHU FHCON

An anthology of SF/horror short stories, edited by Jones, based around the work of H.P. Lovecraft.

In this collection of tales by various authors, the rules are simple: Each entry is in some way related to Lovecraft’s works, and each takes place in some capacity at an SF convention. Nineteen tales are included here, featuring references to Lovecraftian creatures (such as the titular elder god Cthulhu) and fictional gatherings with names such as Slash on the Rocks. In Jennifer Brozek’s “Observations of a LARP in Three Acts,” a live action roleplaying event gets more serious than anyone anticipated. “Temp-to-Perm” by Kat Richardson begins before a convention rolls into town. A young woman named Evelyn applies for a job as a housekeeper at a hotel; she has a peculiar way of cleaning up blood—and a peculiar reason for taking the job. Frank Martin’s “Artist Alley Awakening” takes place at a very specific area of a convention: the titular “artist’s alley,” where illustrators sit at tables and offer up their talents for a fee. One cash offer winds up taking things in a direction with monstrous consequences. A few other stories present creative protagonists in unusual situations, such as M.J. Stoumbos’ “RetCon,” which features a popular graphic novelist caught in a time loop, and Frances Pauli’s “The Rats of Understory B” sees a published author in a supernatural engagement with some rats. Elizabeth Guizzetti’s “Room Party Fit for an Elder God,” as the title suggests, goes beyond the convention floor and into a room where “200 fancy cupcakes in a variety of flavors” await some very special guests. The final tale, “Shaolin Tentacles” by Peter J. Wacks, features a hotel that was “obviously” built by Lovecraftian “cultists.”

A set of tales that not only incorporates material inspired by a specific author, but also specifically takes place at conventions, may sound like a tough sell for a wide audience. However, each story here offers a unique, distinct take on the premise. The results are often playful and entertaining, and overall, the collection incorporates a great deal of humor. “The Rats of Understory B,” for example, portrays rats building a gate and bonding over their work as a “family of furry siblings desperate to see the job finished.” In “Artist Alley Awakening,” even an artist preciously hesitates to destroy what he’s created, even though artworks seem to be causing a dangerous problem: “But…it’s my best work.” Russell Nohelty’s “The Horrors of Vending” focuses on an author who’s about to attend the Cthulhu FhCon in hopes of selling some books; his wife complains of the event: “This flier doesn’t even seem like it was written by a human.” Even though a reader who’s completely unfamiliar with Lovecraft may not understand the joke, the story takes things in a curious direction that will appeal to a more general readership. Not every story completely lands, but the book as a whole moves at a lively pace; as one imaginative encounter ends, another quickly follows.

A creative, inviting mix of comedy, horror, and intricacies of SF fandom.