# Cthulu? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 7, 2003, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020 "2003-04-07T07:55:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/21 "2003-04-07T22:48:05Z")
Dr. Paprika: In his book on the Cthulhu Mythos, Lin Carter presents evidence that Lovecraft harbored prejudice against immigrants in New York City, including Jews and Eastern Europeans. However, that bias didn’t stop HPL from being good friends with the Jewish poet Samuel Loveman and marrying Sonia Greenberg, a Ukranian Jew. Carter also quotes August Derleth as saying that Lovecraft’s prejudice against immigrants was not racial in nature; rather he associated them with the destruction of beloved old buildings (according to Carter and L. Sprague de Camp, Lovecraft was an enthusiastic antiquarian). According to quotes I’ve read, Lovecraft spouted nonsense about being an Aryan (apparently he was under the influence of good ol’ Robert E. Howard), but I think Carter or de Camp wrote that he was beginning to become more liberal and was moving toward supporting New Deal politics in the years before his death. CzechMaster401k: Go to a library or bookstore and find some Lovecraft materials. Look up these stories: “The Hound,” “The Nameless City,” “The Festival,” “The Call of Cthulhu,” “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward,” The Colour out of Space," “The Dunwich Horror,” “The Whisperer in Darkness,” “At the Mountains of Madness,” “The Shadow Over Innsmouth,” “Dreams in the Witch-House,” “The Thing on the Doorstep,” “The Haunter of the Dark,” and “The Shadow out of Time” (if you have any serious interest in science fiction, I highly recommend this tale). Do this and you will know more about Cthulhu than is safe to know. I typed those titles purely from memory. I am such a geek. GO PODS!!! ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/22 "2003-04-07T22:50:34Z")
Dex wrote [Straight Dope Staff Report: Was H.P. Lovecraft’s “Necromicon” for real?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mnecromicon.html) Since this is about books, I’ll move this thread to Cafe Society. bibliophage moderator GQ ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/23 "2003-04-07T23:17:00Z")
Dang, wish I would have checked the boards earlier today. Anyways, i normally use the Kuh -thoo-loo pronouncitation, speaking from the back of my throat. Everyone else here pretty much covered everything about Cthulhu. ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/24 "2003-04-08T00:07:09Z")
I was told it was pronounced “thoo-loo”, with the C silent. ---
**Author:** ![Daoloth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@Daoloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daoloth)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/25 "2003-04-08T00:10:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Super Gnat \* > \*\*I was told it was pronounced “thoo-loo”, with the C silent. \*\* [Here](http://www.hplovecraft.com/creation/bestiary.htm#cthulhu) is some info for all of those interested. Personally, I stick with Kuh-thoo-loo. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/26 "2003-04-08T00:37:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Peyote Coyote \* > GO PODS!!! [Go Pods!](http://www.pegasuspublishing.com/cart/img/248128_zoom.jpg) I’m also fond of [Miskatonic U Culinary School](http://www.pegasuspublishing.com/cart/img/248129_zoom.jpg) [Pegasus Publishing](http://www.pegasuspublishing.com/cart/lovecraft--cthulhu_merchandise.html) gets far too much of my money. I even have a plush Christmas Cthulhu. FTR, I pronounce it roughly as K’t’hoo-loo. I blame Lovecraft for my overuse of apostrophes. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/27 "2003-04-08T00:49:58Z")
A well-known lady fantasy writer once told me she thought Lovecraft’s conception of Cthulhu was based on his abhorrance of seafood. She also said that if Cthulhu came slithering up to her on the beach, her first thought would be to saute Him up in a little butter and garlic and serve Him with lemon wedges. ---
**Author:** ![raisinbread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@raisinbread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raisinbread)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/28 "2003-04-08T01:46:13Z")
Saying that H.P. Lovecraft was a “bit of a Nazi” is a bit unfair considering in his age it was common practice to use many terms that are now considered offensive by modern people. It was more ignorance than active hate on par with the aforementioned political party. Why not say Lovecraft was a member of the KKK simply because he had a black cat who was given an unfortunate, in the modern mindset, name by the old man of Providence. Also the plush Cthulhu sold by Pagan Publishing is superior to the one produced by Pegasus Publishing. You can get it in paisley or plaid too. Lastly I highly suggest that people avoid the works of August Derleth especially the post-mortem collaborations. Mr. Derleth, not **[color=“black”]Derleth**, changed Lovecraft’s Yog-Sothothery into something about a war in heaven between the Great Old Ones (boo, hiss) and the Elders (yay) and how the Great Old Ones were banished to earth. The concept behind Lovecraft’s fiction is that the universe is an uncaring universe. Should the earth be destroyed it’s not because the universe hates us but because the universe sneezed. Humans are beneath the notice of the Great Old Ones who are simply elevated to the status of gods due to their power and at best we’re an infestation of ants to be removed from the summer cottage before they move back in for holiday. This is where the furnaces of Nug and Yeb come into play but I digress.[/color] ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/29 "2003-04-08T02:10:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Daoloth \* > \*\*The ‘C’ is hard. Most renderings are “Kuh-thoo-loo.” \*\* Funny, I always pronounce it “kthul-hu” Why insert another syllable? Afater all, we don’ut inaserat ekasatara syllabalels in betaween all conasonanatas, in all other worads, do we? ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/30 "2003-04-08T02:16:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by raisinbread \* > You can get it in paisley or plaid too. Now _that_ is a Horror! I like my Christmas Cthulhu just the way he is–cute, cuddly, and destined to suck out the brains of all the good little boys and girls. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/31 "2003-04-08T03:10:15Z")
And for fans of “Fiddler on the Roof” and Cthulu cultists, [A Shoggoth on the Roof](http://www.cthulhulives.org/Musical/cdinfo.html) is a must buy. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/32 "2003-04-08T04:39:14Z")
Here are some more niftly Lovecraft and Cthulhu related links. [Random H. P. Lovecraft Story Generator](http://www.darkicon.com/Library/randsent.htm) is pretty funny, [www.shoggoth.net](http://www.shoggoth.net) has lot lof stuff relating to the Call of Cthulhu Roleplaying game, and [Tales of the Plush Cthulhu](http://www.logicalcreativity.com/jon/plush/01.html) is something everyone should watch. ---
**Author:** ![Spiratu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@Spiratu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiratu)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/33 "2003-04-08T04:39:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dogface \* > \*\*Funny, I always pronounce it “kthul-hu” Why insert another syllable? Afater all, we don’ut inaserat ekasatara syllabalels in betaween all conasonanatas, in all other worads, do we? \*\* No, but it is common to insert either u’s or schwas in between consonants that are hard to pronounce. Most English speakers can’t say “kthul” without it coming out as “kuthul”. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/34 "2003-04-08T07:11:38Z")
HPL sketched Cthulhu himself. The good site seems to have disappeared, but there’s another copy way at the bottom of this page: [http://www.geocities.com/metallicmessiah/meanings\_rtl.html](http://www.geocities.com/metallicmessiah/meanings_rtl.html) ---
**Author:** ![Short\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Short\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Short_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/35 "2003-04-08T07:32:19Z")
I started reading Lovecraft stories about a year ago, and I’ve been a big (well… moderately big) fan ever since. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Raisinbread_ > > **Saying that H.P. Lovecraft was a “bit of a Nazi” is a bit unfair considering in his age it was common practice to use many terms that are now considered offensive by modern people. It was more ignorance than active hate on par with the aforementioned political party.** True, but I’ve always read that Lovecraft was particularly racist, even for his time, and generally misanthropic. His letters (which I haven’t read, and don’t intend to, since there are thousands upon thousands of them) certainly seem to indicate that. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/36 "2003-04-09T16:39:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spiratu \* > \*\*No, but it is common to insert either u’s or schwas in between consonants that are hard to pronounce. Most English speakers can’t say “kthul” without it coming out as “kuthul”. \*\* So you are saying that mosut Enugulish supeakerus have to inuserut suchuwas in betuween conusonanutus? What makes “k” anud “th” harud to puronounuce? Inudeed, I hear Enugulish supeakerus puronounucinug “k” anud “th” every day. Inudeed, it is no more “harud” to puronounuce than woulud be “k” followed by “s”, as in the worud “ax”. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/37 "2003-04-09T17:34:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjk \* > \*\*HPL sketched Cthulhu himself. The good site seems to have disappeared, but there’s another copy way at the bottom of this page: > > [http://www.geocities.com/metallicmessiah/meanings\_rtl.html](http://www.geocities.com/metallicmessiah/meanings_rtl.html) \*\* Looks like me in the morning. _waves his tentacles around_ ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/38 "2003-04-09T17:48:21Z")
## quote: Originally posted by rjk HPL sketched Cthulhu himself. The good site seems to have disappeared, but there’s another copy way at the bottom of this page: ## [http://www.geocities.com/metallicme...anings\_rtl.html](http://www.geocities.com/metallicme...anings_rtl.html) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GMRyujin \* > \*\*Looks like me in the morning. _waves his tentacles around_ \*\* It’s you! \*\*GMRyujin \*\*! You’re the one in all those hentai pictures! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/39 "2003-04-09T18:07:00Z")
This is the HPL site I like to visit sometimes. [http://www.gizmology.net/lovecraft/](http://www.gizmology.net/lovecraft/) I’m not sure if this site offers anything the other sites linked to in this thread do or not. FWIW, I’ve been told that all of HPL’s stories are now in the public domain. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020/40 "2003-04-09T18:27:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*It’s you! > > \*\*GMRyujin \*\*! You’re the one in all those hentai pictures! 😃 \*\* Oh, shoot, was it the wings or tentacles that gave it away? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulu/167020.md?page=3)