H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard – A Shared Universe

Horror and Fantasy Unite In the early 20th century, two famous authors and friends – H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard -- decided to join their fictional universes or “mythos” together.

H.P. Lovecraft wrote mainly horror stories set in the 1920s / 30s (his time). Robert E. Howard wrote mainly fantasy stories (specifically, the genre sword and sorcery), set in an ancient pre-historic time and place on Earth referred to as the Hyborean Age.

What they shared. When the two authors combined their mythos, Robert E. Howard’s mythos takes on the same Earth as H.P. Lovecraft’s weird 20s/30s Earth – just thousands of years apart. Similar gods, creatures, and concepts were used between them. Such concepts include ancient, powerful, otherworldly gods, oftentimes wielding magic and powers over the mind. Cults surrounding said beings, often involving rituals, magic, and human sacrifice.

H. P. Lovecraft’s Mythos Lovecraft’s writings focus on early 20th century America. Most characters wind up in trouble with beings and forces that are ancient, vast, powerful, and beyond all human imagining. They might be from the ancient past, outer space, other dimensions, deep beneath the earth, the bottom of the ocean, or some combination thereof.

The “Cthulhu Mythos” includes the following: Yog Sothoth

The “Cthulhu Mythos” includes the following: Hastur (Borrowed from King in Yellow) Dagon

H. P. Lovecraft’s Influence The “Illithid” or “Mindflayers” from Dungeons & Dragons Many modern horror, scifi, and fantasy stories owe inspiration to Lovecraft. Lovecraft’s use of otherworldly evils beyond imagination, the feeling of helplessness, half- human half-fish cults, tentacle creatures with psychic powers, etc., continue to this day.

Robert E. Howard’s Mythos Howard’s focus was more on fantasy. It is set in a fictional age thousands of years ago, after the age of dinosaurs but before any known human history, called the Hyborean age. This age exists when earth is still in a very Pangea-like form (one continent). There are many different peoples, barbarian tribes, cults, sorcerers, ancient beings, monsters, etc.

Conan the Barbarian (Main Character) Movie Conan

Other Conan Stuff Thulsa Doom (Film Villain) Elephant-Like Alien Being (Books)

Other Conan Stuff Snake Cults Other Weird Creatures

Lovecraft and Howard’s Influence Robert E. Howard’s Influence Much of modern fantasy (especially the sub-genre sword and sorcery) owes influence to Howard. Big, burly warriors, often barbarians, slinging swords and going on adventures, often times with an assorted party of adventurers, magical items, etc., continue to this day in novels, films, video games, and table-top games like dungeons & dragons.

Next Week (and Thereafter) Week 9 – Conan the Barbarian (Film) Helps connect Units II and III, just as Lovecraft and Howard’s works were connected. Unit III – Fantasy (Conan, “Tower of the Elephant,” and Wizard of Oz)