• Pure Lovecraftian Horror vs. the Cthulhu Mythos

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    Four decades separates August Derleth's TALES OF THE CTHULHU MYTHOS (1969) from Ellen Datlow's LOVECRAFT UNBOUND (2009) and S. T. Joshi's BLACK WINGS (2010). Over these decades there has been much discussion concerning the nature of the Mythos (and who invented it) and the nature of pure Lovecraftian horror. As editors and authors of these so-called "sub-genres," do we see a new direction in the books being edited and the stories being written that are influenced by H. P. Lovecraft?

  • The Cosmic Horror Movement

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    Cosmic horror, that literary discipline dealing with the vast, cold universe and its manifold terrors, is a cornerstone of Lovecraftian fiction and a genre lately revived and celebrated by the proliferation of independent presses. This panel will examine and discuss the cosmic horror niche from the non-Euclidian geometry of Lovecraft’s most febrile imaginings, to the seductive extra dimensional forces of darkness introduced by Clive Barker, to the latest trends of a panoply of dark stars such as Caitlin Kiernan, John Langan, and Wilum Pugmire.

  • Horror Comics through a Local Lens

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    Dark Horse editors Scott Allie and Shawna Gore are joined by other members of Portland's thriving comics scene to discuss the history and current relationship between horror and comics, a genre and an artform that have both been pushed to new levels of creativity, while also being rediscovered by Hollywood and achieving new heights of popularity in mainstream culture. Guests: David Hahn (artist of Bite Club), Brandon Seifert (writer of Witch Doctor), Jade Dodge (publisher, Cellar Door Publishing).

  • Hypermodern Horror

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    Where we are finding, or may soon find, new discoveries and disciplines that provide new ways of evoking good old sense of cosmic awe and horror we associate with Lovecraft's finest work? How do we find new ways of staging a horror story, without giving up the timeless goal of scaring the reader? HPL kept current with scientific discoveries, and was engaged philosophically with the intellectual traditions of his day (for better or worse), and these served as springboards for his imagination. What are some of the new areas being mined, or on the horizon?

  • What Horror Editors Crave

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    Editors unlock some of their arcane secrets about why they started a magazine, how they assemble an anthology, and what horrors they seek. With Ellen Datlow, Scott Allie, James R. Beach, Victoria Blake, Scott Glancy, and Shawna Gore.

  • Whispering in the Dark: a Glimpse of Lovecraftian Filmmaking

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    The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society has spent the past year in production on a feature film adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's classic weird tale, The Whisperer in Darkness. Now, as they near completion of the film, the movie's producers join the HPLFF to talk about the project. In addition to discussing the trials and tribulations of indie filmmaking, they'll also show a never-before-seen scene from the film and will premiere a new trailer.

  • Lovecraft's Literary Life

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    This panel examines the course of Lovecraft's literary life from amateur journalist to pulp writer, discussing his (generally unsuccessful) attempts to secure book publication of his stories, and concluding with a survey of his posthumous editors, from August Derleth of Arkham House to the present day. With S. T. Joshi, Scott Connors, and Richard A. Lupoff.

  • Writing Horror Fiction

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    Writers of the horror, the horror, tell (not show!) us about their craft, influences, ritual and business experiences. With Andrew S. Fuller, Laird Barron, Cody Goodfellow, Ed Morris, William F. Nolan, and Wilum Hopfrog Pugmire.

  • Riffing on Lovecraft

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    H.P. Lovecraft has been an inspiration to writers since he created his mythos and his Elder Gods. Generations of writers have used his creations to write their own interpretations of his work--some in pastiches that stayed close to the original texts, others in wholly original works that take Lovecraft's mythos and twists it into very modern and sometimes almost unrecognizable forms. Meet some of the contemporary writers who are playing in Lovecraft's universe but making it their own. Editor Ellen Datlow hosts a round table discussion with writers Caitlin R.

  • Caitlín R. Kiernan Reading

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    Caitlín R. Kiernan will be reading from her most recent short-fiction collection, The Ammonite Violin & Others (unless she decides to read something else, which is always possible). Time permitting, questions will be taken from the audience afterwards. Caitlín's most recent novel, The Red Tree, has been nominated for both the Shirley Jackson Award and the World Fantasy Award.

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