Awaiting Strange Gods: Weird and Lovecraftian Fictions

Awaiting Strange Gods: Weird and Lovecraftian Fictions is a collection of twenty-three dark fantasy and horror stories by Darrell Schweitzer, published in 2015 by Fedogan & Bremer. The book features an introduction by S. T. Joshi, a prominent Lovecraftian scholar. The stories span from 1994 to 2015, originally appearing in various speculative fiction magazines and anthologies including Weird Tales, Interzone, and Black Wings. Two of the works are collaborative pieces, while the remainder are solo efforts that explore supernatural and cosmic horror themes. The collection draws inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft's mythos while establishing its own distinct identity through Schweitzer's interpretation of weird fiction. The stories examine human encounters with the unknown, ancient mysteries, and forces beyond mortal comprehension. The narratives in this volume connect themes of cosmic horror with deeper questions about humanity's place in a vast and potentially hostile universe. The collection showcases Schweitzer's ability to merge traditional weird fiction elements with contemporary storytelling approaches.

Readers note this collection contains Lovecraftian themes while establishing its own voice. Many reviewers mention the strong opening story "The Runners Beyond the Wall" and the memorable "Girl in the Attic." Readers liked: - Fresh takes on cosmic horror without direct pastiche - Historical settings and period details - Complex characters facing psychological deterioration - Academic and literary tone Readers disliked: - Some stories move slowly with dense prose - A few tales feel incomplete or unresolved - Uneven pacing in longer pieces Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (21 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (8 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Intellectual horror that rewards careful reading" - Goodreads review "More subtle than most Lovecraftian fiction" - Amazon review "A few stories drag but the best ones are worth it" - LibraryThing review Many reviewers recommend it for fans of literary weird fiction rather than those seeking pure horror.

Songs of a Dead Dreamer by Thomas Ligotti A collection of philosophical cosmic horror tales that explores themes of existential dread and unreality through the lens of puppet masters, corporate entities, and dreamlike urban decay.

The Imago Sequence by Laird Barron These stories blend cosmic horror with noir elements to create narratives about investigators and outsiders who encounter ancient horrors in the Pacific Northwest.

Teatro Grottesco by Thomas Ligotti The stories in this collection focus on art, industry, and urban spaces as vessels for cosmic horror and metaphysical darkness.

The Beautiful Thing That Awaits Us All by Laird Barron This collection meshes cosmic horror with folk horror through stories of rural communities, hunters, and isolated characters who encounter primordial forces.

The Wide Carnivorous Sky and Other Monstrous Geographies by John Langan These stories reimagine classic horror tropes through a cosmic horror lens while maintaining connections to academia and literary tradition.

🦑 Darrell Schweitzer served as the editor of Weird Tales magazine from 1987 to 2007, making him one of the longest-serving editors of this influential horror publication. 🌟 S.T. Joshi, who wrote the introduction, is considered the world's leading authority on H.P. Lovecraft and has written over 200 books, including the definitive Lovecraft biography. 🗿 The term "cosmic horror," central to this collection, was pioneered by Lovecraft to describe fear based not on traditional monsters but on humanity's insignificance in an incomprehensibly vast universe. 📚 Before becoming a renowned horror writer, Schweitzer began his career writing satirical pieces for science fiction fanzines in the early 1970s. 🏆 Many stories in this collection first appeared in prestigious venues like The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and Interzone, both considered among speculative fiction's "Big Three" magazines.