Matt Ruff’s novel, Lovecraft Country, soon adapted into an HBO series, blends horror, historical fiction, and social commentary. The quote “But stories are like people, Atticus. Loving them doesn’t make them perfect. You try to cherish their virtues and overlook their flaws. The flaws are still there, though.” sets the tone for a narrative that grapples with both the allure and the problematic aspects of its influences.
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Set in 1950s America, Lovecraft Country weaves interconnected stories around Atticus Turner, a Korean War veteran, and his family as they confront both supernatural horrors and the very real terrors of Jim Crow America. A central element is the “guide trip” that Atticus and his Uncle George embark on, searching for Atticus’s missing father, Montrose. This journey highlights the necessity of navigating a landscape fraught with racial prejudice and danger.
This is more than just a road trip; it’s a survival strategy. In Lovecraft Country, Black individuals couldn’t simply travel without a strategy for navigating racist environments. The “guide trip” references the real-life challenges faced by African Americans during this era, and the precautions they had to take to ensure their safety.
The novel’s brilliance lies in its exploration of segregation, racism, and misogyny through the lens of genre fiction. The characters aren’t merely facing monsters; they are confronting the systemic oppression that has shaped their lives. The concept of Uncle George’s “Safe Negro Travel Guide” is crucial. It’s inspired by the actual Negro Motorist Green Book, published by Victor H. Green, which provided Black travelers with information on safe havens, businesses, and routes where they would be welcomed and protected from harm. The Green Book offered guidance in a time of overt racial discrimination, ensuring safe passage for Black travelers.
Lovecraft Country masterfully blends elements of cosmic horror, science fiction, pulp adventure, and historical fiction. Characters encounter beings and scenarios that challenge their understanding of reality, but the most insidious monster remains racism. Ruff’s narrative highlights the very real horrors of racial prejudice, making them as terrifying as any supernatural entity.
“…he was still more than an arm’s length away when the sphere suddenly burst open like an orange turning inside out, dark rind splitting to reveal a wriggling white pulp. Dozens of pale tentacles shot out, wrapping around the man’s limbs, torso, neck, and head, and yanking him forward to be swallowed whole before he could cry out. By the time his companion realized something was wrong and turned around, the sphere had closed up again.”
The relationship between Atticus and his father, Montrose, adds another layer of complexity. Montrose disapproves of Atticus’s fondness for science fiction and cosmic horror, particularly the works of H.P. Lovecraft. This disapproval stems from Lovecraft’s well-documented bigotry, which casts a shadow over the genre itself. The contentious father-son relationship is a mirror of the conflict between embracing Lovecraftian horror and grappling with the racism of its creator.
Howard Phillips Lovecraft, despite his undeniable influence on horror literature, was a deeply flawed individual. His racism and xenophobia are impossible to ignore. His views on race were abhorrent, and his admiration for figures like Adolf Hitler is disturbing. Lovecraft’s racism taints his legacy, but his influence on the genre remains profound.
The question of separating the art from the artist is a complex one. Can we appreciate Lovecraft’s contributions to horror while acknowledging and condemning his hateful beliefs? Lovecraft Country tackles this issue head-on, reclaiming and reinterpreting Lovecraftian tropes through a Black perspective.
Lovecraft Country doesn’t shy away from confronting the problematic elements of Lovecraft’s work. Instead, it uses those themes to explore the horrors of racism in America, turning Lovecraft’s own prejudices on their head. This subversive approach is what makes the novel so compelling.
The upcoming HBO series promises to bring this story to a wider audience. With Misha Green as showrunner and executive producer, and a talented cast including Courtney B. Vance, Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, and Michael Kenneth Williams, the adaptation has the potential to be a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of race, horror, and American history.
The HBO series Lovecraft Country will further explore these themes, promising a compelling adaptation.
Lovecraft Country is available on HBO.
