Sometimes
I believe that this less material life is our truer life, and that our vain
presence on the terraqueous globe is itself the secondary or merely virtual
phenomenon.
H.
P. Lovecraft
As I
wander across Second Life, I never to cease to wonder at the themes that people
come together around and form communities about inworld. I’ve encountered fashion, writers, steampunk, nudity,
and BDSM
among others while traversing the Grid.
One group
that has always had my attention is the "HP Lovecraft Roleplay (and more)
Group of Second Life" (HPL-RPG) dedicated to the works of one of my
favorite authors, H.
P. Lovecraft.
(Admit it, is anyone really surprised?)
He is one of the great writers of horror, fantasy, and science fiction
in the twentieth century. Sadly, Lovecraft
was relatively unknown for his writings until after his death.
Without
Lovecraft there would be neither Cthulhu nor
Miskatonic
University in Arkham, Massachusetts. (Where I wanted to attend college until
someone cruelly told me that it was only fictional. Mother could have handled that better!)
Fortunately
for diehard fans such as myself, (Significant Other states that it would be
simpler to just list what I’m not a fan of.) HPL-RPG exists inworld and they
keep the traditions alive virtually.
My good friend, Arik Metzger
(AKA arikthered) is the founder and coordinator of the group. We met several years ago and have stayed in
touch since. My peripatetic lifestyle
inworld as well as Real Life (RL) commitments have prevented from staying close
to Arik and the group. However this
year, the stars aligned (and Arik stayed on me) and I’m able to blog about and
will visit the festival!
One of
their traditions is the annual Lovecraft Festival held about the time of the
Master’s birthday, August 20th.
This year the festival will run from August 19th to 25th.
The main event site will
feature a tribute to the marvelous Lovecraft tale "At
the Mountains of Madness." Visitors will be able to “gear up and board
ship for a journey to the remote continent of Antarctica, and explore the
mysteries of the icy lands, Lovecraft-style... an adventure that should prove
to be a truly thrilling and chilling experience!” OK, I’m on board! (Significant Other’s eyes roll and a comment
about being relieved that I only go walkabout virtually is made.)
Other activities and events
are being organized for sim visitors to enjoy without leaving the vendor and activities
areasl. Currently planned are the
concerts of Nightwish, Apocalyptica and Cradle of Filth, courtesy of Bad
Ampitude and Arik Metzger. Also in the works are several stage shows, a
scavenger hunt, and other projects.
Arik was
kind enough to invite me over to stroll the Festival grounds prior to its
opening. Never being one to turn down an
invitation, maybe I’m not timely but I eventually show up, I dropped by
recently to see what’s planned.
Arik and
his team have managed to capture that gritty view of Depression Era America
that influenced Lovecraft’s writing. There
is a touch of whimsy thrown in with the horror. Walking around, I feel like
I’ve just stepped out of Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks and
taken a stroll down the street.
Switching
from the run down times of RL to the fantastic and horrible of Lovecraft’s
writing can be a little unsettling. This
sim is not for the faint of heart or those who are easily influenced. (I’m ignoring Significant Other’s query about
why am I there then.)
As Arik
has promised there are rides, vendors, and a Lovecraft trivia hunt. (That one ride promising to be a recreation
of a trip to Antarctica from one of Lovecraft’s stories has got my attention. I’m definitely coming back to try out that
one!) The buildings themselves are worth
coming but to see. The attention to
detail is admirable. The occasional
corpse lying about does make me wonder what the site prep was like though.
From the
soundstages being erected the concerts should be loud and big!
The
Lovecraft Festival 2014 looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun. Most importantly, it’ll bring together many
fans of the Master to celebrate his brief life and his works which will be
remembered for a long time.
I strongly
recommend all who either are Lovecraft fans or who just love a good time to
drop by and visit the Festival. Maybe
you’ll see me there!
HPL-RPG’s fine charity of
choice, Autism National Committee
(AutCom) will again be the recipient of their fund raising efforts from this
event. Another fine example of SL helping out with RL causes. Please be generous if you can!
BTW, if you’ve never read
Lovecraft before now would be a great time to start!
I’ve included pictures from my visit to the
Festival grounds but I encourage everyone to go and see these wonderful places
for yourselves. I’m about as good
inworld with a camera as I am in RL so checking for yourself is highly
recommended. (Significant Other nods
violently in agreement.)
I’d like
to thank Arik for his help and patience in preparing this story. Without his efforts, and those of countless
others inworld, these events and activities couldn’t take place.
As always,
I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk
with a stranger who was passing through their lives.
I welcome feedback from
readers, please either comment on my blog or
e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com
.
If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.
If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.
Photo No. 22 H. P. Lovecraft Trivia Hunt Starting Point
3 comments:
Thank you much for your preview of the festival, my friend :-)
Arik,
My pleasure and thanks for your help and hospitality!
See you there!
TC
web
Arik,
My pleasure!
Thanks for your help and hospitality!
See you there!
TC
web
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