Chaosium Inc

Library Bookwatch, May, 2005

Chaosium Inc.

895 'B' St. #423, Hayward, CA 94541

www.chaosium.com

Chaosium specializes in Lovecraft's brand of horror; so if you don't have a prior familiarity and affection for Cthulhu and Lovecraft, run out and grab up some of his stories--then turn to Chaosium for the specialized, supportive horror materials based on Lovecraft's classics. Nameless Cults: The Cthulhu Mythos Fiction Of Robert E. Howard edited by Robert M. Price (1568821301, $15.95) is a good place to begin: Howard is an authority who corresponded with Lovecraft and authored many Mythos tales. Nameless Cults gathers all his Mythos works under one cover plus more, which use Arthur Machen's folklore to round out the tales. Even fragments are included in a well-rounded collection designed to expand the range of Cthulhu horror fiction beyond Lovecraft's initial boundaries. Michael Dziesinski's Secret Of Japan: Survivng The Mythos In Present-day Japan (156-8821565, $34.95) is hot off the press and a recommended pick for enthusiasts of Lovecraft. Here the Mythos arises anew in Japan in a quasi-graphic novel which traces elements of magic, sacred items and secrets, and the rise of primordial entities who use Japan as a new base for taking over mankind. A unique modern approach provides a role-playing model for action and drama. The sixth edition of Sandy Petersen, Lynn Willis et.al.'s Call Of Cthulhu (1568821816, $34.95) is also designed for role-player gamers working with the Myths as a foundation: all that's needed to accompany this book is a pair of dice and some friends and the game is on. References, game outlines, and plots and subplots abound in the complex Call Of Cthulhu roleplaying guide.