Quotulatiousness

December 18, 2015

HP Lovecraft’s model railway

Filed under: Railways — Tags: — Nicholas @ 03:00

Well, not actually his railway, but a layout built by John Ott portraying the world in which HP Lovecraft’s stories were set:

“[T]he ancient, mouldering, and subtly fearsome town… witch-cursed, legend-haunted Arkham, whose huddled, sagging gambrel roofs and crumbling Georgian balustrades brood out the centuries beside the darkly muttering Miskatonic.”
—HP Lovecraft, “The Thing on the Doorstep”

It’s a shame your layover is so short, Howard. There’s not much time to look around. Not enough time to see Miskatonic University across the river, though I’m sure you’re familiar with what ivy-covered halls look like. You’re planning on going to Brown someday yourself, aren’t you, young man? Well, at any rate— you’ll have to stick around with me downtown, close to the station, and see what you may. Arkham is an… interesting place, even though it might not be apparent to the casual traveler.

We might be known for them, but you won’t find many gambrel roofs or decaying Georgian mansions downtown. Arkham is a prosperous modern city. Well… that is… it’s a once-prosperous city that still cherishes dreams of a bright future. Let’s just leave it at that.

And… oh yes, about all that stuff you’ve heard. You know… the things they say about Arkham. Strange cults, witches’ curses, child sacrifice… odd things. Well, remember it’s the year nineteen-hundred-and-seven Anno Domini. Those kinds of things just don’t happen any more. Arkham is a normal, quiet place. Very typical for eastern Massachusetts. Really.

Arkham by John Ott

H/T to Cory Doctorow for the link.

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