The illustrated At the Mountains of Madness: PEAK Lovecraft goodness

🏆 Get At the Mountains of Madness illustrated edition from Free League 🏆

The illustrated version of H.P. Lovecraft’s third and final novella was published by Free League in 2021. It features exquisite illustrations by François Baranger and comes in two large, thin folio-sized hardbacks.

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00:00 Introduction
01:38 Of Lovecraft
02:37 Of the Publication of At the Mountains of Madness
03:18 The Physical Books
04:09 At the Mountains of Madness synopsis volume I
15:27 At the Mountains of Madness synopsis volume II
28:08 Conclusion

Read the text of the story for free:

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Thanks to Free League for providing the books for this review. They had no hand in the editorial content or production of the video. All opinions are my own.

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[reginaldwalker]

It's a crime that del Toro won't be making this a movie

[WookieeRage]

Dave, I wanted to add that I appreciate your comment about cancel culture. I understand peoples' pushback regarding prejudice, bigotry, racism, etc. but I feel a the product does not necessarily taint their entire works or the consumer of it, if it is taken at face value and appreciated for what higher value it might offer. Witnessing a thing does not make you that thing unless you are trying to reinforce existing beliefs. I also believe retaining higher values is important despite external influences.

That said, you do offer an enlightened point about the change in beliefs and thinking of the creator, and the possibility those changes can offer redemptive qualities. As the saying goes, there is no right or wrong but thinking makes it so. As time passes and the opportunity for enlightened thinking occurs, we can shape our own beliefs to expand what was into something different. But to do so, we will always be served by seeing where we came from in order to make informed choices and gain wisdom from past misdeeds and mistakes.

[samchafin]

Pretty books - I think the landscapes more compelling than the creatures. The book is fun, though it does beg some questions about how the narrator gleans all this information from untranslated murals, and a lot of the text demonstrates Lovecraft's own incomplete education, reflected both in his understanding of space and psychology. Even so, very cool stuff, and would make a great horror movie.

[BimmWPBS]

While there is no air in space there is Radiation pressure emitted from stars which may allow the Mi-Go to "fly" through space albeit slowly.

[SPACEBYZER]

Madness….your super long arm in this vid….(jk great vid)

[ZarathustraMG-qooj]

Was tempted to buy these books but wasn't sure what the art would be like. From what you've shown the art is stunning. One of the things so important in Lovecraft has always been the environment. It figures as such an important background to a sense of place where Lovecraft's horrors take place. It is the door where you enter Lovecraft's nightmarish dreamscapes. Love that Francois Baranger captures so much of this with his art in these books. If it had have been the 'monsters'. Wouldn't be interested. Thank you.

[TerryLeMonde-rnby]

With today's cgi tech
It would be fairly easy I
Would think!
Probably a money thing!
It usually is!

[VVVHHHSSS]

I love that you mentioned the mi-go plot holes, I remember thinking “wings? WINGS?!” when the description of them flying minerals back to their home world is mentioned in The Whisperer in Darkness. Regardless, the descriptions of VT always impressed me, Lovecraft always elegantly describes New England, imo.

Great review as always.

[danoso]

Even if he stayed a racist bastard for all his life... I think it is important to separate the person from the art. He was racist, but he also wrote some pretty amazing horror stories, basically founding a brand new literary genre.
Most of the great people in history have had horrendous flaws, but I won't deny Newton his flowers just because he was a giant prick. We are all a product of our time.

[bonejuice]

I'm happy you gave mention to him letting go his racism, I wish more ppl who talk about him and his work would research the man, and to those who take his work and make money off of him while denouncing Lovecraft.

[gregap]

I wish someone could do a game of this story, in that setting with a gameplay similar to Shadow of The Colossus.

[mztweety]

Remember what Tracy Morgan said about Paula Deen? Thats how I feel about Lovecraft. Thats how amazing his work is. Ive loved cosmic horror all my life thanks to my mom..And he was born in 190(?) Id be weirded out if he wasnt racist, and phobic 🤷🏿‍♀️
Dont tell my ancestors, tho.

[SERGIOBOUBA]

Thanks Dave ! Great review as always ! Just wanted to say that this beautiful project originated here in France by the publishing company Bragelonne, and that François Baranger published some pretty good novels too !

[JenniferMccay-jk]

Absolutely brilliant! I have lost count how many times I have read this story! Illustrations are brilliant ! Thank you!

[NathanTarantlawriter]

There's an audio book version on spotify called Danforth and Dyer in The Mountains of Madness with the original story plus an expanded adventure in the city. It's not canon but I thought it was fun. Almost every version I see of this fabulous story contains a new and cool way of imagining this story. One of the best!

[jameswight]

Do you have like really long arms and slightly oversized hands with which you gesture slightly awkwardly!?

[vastlyblank]

The image on the last page looks like it was based on the recent images of black holes that have been captured. Talk about staring into the Abyss!

[luthermcgee]

I knew you'd say, "Robert E. Howard." Hes my favorite arthur, then Lovecraft. The rest are all that follows. But, the MI GO didnt come down to earth on wings- they filtered from pluto. Im actually reading it now. That's how i know.A great narrative though, and an even greater representation of the musical piping over a wide range- "TeKeli-li TeKeli-li !" Its the first time ever hearing it, and it fits!

[lukesmith]

Maybe the Elder thing dissected Gedney and his dog like a curious scientist

[ReustersPlace]

Fully agree with your take on Lovecraft. His change, and shift in writing without the bigotry, should be what we focus on if we must look at more than the work itself.
Never understood why we should be afraid of acknowledging our past was racist or sexist... it proves how much better we have become. Let’s just hope we stay this way.