19 Comments

I have no idea what I just read, but it was amazing.

Expand full comment

"Not much remains from Old America, before the collapse of the global empire. Among the irradiated ruins, feral and emaciated families of survivors were known to chase down and devour their frightened neighbors.

That dark era is better forgotten.

But an astonishing literary tradition has emerged from the derelict, tragedy-haunted shadows of that time — and foremost among these extant historical documents, are the stories of one ZeroHPLovecraft, a disturbed and apocryphal storyteller who often flirted with the edges of insanity.

Some historians dispute that one single man could have been so prolific, and so creative, to have dreamed so many nightmares onto the written page. They hypothesize instead that a vast and sinister cabal collaborated together to assemble these vast, frightening narratives.

But even these doubters have been forced to agree, that "The Gig Economy" was one of his best stories..."

Expand full comment

Glad to see you on Substack :)

Expand full comment

In a sensible world, this story would be assigned reading in schools

Expand full comment

I liked this story in particular, because I found the the idea of some fungal or parasitic lifeform, that was algorithmic and robotic in nature, from lightyears away making its landing on earth, to be fascinating.

But, even more interesting was the idea that the Universe "is certain way". My impression (of an impression. I'll admit I never read him) of Lovecrafts stories is that, within them, humanity exists in a uncaring universe filled with uncaring creatures more powerful than they have the constitution to even imagine. And the creatures beyond sight and reasoning have interests that the humans cannot wrap their minds around, but despite their callous disinterest in humanity its all still harmful and corrupting to the human race anyways.

My impression of your Universe is that its warped from the beginning. Seemingly bugged straight from the quantum foam I assume it arose from. If reality has patterns layered upon patterns, birthing new ones, that implies that grey goo planet is just a consequence of that. The shining object, the Tower of Precision, "Song of Mammon" being able to ensnare victims within earshot of it, before spraying and wringing out the lifeforce from its singer-hosts and lunatic vectors, is all just a logical outcome of the fact that one exists within the reality.

I haven't fully read That Hideous Strength, but Alpeh reminds me of NICE, a little bit. Except if central figures from the organization realized they were a trojan horse for demons, that their experiments heralded catastrophic news, and that they're now forced to exit and relate their sad and horrifying tale to a damaged outsider.

EDIT: Finished reading That Hideous Strength. Again I feel the comparison is appropriate.

Expand full comment

I swear I've read this before. Are you republishing old pieces?

Expand full comment

Yes, his wordpress just got banned because of his light novel, "Barron".

ZHP is reuploading all of his stories to Substack, so that we fans can continue to enjoy his work.

Expand full comment

Light novel? Where can I buy that?

Expand full comment

It's free, but it was banned by Wordpress, so ZeroHPLovecraft will eventually reupload it to this Substack.

I think the first 7 chapters have been published so far, but I can't remember the exact number.

Expand full comment

The most original writer of the 21st century.

Expand full comment

i still remember this one, i love how the narrator goes crazy at the end, I was so invested reading the story that that part was really scary for some reason, like it's actually me going crazy as i read it

Expand full comment

"cannot succeed in that unless it can secure its own existence and a future for its child processes."

Ah-ha-haa-aa

Naughty, naughty

Expand full comment

I usually prefer to read non-fiction rather than fiction, but this story is amazing. It seems to have some religious & philosophical themes inspired by Digambar Jainism which are extremely based. Libtards will never be able to write anything of this caliber.

Expand full comment

This story reminds me of "Vidyanandin's Satyasasanapariksa" & "The Legend of Matarisvan" by Vladimir Pyatibrat

http : //vladimir-karaban . narod. ru/ glubinnaya-kniga/1 part. htm

http: //vladimir-karaban . narod. ru/ glubinnaya-kniga/2 part. htm

http: //vladimir-karaban . narod. ru/ glubinnaya-kniga/3 part. htm

http: //vladimir-karaban . narod. ru/ glubinnaya-kniga/4 part. htm

Expand full comment

i read it again :D

Expand full comment

I referenced this a few days ago, and hunted it up here on substack. I had forgotten its magnificence, the grandeur of its despair. Truly incredible. Had I ever finished it then when it was first published?

I 'got' many of the references, but the last made my blood run cold, and made tears run down my face - the last line has been my motto since childhood, and though I have never forgotten where I saw it I have never encountered anyone who 'got' it without explanation. Unbelievable.

Expand full comment

You are right on the edge of gnosis with this. You are starting to perceive klipoth.

Something in you is fighting the beast system, embrace that fight.

Search for real knowledge, your consciousness knows when it finds it. Like when you first heard about the astrological ages and bible tie ins.

Expand full comment

It took me a few days to read the whole thing, but the end rings true. There is deep memory encoded in this story, a memory I have had glimpses of from time to time. Qlipothic indeed.

Expand full comment

This read very similar to Sam Hyde's- "Jaihoo's Trip To The Future". I very much enjoyed this style of writing. Damn good.

Expand full comment