H.P.Lovecraft’s fiction didn’t include many women. Not, I think,
out of sexism, but more because almost all of his protagonists were reflections
of himself- bookish scholars or sensitive creative men of Anglo-Saxon descent
from New England.
The few women who do appear in his works offer intriguing
story possibilities, though. There’s the lonely, bookish Lavinia Whateley from
the Dunwich Horror, body-swapping Asenath Waite of The Thing on the Doorstep,
the enigmatic gorgon-lamia Marceline from Medusa’s Coil, and more. She Walks in
Shadows explores these characters and other aspects of the Lovecraft mythos
from a female-presenting perspective.
With many anthologies, the stories can be hit or miss. Some
good tales alongside average stories. Though, admittedly, which stories are
“good”, “bad” or just “mediocre” is highly dependent on the reader’s own
tastes. With that in mind, I’m pleased
to say that I found every story in this anthology enjoyable. Each is different
in tone, subject, and style, yet each offers an intriguing facet to
Lovecraftian horror.
In many of these stories there is another strain of fear paralleling
cosmic horror. It is the Earthly fear of being controlled, undermined and
ignored by people who have more power. A fear that all too many women- cis,
trans or non-binary- can understand.
One thing that can make this anthology difficult is the fact
that it’s often necessary to have read the original stories to fully understand
what’s going on. This is especially true for stories based on more obscure
works such as “Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family”, and Lovecraft
collaborations like “Medusa’s Coil”, and “The Mound”. This can make the
anthology difficult for more casual readers of Lovecraft. It’s not a good
starting place for newcomers looking to explore the mythos writing of other
writers beyond the Old Man of Providence’s tales, but it a rewarding read for
those who have already waded deep into that dark universe.
Some of the stories that particularly stood out for me
include:
“De Deabus Minoribus
Exterioris Theomagicae” by Jilly Dreadful. Certainly the most stylistically
interesting piece. Written as a bibliographic study by a PhD candidate. The
actual story unfolds through numbered notes within the paper. Its structure is
reminiscent of the subtle “clerical” horror of an SCP Foundation entry.
“Hairwork” by Gremma Files is a sequel to Medusa’s Coil, a
story that Lovecraft ghostwrote for Zelia Bishop. The original tale had
interesting potential that was undone by its ridiculously racist ending. This
new work, however, reframes the narrative to create a powerful, interesting
twist.
“T’la-yub’s Head” by Nelly Geraldine Garcia-Rosas combines
Mesoamerican myth and history with the lost world of K’n-yan, found beneath an
earth mound in the ghost-written story, The Mound.
She Walks in Shadows is a fantastic collection of stories
exploring the female side of the mythos. You can get a copy at Innsmouth Free Press
