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In "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," he writes of a race of creatures that are a cross between fish, frogs and man. The story inspired a Metallica song, "The Thing That Should Not Be." Lovecraft's writing is detailed and dense. "You're not going to pick up a Lovecraft novel and just breeze through it," acknowledges Lovecraft fan Anthony Teth, who is helping to organize the conference. He weaves in historical and architectural references throughout his stories, many of which are set in his beloved hometown or other spots he visited in New England, such as Salem, Mass., (Arkham) and Newburyport, Mass. (Innsmouth). In Providence, most of the buildings he wrote about are still standing, said Niels Hobbs, 43, a marine biologist who among those organizing the conference. "When you walk the streets of Providence, especially College Hill, his old neighborhood, you can see Lovecraft's Providence. It's simply everywhere," he said. Even so, many Providence residents have no idea of Lovecraft's connection with the city and his importance in literature. There are no Lovecraft museums or prominent markers in the city. His fans hope to change that with this week's conference, which will include walking tours of Lovecraft's old haunts, the unveiling of a new Lovecraft bust at one of his favorite old haunts, the Providence Athenaeum, and panel discussions on Lovecraft's work, even the negative aspects. He was steeped in the past and suspicious of change, and like some of his contemporaries was racist and anti-immigrant, themes reflected in his stories including "The Shadow Over Innsmouth." In recent years, appreciation for Lovecraft has grown worldwide. There have been film festivals on the West Coast of Lovecraft-themed movies and conferences in places such as Arizona and Vermont, and people come from all over the world to visit his grave. Joshi said the market for horror has always been smaller than for other genres such as science fiction and detective fiction. Critics in the past have also dismissed horror, thinking it was all blood and guts, failing to recognize the stories are symbols for concerns about humanity's place in the universe. But he believes that is changing. "I think we're finally getting to the era where horror fiction can be looked at more than just something to scare you," he said.
[Associated
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