HP Lovecraft is Providence... At least it says so on his tombstone. Sadly, his life, legacy and literature seem to inspire a much more devoted following around the world than in his own hometown. The folks behind NecronomiCon-Providence (August 22-25) aim to change that. “He was born and spent most of his life in Providence, and so many of his writings are infused with the experiences he had here,” explains organizer Niels Hobbs. “The odd thing is, despite the singular connection to this city, so very little awareness seems to exist locally, and, worse still, so much of the global fame he now enjoys has been successfully capitalized on by seemingly everyone but Providence.” He ought to know: Hobbs claims he moved here roughly 15 years ago “largely because of Lovecraft.” So, he and some fellow Lovecraft fans have plotted a grand welcome home for a local author whose works have been celebrated in places as far away as Phoenix, Arizona and Stockholm, Sweden. There will be panels, talks, walking tours, gallery showings, movie screenings, the unveiling of a bronze bust, and collaborations with WaterFire, the Athenaeum and the Rhode Island Historical Society. With over 1,000 attendees anticipated, NecronomiCon could be the biggest Lovecraft gathering in New England, if not the world. “Apart from being the single most notable American author of imaginative fiction since Edgar Allan Poe, he’s also a remarkable spokesman for our fair city,” Niels maintains. “Finally, we decided the stars were right for Lovecraft’s return to Providence.”
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