The Xothic legend cycle is a series of short stories by American writer Lin Carter that are based on the Cthulhu Mythos of H. P. Lovecraft, primarily on Lovecraft’s stories “The Call of Cthulhu” and “Out of the Aeons”.
The cycle is centered on a trinity of deities said to be the “sons” of Cthulhu: Ghatanothoa, Ythogtha, and Zoth-Ommog. Together with Cthylla, introduced in Brian Lumley’s Titus Crow series, they make up the Star Spawn. The five stories that make up the cycle (in chronological order) are “The Dweller in the Tomb” (1971), “Out of the Ages” (1975), “The Horror in the Gallery” (1976), “The Thing in the Pit” (1980), and “The Winfield Heritance” (1981).
The cycle introduces various mythos elements, such as the Zanthu Tablets, the Ponape Scripture, Father Ubb and the Yuggs, and two new Great Old Ones: Ythogtha and Zoth-Ommog. The cycle also features the Sanbourne Institute of Pacific Antiquties, Lin Carter’s answer to Lovecraft’s Miskatonic University. The lost continent of Mu also figures prominently in the cycle, as do the events that led to its sinking.
As both a real life friend and past editor of George RR Martin, elements of Carter’s Xothic Legend Cycle can be seen throughout ASOIAF. My goal is presenting these lesser known tales of the Mythos are to provide a point of reference to looking for more Lovecraftian symbolism in The World of Ice and Fire, or for Lovecraft fans looking to branch out into the expanded Mythos created by writers in the decades following H.P. Lovecraft’s death.
Art Credit:
Thumbnail by Hotppot.ai
Miskatonic01 by Joseph Diaz
WitcHikeⅡ（９） by 子畑
Ghatanothoa (The Dark God) by João Sergio
Ebony City Kadath by TheMagicWarrior
Necronomicon Symbol by Peter Levenda
Mi-Go (The Fungi from Yuggoth) by João Sergio
Ice Desert by JustV23
Stygai by Dziga Kaiser
The Land of Always Winter by Rene Aigner
Nyarlathotep (Black Pharaoh) by João Sergio
Nyarlathotep by satibalzane
Shoggoth by Nottsuo
Dream-Quest Night Guants by Ito Saith Webb
The Plateau of Leng by Armand Cabrera
The Tomb – Night Dark by WyrdTree Art
At the Mountains of Madness by Baranger
Yuggoth by Fantasy Flight Games
Nephren-Ka by Sir Chester Cobblepot
Nephren-Ka, the Black Pharaoh by Mr. Zarono
Lovecraft’s Nightmare by Michael Whelan
Intro Music:
“For Alltid” by SHAHATO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfLESu4mETc
Background Music:
“Terminal Hallucinations (Lovecraftian Dark Ambient Hour)” by Iron Cthulhu Apocalypse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg_QwWE_5cY&t=1274s
Follow me @
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGreyWaste
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/GreyWasteTim
YouTube Besties:
Dave’s Channel (David Lightbringer)
https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidLightbringer
Girl Nettles’ Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvT94Go8_rHlnfVPbsAojTQ
Mj’s Channel (Gray Area)
https://www.youtube.com/c/GrayArea
Amanda’s Channel (Crowfood’s Daughter)
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheDisputedLands
Arah’s Channel (ieatzebra arah)
https://www.youtube.com/c/ieatzebraarah
Quinn’s Channel (QuinnTheGM)
https://www.youtube.com/@QuinnTheGM
Fantasy Haven’s Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@fantasyhaven1
Nick Eck Design:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickeeeek
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NickEckGraphicIllustrator
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sleepaftersaving/
source