What do J.R.R. Tolkien, Ursula K. Leguin, and HP Lovecraft all have in common? They, like a whole host of science fiction and fantasy creators, were influenced in same way by Lord Dunsany’s The Gods of Pegana, one of modern fantasy literature’s most impactful works and a gateway to many readers learning about pantheons of gods and vast cosmic mythologies for the very first time.
Now, over 120 years after its first publication, The Gods of Pegana is being given new life for the next generation of science fiction and fantasy readers and creators, thanks to the Denver-based Wig Shop in the form of an illustrated edition, now funding on Kickstarter. With expert typesetting by Wig Shop founder Jeff Alford and gorgeous, surreal illustrations from Dustin Holland, this new printing of The Gods of Pegana will be a treat for fans old and new alike.
That’s why we’re thrilled to be able to offer you an exclusive preview of The Gods of Pegana illustrated edition, provided by the phenomenal folks at Wig Shot! Check out the gorgeous pages below, as well as the official press release for the project. (And make sure to check out the Kickstarter here!)
THE GODS OF PEGANA Illustrated Edition page 96
THE GODS OF PEGANA Illustrated Edition page 97
THE GODS OF PEGANA Illustrated Edition page 98
THE GODS OF PEGANA Illustrated Edition page 99
THE GODS OF PEGANA Illustrated Edition page 100
THE GODS OF PEGANA Illustrated Edition page 101
From the official press release for the project:
First published in 1905, Lord Dunsany’s THE GODS OF PEGANA is one of the most important and influential works of modern fantasy literature. The groundbreaking, imaginative novel introduced readers to a pantheon of unforgettable gods and a rich new mythology that would inspire HP Lovecraft, J.R.R Tolkien, Ursula K Leguin, and generations of fantasy and science fiction creators. Now Denver’s Wig Shop, a prestige publisher and purveyor of independent comics and art books is collaborating with artist Dustin Holland on a hallucinatory visualization of Dunsany’s kaleidoscopic cosmic fancies featuring full-color paintings on every page. The 7X10, 139-page deluxe paperback is live on Kickstarter.
“There are islands in the Central Sea, whose waters are bounded by no shore and where no ships come — this is the faith of their people.” From there, Dunsany introduces readers to a phenomenal cast of gods, monsters and prophets who bear witness to the beginning – and the end – of the universe. A literary experiment decades ahead of its time, THE GODS OF PEGANA lays the groundwork for metatextual works of horror and fantasy like Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos while delivering a nuanced exploration of faith, religion, and mortality. 120 years after its first publication, Dunsany’s epic still stands as a singular and fascinating work of literature.
Drawing inspiration from medieval illuminated manuscripts, the work of Leonora Carrington, Max Ernst, The Fleischer Brothers, and cartoonists like Gary Panter, Marc Bell and Julie Doucet – Holland vividly illustrates all 130+ pages of this classic tome with a contemporary outsider-art flair. Each chapter features a full-page painting, and every page features painted borders that are as decorative as they are illustrative.
“It has been a real pleasure to illustrate this new edition of THE GODS OF PEGANA,” says Holland. “It’s rare to find a book with so many ideas-per-page. I hope these paintings invite readers to revel in Dunsany’s imagination and really celebrate the dreamy world he’s built.”
“It’s a great honor to dust off this forgotten tome and introduce it to a new generation of readers,” says Alford. “And I can’t think of a better artist to accompany such a cosmic oddity. By the drumming of Skarl, Dustin has conjured worlds, suns, and put light in the houses of the sky.”