Introduction

From the original edition of Petersen’s Field Guide to Cthulhu Monsters:

Though we now praise such studies, students of preternatural life forms once were castigated and persecuted. For generations, “pracktikal metaphysiques” were threatened merely for striving after the truth. Those pioneers faced hair-raising danger—not only from the things they studied, but also from the hand of their fellow man.

This volume presents information to the public in what is believed to be an easily assimilable form. All concerned hope that knowledge of these strange creatures can become more widespread, increasing support for urgently-needed research efforts.

These pages discuss terrors of the hyper-geometrical realms, those which most concern us Earth-bound mortals. Each entry has an identical apparatus: a general discussion, notes on habitat, distribution, and life and habits, and hints for distinguishing one entity from others in this book. There is a height chart, and a diagram of some special point of interest about the entity.

Since many preternatural creatures do not photograph well or cannot be photographed at all, an accurate painting illustrates each monster.

An easy-to-use scientific key helps tell one monster from another. Near the end of this field guide, a relative-size chart compares the field guide monsters with the creators of this book. A bibliography and recommended reading list complete the text.

Preternaturalist fieldwork is exciting and personally rewarding, but amateur preternaturalists are reminded to take appropriate precautions before initiating observations.

Obstacles to successful observation are plain. With rare exceptions, preternatural collections in museums or zoological gardens do not exist, so that the student gains little acquaintance with the entities he or she seeks to encounter. Indeed, preternatural physical evidence of any sort is difficult or impossible to come by.

The naturalist can establish blinds, follow game paths, lurk near water holes, plant video cameras, and otherwise dog the heels of his or her chosen species. Such ploys are unavailable to the preternaturalist, whose interest may be not only off-planet but out-of-universe. And metaphysical observation methods are available only to scholars and other trained professionals. Understandably, the successful observer must be extremely patient and have a comprehensive knowledge of previous Earthly appearances.

But the thrill of seeing your first Dark Young smashing its way, say, through the Louisiana bayous cannot be duplicated.

I remind readers of superb descriptions to be found in the writings of Howard Phillips Lovecraft; his work remains an inspiration. The intriguing Call of Cthulhu Roleplaying Game discusses these monsters and others more rare. Actual investigations are more dangerous and more tedious than the active adventures which the game creates; still, the tone is exactly right.

Good spotting!

— Professor-Emeritus Eliphas Cordvip Fallworth, The School of Medieval Metaphysics, Miskatonic University, 1988.