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So for a while, whenever I looked at Amazon’s page for one of my own obscure books, the system recommended something called Teatro Grottesco by Thomas Ligotti. According to the unfathomable Amazonian formula, if you liked one, you might like the other. (Because both their covers feature masks?)  Ligotti’s name came randomly to my attention other ways, too.  I’d be searching for something unrelated and a relevant keyword would pop up in some message board post about Ligotti.  I found a site devoted entirely to his work, which by then I realized had a hardcore cult following.

The work itself sounded Lovecraftian in content and style.  I don’t like Lovecraft much.  A purple writer with visceral but repetitive and fairly superficial ideas.  But out of curiosity I finally bought Teatro Grottesco.  I’m pleased to report that it’s fucking phenomenal.

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