The Fear of God Podcast

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Episode 184: Lovecraft Country, with Matt Ruff

BOOK CLUB! We inaugurate our first official Fear of God Book Club with a lengthy and insightful conversation with new friend of the show, bestselling author Matt Ruff. We get to know Matt a bit -- his history with the horror genre and what he's been watching lately -- before doing a deep dive into a discussion on his outstanding book, LOVECRAFT COUNTRY, soon to be airing as an HBO series produced by Jordan Peele.

Structured as a kind of "binge-able reading experience", Matt's inventive novel features interconnected stories about a black family in the 1950s who wrestle daily to survive in Jim Crow America, but also struggle against monsters, ghosts, curses, and a kaleidoscope of other weird and paranormal events. We discuss some of the finer details of Ruff's inspiration for his unique and imaginative book, as well as the broader considerations about people whose motivations, histories, and choices are far more complex and interesting than we often regard them to be.

This is a really fun and fascinating conversation, one we're certain you're going to enjoy. So kick back, buckle up, and take a ride with us and author Matt Ruff as we traverse LOVECRAFT COUNTRY.

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