Format: Tarot Deck.

Price: $40 US

Reviewer: Peter A. Worthy.

I must speak of what I know before it is too late. Six years ago I stumbled on an item that enraptured people and made them slaves to the Great Old Ones. I thought it ended then, but I was wrong! The cult have worked in the shadows and bought forth a new edition of their cursed creation. Ia! Ia! The stars must be right, for why else bring forth this new version to ensnare minds anew?

Enough of the pastiche.

It is true that the first edition of the Lovecraft Tarot has been out of print for six years, but during that time a new edition was dead but dreaming in the mind of artist D. L. Hutchinson and now his new formless spawn are ready to be unleashed on the world. The first edition was beautiful to behold but an error at the printers made the text the same dark blue as the rest of the cards so that the text was hard to read except in strong light - rather amusingly like J. R. R. Tolkein's 'Ring of Power' in his Lord of the Rings epic. It was a shame that it happened - but still, the images were brilliant and powerful - so much so that Chaosium wanted to buy the rights for them!

And now comes forth the new 2nd edition. You loved the 1st edition, then you are going to be obsessive over the 2nd.

This time the cards are a sepia brown colour with the text boxes in white, making it no problem to read the cards. The manual in this new edition is an expanded version of the original with the text provided by Eric C. Friendman. There are new cards in teh deck and some taken out; the cards themselves are covered in a sheen plastic - unlike the 1st edition - which will mean they are robust for use time and time again as well as being protected from liquid spillage. Anyone else have problems getting the blood of their ritual items after a ceremony on Sentinel Hill, or is it just me?

The one thing in common with the 1st edition deck is the beauty of the cards. D. L. Hutchinson produces some of the most excellent artwork in the realms of the Mythos today; see for youself, his skill is undoubtable. A lot of time and effort has gone into the 2nd edition deck and it shows, pick any card as the magicians say and guaranteed you'll see the evidence.

The text on each card is in a form of black letter but easily readable and just adds to the atmosphere of the deck as a whole. Friedmans instructions are clear and precise; valuable as this deck being a Mythos deck does work as the convential tarot cards do.

They would also be a welcome addition to any "Call of Cthulhu" roleplyaing session, an item belonging to a sorcerer or the last items of a character driven mad.

Or even just to plain look at.

This deck demands your attention and respect.

So, hop on your Yaddithian Light Envelopes and head over to Mythos Books, LLC and order your copy, it is well worth the asking price!