Lyubko Deresch's "Kult" is one of the most important books in the world to me. This is no exaggeration, since this compact horror novel, written by a teenager, has not only sparked my lifelong obsession with Lovecraft, leading into Weird Fiction, leading into obscure Mythology and Archeology, it has also first proven to me, that there is no limitations on the definition of story. Towards the end, this book completely dissolves and I've loved it!
When I was fifteen and completely enthralled by "Kult", I, of course, sat down and plagiarized what I thought of as its best moves. I wrote novel - a romantic comedy that got invaded by Lovecraftian gods, which led to the dissolution of reality and everything going wrong. The novel was called "A story about Hans, Hobbit and Love" and it is, of course, a complete, chaotic mess that I will never share with the world and can not bring myself to reading again.
Still, I used its basic plot points to construct my first feature around - "Why Hans Wagner hates the Starry Sky".
It's on YouTube for free at the moment, so check it out if you like obscure underground arthouse comedies about Lovecraftian topics, made by enthusiastic 21-year-old film & theater students:
This one actually got into international festivals and was distributed to cinemas all over Germany. It launched me into making two more no-budget, Lovecraft-inspired, Weird Fiction comedies, forming my "Cthulhu Trilogy" (all three movies available for free on YouTube).
So, thank you, Lyubko, for inspiring the start of my feature filmmaking career.
Deresh's work had been first recommended to me by the very long-haired, leather-coat wearing, bespectacled 16-year-old apprentice at our local book store and we kind of bonded over our from then on blooming love for the Lovecraft mythos and Weird Literature in general.
There are two more books by Deresh that have been published in German: "Die Anbetung der Eidechse oder wie man Engel vernichtet" ("The Worship of the Lizard or how to Destroy Angels") which is BRILLIANT and would maybe make an even greater film than "Kult". It's about a gang of disillusioned, hopeless small-town-kids in Post-Soviet Ukraine, who decide to kill their bully and are surprised to feel no remorse at all. It is a harrowing read and, again, filled to the brim with Lovecraftian (or rather Ligottian?) philosophy and mythology.
The third one, "Intent!" is a time-travel novel that I never really got into.
All three are set in Midni Buky, which translated to Copper Beech and thus isn't too far off from Bucholz (translating to Beech Wood), where I grew up. I always felt a distinct kinship with this obscure author, writing so knowingly about the hopelessness of small-town youth.
I know, from his Ukranian Wikipedia page, that Deresh has written a lot more stuff since, and every book of his sounds fascinating to me. Sadly, it doesn't look like they've been translated into languages I understand.
So, I will keep promoting his work to Lovecraft and Weird Fiction fans all over the world. The more interest in him, the more likely it gets for his books to be translated. Demand to ready Lyubko Deresh! Do it for my sake!