The 37th Mandala
Encyclopedia
The 37th Mandala is a horror
novel
written by Marc Laidlaw
and published in 1996. It tells the story of New Age
writer Derek Crowe who uses an ancient mystical text as the basis of one of his works. As his writing gains popularity, it also attracts the unwanted attention of the 37 mandalas — terrible Lovecraftian-style monsters — that the original text was about.
The 37th Mandala earned Laidlaw the 1996 International Horror Guild Award
for "Best Novel". It was also nominated for World Fantasy Award for Best Novel
in 1997.
In the Valve Software computer game Half-Life, which Laidlaw helped design, this book is one of two seen on a shelf in the personal locker of Gordon Freeman
. The other book on the shelf is The Orchid Eater, also by Laidlaw. In addition, another locker in the room is marked with the name "Laidlaw".
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
written by Marc Laidlaw
Marc Laidlaw
Marc Laidlaw is an American writer of science fiction and horror and also a computer game designer with Valve Software. He is perhaps most famous for writing Dad's Nuke and The 37th Mandala, and for working on the popular Half-Life series.-Biography:Laidlaw was born in 1960 and raised in Laguna...
and published in 1996. It tells the story of New Age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
writer Derek Crowe who uses an ancient mystical text as the basis of one of his works. As his writing gains popularity, it also attracts the unwanted attention of the 37 mandalas — terrible Lovecraftian-style monsters — that the original text was about.
The 37th Mandala earned Laidlaw the 1996 International Horror Guild Award
International Horror Guild Award
The International Horror Guild Award is a recognition presented by the International Horror Guild to recognize the achievements of those who create in the field of horror and dark fantasy. Nancy A. Collins, the founder of the award, felt there was a need for an award granted by a large,...
for "Best Novel". It was also nominated for World Fantasy Award for Best Novel
World Fantasy Award for Best Novel
This World Fantasy Award is given to the fantasy novel or novels voted best by a panel of judges, and presented each year at the World Fantasy Convention.-1975:...
in 1997.
In the Valve Software computer game Half-Life, which Laidlaw helped design, this book is one of two seen on a shelf in the personal locker of Gordon Freeman
Gordon Freeman
Gordon Freeman is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Half-Life video game series. He is a theoretical physicist who finds himself thrust into a battle for survival against both alien and human forces. Throughout the series, Gordon must prevail in hostile situations despite...
. The other book on the shelf is The Orchid Eater, also by Laidlaw. In addition, another locker in the room is marked with the name "Laidlaw".