Cthulhu Rising (Heather Graham)

"Cthulhu Rising" is a short Cthulhu Mythos story by American author Heather Graham. It was published in the S. T. Joshi-edited anthology The Madness of Cthulhu: Volume 1 by Titan Books in October 2017.
==Synopsis==
Decades after the Depression-era liner Guinevere disappears, it mysteriously reappears, somewhat weathered but no worse for wear- and missing the entire 900 souls who had been aboard during its last voyage. The owners sail her across the Atlantic to Miami, where they intend to return her to service as a hotel ship and tourist attraction. However, rumours that the ship is haunted prompt them to employ two groups, one of scientists and one of paranormal investigators, to stay aboard the Guinevere during her final voyage, to look into the claims and hopefully drum up some publicity.
During the course of the trip, the two groups fall for a ruse by the ship's owners, believing the crew have vanished along with several of their own number. This is quickly discovered to be part of a publicity stunt orchestrated by an avaricious lawyer who has commissioned a reality television show in which the group members are the unwitting stars.
Soon, however, the crew does begin to vanish, along with several of the investigators. Clues lead the remaining investigators to the conclusion that they have fallen victim to the depredations of a Shoggoth which has lain hidden in the bowels of the vessel since its discovery. This is confirmed when the creature attacks, and the survivors attempt to reach the Guinevere's lifeboats and flee. Finally, two are able to make their escape, and as they row away from the ship get a glimpse of a colossal creature, Great Cthulhu himself, as it briefly breaches the surface.
The story concludes with the two survivors speculating that H. P. Lovecraft’s stories were based on factual accounts told by others who had encountered elements of the Cthulhu Mythos, and subsequently monetised as fiction. They wonder if perhaps their story will be picked up by some aspiring writer later in life and given the same treatment.
Category:Heather Graham works
Category:Expanded Mythos Works