Humans Are Cthulhu: Difference between revisions

** Of course, the third book of the trilogy reveals that the talking box the nomes have been carrying around for thousands of generations is actually {{spoiler|an artificial intelligence inhabiting the command module of the main computer of the huge starship that the space-faring ancestors of modern day nomes arrived in on Earth. A ship that is still "parked" under the surface of the moon. Which makes the nomes of old an alien species.}}

** Fray, the destructive force of nature of which ''[[The Carpet People]]'' (by [[Terry Pratchett]]) live in constant fear, is presumably some human activity. Most likely footsteps, but it might be a hoover. Beyond that, humans are [[The Precursors]], given the entire world is inside a shaggy carpet and the major resources are metal from a dropped penny, wood and ash from a matchstick and rare varnish from the distant Achairleg.

** The fact that most '''actual''' ''[[Discworld]]'' gods can barely find their own noses without a mirror makes Wuffles' faith in his master even more justified.

* Alan Dean Foster's science fiction trilogy ''[[The Damned]]'' has two vast coalitions of aliens at war with each other for millenia across the Milky Way. One faction (the good-guy underdogs) discovers Earth and finds that compared to every other known intelligent species modern-day humans are unbelievably fast and strong and savage, both physically and psychologically (none of the other species is particularly good at the concept of "waging war"). They ultimately decide they have no choice but to recruit humanity to their cause anyway, knowing that once the war is won they'll have a very dangerous situation on their hands trying to figure out how to live safely with their allies.

** His short story ''With Friends Like These...'' takes a look at the theme from another angle. Ages ago, the old galactic civilization deemed humanity too dangerous and [[The Wall Around the World|sealed off Earth]] until it became a myth, but now aliens needs Mankind's skill at battle against another alien race. So a few representatives go to Earth, see a quiet pastoral culture relaxing in a hammock, and ask the "mythical creatures" to help. Cue the [[Freak-Out|little shock]] when aliens see {{spoiler|that humans are so calm because their hammock is [[Sufficiently Advanced Alien|too high]] on [[Abusing the Kardashev Scale For Fun and Profit|The Kardashev Scale]] to worry. Not only have humans evolved psionic powers and are in telepathic contact with various other mammalian species (which presumably they [[Uplift]]ed), not only is the whole planet filled with machinery and computers for miles below the surface, but ''the entire freaking planet Earth (with moon) breaks orbit to follow the aliens' starship''!}}.

== [[Real Life]] ==

* See the [[Humans Are Cthulhu/Fridge|Fridge]] page for more ideas.

* There's a theory that Centaurs (half-men, half-horses) were inspired by sights of the first horse-riding peoples who tore through Greece and terrorized the locals.

* Some Native Americans had legends about "pale skinned people who would come from the sea foam". As such, the European invaders were mistaken for these mythological people.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Cosmic Horror Tropes]]

[[Category:Humans Are Indexed]]

[[Category:Nightmare Fuel Station Attendant]]

[[Category:Tropes of Hats]]