John Sumrow shows his magnificently eldritch cover for the forthcoming Encyclopedia Cthuliana

Artist John Sumrow shows his magnificently eldritch cover painting for the forthcoming new edition of Daniel Harms’s Encyclopedia Cthulhiana, which will be released in the second half of 2026.

First published by Chaosium in 1994, the Encyclopedia Cthulhiana: A Guide to Lovecraftian Horror won an Origins Award for a Special Achievement the following year. Chaosium published an updated second edition in 1998, and a third edition was published by Elder Signs Press in 2008.

Chaosium’s forthcoming fourth edition features updated text and will be presented in a new full color, hardback format with interior art. 

The cover for the book was painted in oils on masonite. John Sumrow says, "Huge thanks to Chaosium and Susan O'Brien (Chaosium fiction editor) for having me on board. Huge thanks to my GF (Wini)Fred for modeling the intrepid librarian and encouraging me to return to painting. "

John Sumrow's art can be seen in numerous recent Chaosium releases including theCthulhu by Gaslight Investigator's Guide, Cults of Cthulhu, The Order of the Stone, Alone Against the Static, Lands of RuneQuest: Dragon Pass, and Basic Roleplaying Universal Game Engine, among others.