Lovecraft Country

Hippolyta has always been interested in astronomy. During a research trip for The Safe Negro Travel Guide, she stares up at the stars and then reads through a comic written by her son, Horace. The Interplanetary Adventures of Orithyia Blue is a science fiction story about an African American woman who travels the galaxy. She also reads an astronomy book taken from the orrery room in Hiram Winthrop’s house. The book reveals the existence of a secret observatory in Wisconsin and Hippolyta is determined to investigate it. She promised Letitia that she would be careful.

Hippolyta’s father first kindled her interest in astronomy. As a child, she lacked the resources to achieve her lofty ambitions of discovering new planets. When a new planet was discovered in 1930, the young Hippolyta wrote to the astronomer to explain why his discovery should be named Pluto. The planet is named Pluto, but the credit is given to an English girl whose family was deeply connected to the astronomy community. Hippolyta is upset but she resolves to find another planet one day.

Hippolyta arrives at Winthrop’s observatory late one night. When she explores the building, she takes the astronomy book and a gun but leaves Horace’s comic “to mind the car” (157).