H. P. Lovecraft was an American pulp author in the 1920s and 1930s. His work, primarily published in the magazine Weird Tales, helped create the genre of weird fiction, which combined science fiction, fantasy, and horror. His stories and novels construct an elaborate fictional cosmology, opening up new possibilities for pulp writers. He maintained an active correspondence with fans and other pulp writers. By the time of his death in 1937, Lovecraft had accumulated a substantial archive of manuscripts that were published posthumously. His posthumous productivity attracted the notice of Edmund Wilson, who scathingly dismissed both the author and his fans. In the ensuing years writers ranging from Stephen King to Joyce Carol Oates have cited Lovecraft as an influence.