Horror and mystery go hand in hand on HBO's "True Detective." The hit series -- which stars Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey as Detectives Martin Hart and Rustin Cohle, respectively -- is rich in dread similar to the kind inherent in the work of H.P. Lovecraft, and it has featured words and imagery derived from Robert W. Chambers' story anthology "The King in Yellow." As a result, the show has opened up the worlds of weird fiction and cosmic horror to broader audiences.

Executive producer and writer...