Hi - thanks for the comment!
The game's set in an alt-universe based on a mix of late Tsarist Russia and elements of the modern day.
I'm really interested in parallels between Lovecraftian horror (there are powerful things that are distant, random, and impossible to understand) and how Russian writers of the period treat their government and environment (distant, arbitrary, inexplicable), so I thought it would be an interesting setting for people to adventure in. You'll encounter The Villages, The Town, The School, The Palace, The Mines, The Temple, The Land, and The Capital (you will never reach the Capital).
I've not played Cthork Borg - and thanks for telling me about it; I'll certainly check it out in more detail - but based on a quick look, I'd say:
Cthork:
1. A classic Lovecraftian setting
2. Way more expansion content
3. It seems a bit crunchier (in a cool way)
Awe:
1. An unusual setting, but one I hope is built to host Lovecraftian stories well
2. More about how your characters face their society, in addition to the Horrors
3. I've tried to keep things simple (e.g. the system for 'what happens if you see the Horrors' uses the core stats, rather than an additional stat to track).
And, though it's not important, more colour in the artwork.
Hope that helps!