H.P. Lovecraft

[delet]

Hello Escapists. I come to you with a question. I find myself without a book to read (Sure, there's Huckleberry Finn, but I just can't get into that.) I know the basics of Cthulhu and the like, but I've not ever read the books. I tried a quick search the other day and found that Lovecraft has an immense library of books, so I turn to you guys.

A few questions.
1) What would be the best books to read? (whether that means granting me more information into what Cthulhu is or just the most complete book, I don't quite know.)

2) Would this book make an interesting read or would it keep me interested till the end?

Thanks for any help.

 

[RyQ_TMC]

"The Call of Cthulhu" - the short story collection - is definitely the best start (well, it was published as a story collection in my country, I assume it's the same elsewhere). I remember being scared shitless when I read it as a little kid. OK, not so little, I was 11, but still.

It makes for a good read but you have to jump into it yourself - it's not that immersive if you just pick it up and semi-skim through, it's better to take your time with it.

 

[oliveira8]

H.P. Lovecraft was a pulp Sci-Fi/Fantasy horror from the 20/30's. He wrote short stories for pulp magazines.

So when buying a book from Lovecraft you will have a wide collection.

The best way to start is either with the Necronomicon(And make sure it's the real Necronomicon.)

This one:
http://www.amazon.com/Necronomicon-Weird-Tales-Lovecraft-Gollancz/dp/0575081570/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259435520&sr=8-2

Or

The Penguin classics(theres like 4 volumes me thinks)
http://www.amazon.com/Cthulhu-Stories-Penguin-Twentieth-Century-Classics/dp/0141182342/ref=pd_sim_b_7

They all short stories from the 20/30's so the language might be a granite wall and so is the occasional racist comment. Stories about Cthulhu itself theres only one(It's just called Cthulhu Mythos cause he is the most famous one) and don't expect to see thirll riding action packed stories. Most of the time you won't see the monster at all. It's slow paced, gothic, tension building horror/terror.

Oh and excpect some really weird stories and don't act stupid when you have no idea whats going on. It all makes sense in the end. If you can make any sense out of madness!

His stories are kinda like The Twilight Zone or Tales from the Crypt,(I think both shows did some episodes based on Lovecraft stories.) and Lovecraft is what pretty much every person that has made a horror movie/book/tv show/whatever since the 30's been ripping off.


Stories to keep an eye on:Call of Cthulhu, Shadow over Innsmouth, Whisperer in Darkness, At the Mountains of Madness, Rats in the Walls.

 

[delet]

It makes for a good read but you have to jump into it yourself - it's not that immersive if you just pick it up and semi-skim through, it's better to take your time with it.

I always read a book from beginning to end. I don't see how people do skim books, really.

The best way to start is either with the Necronomicon(And make sure it's the real Necronomicon.)

This one:
http://www.amazon.com/Necronomicon-Weird-Tales-Lovecraft-Gollancz/dp/0575081570/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259435520&sr=8-2

That seems like it may be the best. According to the reviews, it's not actually complete, but it has all the major works. Not to mention it's got a nice length.

Oh and excpect some really weird stories and don't act stupid when you have no idea whats going on. It all makes sense in the end. If you can make any sense out of madness!

Well, I do love myself a good mystery.