H.P. Lovecraft

[The Madman]

On the other hand, alot of what he wrote was much the same. Only so many times you can read the recovered journal of missing person X, who denies all monsters or strange goings on until the very end, then sits around writing about how he's about to be killed.

Spoiler: If he was being eaten by a Shoggoth, he would not have bothered to write fhtagn, he'd have just said it

Also, his mythos got a bit annoying. Not just the continuity, which are usually complicated and contradictory, but the way every story set in it must have someone consult the same forbidden texts and refer to the same places, even if they have nothing to do with the story. Almost worthwhile to cross-reference them:

"Notwithstanding either his rational skepticism of such things, or the incessant warnings of the superstition ridden rustics, he delved further into these matters, consulting the [See Appendix A: Forbidden Texts]. He read with a strange fascination the lurid depictions of the [See Appendix B: Creatures] from the [See Appendix C: Ancient Places]. Around this time..."

On the other hand, despite this, much of the mythos was still worth reading, and when he refrained from all this, he could write excellent stories like The Colour of Space.

Most of the 'mythos' that built up around his works was created by other authors as opposed to Lovecraft himself actually, much of it after Lovecraft himself was already dead. The truth is that Lovecraft and other authors at the time who also contributed to the papers and magazines he did enjoyed putting tidbits from their own works as well as others into their stories. Little nods to one another as well as themselves meant to be more lighthearted and even complimentary than anything else if it was another authors works.

For example did you know that 'technically' Conan, yes the big muscles barbarian Conan not the gawky orange haired one, could be argued takes place in the Lovecraft mythos? Robert. E. Howard and Lovecraft were admirers of one another and often wrote story that riffed off each others works and themes.

The whole 'here are the ranks of the gods and their power levels and whatnot' only came along much much later by admirers of Lovecrafts works. Lovecraft himself never meant for his story to be a genuine continuity, which is why it's so contradictory. It only really became known as such much later on when other authors started first organizing his works then adding to them.

Besides while it's fun to make fun of his style now one also has to remember it's partly because of him that things such as the post-mortem journal became so well known and eventually became cliche thanks to works like Blair Witch Project and the like. Clive Barker, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, all authors who've freely admitted that Lovecrafts works are part of their inspiration. Just as Lovecraft said he was inspired by Edgar Allen Poe, new generations since have taken their inspiration from Lovecraft.

Test of time, test of time.

Again it's only a pity that Lovecraft never felt any of that himself. Overshadowed by authors who've long since been forgotten while his cheaply published and under appreciated 'weird fiction' stories only grow in popularity as time passes.

 

[Booradlee]

Thanks for your help people. I'm just stuck on where to start.

I once pondered this question, and eventually just got a short book.

It started with the Rats in the Walls, it starts small but really packs a punch. It's a great introduction.

After that Shadow over innsmouth, or Call of C'thulhu. Those two will give you the most context on his work.

I loved many others, but these will tell you how interested you are in the rest.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Most of the 'mythos' that built up around his works was created by other authors as opposed to Lovecraft himself actually, much of it after Lovecraft himself was already dead. The truth is that Lovecraft and other authors at the time who also contributed to the papers and magazines he did enjoyed putting tidbits from their own works as well as others into their stories. Little nods to one another as well as themselves meant to be more lighthearted and even complimentary than anything else if it was another authors works.

...

The whole 'here are the ranks of the gods and their power levels and whatnot' only came along much much later by admirers of Lovecrafts works. Lovecraft himself never meant for his story to be a genuine continuity, which is why it's so contradictory. It only really became known as such much later on when other authors started first organizing his works then adding to them.

True, but I meant only Lovecraft's own work. Although I can see the value of having a mythos which everyone can draw on or add to...well, it also elevates what we'd otherwise call "fanfic". Accept no imitations, stick to Lovecraft's Lovecraft.

For example did you know that 'technically' Conan, yes the big muscles barbarian Conan not the gawky orange haired one, could be argued takes place in the Lovecraft mythos? Robert. E. Howard and Lovecraft were admirers of one another and often wrote story that riffed off each others works and themes.

Yeah, I mentioned this yesterday in the Lovecraft movie discussion.

Besides while it's fun to make fun of his style now one also has to remember it's partly because of him that things such as the post-mortem journal became so well known and eventually became cliche thanks to works like Blair Witch Project and the like. Clive Barker, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, all authors who've freely admitted that Lovecrafts works are part of their inspiration. Just as Lovecraft said he was inspired by Edgar Allen Poe, new generations since have taken their inspiration from Lovecraft.

That's true. On the other hand, endless hordes of annoying wankers have been given the impression that using the words "cyclopean" and "non-Euclidean" for no reason makes them a master of horror. At least they probably understand what "cyclopean" means.

Speaking of Conans, did you ever read The Horror of the Heights, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1913? Mix together that and The House on the Borderland (which Lovecraft cited as a major inspiration), and you've more or less got the background for most of his more well known works, though the atmosphere was his alone. Both of them were written in the form of post-mortem journals as well, though my isn't isn't with the technique, just that it's hard to make a story fit into a series of diary entries without it seeming very strange.

 

[Noxmortuus]

My personal favorite is Dream Quest of the Unknown Kaddath. It stands apart from most of Lovecraft's writing in a wonderfully unique way, and yet everything seems to be intertwined.

 

[Rylot]

I always had a soft spot for his dreamscape stories. Ones where a dreamer explored interesting worlds. It seemed like his most creative works and he made them come alive for me.

 

[pubbing]

I am surprised nobody has mentioned "The Curious Case of Charles Dexter Ward" yet. That story is amazing; it is about a weird kind of necromancy.

 

[Mute52]

The Lurking Fear
Herbert West- Reanimator
Pickman's Model

Also there was one more but i can't recall the name

 

[The Madman]

True, but I meant only Lovecraft's own work. Although I can see the value of having a mythos which everyone can draw on or add to...well, it also elevates what we'd otherwise call "fanfic". Accept no imitations, stick to Lovecraft's Lovecraft.

I'm not a fan of the expanded universe myself. Seems to kinda defeat the entire point of Lovecrafts 'unfathomable mysterious creatures from other worlds' motif to lamely line em all up and try to give em some sort of story. Mystery is good, I like mystery, it's part of what made Lovecrafts stories so interesting to me. Trying to explain and elaborate on these things just takes that away.

Yeah, I mentioned this yesterday in the Lovecraft movie discussion.

Thought they cancelled that? Pity because if anyone could do Lovecraft justice on film, Guillermo del Toro seems like the guy!

That's true. On the other hand, endless hordes of annoying wankers have been given the impression that using the words "cyclopean" and "non-Euclidean" for no reason makes them a master of horror. At least they probably understand what "cyclopean" means.

Speaking of Conans, did you ever read The Horror of the Heights, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1913? Mix together that and The House on the Borderland (which Lovecraft cited as a major inspiration), and you've more or less got the background for most of his more well known works, though the atmosphere was his alone. Both of them were written in the form of post-mortem journals as well, though my isn't isn't with the technique, just that it's hard to make a story fit into a series of diary entries without it seeming very strange.

Lovecraft did have some sort of weird fetish for reviving words which even in his era were outdated antiques. Still, he gave us Eldrich which ranks right up there as one of the coolest words in the English language I'd say. That's gotta count for something.

And sadly no I haven't, I've only read Doyle's Sherlock works. Hound of the Baskervilles was pretty creepy however in places, so I've an idea what you're talking about. Might have to look that up some time, I loved the Sherlock series and he was a damned fine writer.

 

[Thaluikhain]

I'm not a fan of the expanded universe myself. Seems to kinda defeat the entire point of Lovecrafts 'unfathomable mysterious creatures from other worlds' motif to lamely line em all up and try to give em some sort of story. Mystery is good, I like mystery, it's part of what made Lovecrafts stories so interesting to me. Trying to explain and elaborate on these things just takes that away.

Dunno about that. Some explanation helps, I think, though not if it's lumped in, and the more you have, the more chance of something going wrong.

"Aliens from another star system with an outpost out past Neptune, who've been visiting Earth and have a deal with certain backwater locals to obtain local resources not available where they come from"...that's fair enough. IMHO, more interesting than just "aliens".

Thought they cancelled that? Pity because if anyone could do Lovecraft justice on film, Guillermo del Toro seems like the guy!

Yeah, they did. Personally, I don't see anyone being able to do it, myself.

Lovecraft did have some sort of weird fetish for reviving words which even in his era were outdated antiques. Still, he gave us Eldrich which ranks right up there as one of the coolest words in the English language I'd say. That's gotta count for something.

And sadly no I haven't, I've only read Doyle's Sherlock works. Hound of the Baskervilles was pretty creepy however in places, so I've an idea what you're talking about. Might have to look that up some time, I loved the Sherlock series and he was a damned fine writer.

I don't mind Lovecraft using odd terms, but I hate people thinking they are clever for using them just cause Lovecraft did, without worrying if they are appropriate to the story or even knowing what they mean. As an aside, though, as Euclid wrote thousands of years ago, strictly speaking I think we are creatures living in non-Euclidean geometry, as he's been amended.

I'd recommend Horror of the Heights. It's not very long, and it's out of copyright.

I'd also recommend The Lost World, but that's sci-fi, not horror.

 

[Febel]

I'd suggest The colour out of space and at the mountains of madness. The mountains of madness is one of my favorites because it manages to take my favorite animal (penguins) and make them creepy.

 

[Wuggy]

The Shadow over Insmouth
Dunwhich Horror
Whisperer in the Dark

These are my three favourite stories from Lovecraft. None of them are really 'scary', but then again I've never found Lovecraft to be scary. I mostly read Lovecraft out of fascination on the mythos.

 

[FllippinIDIOT]

At the Mountains of Madness was pretty great. often found myself believeing everything in the book was true then realizing it was a horror book and feeling very disappointed. thats a definite read imo.