How should I get into Lovecraft?

[MysticToast]

So after my dad and I decided to try out the board game Elder Sign, which is in the H.P. Lovecraft universe (side note: it's a great game), I figured it's high time I got around to reading some of his stuff.

After checking out the Google Play store to make sure they have some Lovecraft books, it turned out there's quite the selection.

My question is: Is there a good starting place for me? Do any of the stories follow a certain chronology, or can I just pick up any book without worrying about following a story?

So just give me some suggestions for places to start and if the Play Store has them, I'll pick 'em up.

Thanks!

 

[Midnight Crossroads]

The Call of Cthulhu is probably the best story to go with. Other important ones as far introductions are The Dunwich Horror and The Shadow over Innsmouth. They're all usually included in any Lovecraft collection. Most of what you'll want to read are short-stories, so you have the benefit of finding them in anthologies rather than having to buy each one individually.

 

[MysticToast]

The Call of Cthulhu is probably the best story to go with. Other important ones as far introductions are The Dunwich Horror and The Shadow over Innsmouth. They're all usually included in any Lovecraft collection. Most of what you'll want to read are short-stories, so you have the benefit of finding them in anthologies rather than having to buy each one individually.

Awesome, thanks for the recommendations. I know the store does have some anthologies so I should be able to find those stories.

 

[Doclector]

There's many anthologies, seeming as lovecraft primarily wrote short stories. This means there's no really bad place to start. "Call of cthulhu and other wierd tales" has a pretty good selection of stories, and it doesn't break the bank.

However, if you can afford it, there's the massive "Necronomicon" collection, which comes in hardback with an awesome cover, and has tons of stories, poems, and illustrations, although if memory serves, "Shadow over innsmouth" was strangely absent.

 

[RufusMcLaser]

The Call of Cthulhu is probably the best story to go with. Other important ones as far introductions are The Dunwich Horror and The Shadow over Innsmouth. They're all usually included in any Lovecraft collection. Most of what you'll want to read are short-stories, so you have the benefit of finding them in anthologies rather than having to buy each one individually.

I concur. Don't forget "At The Mountains of Madness" as well.

 

[Dr.Susse]

I second Necronomicom anthology it is with out a doubt one of the best.

 

[I Stomp on Kittens]

You should start out with a collection of his work. My first run in with him was in 'Waking up Screaming: Haunting Tales of Terror' which is a collection of his work. It has both his shorter stories and some long ones too.

Spoiler: Be sure to read these (all from the book I mentioned)

The Temple
The Hound
The Lurking Fear
Beyond the Wall of Sleep
The Outsider
Dagon
From Beyond
The Terrible Old man
The Outsider
Herbert West - Reanimator
The Shadow Over Innsmouth
[sub][sub]and my personal favorite...[/sub][/sub]The Case of Charles Dexter Ward

Spoiler: You can actually read the entire book in the link I provide in this spoiler!

Atleast read 'The Hound,' it's fairly short and gives you a good taste of Lovecraft!

[link]http://books.google.com/books?id=gGgw-tPUyloC&pg=PR7&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false[/link]