Must-read Lovecraft stories

[BrainGlutton]

@Busy_Scissors

If you want to go back the way, William_Hope_Hodgson was a forerunner of Lovecraft and apparently a big influence. His two main books are ‘The Night Land’ and ‘The House on the Borderland’. They’re extremely good - even with a rather dated prose style the creeping horror still makes itself felt.

Other acknowledged influences: Arthur Machen and Robert W. Chambers.

Have you seen the Yellow Sign?

[Bridget_Burke]

In Robert Zelazny’s A Night in the Lonesome October, we see preparations for a Full Moon Halloween, near London, near the end of the 19th century. It seems that, on such nights, certain eldritch & ancient beings might gain access to our world. “Openers” wish to let them in; “Closers” don’t. Both Openers & Closers have animal familiars; our narrator is a dog owned by Jack, who is good with knives. The Count & a Mad Monk are among the players; the Great Detective decides to investigate.

One section is a beautiful visit to various Lovecraftian realms. Since it’s October, time to read it again! A lovely little book.

[Morgyn]

@Merijeek

Pretty sure that one is in “Shadows Over Baker Street”, which was a collection of short stories that combined Sherlock with the Mythos. It was a pretty decent read.

It’s been reprinted in Gaiman’s short story collection Fragile Things.

[The_Peyote_Coyote]

One that hasn’t been mentioned, but I think is one of his best, is “The Quest for Iranon.” It’s part of the Dunsanian Dream Cycle, and is very beautiful, IMO.
Now, I must go as a horrible three-lobed eye is peering through the window.

[BrotherCadfael]

Dagonbytes bites.

Yes, it has all the stories - presented in white on black in a large, clunky, san-serif font that is not at all a pleasure to read. I sometimes copy and paste into a word processor and change the font to something tolerable. Too much work.

[kelly5078]

Another vote for “Dreams in the Witch House.” I also like “The Shunned House.” I guess I like houses.

I disagree with muldoonthief in that I think “The Haunter of Dark” is one of his best, although the payoff isn’t as good as the buildup.

[gytalf2000]

My favorites are “The Call of Cthulhu” and “The Color Out of Space”. I like almost all of his stories!

[BrainGlutton]

@BrotherCadfael

Dagonbytes bites.

Yes, it has all the stories - presented in white on black in a large, clunky, san-serif font that is not at all a pleasure to read. I sometimes copy and paste into a word processor and change the font to something tolerable. Too much work.

Wimp, eh? Well, you can read the same stories in black letters on light background at Gutenberg Australia.

[Ronald_C.Semone]

@kelly5078

I think “The Haunter of Dark” is one of his best, although the payoff isn’t as good as the buildup.

It rarely is with Lovecraft.

[Corner_Case]

I’ve read stories through DagonBytes. I like the style through Yankee Classics better. I would recommend the entries in the Miskatonic Library at Yankee Classics. Check out the rest of the University as well.

While the reveal may be obvious or less than horrific to my jaded senses, it’s the dream he conjures up from hoary spaces and dank fungoid places in the eldritch recesses my mind that pulls me inevitably onward.

[Abisha]

The Lurker at the Threshold the only book that I have read in the last 15 years that gave me nightmares.

[DocCathode]

I like The Festival. It’s creepy, effective, and short.

[BrotherCadfael]

@BrainGlutton

Wimp, eh? Well, you can read the same stories in black letters on light background at Gutenberg Australia.

Thanks! I’ve just bookmarked it.