65 replies to this topic

[Soul Kitchen]

I've been hearing everywhere about this HP Lovecraft and it really seems like stuff that I would enjoy.
I know it doesn't matter that much, but which book should I start with?

[JonathanVonErich]

By the beginning.  

[Bracket]

I'd stick to his smaller stuff. His bigger stuff can admittedly be a little long winded, and this is coming from a huge Lovecraft fan. Most of his stories come in collections of his works anyways, so i'm sure you'll find something you'll like. Or, you can just get the Necronomicon, which is a thick book that has all of his stories.  

[Fluffybunny]

Yeah, short stories are a bit easier to get started with; remember how long ago it was written and that it is at a different pace than something by Stephen King or Dean Koontz. Enjoy the incredible vocabulary he has...it is almost musical to read.

[Bracket]

Fluffybunny, on 06 May 2011 - 01:33 AM, said:

Yeah, short stories are a bit easier to get started with; remember how long ago it was written and that it is at a different pace than something by Stephen King or Dean Koontz. Enjoy the incredible vocabulary he has...it is almost musical to read.

Yeah, not to mention that he liked to write in a very "antiquarian" way.

[Cybele]

I read a collection of his short stories over the Christmas holidays, and I'd say my personal favorites were The Case of Charles Dexter Ward (very long for a short story), The Call of Cthulhu (his most famous), and The Dream in the Witch House.

Edited by Cybele, 06 May 2011 - 04:18 AM.

[Bracket]

Cybele, on 06 May 2011 - 04:14 AM, said:

I read a collection of his short stories over the Christmas holidays, and I'd say my personal favorites were The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, The Call of Cthulhu (his most famous), and The Dream in the Witch House.

Yeah, those are good. Although i'd say his most famous is Re-Animator, which i'd also suggest reading along with The Thing on the Doorstep, The Colour Out of Space and The Shadow Over Innesmouth.

[supervike]

I think you can start anywhere to be honest.  As 90 percent of his stuff is 'short stories', and they really aren't directly connected to each other, you can pick up anywhere.

As mentioned above, he uses very archaic terms at times,(which were even archaic when he used them) so it's kinda nice to have a dictionary nearby.  After a story or two, it'll not be an issue.  Plus it adds such a depth to the story, it is really interesting.

Also one thing I'd like to mention is that modern readers often expect that the books will be 'scary' as they are described as horror.  But it isn't quite the case.  Creepy at times, for sure, but it was more about the futility and insignifigance of mankind.  The 'monsters' are often left undescribed, which to me is absolutely perfect.

My favorite stories are 'The Shadow over Innsmouth', 'The Dunwich Horror', and 'The Whisperer in the Darkness'

jeez, i may have to go re-read some of these now....

[supervike]

Oh BTW, I just remembered this:

http://cthulhuchick....ok-nook-kindle/

For any of you with an E-reader/Nook/Kindle, this person has compiled all the stories as a free download!

There's no excuse to not check them out now!

[Soul Kitchen]

Thanks guys, I guess I'll start with some short stories to get acquainted with his vocabulary. And I'll get that "Necronomicon" thing. I really wish I had a kindle...

[bulveye]

http://www.sffaudio.com/?p=3491

Hello people,

Check the above link for free streaming audio H.P. Lovecraft stories. There is nothing to sign up for or anything, just click the story you want and sit back and listen.

Have fun!       

[bulveye]

http://lovecraftzine...ss-audio-drama/

here is a link to a site with a link for a free Radio Drama (so its got some sound effects and different voice actors!) it's one of my favourite stories, At The Mountains Of Madness. You should listen to this one first!

I see they were gonna make it into a film with Guillermo del Toro as director, but he pulled out when the Studio bosses told him to make it a 12 certificate instead of an 18. Del Toro said he would not compromise, so shame they are no longer making it but good for Del Toro to stand up to them!

[Cybele]

Bracket, on 06 May 2011 - 04:22 AM, said:

The Colour Out of Space

IIRC, that's one of his longer, alternate dimension/alien ones. I honestly couldn't stick with those for long.

[Eldorado]

Spin, spin, spin my little darling / Spin, spin, spin my little babe / Stay in the garden; let your mind tarry / Dance to the sunlight, smell the strawberry ...

(lol)

[theGhost_and_theDarkness]

Ohh, I looove HP Lovecraft. Definitely one of my favorite writers. Pickman's Model was my favorite. I don't know what it was about that story, but it was very creepy, and always the one I find myself reading over and over.   The first book I picked up of his was The Best of HP Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre. I found it at an old bookstore for like 50 cents. You can also find a lot of his work online. . .the first story of his I ever read was Dagon on the internet. Another pretty good story.

The think I like most about him is that his style just cannot be compared to any other I have ever read. The theme of some of the stories don't seem very terrifying at all, but the poetic way he writes really makes all the difference in the world. He takes things that don't seem very frightening and turns them into very haunting tales. Dagon, for instance. . .a man sees a monster and runs. Pretty much the entire story. But he takes something so simple and turns it into something quite lovely.