H.P. Lovecraft: Tales

H.P. Lovecraft: Tales by H.P. Lovecraft, 578 of 807 pages read

My dad would sometimes give me short stories to read as a child, and "Cool Air" by Lovecraft was one that always stuck with me. First, I hadn't read any Lovecraft since childhood, so I figured I'd revisit his works. Second, I also used to have a black cat named Cathulu (a feline appropriate rendition of Cthulhu) but I had never actually read "The Call of Cthulhu", so I felt like it needed to happen. Third, Lovecraft is considered one of the grandfathers of horror, and I have a special place in my heart for good horror. His stuff does, however, also have a sci-fantasy element to it.
I started reading this from the beginning, but then I started jumping around, reading different stories. After the first few, I honestly started to feel like each story was the same as the last. I didn't anticipate feeling this way. Lovecraft style and wording starting feeling too repetitive, which is why I didn't actually end up finishing this book. Some of the stories were also not very short, and seemed to just drag on for too long.
I enjoyed what I did read, and he definitely had a knack for creating elaborate scenes and describing in great detail the mythical beings he dreamed up for his writing. However, he didn't have enough in his head to keep from being repetitive.
I looked up Lovecraft's personal life as I sometimes do when reading an author I know little about, and I found that his works did not actually become the cult classics they've become until well after his death. He died a sad, lonely, penniless man. If only he knew how influential his work was and how many different ways Cthulhu would be referenced and drawn later on.
All in all, Lovecraft is essential for any fan of horror, and anyone who appreciates an author with a vivid imagination. Others who read his work might not find him quite as repetitive as I did.

Shadows over Baker Street

Shadows over Baker Street, 446 pages

Shadows over Baker Street is everything it advertises itself as, which is Sherlock Holmes with Lovecraftian themes. Of course by Lovecrafitan it means Cthulhu, Innsmouthians and other macabre themes. Much like the original Holmes collection, this book is a collection of short stories, though these are written by a collaboration of different authors.

What I really liked about Shadows over Baker Street is that each and every story holds up. Where before with collections like this I would highlight the ones that I really liked and shame the ones I thought fell short here they were all good, for a Holmes novella. By that I mean they all rely on Holmes knowing more than everyone else and in some cases more than it seems likely he should know. But that is what makes a Holmes novel, well that and the brilliant deductions he comes up with. That being said I think these could have been better with the clues to the ending or what was going on spaced through the novella so that the reader could solve the case as well.

If you like the writings of Lovecraft I think you would enjoy this book though it is not as dark. If you like the Sherlock Holmes series and at least can tolerate some of the bizarre then I would say give this a try.

Neonomicon

Neonomicon by Alan Moore and others, 176 pages

With Halloween quickly approaching the display shelves thankfully change over to the strange and creepy books. This one caught my eye and it was interestingly described as Lovecraftian. Knowing that I was well braced for weird and strange. I wasn't however expecting so much adult material from such a shot graphic novel.

The plot is basically serial killers keep turning up that are killing their victims the same way. The only difference is in what trophy they keep. As the investigation continues it spirals down past weird and into what truly can only be described as Lovecraftian.

If you can make it past the weird language, the same that Cthulhu followers use in Lovecraft's books, and the graphic adult imagery this book is pretty good. It still has the cheesy horror story vibe to it but not enough to make me not want to continue reading.

Cthulhu Tales Omnibus: Madness

Cthulhu Tales Omnibus: Madness by a collection of writers, 209 pages

For calling itself an omnibus I was expecting a lot more than just 209 pages. Also I was expecting some tales to be by Lovecraft as well. But I was very disappointed. Not only does this only have a couple of stories about Cthulhu but it has none of the originals.

What it does have is some decent stories and more that are more mocking of Cthulhu than anything else. In one he/it? is portrayed as the lead member in a band that is on the verge of splitting up over their image. There is also one where Cthulhu is summoned on a reality T.V. show and then gets voted off. The stories are all graphic novels which both helps and hinders.

Overall this was not what I expected it to be and was disappointed.

The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories

The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories by H. P. Lovecraft, 420 pages

I started reading this book namely because I saw one of my coworkers reading it and was fascinated by the depiction on the cover. It is not often you see Cthulhu wearing a mustache and monocle.  I have never read anything by Lovecraft though I know who Cthulhu is, so it was with a very open mind that I started reading.

Of the eighteen stories, my least favorite was Herbert West – Reanimator and my favorites are The Hound, The Call of Cthulhu, and The Colour out of Space. I think my dislike for Reanimator stems from seeing the semi cheesy movie already and knowing what to expect. Or maybe with the movie storyline being the first I saw of it, the book made it feel more alien or something.

Most of the rest were quite good and left you with a small sense of undefinable dread. Not enough in my case to make me stop reading or to keep me up at night, but a vague feeling or thought the creeps into the mind under the right conditions.