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Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos
THE MONSTROUS WORLD OF H.P. LOVECRAFT'S CTHULHU MYTHOS
Bringer of death, madness and mutilation beyind humanity's wildest nightmares. Dweller in the abysmal depths of earth and ocean. Bearer of horrors from beyond time and space. Keeper of unspeakable mysteries from the dark aeons before humanity's spawning. Here are tales of occult abomination that will stretch your nerves to the very limits of supernatural terror.
These stories by the master and his most adept pupils in the lore of dread Cthulhu will conduct you to the outer darkness of total fear. But be warned: you'll have to find your own way back...
Cover illustration by Tim White.
Bringer of death, madness and mutilation beyind humanity's wildest nightmares. Dweller in the abysmal depths of earth and ocean. Bearer of horrors from beyond time and space. Keeper of unspeakable mysteries from the dark aeons before humanity's spawning. Here are tales of occult abomination that will stretch your nerves to the very limits of supernatural terror.
These stories by the master and his most adept pupils in the lore of dread Cthulhu will conduct you to the outer darkness of total fear. But be warned: you'll have to find your own way back...
Cover illustration by Tim White.
508 pages, Paperback
Published September 22, 1988
141 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
H.P. Lovecraft
6,040 books19.2k followersHoward Phillips Lovecraft, of Providence, Rhode Island, was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction.
Lovecraft's major inspiration and invention was cosmic horror: life is incomprehensible to human minds and the universe is fundamentally alien. Those who genuinely reason, like his protagonists, gamble with sanity. Lovecraft has developed a cult following for his Cthulhu Mythos, a series of loosely interconnected fictions featuring a pantheon of human-nullifying entities, as well as the Necronomicon, a fictional grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works were deeply pessimistic and cynical, challenging the values of the Enlightenment, Romanticism and Christianity. Lovecraft's protagonists usually achieve the mirror-opposite of traditional gnosis and mysticism by momentarily glimpsing the horror of ultimate reality.
Although Lovecraft's readership was limited during his life, his reputation has grown over the decades. He is now commonly regarded as one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th Century, exerting widespread and indirect influence, and frequently compared to Edgar Allan Poe.
See also Howard Phillips Lovecraft.
— Wikipedia
Lovecraft's major inspiration and invention was cosmic horror: life is incomprehensible to human minds and the universe is fundamentally alien. Those who genuinely reason, like his protagonists, gamble with sanity. Lovecraft has developed a cult following for his Cthulhu Mythos, a series of loosely interconnected fictions featuring a pantheon of human-nullifying entities, as well as the Necronomicon, a fictional grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works were deeply pessimistic and cynical, challenging the values of the Enlightenment, Romanticism and Christianity. Lovecraft's protagonists usually achieve the mirror-opposite of traditional gnosis and mysticism by momentarily glimpsing the horror of ultimate reality.
Although Lovecraft's readership was limited during his life, his reputation has grown over the decades. He is now commonly regarded as one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th Century, exerting widespread and indirect influence, and frequently compared to Edgar Allan Poe.
See also Howard Phillips Lovecraft.
— Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 5, 2024
Ja, ist alles ganz ok, aber möglicherweise mehr aus Literaturhistorischem Blickwinkel. Mir war ehrlich gesagt nach ein paar Geschichten bereits etwas langweilig. Was die Spannung betrifft, ist nahezu jeder halbwegs gelungene Stephen King Roman deutlich überzeugender. Ein Problem ist halt auch die 100 Jahre alte Sprache und die etwas erhabene Erzählweise. Man muss sich erst auf das Antiquierte einlassen und dann darauf, dass das, was damals möglicherweise als ur-gruselig erlebt wurde, heute etwas harmlos wirkt. So ähnlich wie man selbstverständlich eine Faszination für die ersten Wählscheibentelefone haben kann, aber naja, wenn man weiß was danach noch alles kommt, hält meine Faszination eben nur über kurze Strecke an.
March 5, 2024
Eine nette kleine Sammlung von H. P. Lovecrafts Texten und welchen, die von ihm inspiriert sind. Weder seine stärksten Geschichten, noch haben mich die anderen besonders gereizt, aber man bekommt wohl die typische kosmische Horrorware.
November 22, 2013
A lot of fun stories, but they have the pace and subtlety of pulp. The two Lovecraft stories, on the other hand, are masterful, and the stark contrast between HP and his imitators shows why Lovecraft, in his sweeping imagination and incredible technical skill, has become the cultural touchstone that he is.
If you're interested in Lovecraft's influence beyond simple engrossing entertainment value, you may find this collection more interesting. It's a worthy case study for understanding how Lovecraft fits into his own world in the imaginations of his fans and imitators: in these stories, he is represented as an ill-understood horror author (a fair imitation of his real-world persona), but then he's elevated into a sort of scholar mystic prophet, whose horror stories become a sort of clandestine bible of the cosmic apocalypse and humanity's ill-fated destiny.
From serious to twisted to amusing, they're stories worth reading, but it's Lovecraft's singular talent that really holds the circle together.
If you're interested in Lovecraft's influence beyond simple engrossing entertainment value, you may find this collection more interesting. It's a worthy case study for understanding how Lovecraft fits into his own world in the imaginations of his fans and imitators: in these stories, he is represented as an ill-understood horror author (a fair imitation of his real-world persona), but then he's elevated into a sort of scholar mystic prophet, whose horror stories become a sort of clandestine bible of the cosmic apocalypse and humanity's ill-fated destiny.
From serious to twisted to amusing, they're stories worth reading, but it's Lovecraft's singular talent that really holds the circle together.
March 23, 2017
4.3/5
Ojalá los siguientes libros que lea en el año sean igual de buenos que este.
Ojalá los siguientes libros que lea en el año sean igual de buenos que este.
February 13, 2017
August Derleth's TALES OF THE CTHULHU MYTHOS was and still is a seminal horror anthology. First published in 1969 and much reprinted since (occasionally as two slimmer volumes, as with the Panther paperbacks published in the UK in the 1970s), it proved that there was life to the Cthulhu Mythos beyond its originator H.P. Lovecraft by collecting various short stories inspired by and expanding on his work. It says something that this collection feels as fresh now as it ever did. I should note that I'm a huge fan of the Mythos, so this collection was right up my street.
(NB. I should note that some of the reviews here on Goodreads seem to be for a different, more up-to-date anthology. The one I read was released in 1969 and has been re-released subsequently; my copy was dated 1988. The 'latest' stories in my version are those written in the 1960s by Lumley, Campbell, and Wilson; none of this new-fangled Stephen King et al nonsense!)
Derleth kicks off his tome with a story from the master himself, Lovecraft's THE CALL OF CTHULHU. It's a classic piece of writing that serves as a perfect introduction to the Mythos for newcomers, and what's particularly impressive alongside the immersive writing is the way international events are tied neatly and precisely together in the short story form. Clark Ashton Smith is covered in THE RETURN OF THE SORCEROR, one in a sub-genre of story writing about green apprentices going to work in crumbling old mansions, getting involved in something they shouldn't. The Necronomicon makes its presence known in a superb piece of old-fashioned pulp which is even better than the Lovecraft tale that preceded it.
Smith is back for UBBO-SATHLA, this time about an occultist who comes into possession of a weird gemstone. Smith's depiction of London as a chasm on the brink of a bubbling darkness is, simply, fantastic, and this is a top read too. Robert E. Howard's THE BLACK STONE is a travelogue to ancient Hungary and viscerally disturbing - another top piece of pulp writing that really packs a punch even in the modern day. THE HOUNDS OF TINDALOS, by Frank Belknap Long, tackles the topic of time travel in a quite startling way, and the climax is particularly enjoyable. It also ties in nicely to the events described in Lovecraft's DREAMS IN THE WITCH-HOUSE.
As editor, Derleth couldn't resist including a couple of his own pastiches. Both are light, fun and breezy, if a little insubstantial. THE DWELLER IN DARKNESS concerns ancient sorcery in the Canadian wilderness while BEYOND THE THRESHOLD is all about the monstrous wind-walking creature, Ithaqua. Next is Henry Kuttner and his SALEM HORROR, in which a writer rents an old house and finds a witch's room in the cellar. Once again, it recalls DREAMS IN THE WITCH-HOUSE and is just as good, featuring gnawing rats, mouldering skeletons, and a nameless horror lurking in the depths of a pit.
THE HAUNTER OF THE GRAVEYARD is by J. Vernon Shea and focuses on atmosphere thoughout. A TV horror host lives near a creepy graveyard and encounters much in the way of psychological fear and thrils. For once, the horrors are all in the mind. The splendid Robert Bloch comes up with THE SHAMBLER FROM THE STARS, a straight-up pastiche in which a Lovecraft clone falls foul of an invisible terror from space. It's hugely entertaining. Lovecraft returned the favour in THE HAUNTER FROM THE DARK, in which one 'Robert Blake' encounters monstrous beings from beyond. The atmosphere is key and the locations are out of this world (no pun intended). Bloch couldn't resist writing one final story in this mini-trilogy, entitled THE SHADOW FROM THE STEEPLE, and in it one of Blake's friends investigates a mystery from the past. It's a perfect combination of detective fiction and Cthulhu lore.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, Bloch's NOTEBOOK FOUND IN A DESERTED HOUSE makes for excellent reading. The events are predictable, but the idea of having a 12-year-old narrator makes for a fresh and involving read, unique among Cthulhu fiction. We then abruptly cut to the 1960s and Ramsey Campbell's COLD PRINT, whose perverted narrator makes a change from the usual wholesome leads. The result is distinctly Campbellian in tone: cold, psychological, hugely atmospheric, and oddly sexual. Brian Lumley is well represented by two tales: THE SISTER CITY is about a young antiquarian travelling the world to encounter evil and is packed full of Lovecraftian references; the author has really done his homework here. CEMENT SURROUNDINGS is even better, and Lumley at his best; an archaeologist finds himself being stalked from Africa to Yorkshire by an underground evil, and quite brilliant it is too.
THE DEEP ONES is James Wade's follow-up to Lovecraft's THE SHADOWS OVER INNSMOUTH, and he updates the story to the 1960s complete with hippies and LSD. It's a fine attempt to do something different, even if the ending is a little rushed. Finally, Colin Wilson comes up trumps with THE RETURN OF THE LLOIGOR, as near a flawless story as you could wish for. This one's all about ancient nastiness lurking in rural Wales, and there's a ton of real-life material to back up the fictional story. The plot is far-fetched and wide-reaching to boot, and as a whole this is as unpredictable as it is enthralling.
(NB. I should note that some of the reviews here on Goodreads seem to be for a different, more up-to-date anthology. The one I read was released in 1969 and has been re-released subsequently; my copy was dated 1988. The 'latest' stories in my version are those written in the 1960s by Lumley, Campbell, and Wilson; none of this new-fangled Stephen King et al nonsense!)
Derleth kicks off his tome with a story from the master himself, Lovecraft's THE CALL OF CTHULHU. It's a classic piece of writing that serves as a perfect introduction to the Mythos for newcomers, and what's particularly impressive alongside the immersive writing is the way international events are tied neatly and precisely together in the short story form. Clark Ashton Smith is covered in THE RETURN OF THE SORCEROR, one in a sub-genre of story writing about green apprentices going to work in crumbling old mansions, getting involved in something they shouldn't. The Necronomicon makes its presence known in a superb piece of old-fashioned pulp which is even better than the Lovecraft tale that preceded it.
Smith is back for UBBO-SATHLA, this time about an occultist who comes into possession of a weird gemstone. Smith's depiction of London as a chasm on the brink of a bubbling darkness is, simply, fantastic, and this is a top read too. Robert E. Howard's THE BLACK STONE is a travelogue to ancient Hungary and viscerally disturbing - another top piece of pulp writing that really packs a punch even in the modern day. THE HOUNDS OF TINDALOS, by Frank Belknap Long, tackles the topic of time travel in a quite startling way, and the climax is particularly enjoyable. It also ties in nicely to the events described in Lovecraft's DREAMS IN THE WITCH-HOUSE.
As editor, Derleth couldn't resist including a couple of his own pastiches. Both are light, fun and breezy, if a little insubstantial. THE DWELLER IN DARKNESS concerns ancient sorcery in the Canadian wilderness while BEYOND THE THRESHOLD is all about the monstrous wind-walking creature, Ithaqua. Next is Henry Kuttner and his SALEM HORROR, in which a writer rents an old house and finds a witch's room in the cellar. Once again, it recalls DREAMS IN THE WITCH-HOUSE and is just as good, featuring gnawing rats, mouldering skeletons, and a nameless horror lurking in the depths of a pit.
THE HAUNTER OF THE GRAVEYARD is by J. Vernon Shea and focuses on atmosphere thoughout. A TV horror host lives near a creepy graveyard and encounters much in the way of psychological fear and thrils. For once, the horrors are all in the mind. The splendid Robert Bloch comes up with THE SHAMBLER FROM THE STARS, a straight-up pastiche in which a Lovecraft clone falls foul of an invisible terror from space. It's hugely entertaining. Lovecraft returned the favour in THE HAUNTER FROM THE DARK, in which one 'Robert Blake' encounters monstrous beings from beyond. The atmosphere is key and the locations are out of this world (no pun intended). Bloch couldn't resist writing one final story in this mini-trilogy, entitled THE SHADOW FROM THE STEEPLE, and in it one of Blake's friends investigates a mystery from the past. It's a perfect combination of detective fiction and Cthulhu lore.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, Bloch's NOTEBOOK FOUND IN A DESERTED HOUSE makes for excellent reading. The events are predictable, but the idea of having a 12-year-old narrator makes for a fresh and involving read, unique among Cthulhu fiction. We then abruptly cut to the 1960s and Ramsey Campbell's COLD PRINT, whose perverted narrator makes a change from the usual wholesome leads. The result is distinctly Campbellian in tone: cold, psychological, hugely atmospheric, and oddly sexual. Brian Lumley is well represented by two tales: THE SISTER CITY is about a young antiquarian travelling the world to encounter evil and is packed full of Lovecraftian references; the author has really done his homework here. CEMENT SURROUNDINGS is even better, and Lumley at his best; an archaeologist finds himself being stalked from Africa to Yorkshire by an underground evil, and quite brilliant it is too.
THE DEEP ONES is James Wade's follow-up to Lovecraft's THE SHADOWS OVER INNSMOUTH, and he updates the story to the 1960s complete with hippies and LSD. It's a fine attempt to do something different, even if the ending is a little rushed. Finally, Colin Wilson comes up trumps with THE RETURN OF THE LLOIGOR, as near a flawless story as you could wish for. This one's all about ancient nastiness lurking in rural Wales, and there's a ton of real-life material to back up the fictional story. The plot is far-fetched and wide-reaching to boot, and as a whole this is as unpredictable as it is enthralling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2023
Downgraded from 3 to 2 stars as I read another book and realised it I liked it way more than this one despite the stars.
Gave up 2/3 way into the book. There is something about Lovecraft and his followers for sure. Isolation, unknown forces, ancient artefacts, mysterious cults. And it has effect. Just like the knowledge that Apocrypha or Hermeus Mora from TES: Skyrim absolutely follows the lovecraftian tradition. Or RDR2, for that matter. Lovecraft and his followers inspired so many Hollywood tropes, too. Knowing the base for cultural references and Easter eggs in so many stories I love is great. But...
But I did find this book boring. Hellishly so. First of all, it's so repetitive. Me, a young stupid man went to see me friend/mentor/boss/father figure who happens to be a writer/curiosity collector/lecturer/wannabe magician. Weird things happen or we trigger them to happen. Or we find an artefact and fuck around with it because someone told not to. And then shit happens because it has to happen.
Tbf, the more interesting ones were not the Lovecraft's original stories but derivatives by his followers, e.g. "The Black Stone" by Conan the barbarian's author and another I forgot the title but it had brain suckers, action and explosions. The former was atmospheric and the latter - different. The rest were ok - masterful at imitation and following Lovecraft's canon, but too repetitive for my liking. If you read one, you read the rest.
Secondly - they could not resist a nasty habbit inherited from the 19th century writers. Just because you write and repeat that something is eerie or awful, or horrible, it doesn't make it eerie or awful, or horrible.
Me no like.
Thirdly - I did not like the circle jerking. I understand nods to the original, but to keep refering to Lovecraft and his geniality/whatever in every story, very directly (along the lines of "a character was reading Lovecraft, that genial hermit,BS, BS, BS) is a bit much even if you write fan art.
Fourthly - I heard Lovecraft was racist but when you literally read about some ethnicities being called mongrels, it is repulsive. Even if you adjust for times, cultural practices and eugenics. In honour of Lovecraft's followers, most tried to avoid it. Some more successfully, others - less.
So all in all - yes, cultural impact but, honestly, I did not enjoy this. Maybe will touch some Lovecraft in future for the sake of education but atm not inclined to do so.
Gave up 2/3 way into the book. There is something about Lovecraft and his followers for sure. Isolation, unknown forces, ancient artefacts, mysterious cults. And it has effect. Just like the knowledge that Apocrypha or Hermeus Mora from TES: Skyrim absolutely follows the lovecraftian tradition. Or RDR2, for that matter. Lovecraft and his followers inspired so many Hollywood tropes, too. Knowing the base for cultural references and Easter eggs in so many stories I love is great. But...
But I did find this book boring. Hellishly so. First of all, it's so repetitive. Me, a young stupid man went to see me friend/mentor/boss/father figure who happens to be a writer/curiosity collector/lecturer/wannabe magician. Weird things happen or we trigger them to happen. Or we find an artefact and fuck around with it because someone told not to. And then shit happens because it has to happen.
Tbf, the more interesting ones were not the Lovecraft's original stories but derivatives by his followers, e.g. "The Black Stone" by Conan the barbarian's author and another I forgot the title but it had brain suckers, action and explosions. The former was atmospheric and the latter - different. The rest were ok - masterful at imitation and following Lovecraft's canon, but too repetitive for my liking. If you read one, you read the rest.
Secondly - they could not resist a nasty habbit inherited from the 19th century writers. Just because you write and repeat that something is eerie or awful, or horrible, it doesn't make it eerie or awful, or horrible.
Me no like.
Thirdly - I did not like the circle jerking. I understand nods to the original, but to keep refering to Lovecraft and his geniality/whatever in every story, very directly (along the lines of "a character was reading Lovecraft, that genial hermit,BS, BS, BS) is a bit much even if you write fan art.
Fourthly - I heard Lovecraft was racist but when you literally read about some ethnicities being called mongrels, it is repulsive. Even if you adjust for times, cultural practices and eugenics. In honour of Lovecraft's followers, most tried to avoid it. Some more successfully, others - less.
So all in all - yes, cultural impact but, honestly, I did not enjoy this. Maybe will touch some Lovecraft in future for the sake of education but atm not inclined to do so.
January 4, 2015
La palabra que mas aprendí en este libro fue "omnioso" y es así como concluyen esta selección de la etapa de Mitos de Cthulhu de Lovecraft. Todo queda en historias aisladas de humanos que se enfrentan a lo indescriptible.
Podría creer que hace casi un siglo esto daría miedo, hoy con tanta capa de raciocinio en el mundo estos mitos parecen estar cubiertos por una niebla de incredulidad, y es por ello que son tan geniales y auténticos, abogan a los miedos primigenios del ser humano y es lo que les da veracidad y vigencia.
Si tuviera que elegir un favorito sería "La Sombra sobre Innsmouth", ese viaje a la decadente ciudad con toda la incertidumbre de ir descubriendo un misterio mas que evidente y con ese giro final que si bien es cliché (hoy en día) correspondería a una atracción natural a los orígenes de uno mismo y nuestra naturaleza monstruosa.
"The only way to keep the monsters at bay is to embrace them..tightly". H.P.- Lovecraft.
Podría creer que hace casi un siglo esto daría miedo, hoy con tanta capa de raciocinio en el mundo estos mitos parecen estar cubiertos por una niebla de incredulidad, y es por ello que son tan geniales y auténticos, abogan a los miedos primigenios del ser humano y es lo que les da veracidad y vigencia.
Si tuviera que elegir un favorito sería "La Sombra sobre Innsmouth", ese viaje a la decadente ciudad con toda la incertidumbre de ir descubriendo un misterio mas que evidente y con ese giro final que si bien es cliché (hoy en día) correspondería a una atracción natural a los orígenes de uno mismo y nuestra naturaleza monstruosa.
"The only way to keep the monsters at bay is to embrace them..tightly". H.P.- Lovecraft.
April 21, 2023
Als Hörbuch
Ich liebe die Stimmen von David Nathan und Joachim Kerzel, die werten das ganze noch um ein immenses Vielfach auf. Die einzelnen innerhalb des Buches vorgestellten Geschichten sind auch sehr gut gewählt - Ruf des Cthulhu war natürlich klar und auch im Vorweg bekannt. Aber die anderen 3 sind sehr gut im Kontext der gesamten Geschichte eingefädelt; ich habe hier nichts, worüber ich mich beschweren kann oder will.
Ich liebe die Stimmen von David Nathan und Joachim Kerzel, die werten das ganze noch um ein immenses Vielfach auf. Die einzelnen innerhalb des Buches vorgestellten Geschichten sind auch sehr gut gewählt - Ruf des Cthulhu war natürlich klar und auch im Vorweg bekannt. Aber die anderen 3 sind sehr gut im Kontext der gesamten Geschichte eingefädelt; ich habe hier nichts, worüber ich mich beschweren kann oder will.
April 4, 2022
Sin dudas lo mejor de Lovecraft son estas historias sobre los mitos de Cthulhu, las disfrute mucho, las catalogo como historias de terror misterioso. Este libro tengo dias que lo termine pero no lo habia reportado aqui. Quede muy emocionado por lo que leire otro libro sobre los cuentos de Lovecraft.
February 1, 2016
Good book to discover Lovecraft's universe.
November 18, 2025
✔️ The Haunter of the Graveyard, by J. Vernon Shea 11/18/2025
May 19, 2022
Confesso que sempre tive uma certa antipatia por Lovecraft. O motivo pode estar em dois pontos. Tudo que tinha tentado ler dele era repleto de uma prosa carregada de muitos adjetivos e advérbios: ‹‹Gritantemente lúcido ou entorpecidamente delirante, só os deuses antigos podem dizer. Uma sombra doentia, sensível, contorcida por mãos que não eram mãos, rodopiada cegamente por noites horripilantes de criações putrefatas[...]›› O segundo ponto é que nunca fui um grande fã do horror, seja no cinema, seja na literatura. Sempre preferi o suspense, o terror psicológico, o medo gerado pela tensão da expectativa. Lovecraft estava associado para mim com aquele universo de filmes ruins em que quando o 'monstro' aparece você mais ri do que se assusta. Porém, como muitos amigos e pessoas que eu admiro gostam do autor, resolvi dar uma nova chance e ler o box ‹‹Os Mitos de Cthulhu››.
Howard Philips Lovecraft (1890-1937) foi um escritor americano criador de uma mitologia própria e de um subgênero literário chamado ‹‹horror cósmico››. Nele o homem é um ser insignificante perante um cosmos repleto de seres mais poderosos, ancestrais e hostis. Há uma semelhança com o sentimento de terror perante o desconhecido presente na mitologia de cultos pagãos primitivos ou das antigas civilizações. O encontro com o oculto não leva ao conhecimento e a sabedoria, mas a uma subserviência às forças obscuras, a dissolução gradual da consciência até chegar ao abismo da loucura. Nesse ponto, apesar de todo o pessimismo do autor, as histórias de Lovecraft servem para nos lembrar que mesmo no mundo atual tão ‹‹avançado›› e ‹‹esclarecido›› ainda há forças do mal que nos espreitam e que nem toda curiosidade é saudável.
A edição da Nova Fronteira é uma coletânea de contos e novelas, composta de dois volumes, com tradução de Alexandre Barbosa de Sousa e prefácio de Raphael Montes. Ao longo da leitura, como o livro é organizado em ordem cronológica percebi que o estilo do autor foi se depurando de parte dos excessos e, como fui me acostumando, parece que parte da minha resistência foi vencida e as histórias que mais gostei estão no segundo volume.
https://medium.com/@danielberca
Howard Philips Lovecraft (1890-1937) foi um escritor americano criador de uma mitologia própria e de um subgênero literário chamado ‹‹horror cósmico››. Nele o homem é um ser insignificante perante um cosmos repleto de seres mais poderosos, ancestrais e hostis. Há uma semelhança com o sentimento de terror perante o desconhecido presente na mitologia de cultos pagãos primitivos ou das antigas civilizações. O encontro com o oculto não leva ao conhecimento e a sabedoria, mas a uma subserviência às forças obscuras, a dissolução gradual da consciência até chegar ao abismo da loucura. Nesse ponto, apesar de todo o pessimismo do autor, as histórias de Lovecraft servem para nos lembrar que mesmo no mundo atual tão ‹‹avançado›› e ‹‹esclarecido›› ainda há forças do mal que nos espreitam e que nem toda curiosidade é saudável.
A edição da Nova Fronteira é uma coletânea de contos e novelas, composta de dois volumes, com tradução de Alexandre Barbosa de Sousa e prefácio de Raphael Montes. Ao longo da leitura, como o livro é organizado em ordem cronológica percebi que o estilo do autor foi se depurando de parte dos excessos e, como fui me acostumando, parece que parte da minha resistência foi vencida e as histórias que mais gostei estão no segundo volume.
https://medium.com/@danielberca
February 21, 2025
Ao final de Os Mitos de Cthulhu Vol 1
Contos:
Dagon,
Nyarlathotep,
A cidade sem nome,
Azathoth,
O cão,
O festival,
O chamado de Cthulhu,
A cor vinda do espaço,
História do Necronomicon,
O horror de Dunwich,
O sussurro nas trevas.
The Call of Cthulhu ("O Chamado de Cthulhu" em português) é um conto de horror do escritor norte-americano H. P. Lovecraft, contando a investigação sobre um ser extraterrestre dos "antigos", que na mitologia lovecraftiana seriam criaturas cósmicas, vindas à Terra antes desta abrigar a vida.[1]
Cthulhu é um deus que nas primeiras páginas do conto aparece como um ídolo de argila quase indescritível, possuindo um culto multimilenar dedicado a trazê-lo de volta — um retorno que desencadearia o fim da humanidade.
O conto foi escrito em 1926 e foi publicado pela primeira vez na revista estadunidense Weird Tales (Contos Estranhos) em fevereiro de 1928.
Meu review:
Os contos do primeiro volume são curtos, densos e tensos... A linguagem usada na narrativa do Lovecraft demora um pouco para se acostumar, mas logo você não quer deixar de ler.
Bem detalhista nos contos, torna cada vez mais interessante e viciante, o terror é de ótima qualidade e temos de ter em mente que são das décadas de 30/40 ou algo assim.
Sem contar o O chamado de Cthulhu que é o clássico de todos, O horror de Dunwich e O sussurro nas trevas me fascinaram, são como disse, densos e tensos...
Os Mitos de Cthulhu Vol 2
Contos:
Nas montanhas da loucura,
A sombra de Innsmouth,
Os sonhos na Casa da Bruxa,
A coisa na soleira da porta,
A sombra além do tempo e
O habitante da escuridão.
Meu review:
Os contos do volume 2 são muito mais densos e viciantes que os do primeiro volume (que já são fantásticos), Lovecraft te deixa dentro da história, os contos Nas montanhas da loucura, A sombra de Innsmouth e Os sonhos na Casa da Bruxa, na minha opnião foram os melhores, era impossível de parar de ler até chegar ao final, eu ficava tenso a cada linha, parecia que estava mesmo dentro da história e sentia a angústia dos personagens.
Neste volume, os contos são mais longos, mais desenvolvidos e o Lovecraft está muito mais detalhista que de costume. A maioria dos contos fazem menções ao Antigos e não propriamente ao Cthulhu.
Contos:
Dagon,
Nyarlathotep,
A cidade sem nome,
Azathoth,
O cão,
O festival,
O chamado de Cthulhu,
A cor vinda do espaço,
História do Necronomicon,
O horror de Dunwich,
O sussurro nas trevas.
The Call of Cthulhu ("O Chamado de Cthulhu" em português) é um conto de horror do escritor norte-americano H. P. Lovecraft, contando a investigação sobre um ser extraterrestre dos "antigos", que na mitologia lovecraftiana seriam criaturas cósmicas, vindas à Terra antes desta abrigar a vida.[1]
Cthulhu é um deus que nas primeiras páginas do conto aparece como um ídolo de argila quase indescritível, possuindo um culto multimilenar dedicado a trazê-lo de volta — um retorno que desencadearia o fim da humanidade.
O conto foi escrito em 1926 e foi publicado pela primeira vez na revista estadunidense Weird Tales (Contos Estranhos) em fevereiro de 1928.
Meu review:
Os contos do primeiro volume são curtos, densos e tensos... A linguagem usada na narrativa do Lovecraft demora um pouco para se acostumar, mas logo você não quer deixar de ler.
Bem detalhista nos contos, torna cada vez mais interessante e viciante, o terror é de ótima qualidade e temos de ter em mente que são das décadas de 30/40 ou algo assim.
Sem contar o O chamado de Cthulhu que é o clássico de todos, O horror de Dunwich e O sussurro nas trevas me fascinaram, são como disse, densos e tensos...
Os Mitos de Cthulhu Vol 2
Contos:
Nas montanhas da loucura,
A sombra de Innsmouth,
Os sonhos na Casa da Bruxa,
A coisa na soleira da porta,
A sombra além do tempo e
O habitante da escuridão.
Meu review:
Os contos do volume 2 são muito mais densos e viciantes que os do primeiro volume (que já são fantásticos), Lovecraft te deixa dentro da história, os contos Nas montanhas da loucura, A sombra de Innsmouth e Os sonhos na Casa da Bruxa, na minha opnião foram os melhores, era impossível de parar de ler até chegar ao final, eu ficava tenso a cada linha, parecia que estava mesmo dentro da história e sentia a angústia dos personagens.
Neste volume, os contos são mais longos, mais desenvolvidos e o Lovecraft está muito mais detalhista que de costume. A maioria dos contos fazem menções ao Antigos e não propriamente ao Cthulhu.
September 21, 2019
Considered by some to be the best anthology of Lovecraft-inspired horror, the collection has its gems, but there are also some underwhelming stories as well.
Almost all of the stories are, however, engaging, and pack that cosmic horror punch, so I would recommend this anthology to every Lovecraftian.
Stand-outs for me personally:
> Lovecraft's own "The Call of Cthulhu" - No comment necessary. :)
> "Ubbo-Sathla" by Clark Ashton Smith - A precipitous fall back in time, in an attempt to uncover the secrets of primal Earth.
> "The Black Stone" by Robert E. Howard - The mystery behind an out-of-place monolith in the Hungarian countryside. I personally found the 16th century Ottoman invasion to be tied into the story very nicely.
> "The Space-Eaters" by Frank Belknap Long - Vague, but genuinely scary horror, reminiscent in tone to Blackwood's "The Willows".
> "The Dweller in Darkness" by August Derleth - A real spine-tingler.
> "Notebook Found in a Deserted House" by Robert Bloch - Well-paced and pretty tense.
> "Rising with Surtsey" by Brian Lumley - Borrows tropes from different Lovecraft stories, but does so with style. Revelation at the end - equal measure disturbing and touching.
Almost all of the stories are, however, engaging, and pack that cosmic horror punch, so I would recommend this anthology to every Lovecraftian.
Stand-outs for me personally:
> Lovecraft's own "The Call of Cthulhu" - No comment necessary. :)
> "Ubbo-Sathla" by Clark Ashton Smith - A precipitous fall back in time, in an attempt to uncover the secrets of primal Earth.
> "The Black Stone" by Robert E. Howard - The mystery behind an out-of-place monolith in the Hungarian countryside. I personally found the 16th century Ottoman invasion to be tied into the story very nicely.
> "The Space-Eaters" by Frank Belknap Long - Vague, but genuinely scary horror, reminiscent in tone to Blackwood's "The Willows".
> "The Dweller in Darkness" by August Derleth - A real spine-tingler.
> "Notebook Found in a Deserted House" by Robert Bloch - Well-paced and pretty tense.
> "Rising with Surtsey" by Brian Lumley - Borrows tropes from different Lovecraft stories, but does so with style. Revelation at the end - equal measure disturbing and touching.
August 25, 2015
Estava a fim de variar um pouco de gênero literário. Nunca havia lido nada sobre histórias de terror e me pareceu uma boa opção (por sugestão de um amigo) ler H.P.Lovecraft, que é um ícone deste tipo de narrativa. Inclusive, há uma legião de fãs que ainda cultivam as suas criações, entre eles muitos amantes do metal - Metallica gravou em seu segundo álbum “The Call of Ktulu”, um dos seus mais proeminentes contos. O link do clipe está aqui: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM0Xv....
Enfim, vou confessar que o que li não me agradou por completo, tampouco é ruim. As histórias são fantasiosas demais e o que causava medo naquela época talvez não nos cause mais. Por exemplo, seres alienígenas de outras dimensões que vagam por esta terra antes da existência da humanidade parece-me pouco palatável. Mas o conto “Sussurros na escuridão” é bom. Tem uma boa trama e te prende na leitura até o final. De qualquer modo, quando for ler este gênero prefiro que seja de outro autor. Alguma recomendação?
Enfim, vou confessar que o que li não me agradou por completo, tampouco é ruim. As histórias são fantasiosas demais e o que causava medo naquela época talvez não nos cause mais. Por exemplo, seres alienígenas de outras dimensões que vagam por esta terra antes da existência da humanidade parece-me pouco palatável. Mas o conto “Sussurros na escuridão” é bom. Tem uma boa trama e te prende na leitura até o final. De qualquer modo, quando for ler este gênero prefiro que seja de outro autor. Alguma recomendação?
September 27, 2015
Ce que j’ai aimé : Lovecraft est très fort pour explorer, décrire et amener à la folie. Dans le célèbre jeu de rôle, au fur et à mesure où on avance, on perd des points de santé mentale : en lisant ce livre aussi. Le style est souvent décrit comme peu abordable : je dirai qu’il nécessite une mise en condition, la concentration. Parce que c’est là qu’on sent toute la puissance de l’oeuvre, et que Lovecraft réussit à nous emmener et à nous plonger dans les sombres recoins de l’esprit humain. J’ai lu ça en vacances, seule, dans ma maison de la montagne, des soirs orageux, avec une bande son, que je suis obligée de citer, et que je vous incite à écouter (ne vous inquiétez pas, que de l’instrumental qui ne hurle pas
July 17, 2025
I really loved the stories. You hear so much about H.P. Lovecraft and I really wanted to read his stories when Supernatural started mentioning him. Later I want the RPG Call of Cthulhu and fall in love with it.
When I finally read it I fall in love with his way of writing and telling a story. He creates a whole world with so simple things but more than ones I found myself googling if there is really such a ryhme, really such a book. It feels so real that you could google the names and find put that it were real living people. Obviously they are not real but it feels like it.
I loved Call of Cthulhu and the thing on the doorsteps are my favorite stories.
When I finally read it I fall in love with his way of writing and telling a story. He creates a whole world with so simple things but more than ones I found myself googling if there is really such a ryhme, really such a book. It feels so real that you could google the names and find put that it were real living people. Obviously they are not real but it feels like it.
I loved Call of Cthulhu and the thing on the doorsteps are my favorite stories.
June 22, 2025
El Horror de Dunwich, de Lovecraft es fascinante, una historia realmente cautivadora.
Ahora bien, las demás del libro, las hay mejores y peores, pero en general bastante flojas.
Hay algunas que salen escenas de ASI (tanto de niños como de niñas) completamente innecesarias. Si necesitas recurrir a esto para causar miedo...
Por último, es una edición sin apenas márgenes, no invita a la lectura. Además, hay bastantes faltas y errores.
Le pongo esta nota porqué tiene el relato de Lovecraft, sinó le bajaria a las 2 estrellas.
Ahora bien, las demás del libro, las hay mejores y peores, pero en general bastante flojas.
Hay algunas que salen escenas de ASI (tanto de niños como de niñas) completamente innecesarias. Si necesitas recurrir a esto para causar miedo...
Por último, es una edición sin apenas márgenes, no invita a la lectura. Además, hay bastantes faltas y errores.
Le pongo esta nota porqué tiene el relato de Lovecraft, sinó le bajaria a las 2 estrellas.
July 24, 2018
Fue mi primer acercamiento a Lovecraft, al inicio no me atrapaban las historias, pero conforme fui avanzando, estás se fueron tornando más interesantes y más lúgubres, justo lo que estaba buscando. Estás historias van más allá de la imaginación, sin duda alguna es el por qué es llamado uno de los grandes autores del horror.
January 25, 2023
German audio book with a few short stories:
H. P. Lovecraft: Der Ruf des Cthulhu ***
Robert E. Howard: Der Schwarze Stein ***
H. P. Lovecraft & Lin Carter: Die Glocke im Turm ***
D. R. Smith : Warum Abdul Al Hazred dem Wahnsinn verfiel ***
H. P. Lovecraft : Dagon ****
Christian von Aster: Ein Porträt Torquemadas ***
H. P. Lovecraft: Der Ruf des Cthulhu ***
Robert E. Howard: Der Schwarze Stein ***
H. P. Lovecraft & Lin Carter: Die Glocke im Turm ***
D. R. Smith : Warum Abdul Al Hazred dem Wahnsinn verfiel ***
H. P. Lovecraft : Dagon ****
Christian von Aster: Ein Porträt Torquemadas ***
February 17, 2015
Llegué a la estación del metro faltando poco tiempo para que fuera la hora de verme con un buen amigo; mientras leía cada palabra, por primera vez en mucho tiempo, deseé que mi amigo tardara un poco más.
October 25, 2020
Una serie de historias de horror cósmico super geniales, en estas nos encontraremos a comienzos del siglo XX con la sombra de un mal primigenio mas antiguo que la humanidad mismo acechando. Es el libro que me introdujo a este mundo, super recomendable.
June 5, 2017
Antología entretenida. Recomendable para los fans de Lovecraft. Algunos cuentos son mejores que otros.
Quizás el mayor problema es que algunas historias no están muy conectadas con la historia que las inspiró, salvo porque ocurren en Dunwich...
Quizás el mayor problema es que algunas historias no están muy conectadas con la historia que las inspiró, salvo porque ocurren en Dunwich...
October 5, 2021
A very nice collection of shorts. Usually in a collection like this I dislike at least a few of the stories. I enjoyed them all here. Particularly, The Hounds Of Tindalos, and Jerusalems Lot. The Fritz Lieber short was also great.
July 14, 2017
Me ha gustado bastante. El mejor relato, evidentemente, es el escrito por Lovecraft pero hay otros que no han estado mal. Os lo recomiendo si os gustan los relatos de terror.
November 12, 2019
Muy buen libro, para los que les gusta el misterio. Lovecraft es un adelantado a su tiempo.
July 28, 2020
Histórico de leitura
18/05/2012
100% (200 de 200)
17/05/2012
56% (112 de 200)
"Assustadoramente possível.."
18/05/2012
100% (200 de 200)
17/05/2012
56% (112 de 200)
"Assustadoramente possível.."
August 18, 2021
Not great but nonetheless a good book.
And since so many current stories of books, games and movies are based off "C'thulu" and "the old gods" its worth reading.
And since so many current stories of books, games and movies are based off "C'thulu" and "the old gods" its worth reading.
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