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H.P. Lovecraft
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Which of H.P Lovecraft's stories should I start with?
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Armand Rosamilia
Death Metal

If you are wondering which book to pick up by him then I would suggest The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories. It is one of three volumes by Penguin that are regarded as the definitive texts on the stories they contain and also contain extensive introductions and annotations by S.T. Joshi (an authority on Lovecraft).
As for particular stories to start with, I would recommend starting with one of the medium length stories from the latter period of his career such as "Shadows over Innsmouth", "Whisperer in the Darkness", "Colour out of Space" or "Shadow out of Time". Also very good from earlier in his career are "Rats in the Walls" and "The Shunned House".
N.B. "Shadows over Innsmouth", "Whisperer in the Darkness", "Colour out of Space" & "Rats in the Walls" are all contained in the Penguin collection mentioned above.
There are plenty of other great stories by Lovecraft of course, and I'm sure you'll get many different suggestions. But that's my advice.

The Del Rey editions I got my start with are out of print now, but Waking Up Screaming: Haunting Tales of Terror should still be available. If you can find the older collections, I'd recommend The Tomb and Other Tales and The Lurking Fear and Other Stories.
Mairead wrote: "I'm going to the library tonight and I want to give his work a go and see if I like it. I already like Edgar Allan Poe and Mary Shelley so I think I'll like him!
But where do I start?
Should ..."
I would suggest "Call of Cthulhu" (if you like it, you can start reading all of the other "mythos" stories as well as related stories by other authors such as Robert Bloch, Clark Ashton Smith, Ramsey Campbell, etc.) and "Dreams in the Witch House" (which is very creepy and one of my favorite stories). If you don't like either story, HPL may not be for you...
But where do I start?
Should ..."
I would suggest "Call of Cthulhu" (if you like it, you can start reading all of the other "mythos" stories as well as related stories by other authors such as Robert Bloch, Clark Ashton Smith, Ramsey Campbell, etc.) and "Dreams in the Witch House" (which is very creepy and one of my favorite stories). If you don't like either story, HPL may not be for you...

I agree that At the Mountains of Madness is one of, if not the, best story by HPL but I would save it until the end, partly because it's a novella but partly also because it's a culmination of his themes.
by the way, the adaptation of ReAnimator is not bad either. If I'm correct, there's a full-length feature with Jeffrey Combs and David Cronenberg but also a good short film with David Warner (rest in peace) in an anthology film called Necronomicon
by the way, the adaptation of ReAnimator is not bad either. If I'm correct, there's a full-length feature with Jeffrey Combs and David Cronenberg but also a good short film with David Warner (rest in peace) in an anthology film called Necronomicon

Another story that would be a good starting point, it was recommended to me was, Imprisoned with the Pharaohs. It's a more straight forward horror/adventure story.

I saw one a couple years ago, though--The Call of Cthulhu--that was done in the style of a silent film from the 20s or 30s. It was really great and captured the atmosphere of the stories really well.

Yes, I've got that on DVD. An excellent adaptation.

"The Call of Cthulhu" was an excellent movie.
Good starter stories are "Pickman's Model" and "Rats in the Wall."
Have a Great Day!!!
The "Creature"
I actually think that "Dagon" or "The Temple" make nice introductions to HPL.
For newcomers I'd also recommend:
Herbert West - Reanimator
The Call of Cthulhu
Pickman's Model
The Dunwich Horror
The Shadow Over Innsmouth
/|\(;,;)/|\
For newcomers I'd also recommend:
Herbert West - Reanimator
The Call of Cthulhu
Pickman's Model
The Dunwich Horror
The Shadow Over Innsmouth
/|\(;,;)/|\

If you are wondering which book to pick up by him then I would suggest [book:The Cal..."
Hi Simon thanks for the suggestion!
I ordered it from another library and it's on it's way to my local library now! (:

I saw one a couple years ago, though--The Call of Cthulhu--that was done in t..."
Oooh I shall have to check that out! I love old horror movies!

But where do I st..."
I've actually read his work online!
On http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0600... just to get a taste of his writing style and it's piqued my interest!!

For newcomers I'd also recommend:
Herbert West - Reanimator
The Call of Cthulhu
Pickman's Model
The Dunwich Ho..."
I would agree with all of your choices except "Dagon". I thought that particular story was pretty boring when I read it some time in the last century! But then I was only 21 at the time so maybe I might enjoy it if I re-read it now.
Greg wrote: "Horrorshow wrote: "I actually think that "Dagon" or "The Temple" make nice introductions to HPL.
For newcomers I'd also recommend:
Herbert West - Reanimator
The Call of Cthulhu
Pickman's Mo..."
My reasons for including "Dagon" is that (as Lin Carter once pointed out) the story represents an interesting prefiguring of themes that would later emerge in HPL's world of Yog-Sothothery. Indeed, multiple Lovecraft scholars have described "The Call of Cthulhu" as essentially a thorough reworking of "Dagon". Parallels between the two stories are obvious and numerous.
For newcomers I'd also recommend:
Herbert West - Reanimator
The Call of Cthulhu
Pickman's Mo..."
My reasons for including "Dagon" is that (as Lin Carter once pointed out) the story represents an interesting prefiguring of themes that would later emerge in HPL's world of Yog-Sothothery. Indeed, multiple Lovecraft scholars have described "The Call of Cthulhu" as essentially a thorough reworking of "Dagon". Parallels between the two stories are obvious and numerous.

I take your point that it would make sense to read "Dagon" early on if it prefigures "The Call of Cthulhu" but as an introduction to Lovecraft, I wouldn't have recommended it based on my own reading of the tale. But as I mentioned previously, I might enjoy it better if I re-read it.
Greg wrote: "I wouldn't have recommended it based on my own reading of the tale."
Fair enough. I doubt that many would list "Dagon" near the top of their preferred HPL tales. It's a good example though of any early piece of Lovecraft's writing that had a definite "Lovecraftian" feel as opposed to say a "Dunsanian" bent.
Fair enough. I doubt that many would list "Dagon" near the top of their preferred HPL tales. It's a good example though of any early piece of Lovecraft's writing that had a definite "Lovecraftian" feel as opposed to say a "Dunsanian" bent.


btw has anyone here read Abraham Merritt? His writting was more action than horror but still similiar to HPL to me.

Not sure if this edition is readily available over in the US but if you live in UK, this is a must buy.

Haha yes I have had several "whoop" moments lately, after finally tracking down a few books on Amazon by horror authors that have been recommended to me! ^^
I live in Ireland so I should be able to find that collection!


Bit late responding to this post, but I would, as it happens. It has always been one of my favourites. In fact, I even named my dog after it!
As a starting point, though, I would probably recommend Shadow Over Innsmouth.

I would start with something general like Pickman's Model or The Color Out of Space, neither of which requires a great deal of knowledge about the broader Cthulhu mythos. The Lurking Fear is another good read that does not require a lot of assumed knowledge.


Colour out of space and Rats in the walls also stayed with me a long time -- HPL may not be a 'good' writer, but he is a great one.





Anyway, I started with "The Call of Cthluhu" and found it to be a good introduction. (After all, why not start with his most well-known character?)
Plus, that story starts with a paragraph of assertions that are often quoted as summarizing HPL's philosophy.
suavelizard wrote: "The most known one is obviously Call of Cthulhu, however I recommend The Colour out of Space it is quite unnerving and doesn't immediately jump into a lot of the broader mythos which will give you ..."
I love the Colour Out of Space.
Herbert West - Re-Animator
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
At The Mountains of Madness
These are at the top of my Lovecraft Can't Miss List
I love the Colour Out of Space.
Herbert West - Re-Animator
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
At The Mountains of Madness
These are at the top of my Lovecraft Can't Miss List

audible has a collection of HPL's stories on sale for 5.95. yes, I know his work is public domain but sometimes those recordings can be rough.
Books mentioned in this topic
The Shunned House (other topics)The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories (other topics)
Complete Collection of H.P. Lovecraft - 150 eBooks with 100+ Audio Books Included (other topics)
Necronomicon: The Best Weird Tales (other topics)
Necronomicon: The Best Weird Tales (other topics)
More...
But where do I start?
Should I start with a volume of short stories?
Or a single story?
Or does it not matter at all because he's THAT good?
Suggestions please! (: