H.P. Lovecraft: 10 Recommendations
SHORT STORIES
The Colour Out of Space
Without question, this is his best story. A meteor arrives and what it contains wreaks havoc on a small area.
Pickman’s Model
A great introduction to the world of Lovecraft. The story revolves around a Bostonian painter named Richard Upton Pickman who creates horrifying images. His works are brilliantly executed, but so graphic that they result in his membership in the Boston Art Club being revoked and himself shunned by his fellow artists.
The Shadow Over Innsmouth
One of the best.
The Call of Cthulhu
Arguably the most famous short story by horror writer HP Lovecraft, it is also the first story to refer to and the only piece written by Lovecraft himself to actually feature the famous Eldritch Abomination who would later name the Cthulhu Mythos as other writers took over.
The Dunwich Horror
Best instance of heroic librarian.
The Thing on the Doorstep
Must be read after “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” or it loses background material.
Herbert West — Reanimator
This story was commissioned for a magazine and has a slightly different feel from his others. But I really enjoyed reading it.
LONG STORIES
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
Incantations of black magic unearthed unspeakable horrors in Providence, Rhode Island. Evil spirits are being resurrected from beyond the grave, a supernatural force so twisted that it kills without offering the mercy of death
The Shadow out of Time
Somewhere between a short story and novella. Some decent mythos referencing — read some of the others first.
At the Mountains of Madness
Recommended reading after you’ve read some of the shorter ones.
BTW
You can read all of these stories for free here: hplovecraft.com/writings
or you can hear them all here: The H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast
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ARTICLE SOURCE
For a more complete list see: Lovecraft Recommended Reading List – Cthulhu Chick
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