The old gentleman from Providence

[I, Brian]

You're right, Yvien - it is definitely the atrmosphere.

Lovecraft did an excellent job of setting a whole environment up to unsettle you. Yes, there was a lot of repetition, and there was often a lack of plot or character - but it was because he wrote something more akin to landscapes than stories.

[Tsujigiri]

Hi

You can actually find most of Lovecrafts work in the form of Audio Books, I'd recommend (http://www.audiobooksforfree.com/).

There is a marvellous version of 'The Haunter of the Dark' audiobook drifting around, of which I have a cassette copy, but I can't find the original anywhere which means I can't get an original copy.

If anyone has any leads on this I'd be very pleased to hear from you.

[Mors Profundis]

Why does everybody think of HPL as an old man-he was 47 when he died of cancer.
I wonder if the story about him being lost as a child and wandering into the fish market during squid jigging season is true, the guy did not like tentacles, no not at all, all those little suckers............

[Mors Profundis]

The Necronomicon came to HPL in a dream-he wanted to call it 'The Book of the Laws of the Dead' but his Greek was faulty, and he ended up with 'Book of the Dead' or 'Book of Death'.
The tomes are one of my favorite Lovecraftian elements-in one of my tales, I invented a secret organization that went about slipping copies of the Necronomicon and others into jumble sales and used book shops-it can't be all that rare, not with all the times it pops up by accident!

[Mors Profundis]

"Starry Wisdom" churches-well, the Mormons and the Scientologists have some beliefs that strike me as kooky, but who's to judge,eh?
The Bible is full of miracles, demons and heroes-Goliath was supposed to be a nephelim, a half angel hybrid, firey chariots, angels with many faces, it goes on.
Better to believe in something, than in nothing, it gives comfort, and if it's not true, well, what's lost?

[Curt Chiarelli]

Originally Posted by knivesout

Are there any other HPL fans out here? What do you like most about his works and what are your favourite stories?

Cthulhu phtagn!!!

Is George W. Bush the hellspawn of an unholy union betwen a rabid chimpanzee and Shub-Niggurath?

One of my fondest memories was getting my grubby little mitts on a copy of The Shadow Over Innsmouth and Other Supernatural Tales during my Christmas break in my freshman year of high school and devouring it whole. It was as if the scales had fallen from mine eyes.

That was 22 years ago, but there hasn't been a day since that I haven't felt the inspirational heat of that moment.

Okay, Grandpa Theobald (HPL's pen name) suffered from an awful case of Adjectivitis pejorative and he deliberately eschewed character development in favour of a literary objectivism, but somehow that stately 18th century prose style, combined with 20th century nihlism and an operatic grandeur swept aside whatever shortcomings his tales had and infused them with a potency that has never been equaled since.

Well, the first tale of HPL's that I read was The Shadow Over Innsmouth. A very good choice that (forgive the pun) inserted the hook firmly into my cheek. Reeled in and gasping for air, I sought out his other works. Later I obtained some battered copies of the old Arkham House three volume set of his complete works from the suburban library system. Of his 65 stories, his finest ones, in my opinion, are At the Mountains of Madness, The Shadow Out of Time and The Colour Out of Space.

How about your choices?

Yours in Cthulhu,

Curt

[GOLLUM]

You sure we're not twins Curt?

Same IQs AND same fav Lovecraft books The Mountains of Madness, The Shadow Out of Time and The Colour Out of Space.

Scary...

[Curt Chiarelli]

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

You sure we're not twins Curt?

Same IQs AND same fav Lovecraft books The Mountains of Madness, The Shadow Out of Time and The Colour Out of Space.

Scary...

Ah, Dr. Herbert West would be proud to know that his cloning experiment is working out to plan, to the established time table! What, didn't you hear? He gave up the re-animation game years ago and went into genetics. He now works from an undisclosed location in North Korea.

Sure, he has to wade his way through dinner conversation with Kim Jong Il, droning on about his demented plots to invade Hollywood and force a reconciliation between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. But the money and research facilities are killer. And I hear that the barbecue pork is to die for.

[Nesacat]

It's probably the tainted blood that had been slumbering and was awakened when the first tale was read.

I started with the Cats of Ulthar and have not looked back since; though I have been spending more and more time on the beach, watching.

[Curt Chiarelli]

Originally Posted by Nesacat

It's probably the tainted blood that had been slumbering and was awakened when the first tale was read.

I started with the Cats of Ulthar and have not looked back since; though I have been spending more and more time on the beach, watching.

Hi Nesa:

Hmmm, I don't think the kitties will be able save you from the Deep Ones if they decide to invade. Just remember to keep a good pair of running shoes at hand!

[Nesacat]

But I have no desire to run. After all these many years of gathering disciples for the Elder Gods, I'm reading for R'lyeh to rise from the waves. I would like to see that city with its angles that are not quite right and then there is the Wind Walker ...

Talking about Colour out of Space (one of my favourites), have you read Michael Shea's Colour Out Of Time?

[Curt Chiarelli]

Originally Posted by Nesacat

But I have no desire to run. After all these many years of gathering disciples for the Elder Gods, I'm reading for R'lyeh to rise from the waves. I would like to see that city with its angles that are not quite right and then there is the Wind Walker ...

Talking about Colour out of Space (one of my favourites), have you read Michael Shea's Colour Out Of Time?

Speaking of non-Euclidean architecture rising up out of nowhere, if you wanted to see a preview of R'lyeh check out anything designed by architect Frank Gehry. (I've always suspected that Gehry was one of the annointed high priests of Dagon, preparing the way for the return of the Elder Gods. Watch out, we're onto you Frank! )

No, I haven't had the pleasure of reading the Shea volume, but now that you've piqued my curiousity I'm going to seek it out!

[Nesacat]

Have been looking at Frank Gehry's work and you are right Curt. He almost has to be an annointed high priest.

Shea's book is worth a read. He's managed to capture the same atmosphere and expand upon it. Actually makes the horror more frightening, if you can imagine that.

[kiwimac]

I really like Lovecraft. His "Mountains of Madness" is truly excellent. I also found the short story with the rats? in the walls truly scary (wish I could remember its name!)

Kiwimac

[Crisspin]

Originally Posted by kiwimac

I really like Lovecraft. His "Mountains of Madness" is truly excellent. I also found the short story with the rats? in the walls truly scary (wish I could remember its name!)

Kiwimac

That would be The Rats in the Walls.

You also might be interested to know that the Showtime mini-series Masters of Horror contained an episode called Dreams in the the Witch House, which is a Lovecraft story.