So over the last few months I've been listening to a number of works by H.P. Lovecraft (audio book format) and I have worked on a list consisting of my favourite stories so far. Obviously this will be shortened for both simplicity and I will try to avoid spoiling too much (as spoiler free something that was published between the 1920's - 1940's can be).
My own personal opinion of Lovecraft himself is this, I find his stories to be highly well written and engaging, but as for the man himself, he was very much a product of his time (which is a polite way of saying I strongly disagree with his views on a number of things that we as a society have progressed forward since those times..........for the most part anyway). As such, the words used in reference to those of African appearance or Natives of various cultures tend to be that of a derogation nature, so just a heads up when reading some of these stories.
As for it being called the Cthulhu Mythos, I feel that given the Necronomicon features far more heavily then that Cthulhu did in his works it should have been named after the book, but then it wouldn't have been as catchy I guess. But enough of my stupid opinions, on to the list.
1. Herbert West - Reanimator
Possibly the one I've re-listened to the most. The tale is a recount of a series of events surrounding Herbert West by his friend and somewhat willing accomplice, starting from their time as students at the Miskatonic University in the city of Arkham leading all the way up to the ultimate fate of Herbert West. The story shows how one man's attempts into trying to prove their theory of reanimated a human body can go down a very dark path and that sometimes such a path has its own consequences.
2. Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family
A nice short tale about Arthur Jermyn, his tragic death and his family history that leads to the ultimate answer as to why. I'd go into more detail, but this one you really have to read to understand how it all works together.
3. Cool Air
A short tale told from a narrator as he recalls the tale of a time where he sought residence best suited to him and how he came to meet a Doctor who lived above him. The Doctor lives in a room that he claims must be kept at a constant cool temperature and his own theories about how a human can live, even after his body has failed by pure willpower alone.
4. The Dunwich Horror
One of Lovecraft's more famous works, this tale takes place in the old and decrepit village of Dunwhich and is about the Whateley family, of Yog-Sothoth and the unnatural events leading to the rampage of the thing that would be known as the Dunwich Horror. Most of the story is about Wilbur Whateley, the grandson of a man the villages call Old Wizard Whateley, his growing up and his eventual quest to Arkham to seek a more accurate version of the Necronomicon. From here it then turns towards the Horror itself and the events leading to its ultimate fate and what it is.
5. The Thing on the Doorstep
So from what I've seen on reviews for this one, it is rated as one of Lovecraft's lesser tales, mostly due to the obviousness of things. To me however, if you have the right voice talent for an audio book format, it actually works well. Essentially it is a story about Occult magic and mind transference, with the 'thing on the doorstep' being something that's more to the end of it. Regardless of what others thought, I enjoyed this one.
6. The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
Oh boy, this story is perhaps the biggest of the lot. As the title says, the story is about a man name Charles Dexter Ward and trying to piece together the pieces about his life, the point when he went mad and leading to his subsequent disappearance from the mental asylum he was sent to. Of course, it goes a lot deeper then that and it takes a number of turns and recounts as each chapter reveals more of the mystery and by the end you have the full picture of what truly happened to Charles Dexter Ward.
7. The Cats of Ulthar
Simply put, don't mess with Cats. In short, the story tells of the event that would bring the town of Ulthar into creating a law to make it illegal to kill a cat. You may never look at a group of cats the same after this.
8. The Rats in the Walls
Having spent a number of family generations in America, one of the last surviving members of the Delapore family (once called De la Poer, but changed when the last of the family left England due to some tragic/mysterious event) returns to the families original family estate and to the dismay of the locals, plans to restore it to its former glory. Unfortunately, sounds in the walls start to upset the cats and soon the stories of the past lead to investigations into the family history and the history of the estate. The ending is quite something.
9. The Colour Out of Space
A surveyor out to check a large set of land that is to be used as a water reservoir for the city of Arkham hears tales about avoiding a section of grey baron wasteland called the blasted heath. While the locals won't tell him much, he learns of a man whom he hopes to get information from. He is told a story about a meteor crash that took place years before and the events that took place after it, leading to the land being the way it is. As with all good tales, the haunting twist is quite nice.
10. The Shadow over Innsmouth
So if you have ever heard the term 'Deep Ones' in relation to Lovecraft lore, this is the prime spot to learn of them. The story is told as an account long after the Government had did a massive quarantine and raid of the decayed fishing town of Innsmouth. Starting as a simple side trip of curiosity on his way to Arkham, the narrator tells of his time in Innsmouth, of the strange people, his prying out of the crazy history of Innsmouth and his eventual escape from Innsmouth. It that wasn't enough, there is a great twist to the end of the story, with some clues thrown in here and there through out it, but ultimately wrapped up well in the end.
11. The Call of Cthulhu
Obviously to leave this out is to miss the entire point of why Lovecraft's cosmic horror is so beloved in modern day fandoms. The Call of Cthulhu is the tale of Francis Wayland Thurston and his quest to find the truth behind the notes left by his recently deceased grand-uncle. It is broken down into three main parts, the dream records of a patient named Henry Anthony Wilcox, a story told to an academic meeting by a police official trying to find more information about their Cult raid with another academic giving their own tale about something similar based on a statue the officer brought from said raid and the final one being about an Australian article in 1925 about a sole surviving sailor and his strange story, with Francis seeking the sailor for his own version of events. It is The Call of Cthulhu that gives us not only a glimpse into his power, but a physical description and a rough location where he and his city resides. This is the being that is the marketing face of Lovecraft's work and its modern day popularity, so this is definitely a must read.
If your into things like cosmic horror or just wanting to learn more about Lovecraft's work, these are just some of the stories you could check out.
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