Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos

by Jim Turner (Editor), H.P. Lovecraft (contributor), Clark Ashton Smith (contributor)

Howard Phillips Lovecraft forever changed the face of horror, fantasy, and science fiction with a remarkable series of stories as influential as the works of Poe, Tolkien, and Edgar Rice Burroughs. His chilling mythology established a gateway between the known universe and an ancient dimension of otherworldly terror, whose unspeakable denizens and monstrous landscapes - dread Cthulhu, Yog-Sothoth, the Plateau of Leng, the Mountains of Madness - have earned him a permanent place in the history of the macabre.

In Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos, a pantheon of horror and fantasy's finest authors pay tribute to the master of the macabre with a collection of original stories set in the fearsome Lovecraft tradition.

Contents:
- Iä! Iä! Cthulhu Fhtagn! (1990) by Jim Turner [as by James Turner]
- The Call of Cthulhu (1928) by H.P. Lovecraft
- The Return of the Sorcerer (1931) by Clark Ashton Smith
- Ubbo-Sathla (1933) by Clark Ashton Smith
- The Black Stone (1931) by Robert E. Howard
- The Hounds of Tindalos (1929) by Frank Belknap Long
- The Space-Eaters (1928) by Frank Belknap Long
- The Dweller in Darkness (1944) by August Derleth
- Beyond the Threshold (1941) by August Derleth
- The Shambler from the Stars (1935) by Robert Bloch
- The Haunter of the Dark (1936) by H.P. Lovecraft
- The Shadow from the Steeple (1950) by Robert Bloch
- Notebook Found in a Deserted House (1951) by Robert Bloch
- The Salem Horror (1937) by Henry Kuttner
- The Terror from the Depths (1976) by Fritz Leiber
- Rising with Surtsey (1971) by Brian Lumley
- Cold Print (1969) by Ramsey Campbell
- The Return of the Lloigor (1969) by Colin Wilson
- My Boat (1976) by Joanna Russ
- Sticks (1974) by Karl Edward Wagner
- The Freshman (1979) by Philip José Farmer
- Jerusalem's Lot (1978) by Stephen King
- Discovery of the Ghooric Zone (1977) by Richard A. Lupoff

Cover illustration by John Jude Palencar

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Short Stories, Fantasy, Anthologies, Science Fiction, Cthulhu Mythos

462 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1990

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iä! Iä! Cthulhu Fhtagn!…but not forever:


If the Universal Church of the Congregation of His Most Cosmically Cyclopean and Magisterial Mightiness, the Impenitent, Indomitable and Indefatigable Cthulhu (aka He With Whom One Does Not Fuck) ever designates a single tome as its bible, then this collection will surely be the one chosen as its most revered scripture*. This is the Rolls Royce of mythos anthologies with nary so much as a single turd in the sacred punchbowl.

* I must qualify this statement by pointing out that I have not yet read Cthulhurotica (hubba hubba) and if ever a book was going to challenge based on title and cover art alone, then this would be it.


Still, it seems unlikely that any work has a shoggoth's shot in Hell of unseating this ensemble of excellence.

In addition to magical sermons by H. P. Lovecraft himself, the First Prophet of Cthulhu, all of the upper-echelon, inner circle preachers of Eldrtich Doctrine are represented here: Clark Ashton Smith, Robert E. Howard, Frank Belkanp Long, Robert Bloch and August Derleth.

Yes, they are all here.

Plus a veritable who's who of the best talent to ever scratch pen across parchment in the name of "The Mountain That Walks," including Henry Kuttner, Fritz Leiber, Stephen King, Karl Edward Wagner, Philip Jose Farmer, Colin Wilson, Ramsey Campbell, Joanna Russ, Richard A Lupoff and Brian Lumley.

Are you starting to see just how inspired this work is?

THE STORIES:

While I’m not going to summarize each of the stories, I want to share the complete list of delectable nom nom nomminess included within. The selections include:

“The Call of Cthulhu” by H.P. Lovecraft
“The Return of the Sorcerer” by Clark Ashton Smith
“Ubbo-Sathla” by Clark Ashton Smith
“The Black Stone” by Robert E. Howard
“The Hounds of Tindalos” by Frank Belknap Long
"The Space-Eaters" by Frank Belknap Long
"The Dweller in Darkness" by August Derleth
"Beyond the Threshold" by August Derleth
"The Shambler from the Stars" by Robert Bloch
“The Haunter of the Dark” by H.P. Lovecraft
"The Shadow from the Steeple" by Robert Bloch
“Notebook Found in a Deserted House” by Robert Bloch
"The Salem Horror" by Henry Kuttner
“The Terror from the Depths” by Fritz Leiber
“Rising with Surtsey” by Brian Lumley
“Cold Print” by J. Ramsey Campbell
"The Return of the Lloigor" by Colin Wilson
“My Boat” by Joanna Russ
“Sticks” by Karl Edward Wagner
“The Freshman” by Philip Jose Farmer
“Jerusalem’s Lot” by Stephen King
“Discovery of the Ghooric Zone” by Richard A. Lupoff

His Dread Dreaminess is most pleased...



Amen, amen and Tekeli-li, Tekeli-li.

Now each of the above stories are gold and should be pondered, analyzed and meditated upon in order to bring you closer to His Surly Tentacleness. However, I do want to call out a few pieces that I found particularly full of awesome:

1. The Call of Cthulhu:

The best of the best. I previously gave this story a big fat hug so rather than regurgitate it, I will simply link you to my bout of gushy right here: Steve’s Gushing Praise of The Call of Cthulhu

However, I do feel the need to plop down again the best opening line of any mythos story ever and the one that encapsulates the essence of the whole shebang:

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly light into the peace and safety of a new dark age

2. The Hounds of Tindalos:

Frank Long's brilliant mythos installment featuring funky math, non-euclidean geometry, some mondo powerful psychotropic drugs and a mind-warping phildickian plot that comes together and works beautifully. This story could have escaped Long's control several times and become a bravely-intentioned mess. However, this never happens and Long produced one of the most uniquely outstanding lore stories I’ve read.

They are lean and athirst...all the evil in the universe was concentrated in their lean, hungry bodies? Or had they bodies? I saw them only for a moment, I cannot be certain.

Tis truly a religious experience for the faithful.

3. Notebook Found in a Deserted House:

Nothing uniquely mythos-related happens here but I mention it only because of how much fun I had reading it. Robert Bloch tells stories that just pull you into them and this "diary" of a young boy experiencing all kinds of jitter-causing spookiness is a great time.


4. The Terror from the Depths:

Fritz Leiber's singular contribution would only rate good if I was judging purely from a plot perspective. However, this one makes the honor role because it is a masterful homage and gushing love letter to all of the great mythos stories that came before it. During the course of the story, fragments of a dozen different mythos tales are called in to contribute. From "The Call of Cthulhu" to “The Mountains of Madness” to "The Dunwich Horror" to "Dagon" to "The Shadow Over Innsmouth"...to handful of non-Lovecraft stories (several of which are in this collection). This was a Cthulu Mythos version of Where's Waldo as well as a stroll down memory lane.

I loved it.

5. Rising with Surtsey:

Brian Lumley absolutely knocks the ball out of the park with this terrific, haunting tale that uses the mythos as a launching pad for a tale that is both cosmically vast and a deeply personal tragedy. One of the best Cthulhu tales I've read.

6. Sticks:

I am so bummed that there is not considerably more Karl Edward Wagner material to read. I snap up everything of his I can find and have loved all of it. This story exudes creepy and touches only tangentially on the mythos...but it is enough. As a horror story, this is lights out. I would have felt remiss had I not paid it homage here.

7. The Freshman:

A bizarre tale of inverted morality and sick choices as a new student arrives to learn the dark arts at Miskatonic University. You can forget about the playful magics of Hogwarts, this place and the professors will have you shitting Shaggoths in your skivvies.

For fans and followers of the mythos, this is as good as it gets. So it is written…so it shall be read. Here endeth the lesson.


All hail His Lordship Cthulhu.

5.0 stars.

[Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note, May 3, 2020: When I read short story collections intermittently over a long period of time, my reactions are similarly written piecemeal, while they're fresh in my mind. That gives the reviews a choppy, and often repetitive, quality. Recently, I had to condense and rearrange one of these into a unified whole because of Goodreads' length limit; and I was so pleased with the result that I decided to give every one of these a similar edit! Accordingly, I've now edited this one.

16 authors are represented in this collection inspired by H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, contributing 22 roughly chronologically arranged stories between them. Editor Turner, August Derleth's successor as editor-in-chief at Arkham House, provided a short but adequate introduction. Except for the two well-chosen selections by the master himself, all of these tales were new to me, so I approached the anthology with considerable anticipation --pretty much justified! I did not re-read either of the two Lovecraft stories, but both are included in The Best Supernatural Stories of H. P. Lovecraft

One of the selections written in Lovecraft's own lifetime or soon after it, Clark Ashton Smith's "The Return of the Sorcerer" is really more supernatural fiction (and an excellent example of the genre!) than science fiction; its only Lovecraftian touch is that the magical information is said to come from the Necronomicon, but the author could have substituted any invented title. In most of the other stories in this group, however, the Lovecraft connection and influence is much more obvious (the reclusive New Englander is even mentioned by name or used as a character in several of them). Smith and Robert E. Howard can even match him in the quality of their "purple prose" style. Of these tales, though, only Smith's "Ubbo-Sathla" really fully suggests HPL's own existential pessimism; and Derleth's "The Dweller in Darkness" reflects his own modification (well-known to Lovecraft fans) of Lovecraft's cosmology to include a pantheon of more benevolent Old Ones opposed to the nastier specimens. (Some) Lovecraft purists won't like this --S. T. Joshi leaps to mind-- but it's no problem for me; I don't hold any brief for existentially pessimistic horror anyway, and I see the Lovecraft heritage as something that's open for subsequent writers to shape and use in their own ways, in accordance with their own styles and attitudes. (Lovecraft himself probably wouldn't have been offended by this; by his own admission, even his own writings don't drip with existential despair in every story.) My favorites of the Lovecraft imitations are "The Dweller in Darkness" and Derleth's "Beyond the Threshold;" Kuttner's "The Salem Horror;" and Howard's "The Black Stone" --though one passage there isn't for the squeamish. (I knew that Howard wrote some Cthulhu Mythos pastiches, but this was the first one I've read --and a ripping good introduction!) Only the two stories by Frank Belknap Long didn't work for me --I felt that the characters being able to intuitively explain the supposedly unexplainable events robbed the latter of a lot of their force, and was such a logical stretch that the rubber band snapped.

Of the newer stories, two by Robert Bloch were written in 1950-51 --his older "The Shambler From the Stars" is also included-- and the next oldest stories in the book were published in 1969. So most of the stories in this group (except Leiber's) represent the work of a second generation of Lovecraft fans. Most of these don't imitate Lovecraft's distinctive style, but most definitely have the flavor and ethos of his work. (Not surprisingly, they tend to have grim plots, and "happy" endings are rare and usually qualified --often the best you can hope for is that humanity might have another chance in round 2.)

Richard Lupoff's "Discovery of the Ghooric Zone," set mostly in the far future, is (despite Turner's praise for it), IMO, the least effective story here; the combination of essentially post-human cyborg characters and digressive "historical" sections covering 1937-2337 --in reverse chronological order!-- are obviously intended to make the reader feel that our world and frame of reference are vanishingly insignificant, but they impede identification with or interest in the characters. (The sexual references appear to simply be inserted gratuitously in order to shock or gross out the reader --something Lovecraft didn't do.) Philip Jose Farmer's "The Freshman" has more to offer, with a look at a very unhealthy mother-son relationship and a warning about the unwisdom of morally compromising one's self for unworthy ends. But these are set in the pervasive context of a wildly over-the-top vision of Miskatonic Univ. ("M. U."), which doesn't reflect Lovecraft's own more realistic depiction and which fatally detracts from the story's credibility. (This story also has somewhat more bad language than any of the others, which either follow Lovecraft in having none or have very little -- though even Farmer's selection doesn't have much.)

Despite a passing reference to the Necronomicon, Joanna Russ' "My Boat" is actually not a Cthulhu Mythos story as such; it's Lovecraftian, but its inspiration comes from the fantasy side of his work (The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath is also mentioned, and plays a role in the plot). Like some of Lovecraft's own work, it has a surreal quality from the juxtaposition of different planes of reality or modes of consciousness, but it isn't horrific. It's a fine story with a very worthwhile message wrapped up in its surrealism (and happily free of the rabid misandry that animates Russ' "When it Changed"); but comparing it to the the rest of the collection is like comparing apples and oranges.

The other six stories are definitely horrific, and do an excellent job of being so. "Sticks" and "Rising With Surtsey" were my first introductions, respectively, to the work of Karl Edward Wagner and Brian Lumley --and neither of them disappointed! One of the Bloch stories, "The Shadow From the Steeple," is a sequel to Lovecraft's own "The Haunter of the Dark," (the protagonist of which, Robert Blake, was modeled directly on Bloch himself), and illustrates the theme of nuclear fear that was so common in the SF of that period. Another outstanding work here is Stephen King's "Jerusalem's Lot," set in 1850, which shares a geographical setting with his novel Salem's Lot; I haven't read the latter, and the story raises intriguing questions about how the two works relate to each other (since here the village is deserted, whereas I know that, in the novel, it starts out as populated by normal people). Ramsey Campbell's "Cold Print" is also an effective, well-written work.

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before I get surprised comments at me giving a book featuring King and Lovecraft such a low rating, just hear me out! The Lovecraft and King stories were the highlight of the collection for me and I’ll always read anything with them in it. That being said, the rest of the stories in this collection were just DREADFUL. They were so lacklustre that I wanted to cry tears of boredom! Now I’m all for authors being inspired by Lovecraft’s work and putting a Lovecraftian spin on their stories. But when it’s just a poor imitation of his work with no originality whatsoever, that’s where I draw the line!

[S̶e̶a̶n̶]

Stories read:

'The Call of Cthulhu' / H. P. Lovecraft - 5 stars

'The Shambler from the Stars' / Robert Bloch - 3 stars

'The Haunter of the Dark' / H. P. Lovecraft - 5 stars

'The Shadow from the Steeple' / Robert Bloch - 4 stars

'Rising with Surtsey' / Brian Lumley - 3 stars

'Cold Print' / Ramsey Campbell - 4 stars (I definitely need to read more Campbell)

'My Boat' / Joanna Russ - 2 stars (finding a Russ story in here was unexpected, and although it was the most original of those I read, it didn't do much for me)

[Austin Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Call of Cthulu by H.P. Lovecraft - 4⭐

The Return of the Sorcerer by Clark Ashton Smith - 2.5⭐

Ubbo-Sathla by Clark Ashton Smith - 2⭐

The Black Stone by Robert E. Howard - 4⭐

The Hounds of Tindalos by Frank Belnap Long - 3.5⭐

The Space-Eaters by Frank Belnap Long - 3⭐

Dweller in the Darkness by August Derleth - 2.5⭐

Beyond the Threshold by August Derleth - 2.5⭐

The Shambler From the Stars by Robert Bloch - 4⭐

The Haunter of the Dark by H.P. Lovecraft - 4⭐

The Shadow From the Steeple by Robert Bloch - 4⭐

Notebook Found in a Deserted House by Robert Bloch - 3.5⭐

The Salem Horror by Henry Kuttner - 4⭐

The Terror From the Depths by Fritz Leiber - 2.5⭐

Rising With Surtsey by Brian Lumley - 4⭐

Cold Print by Ramsey Campbell - 2.5⭐

The Return of the Lloigor by Colin Wilson - 3⭐

My Boat by Joanna Russ - 1⭐

Sticks by Karl Edward Wagner - 4⭐

The Freshman by Philip Jose Farmer - 1⭐

Jerusalem's Lot by Stephen King - 5⭐

Discover of the Ghooric Zone by Richard A. Lupoff - 1⭐

I skipped reading Jerusalem's Lot since I've read it multiple times already and is still fresh in memory. It's definitely one of my favorite short horror stories.
This book definitely had some good ones, with Robert Bloch's, Karl Edward Wagner's, and Brian Lumley's entries being my favorites; and Lovecraft's, of course.
The last couple of stories were so bad that I skimmed through them. Overall a very mixed collection but worth checking out if you're a fan of Lovecraftian horror.

[Marsha Altman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't give it more than three stars because the other tales are derivative, but if you've read all of Lovecraft and you want to read stuff he inspired by mostly competent horror authors, this is a great book. The stories are hit-or-miss, but I should point out that a lot of them are from the 1930's and written by Lovecraft's friends, so they have some historical relevance to the general Lovecraftian mythos. Some of the later authors, like Farmer and King, are also good, but again, it's hard to hold it up to Lovecraft and expect the same sort of prose.

(Only two or three stories are by Lovecraft. If you want to read him, go buy a Lovecraft-only book and do it properly, or listen to the radio plays)

[John Frasene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book as a whole was a bit disappointing because so few of the stories contribute to or even draw on the Cthulhu Mythos. “Raising with Surtsey”, “The Shadow from the Steeple”, and “The Hounds of Tindalos” are notable exceptions. As are the two Lovecraft stories, obviously. But many of the stories seem more like homages to HP Lovecraft by admiring authors— which is fine— but don’t result in great cosmic horror. But, the book is worthwhile for gathering the above stories as well as “Sticks”, and Stephen King’s masterpiece of short horror fiction “Jerusalem’s Lot”.

[Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some very interesting stories in this collection, and some less interesting ones. Some take Lovecraft’s ideas and run with them to new concepts, while others attempt mere homage; both of these takes have their hits ("My Boat," "The Hounds of Tindalos") and misses ("Discovery of the Ghooric Zone," "Beyond the Threshold"), but most are in between. Arranged in rough chronological order from the late 1920s to the late 1970s, Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos includes a pair of Lovecraft’s stories to “set the scene,” including my favorite tale, "The Call of Cthulhu" itself. The rest of the stories can be fun but none, with the possible exceptions of Joanna Russ’ "My Boat" and Karl Wagner’s "Sticks," really stand alone outside of "Mythos tales." Only Derleth’s tales were actually boring, though. It is interesting to see the progression of Lovecraft’s concepts and creations, the “Cthulhu Mythos,” as coined by Derleth, into the horror/fantasy/sci-fi genres, through the 20th century. Still, these stories have the most to offer for Mythos devotees who wish to know, in which story did the dread tome Unaussprechlichen Kulten first appear in or where was Y’Golonoc first mentioned?*

* Answers: "The Black Stone," Robert E. Howard (1931), "Cold Print," Ramsey Campbell (1969)!

[Myridian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of stories by H. P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, and other greats, as well as genre authors who are not traditionally Cthulhuians (Fritz Leiber, Biran Lumley, Stephen King, et.c.). The stories vary in their quality and style from the excellent, classic, Victorianesque prose of the greats, to more free-form styles of contemporary authors. I tend to prefer the former style, but some of my favorite stories also come from the more current authors. Some of my favorites were: "The Return of the Sorcerer" by Clark Ashton Smith, "The Shambler From the Stars" by Robert Bloch, and "Sticks" by Karl Edward Wagner, but none of the stories were too horrible to read (exept in the way intended).

[Edward Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we have just the right mix of modern authors as well as Lovecraft's "Mythos" peers collected into one solid volume. The Hounds of Tindalos, The Black Stone, The Return of the Sorcerer, and Jerusalem's Lot are all stand out stories and give a great primer to people that not only want to see what is out there (without Lovecraft's fingers in their pies) in regard to the Mythos, but what can easily be seen as stand-alone stories in their own right.

[Alberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insane

[Konrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviews of stories follow:

The Call of Cthulhu

By H.P. Lovecraft

This is Lovecraft’s most famous piece. However, unlike much popular fiction, the Call of Cthulhu deserves its acclaim.

The story is told in the first person, and contains some of Lovecraft’s finest prose. The opening lines are quite terrifying when considered at length:

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.

In addition, the plot itself is excellent. The story starts when the narrator’s great uncle, a Professor of Semitic Languages at Brown University, passes on, leaving the narrator as the executor of the late professor’s estate. Unlike many of Lovecraft’s stories, the plot is fast moving - there is a real sense of action as the narrator attempts to unravel a peculiar mystery.

Most importantly, the Call of Cthulhu exemplifies the style that Lovecraft is best known for - some call it cosmic horror. At its essence, however, Lovecraft leaves the reader with a sense of terror based on the unavoidable conclusion that, within the scale of the universe, the reader, and in fact all of humanity, is entirely insignificant.

This story is well worth your time. It is a classic that, at the same time, creates an enjoyable sense of tension in the reader while forcing the reader to consider concepts that most would never ponder. The Call of Cthulhu is a story that the reader will ponder long after finishing it; one that many readers will come back to - a companion for life so to speak. It can change the way that you look at the world, and how you see yourself within the world. Or, simply, the Call of Cthulhu is a classic work of weird fiction.

Rating: *****

The Return of the Sorcerer

By Clark Ashton Smith

This is the first work of Clark Ashton Smith that I read. It is also one of the better Mythos stories ever written (in my opinion). The story is simple enough - the narrator is hired by an eccentric recluse to translate passages from an ancient book written in Arabic. The book is, of course, the Necronomicon in its original Arabic form.

Smith has a genuine gift for prose, and the overall plot is excellent - Smith’s style makes it easy to suspend reality and really immerse yourself in the story. And, while the story is frightening - even horrifying - there is a strange undertone of humor throughout. All told, Smith’s style is quite unique and it is a wonder that he is not better known. Smith’s poor health may have had something to do with this. In addition, his wikipedia entry - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_A... - indicates that he may have had some personal issues as well.

And, at least as I understand it from the compilation, this may the first Mythos story written by anyone other than Lovecraft. It is definitely worth your time.

Rating: *****

Ubbo-Sathla

By Clark Ashton Smith

This is the second work by Smith in this volume (and the second that I read). It deals with a great number of interesting subjects - possession, time travel, heredity, powerful objects, cursed books, creation, and powerful entities. In addition, Smith’s take on these subjects is interesting; without spoiling the plot, a typical man - Tregardis - purchases a crystal that establishes a link between him and a powerful sorcerer from long ago.

Nonetheless, despite all of the positives, this story did little for me. It had none of the humor of “The Return of the Sorceror.” Quite frankly, while it dealt with interesting subjects, and used an interesting plot device to kick the story off, there was not much of an overall plot to the story. In addition, while I found Smith’s writing in the previous story to be detailed and lively, in this story it was just adjective heavy and droll.

Overall, this is not bad story. It’s even interesting. But, if you are just looking for the highlights, you can skip this one.

Rating: ***

The Black Stone

By Robert E. Howard

This is the first non-Conan story of Howard’s that I have read. And it is excellent.

The story starts with the protagonist learning of a “Black Stone” from a rare German copy of Nameless Cults - a book that is given a fantastic backstory (a backstory demonstrating a regrettable lack of critical acclaim). The narrator tracks the Black Stone’s location to a small village in Hungary - and naturally, his curiosity gets the better of him, and he decides to vacation there. The rest of the story is fast-paced, exciting, and, without being grotesque or horrific...haunting.

While Howard’s writing is not perfect, a few of his scene descriptions are absolutely fantastic. For example, his description of a witches ceremony is superb. In addition, the plot is quite original - even when the “monster” is destroyed, evil still persists.

This story is, in my opinion, one of the best Mythos stories I have read, and one that is definitely worth a read.

Rating: *****

The Hounds of Tindalos

By Frank Belknap Long

Let me state the underpinning of this story is innovative and interesting. It involves the use of a drug along with interesting mathematics to see backwards in time. However, with that, I did not particularly enjoy this story. It may have been the ending, which seems like you could have drawn it from any number of other mythos stories. In addition, while I will state that Long has an interesting take on dialect, and a fine grasp of language, I did not particularly care for his writing. While I cannot find the exact word for my take on it…"wooden” comes close.

Rating: ***

The Space Eaters

By Frank Belknap Long

With Bird Box in the news, and its numerous fans, this story is especially relevant. The plot, which effectively involves a monster that, when viewed, causes the death of the viewer, is novel and even exciting. However...again, Long’s writing leaves me cold.

Rating: ***

The Dweller in Darkness

By August Derleth

I was initially excited to read this story. I am a fan of Lovecraft’s works, and I enjoy many of the mythos stories by other authors. I had consciously avoided Derleth because, quite frankly, he has a dreadful reputation with many of Lovecraft’s hardcore fans. However, a few years ago, I had read Christopher Conlon’s piece on Derleth, which had referred to the “Dweller in Darkness” as excellent. After having read the story, I must admit, my opinion of Derleth has improved. However, it has not improved much.

There are a lot of positives to this story, and I will cover them below. Regretfully, this story leaves me cold, and, for all of its potential, it’s just not great.

Beginning with the positive, Derleth, at times, displays a real gift for suspenseful prose. For example, Derleth’s ability to build suspense is on full display in the following paragraph:

For it was not imagination that there was a strange aura about the lodge and the grounds. It was not alone the brooding, almost sinister stillness, not alone the tall pines encroaching upon the lodge, not alone the blue-black waters of the lake, but something more than that: a hushed, almost menacing air of waiting, a kind of aloof assurance that was ominous—as one might imagine a hawk might feel leisurely cruising above prey it knows will not escape, its talons. Nor was this a fleeting impression, for it was obvious almost at once, and it grew with sure steadiness throughout the hour or so that we worked there; moreover, it was so plainly to be felt, that Laird commented upon it as if he had long ago accepted it, and knew that I too had done so! Yet there was nothing primary to which this could be attributed. There are thousands of lakes like Rick’s in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, and while many of them are not in forest areas, those which are do not differ greatly in their physical aspects from Rick’s; so there was nothing in the appearance of the place which at all contributed to the brooding sense of horror which seemed to invade us from outside. Indeed, the setting was farther the opposite; under the afternoon sunlight, the old lodge, the lake, the high forest all around had a pleasant air of seclusion—an air which made the contrast with the intangible aura of evil all the more pointed and fearsome. The fragrance of the pines, together with the freshness of the water served, too, to emphasize the intangible mood of menace.

While Lovecraft occasionally displays a real command of language - especially in his later works - it is fair to state that HPL simply did not have Derleth’s gift for prose.

In addition, Derleth introduces a number of plot devices that, in and of themselves, are quite interesting. For example, Derleth attempts to categorize the various Mythos deities by element. While this may seem sacrilege to some, taken by itself, it could be an interesting addition to the Mythos. Also, Derleth has his main characters - a pair of college professors - utilize a dictaphone (the 1940s equivalent of a smartphone audio recorder app) - to record the strange audio that the characters expected to find in the locale they were investigating. This is a rare display of common sense by the seemingly witless mythos protagonists.

The latter point provides a convenient segway into the negative points of the plot. To start, the basic premise of the story is that a professor from a Wisconsin university, has gone missing while investigating strange occurrences at Rick’s Lake in Wisconsin (I believe this locale fictional, but it appears to be based on one of the numerous lakes in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest - in particular, I believe, based solely on my own research, that it is based on Namekagon Lake). Two of his colleagues decide to investigate his disappearance. They do this despite both agreeing that “we may not come out of this thing.” In addition, from the very start, the two professors appear to know that they are going “to face an adversary greater than any Goliath, an adversary invisible and unknown, who bore no name and was shrouded in legend and fear, a dweller not only in the darkness of the wood but in that greater darkness which the mind of man has sought to explore since his dawn.” As the story is explored in more detail, it appears that while knowledge of the Mythos deities is not widespread, it is not exactly “forbidden lore” either, as the missing professor had easily procured certain pages from the Necronomicon as well as other mysterious works, and multiple characters seem to have more than a passing knowledge of these beings.

That brings me to my opinion as to the plot as a whole, which, to summarize, the entire plot is ridiculous --- even juvenile. It is replete with glaring holes that destroy the ability of the reader to suspend reality, and the ending is truly AWFUL (yes - the caps are justified). Normally, I despise spoilers, but the ending is so dreadful that there is nothing to spoil. Nyarlathotep - one of the most mysterious and feared of the Mythos entities - visits the professors at their lodge wearing the guise of their missing companion. This is immediately after they had seen Nyarlathotep appear in a far more horrific “shambling” form in the woods. The two professors speak with the person they believe to be their companion, who, instead of obliterating them, goes up to bed. A few hours later one of them figures out that something is amiss, wakes the other, and tries to make a run for it. But wait...apparently Nyarlathotep has decided they are worth destroying, because (although he had left the lodge) he is coming back. Never fear, however, as they are able to obliterate Nyarlathotep by repeating a chant they heard from their missing companion’s voice recorded in the dictaphone that summons Cthuga (a fire spirit) that sets the entire woods on fire. The professors escape. The end.

Nonetheless, I am, again conflicted. This story has some truly interesting points, and Derleth’s prose is, at times, excellent. However, my opinion is that, as a whole, this is an average story at best.

Rating: **

Beyond the Threshold

By August Derleth

This is a far better story than Derleth’s other work in this compilation. To start, I note that the story makes clear from early on that 1) there is a threshold, 2) the threshold is dangerous and should not be crossed, 3) the threshold will be crossed, and 4) the results will be disastrous. Even with that, however, Derleth is able to create a fine Mythos story with a far more believable (if somewhat predictable) ending.

Rating: ****

The Shambler from the Stars

By Robert Bloch

Bloch is, in my opinion, the best writer in this collection, and one of the best writers in the entire genre. This story was meant as a tribute to Lovecraft, and it is a fine gift. The plot is nothing new - a seeker into the occult locates a cursed and hated book, which he takes to an associate more experienced in occult matters - the Lovecraft character in this story. And, of course, the results are quite horrific. While the plot has been done before, Bloch’s execution is superb. In particular, the writing is clear but expressive. Below is an example:

The croaking ritual proceeded, then rose on wings of nighted, hideous horror. The words seemed to writhe like flames in the air, burning into my brain. The thundering tones cast an echo into infinity, beyond the farthermost star. They seemed to pass into primal and undimensioned gates, to seek out a listener there, and summon him to earth. Was it all an illusion? I did not pause to ponder.

For that unwitting summons was answered. Scarcely had my companion’s voice died away in that little room before the terror came. The room turned cold. A sudden wind shrieked in through the open window; a wind that was not of earth. It bore an evil bleating from afar, and at the sound, my friend’s face became a pale white mask of newly awakened fear. Then there was a crunching at the walls, and the window-ledge buckled before my staring eyes. From out of the nothingness beyond that opening came a sudden burst of lubricious laughter—a hysterical cackling born of utter madness. It rose to the grinning quintessence of all horror, without mouth to give it birth.

Bloch’s prose is truly art. This story is excellent - although not Bloch’s best work in this compilation.

Rating: *****

The Haunter of the Dark

By H.P. Lovecraft

Lovecraft wrote this story as a tribute to (or counterpunch at) Robert Bloch. It is a direct response to “The Shambler From the Stars,” and contains a character modeled after Bloch (who of course must die in the end). This story was published not too long before Lovecraft’s demise, and by this point in his career, HPL’s prose had reached its zenith. The scene descriptions in this story are perhaps the finest that Lovecraft pulls off in any of his stories that I have read - he describes the view from Robert Blake’s apartment with surprising vividness, and his description of the cursed church is quite atmospheric. In addition...unlike most (if not all) of Lovecraft’s other works, there is some actual humor in this story, which features an original story that is well executed.

Highly enjoyable reading, and an excellent Mythos story.

Rating: *****

The Shadow from the Steeple

By Robert Bloch

Bloch continues Lovecraft’s story “The Haunter of the Dark.” The plot is excellent - essentially combining the Mythos with nuclear research with an extremely interesting result. In addition, the story references Lovecraft and the circle of writers that had sprung up around him) as a major plot element.

While highly enjoyable, this is not Bloch’s best story. In particular, the ending is...well, the ending is silly. Nonetheless, it’s a fine tribute to Lovercraft and worth your time.

Rating: ****

Notebook Found in a Deserted House

By Robert Bloch

My favorite story by Bloch in this compilation. The plot is awesome and the writing is excellent. Briefly touching on the plot, a young man out in “the country” is assailed by strange persons. He barricades himself in a house and begins to piece together that his assailants are not, by any definition, run of the mill.

This is one of my favorite stories from this compilation, and an awesome Mythos story.

Rating: *****

The Salem Horror

By Henry Kuttner

Kuttner, perhaps writing from experience, tells a story of a writer attempting to get over writer’s block by changing his surroundings - in this case, moving into an old house in Salem, Massachusetts. The writer finds out that a former tenant of the house - a Miss Abigail Prinn - still possesses an influence over the home. While a few plot elements are overdone - how many bloody copies of the Necronomicon are there? - overall, the story is very enjoyable, and Kuttner is a skilled writer. I will go so far as to state that I intend to look up more works by Kuttner as his writing is that good - it is a wonder that I have never heard of him before.

Rating: *****

The Terror From the Depths

By Fritz Leiber

This is an awesome story. Leiber tells a story of a frail young man with a truly interesting lineage. I really felt some of the protagonists struggles, and it was quite easy for me to suspend disbelief while reading the story. Another way of saying this...the plot makes sense - as I went through the developments of the plot and learned of the backstory of the characters, I found myself saying “it makes sense that he reacted that way.” That makes the inevitable horror story ending even harder to take.

I think this story is a masterpiece.

Rating: *****

Rising with Surtsey

By Brian Lumley

I have not read too much by Brian Lumley, although I understand he is an extremely popular writer. Aside from this story, I recall an awful vampire story (sorry - my opinion), a novel that I could not finish (I don’t recall the title) and a well-done ghost story called “A Place of Waiting” or “The Waiting Place” or something similar. The last story was excellent...as is this one.

The plot again features a writer...who has been imprisoned for killing his brother and co-author. The plot is original, and the writing is clear and interesting. I really enjoyed this story - in fact, I will likely give some of Lumley’s better known works another shot.

Rating: *****

Cold Print

By Ramsey Campbell

I have greatly enjoyed a number of Ramsey Campbell stories. This one, on the other hand, is just “meh.” The protagonist is unsympathetic...I actually rooted for his demise. And the plot is difficult to believe.

Rating: **

The Return of the Lloigor

By Colin Wilson

This is the first work by Colin Wilson that I have read, and it is quite good. The plot is engrossing - it actually involves decoding the Voynich Manuscript, along with customs that can be traced (at least on the Internet) to various sites in the UK. In addition, Wilson loops in a variety of Mythos authors and works into the actual story. Finally, Wilson’s writing is superb.

A great Mythos story.

Rating: *****

My Boat

By Joanna Russ

I did not like this story, but will say that the plot is innovative.

Rating: *

Discovery of the Ghooric Zone

By Richard Lupoff

Awful

Rating *

[Whiskey Tango]

Cthulhu is a creature of enormous size and malevolent intent. The creature was created by H.P. Lovecraft and has since been featured in the writings of numerous authors. Cthulhu, one of the Old Ones, is generally described as having an octopoid head atom a grotesque and scaled humanoid body with rudimentary wings. Its hands are described either as claws or possessed of long talons. Cthulhu is most-fully described in The Call of Cthulhu; the name is spelled in alternate ways in some of the other stories in the collection. Cthulhu is significant for lending its name to the entire sub-genre as well as for becoming a sort of pop culture icon.

Nyarlathotep in multiple stories
Nyarlathotep is a fictional creature with malevolent intent; it is frequently referred to as the Crawling Chaos and its identity is occasionally conflated with that of other Old Ones. Nyarlathotep is variously described as nearly human in appearance or an amorphous shifting cloud of inky blackness. Nyarlathotep is generally considered to be more active than the other Old Ones, and its motivation is generally more intelligible and anthropomorphic than the other Old Ones. Nyarlathotep is featured in Derleth's The Dweller in Darkness, among others. Often portrayed as a messenger or representative of the collective will of the Old Ones, Nyarlathotep makes more personal appearances than most of the other beings in the Cthulhu Mythos.

Hastur, Azathoth, and Shub-Niggurathappears in multiple stories
Hastur is a fictional creature with malevolent intent; originally mentioned by Lovecraft only in passing, it gained prominence with other writers of Cthulhu Mythos tales. It is usually described as vastly large and unintelligible in motivation, though clearly evil and vile. Azathoth is a fictional creature with malevolent intent; originally created by Lovecraft, it gained prominence with other writers of Cthulhu Mythos tales including Derleth and Campbell. It is usually described as vastly gigantic, usually as large as a planetary body, and is usually said to have numerous servants orbiting about. Shub-Niggurath is a fictional creature with malevolent intent; originally created, but not described, by Lovecraft, it gained prominence with other writers of Cthulhu Mythos tales including Derleth, Bloch, and Campbell. Shub-Niggurath is unusual inasmuch as it is usually considered to be female; it is often also called the black goat of the woods with a thousand young, indicating flagrant fecundity. Bloch's Notebook Found in a Deserted House gives a quite exact description of Shub-Niggurath.

Arthur Machenappears in multiple stories
Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author of supernatural and horror fiction. Machen studied history during early schoolwork and published poems and short stories at a quite early age. Machen's work through the 1890s featured Gothic and fantastic themes leading gradually into tales of decadent horror. Machen's literary output declined in the 1900s, though his early work saw a revival during c. 1922 as American writers, including the Lovecraft circle, began to rediscover his work. Authors in the current collection who are generally held to have been heavily influenced by Machen include Smith, Howard, and Campbell; Lovecraft considered Machen a master of horror and was heavily influenced by his writing. For example, Machen's The Novel of the Black Seal uses a narrative construction technique mirrored in The Call of Cthulhu. Machen is mentioned in several of the stories in the collection.

Edgar Allan Poe appears in multiple stories
Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849) was an American poet, writer, and critic. He is usually considered to be part of the American Romantic Movement and is best remembered for his tales of the macabre. Most of Poe's work focused on mysterious or strange events and his literary influence is considered to be enormous. Poe was a favored source of inspiration for Lovecraft and nearly all of the other members of the Lovecraft circle, and Poe is mentioned in several of the stories in the collection.

H.P. Lovecraft appears in multiple stories
Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890 - 1937) was an American writer of horror and fantasy tales then known as weird fiction. Lovecraft's central fictional preoccupation was the concept of cosmic, irrational horror, such that the universe is fundamentally amoral, malevolent, and alien—and is beyond the ability of the rational, human mind to comprehend. Many of his stories feature this element of cosmic horror and share additional construction elements; these tales comprise what is often referred to as the Cthulhu Mythos. Lovecraft's work was not particularly widely read during his lifetime but was popularized, posthumously, largely through the efforts of August Derleth. By the mid 20th century, however, his reputation had grown such that it was on a par with Poe. Lovecraft is generally considered to have held racist views and to champion an Anglo-centric world-view; such elements are in any case often evident in his fiction.

August Derleth appears in multiple stories
August Derleth (1909 - 1971) was an American writer of horror and fantasy tales, as well as the founder of Arkham House, a company that published the writings of Lovecraft. Derleth was a friend and correspondent of Lovecraft and coined the phrase "Cthulhu Mythos" to describe the shared stories of Lovecraft, Derleth, and others. After Lovecraft's death, Derleth founded Arkham House in 1939 and published the collected works of Lovecraft. Later, Arkham House published Derleth's works and works of other authors. Derleth also utilized numerous Lovecraft outlines or partially completed stories in posthumous collaborations, leading to some criticism. Derleth's use of the Cthulhu Mythos varied considerably from that of Lovecraft. While Lovecraft proposed an amoral and unintelligible universe, Derleth favored a more codified and traditional approach. Thus, Derleth's writing positions the Old Ones as evil beings in opposition to good beings of roughly equivalent ability; this cosmic vision aligned more closely with Derleth's Christian beliefs. Derleth also codified the Old Ones and attempted to align them with various elemental forces such as earth, water, air, and fire. A fictionalized Derleth appears in some Lovecraft stories under the pseudonym 'le Comte d'Erlette'.

Robert Bloch appears in multiple stories
Robert Bloch (1917 - 1994) was an American writer of various genres including horror. Bloch is remembered primarily for his novels, but also produced numerous short stories. He was a friend of Lovecraft and other members of the Lovecraft circle, and Bloch's early works are clearly heavily influenced by that association. Bloch made considerable contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos, first introducing the often-cited texts De Vermis Mysteriis and Cultes des Goules. A fictionalized Bloch appears in some Lovecraft and Cthulhu Mythos stories under the pseudonym 'Robert Blake.' Bloch's presentation of Lovecraft as the victim in The Shambler from the Stars was seen by both men as a humorous courtesy, or homage. Lovecraft returned the favor in The Haunter of the Dark. Bloch's most famous work, Psycho, relies on realistic horror rather than supernatural horror, but shares many construction elements with his earlier works.

Clark Ashton Smith appears in multiple stories
Clark Ashton Smith (1893 - 1961) was an artist and author of fantasy and horror fiction. Smith was a friend of Lovecraft and other members of the Lovecraft circle, and Smith's early works in horror fiction are markedly influenced by that association. Smith's contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos include Tsathoggua and the wizard Eibon, whose book appears in the current collection. Lovecraft held Smith's work in high regard, particularly his sculpture and art. Smith is referred to in the current collection by name, and appears fictionalized in some Lovecraft stories as 'Klarkash-Ton.' Many of Smith's stories were originally published by Arkham House, though after Lovecraft's death Smith largely abandoned writing weird fiction for sculpture.

Frank Belknap Long appears in multiple stories
Frank Belknap Long (1901 - 1994) was an American writer of horror and fantasy fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Despite a prolific and prolonged output, he probably is best remembered for his early contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos. Long published a biography of Lovecraft and an autobiographical memoir. Long was a friend and correspondent of Lovecraft, known to have exchanged over 1,000 letters, some running to eighty pages in length. Some of this correspondence was published by Arkham House. Long was also a member of the Lovecraft circle, and is widely considered to have written the first Cthulhu Mythos story not authored by Lovecraft—The Hounds of Tindalos. Long's contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos are foundational.

[Wolky · Rating 3 out of 5]

So like, shockingly and bluntly racist. It's almost funny how explicitly racist. There's no reading between the lines necessary he just strictly associates bad things with people of color directly, as a frame of reference for the reader on how fucked up what he's about to write is.
But beyond that, it was really cool to see the guy inventing the wheel on what a nihilistic, science horror looks like. You're small and meaningless, and the humans who do understand are grey academics who don't care about you either. The pacing is much slower than his followers, who trust us to know the tropes.
I'm not going to say worthwhile, but interesting I guess.

[Nick Chianese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for those (like me) who've read everything by Lovecraft and are clamoring for more. With only a few exceptions, it's a solid collection of cosmic horror that successfully captures the tone and feel of his work, compared to the more recent and failed attempts like "Weird Shadows Over Innsmouth". Mini-reviews of the individual, non-Lovecraft stories below:


The Return of the Sorcerer (9/10): Very fun, almost Evil Dead II-esque in nature

Ubbo-Sathla (6/10): Well-written, but a bit basic and anti-climactic

The Black Stone (9/10) - After a muddled start, becomes very violent and has some chilling implications. Probably the most Lovecraftian story I've read that wasn't written by H.P. himself

The Hounds of Tindalos (7/10) - Required reading, as it’s the very first Mythos story not written by Lovecraft. Has some interesting mythological ideas, but somewhat forgettable overall.

The Space Eaters (7/10) - Some nice imagery and campiness, but doesn't particularly standout

The Dweller in Darkness (8/10) - Messes with the mythos (turning things into good versus evil, as August Derleth is known to do) but otherwise creepy, entertaining, and even fun in a meta-textual way

Beyond the Threshold (6/10) - A nice set-up, but becomes no more than a hodgepodge of Lovecraftian tropes

The Shambler from the Stars (7/10) - Doesn't break new ground narratively, but rather fun and darkly comic when viewed as a semi-autobiography with a twist

The Shadow from the Steeple (6/10) - “Haunter of the Dark” sequel with a decent twist, but sloppily told and convoluted

Notebook Found in a Deserted House (7/10) - Has a great set-up/told from the perspective of a 12-year old, but forgettable overall

The Salem Horror (8/10) - Clearly inspired by “Dreams in the Witch House”. Not as great as that tale, but still good fun and the rat (although no Brown Jenkin) is effectively creepy

The Terror from the Depths (7/10) - Leiber is too wordy of a writer (and not in an interesting, archaic way). But it's fun to see how he manages to reference nearly *every* Lovecraft story and also incorporate him within the world

Rising with Surtsey (7/10) - Conventional, yet memorable, and has a nice framing device. Lumley's syntax can be a bit stilted, but a nicely told narrative

Cold Print (4/10) - Perhaps Ramsey Campbell's British phrasing is too jarring for me, but his scenes feel horribly sloppy and spatially confused to the point that it’s hard to determine who is where, and when. His characters are either annoying or underdeveloped. His creature is a nicely creepy design, but otherwise it's a total failure that shouldn’t be considered a Mythos story

The Return of the Lloigor (8/10) - Hindered by a convoluted, exposition heavy opening. But otherwise, very strong

My Boat (6/10) - Well written, but undercut by a weak ending, and not very Mythos-esque

Sticks (8/10) - Creepy and refreshingly different. It firmly feels like it belongs in the Mythos, but it doesn't resort to referencing or directly incorporating Lovecraft himself like so many of the other tales

The Freshman (5/10) - Makes the silly decision of turning Miskatonic University into an evil Hogwarts. Also, it feels like the beginning to a larger novel as supposed to a complete, contained short story

Jerusalem’s Lot (9/10) - Excellent. One of the few that works as a standalone story, not explicitly referencing Lovecraft, yet still very much incorporating his style and themes

The Discovery of the Ghooric Zone (3/10) - Nonsensical sci-fi dreck. But admittedly, it’s not my cup of tea. Might be more enjoyable for those who enjoy hardcore futuristic science fiction.

[N. M. D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I avoidereading things inspired by or directly related to Lovecraft. I've never really found the idea of reworking someone else's ideas appealing. There's a sort of audacity to it. That doesn't mean I've never read anything directly connected. If you read any short-form horror, you've read Lovecraft-related stories, whether you realize it or not. His touch is inescapable. He is a primary thread woven into the fabric of the genre. And I've generally found these too be corny and hokey. That's pretty true for this batch too.

The first chunk are from the 20s and 30s and are written by members of the so-called Lovecraft Circle: writers who had direct contact with Lovecraft during his life. It then jumps over the period of his relative obscurity and lands at the 70s, when his work had a resurgence.

This book is 22 stories in 450 pages. I don't have room here for all my feelings, which vary across the whole spectrum. The good was good, the mid was mid, but the bad was really bad. Dishonorable mentions to:

August Derelth
Big thanks to him for keeping Lovecraft's legacy alive, really, but he never should have been a writer. Publishing was his calling. He doesn't just stand on the shoulders of a better writer, but swims gleefully in his shadow, completely overtaken by in inky blackness.

Frank Belknap Long
Interesting ideas but laughably, painfully terrible writing, almost beyond belief. Melodramatic dialogue, absurd conveniences, and forces older than time and space being dispelled with cross waving.

Ramsey Campbell
Wow. Just wow. Why is this guy famous? How did he ever even get published? The dialogue and character actions make no sense, the metaphors are awful, and the homophobia didn't win it any points either. This doesn't belonging in the lowliest fanzine, so much a proper book.

Fritz Leiber
The story is actually pretty good, but decency points deducted for using Lovecraft's actual death as part of the plot.

Philip Jose Farmer
Bland writing and stereotypical characters populating a sleazy version of Miskatonic University that feels like evil Hogwarts for adults.

Richard A. Lupoff
I hated almost everything about this story except for the skeleton of its plot. There's an idea in there, but the telling was agony. Sleazy cyberpunk and outrageously massive info dumps of world-building suitable for a 500-page novel in a 20-page tale.


I lament, daily, deeply, religiously, that people creating in Lovecraft's name, be it writing or visual media, almost never seem to hit the mark, and sometimes veer so widely away from the target one assumes they took the shot while facing the wrong direction. The most interesting bit knowledge I got from this collection is that this has, in fact, always been the case, even when Lovecraft was still alive, and even when crafted by people that personally knew him.

If you're interested I'm something like this, I recommend H. P. Lovecraft's Book of Horrors. It with Lovecraft's essay Supernatural Horror in Literature, a fantastic outline of the genre up to that point, and is followed by many of the stories mentioned in the essay. If you like it, H. P. Lovecraft's Book of the Supernatural is a continuation of the concept. These stories aren't homages or pastiche, and are approved by the man himself.

[Jeff Stockett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was an excellent introduction to the mythos. There were several stories that were truly chilling. Some of the best stories were:

The Call of Cthulhu - The story that started it all. I love exploring things through the point of view of an investigator as he uncovers layer upon layer, finding out about the cult of Cthulhu and ultimately discovering the truth behind it all. The description of Cthulhu was awesome and terrifying.

Notebook Found in a Deserted House - This story helped me really feel the terror of the main character. Possibly because the main character was a small boy so I was viewing the world from his perspective but it left me with chills.

Jerusalem's Lot - This one really took advantage of the fear of the unknown. It didn't describe anything particularly gruesome until the end, and yet it did a fantastic job of filling the reader with unease at the quiet solitude of the town of Jerusalem's Lot.

Sticks - This one started off with a bang by giving the main character a terrifying experience, but then it followed the rest of his life as that experience changed him. Ultimately it gave an excellent surprise ending that leaves the reader frightened.

So those four were my favorites, but then there were several others that were really good. And then, unfortunately, there were several others that were kind of bland. Many of them tried to use the same formula as "The Call of Cthulhu" which was that an investigator begins discovering something but then the horror gets too great and they end up dieing. Unfortunately, they didn't always do it as well as the original and the formula got old after the 4th or 5th time. But, despite the few lesser ones, the good ones are really good and far outweigh the less interesting ones.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me weeks to finish this book. And I really wanted to read it. Cthulhu is fundamental, and every time I read Call of Cthulhu I want to read Terry Pratchett's Jingo. And I think about Buffy. And Hellboy. And Ozzy. And Girl Genius. And Sandman. And Merciful Fate. And Darkover. And The Eternals. And Metallica. [And I could go on]. But all of the overt and unconscious racism and sexism makes it tough going.

There’s a lot of good writing here. Not just Lovecraft, but Fritz Leiber! Stephen King! Joanna Russ!

But reading this excellent compilation makes me realize that unmitigated horror just doesn’t hold my attention. Yeah yeah eldritch, yeah yeah mucous. Yeah yeah, seminal texts of my genre. But horror unmitigated by humor and/or radical feminist agenda just doesn’t hold my attention. HPL put his thumb on the terror that lurks just past what we can see. But it’s the terrors I can see that worry me. Hail unknown! There might be Vulcans.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

An mixed bag of short stories, two by H.P Lovecraft (including the classic, The Call Of The Cthulhu), and the others are by authors who have been influenced by him. All of the tales are set in the Cthulhu world of weirdness or reference certain characters or books that Lovecraft created. Whilst some of my closest friends are huge HPL fans, I approached this anthology as more of a horror and short story lover.

Some of the stories are really weird and creepy, a couple were just painfully dull to get through and a few had a lot of racist/sexist references which annoyed me (but I can understand the times in which they were written originally - most of these are from the 1920s onwards so its to be expected to some degree).

My favourites were The Return Of The Sourcerer by Clark Ashton Smith, The Space Eaters by Frank Belknap Long and Jerusalem's Lot by Stephen King.

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh... Some of the authors / stories were alright, others - not so much. I'm happy that I finally had a chance to read the original Lovecraft Call of Cthulhu. I'm not sure how I felt about how self-referential the ancillary authors were to the writing of others perpetuating the Cthulhu mythos as though it were a real, academic, historical field. It was kind of annoying to me. The stories that were stand alones (King's Jerusalem's Lot, for example - referenced a book that came up multiple times in other stories, but stood on its own).

Perhaps I'll read a collection of just Lovecraft tales at some point, but for now, I'm sufficiently satisfied with this collection as an introduction to the Thing That Should Not Be to leave the universe it resides in well enough alone for the time being.

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

If nothing else, this book taught me that I am apparently not a fan of Lovcraftian fiction. Sure, "The Call of Cthulhu" is a fun read, and certainly a classic in the sci-fi pantheon, but the slew of imitations that this book collects from Lovecraft's contemporaries and correspondents were cookie-cutter boring. Scientist/writer/philosopher discovers occult object, researches it against the advice of others, goes crazy and/or dies. The end. Of the stories I did read, Joanna Russ's "Our Boat" and Stephen King's "Jerusalem's Lot" were the true standouts, though it must be said that not even King did something particularly novel with the Lovecraft mythos.

[Hunter Duesing · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect primer to Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos as expanded by his contemporaries and disciples, as well as Lovecraft himself. This book is full of Lovecraft-inspired wierd fiction of highest quality, with entries by authors such as Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, Philip Jose Farmer, August Derleth, Robert Bloch, Stephen King, and Lovecraft himself. This is the perfect launching pad for those looking to discover short genre fiction in the vein of Lovecraft's twisted and frighteningly unique imagination.

[Richard Houchin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The greatest fear is fear of the unknown," said HP Lovecraft. I have never met a soul who did not...appreciate...the genius of Lovecraft's historical works. Cthulhu ftaghn!

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The verbose gentleman with bean-reeking breath slithered heinously off the pages.

[Félix D'Jesús · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sticks by Karl Edward Wagner 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

[Nashid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learning about the mythos from the classics

[Groobly Grimble Gromble · Rating 5 out of 5]

HP Lovecraft and Others: Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos

• “The Call of Cthulhu” – H. P. Lovecraft – 5/5 What else is there to say? This story has it all. It’s already a beefed up and improved version of Lovecraft’s other story “Dagon,” plus it adds numerous other intriguing elements such the cult and horrifying sculpture. The ending sequence involving a ship stumbling across R’lyeh and encounter Cthulhu himself was great.

• “The Return of the Sorcerer” – Clark Ashton Smith – 4.5/5 Very creepy story involving a guy who murdered his sorcerer twin brother and hires the main character to translate the Necronomicon, in hope to find an incantation to protect him from his undead brother’s revenge. The dismembered body parts of the sorcerer were unsettling, but the creepiest part was the almost mechanically rhythmic footsteps the lich twin made.

• “Ubbo-Sathla” – Clark Ashton Smith – 5/5 Awesome story that melds time travel with Gnosticism and primeval terror. I loved the atmosphere of the opening, the mystery of the crystal sphere, and the horrifying fate of the main character and his wizard forebearer.

• “The Black Stone” – Robert E. Howard – 4/5 This is a solid mythos story. The imagery of the monolith and the castle-like hill it sat on was perfect. The spectral ceremony witnessed by the main character was truly grotesque and disturbing. The possible surprise appearance of Tsathoggua was a nice bonus.

• “The Hounds of Tindalos” – Frank Belknap Long – 5/5 Geometric imagery of the higher planes gives this story a nice flavor; reminding me of “The Dreams in the Witch-House” The otherworldly and relentless beings that act like extradimensional hellhounds.

• “The Space Eaters” – Frank Belknap Long – 5/5 Horrifying story that reads like an R rated episode of The Twilight Zone. The modus operandi of these demonic aliens was absurd but terrifying. Their weakness to the Sign of the Cross was reassuring.

• “The Dweller in the Darkness” – August Derleth – 3/5 The first section of this story was eerie and interesting, building up the terror and mystery of the abandoned lodge and the people who have disappeared or died in the area. The vanished priest whose body is found preserved in a tree was a memorable touch. The second half of this story is where it loses me, as it introduces Lovecraft’s stories as existing within this fictional world and tries to put an elemental categorization on these ancient entities.

• “Beyond the Threshold” – August Derleth – 3/5 This story, like many of Derleth’s, feels more like a half-baked pastiche of Lovecraft. He once again tries to introduce elemental categorization to Cthulhu and his cohorts. The revelation that the threshold the old man has never crossed is the painting’s was also pretty easy to predict.

• “The Shambler from the Stars” – Robert Bloch – 5/5 I enjoyed this short, simple, but highly effective story. The main character’s desire to simply learn more about the occult and esoteric for his weird fiction writing was a relatable motivation and the lore surrounding De Vermis Mysteriis and Ludvig Prinn was fascinating. Finally, the Star Vampire, or Shambler, whatever you want to call it was downright terrifying.

• “The Haunter of the Dark” – H. P. Lovecraft – 5/5 A story where the setting is one of the most important characters. I think this story is the quintessential “person stumbles across remote place where something creepy happened and clues give information” story. Also features one of the coolest forms of Nyarlathotep.

• “The Shadow from the Steeple” – Robert Bloch – 4/5 If “The Shambler from the Stars” is the Godfather, and “The Haunter of the Dark” is the Godfather Part II, then Bloch’s “The Shadow from the Steeple” is like Godfather Part III; it is not as good as the first two preceding stories, but is not as bad as others have made it out to be. This story, unlike Derleth’s, uses Lovecraft in a metatextual way I enjoyed; and Nyarlathotep is creepy and more low-key in this tale.

• “Notebook found in a Deserted House” – Robert Bloch – 5/5 I felt more saddened than unnerved by the ending of this story and the fate of its young protagonist. The strange cult, weird rocks and well, and the imposter cousin were all effective elements. Only part that took a bit for me to adjust to, was the adult way the child told the tale.

• “The Salem Horror” – Henry Kuttner – 4.5/5 This eerie tale is reminiscent of “The Dreams in the Witch-House,” one of my favorite Lovecraft stories. I found the corpse-like undead witch very unnerving, especially in the final scene.

• “The Terror from the Depths” – Fritz Leiber – 4/5 This is another metatextual pastiche of Lovecraft, this time with a particular emphasis on subterranean horror, similar to “The Lurking Fear,” “The Mound,” or “The Beast in the Cave.” The story uses effective imagery, particularly the winged worms that burrow below the ground. Those with a fear of being consumed by a sinkhole, will find this story very effective.

• “Rising with Surtsey” – Brian Lumley – 4.5/5 Pretty solid pastiche of several Lovecraft stories, notably “Out of the Aeons” and “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward” two of my favorites. The possessed brother with his dark glasses was a devilishly sinister antagonist. The ending describing the new island was a solid closer.

• “Cold Print” – Ramsey Campbell – 5/5 Absolutely awesome and atmospheric story that you will especially enjoy if you enjoy old books and bookstores. I love stories with a lot of dusty book imagery. Y’golonac is also one of the coolest elder entities in the mythos, as the conditions for attracting his attention is terrifyingly subtle.

• “The Return of the Lloiger” – Colin Wilson – 5/5 This is a great meta pastiche of Lovecraftian horror and various other interesting components. The story hooks you with intrigue surrounding the very real Voynich Manuscript before delving into interesting lore involving Mu, Ghatanothoa, and the titular Lloiger. Any story referencing Lovecraft’s highly underrated “Out of the Aeons” is already getting brownie points from me, but the addition of interesting characters like the Colonel Urquart and the nefarious gypsy patriarch Chickno elevate this tale even higher.

• “My Boat” – Joanna Russ – 4/5 This was a wonderfully dreamlike tale that harkens back to the Dreamlands side of the mythos. The transformation of the small dingey into a supernatural luxury yacht was memorable, as well as the fate of the boy who went along on the boat.

• “Sticks” – Karl Edward Wagner – 5/5 Awesome story. The first section alone was perfect. Loved the Blair Witch vibes and enjoyed the twist at the end. Any story that uses the word “lich” to describe an undead sorcerer gets bonus points. I also loved the numerous pulp references; the whole story felt like a love letter to the weird fiction genre.

• “The Freshman” – Philip Jose Farmer – 4/5 This was an enjoyable tale that shines a light on Miskatonic University and its students, fraternities, and professors. I think it is cool to see what it might actually be like to attend such an occult college. At times in this story, Miskatonic University reminded me of a more adult version of Hogwarts, with students learning strange magic and people getting cursed and dying on a regular basis.

• “Jerusalem’s Lot” – Stephen King – 3/5 This story is kind of forgettable. It has some good elements, like the abandoned town with its eerie church and forbidden book, but other than that one aspect, the tale falls flat for me.

• “Discovery of the Ghooric Zone” – Richard A. Lupoff – 4/5 As a science fiction futuristic Lovecraft story, this tale stands out, reminding me a bit of Lovecraft’s own forays into sci-fi. The worldbuilding was interesting, but the future history was unintentionally hilarious from a modern perspective.

[Ricardo Moreno Mauro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nada que decir...

[Israeliano · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is a (Cthulhu) Mythos Story? First of all, it's difficult to say 'this or that', since Lovecraft himself didn't keep a fixed pantheon nor system, but a theme is recurrent:

All my tales are based on the fundamental premise that common human laws and interests and emotions have no validity or significance in the vast cosmos-at-large.

This is what Lovecraft wrote. If your tale includes that central them; one of the many deities mentioned by Lovecraft himself, Clark Ashton Smith or August Derleth (the most prominent figures to expand this universe); and it's a horror story: you have a Mythos story! But horror is not a hard requirement, as https://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-... has proven. Neither is the old pantheon, as Ramsey Campbell has his own.

Thus, the task of selecting "Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos" is quite hard. And August Derleth, with revisions by Jim Turner (which is the version I'm reviewing) did a great job to select a bunch of diverse stories. Starting with the Cthulhu Mythos story, The Call of Cthulhu, by the master himself; with early spawns in The Return of the Sorcerer, Ubbo-Sathla, The Black Stone and The Hounds of Tindalos; the classical trilogy The Shambler from the Stars, The Haunter of the Dark and The Shadow from the Steeple, where Robert Bloch and Lovecarft killing each other in turns; early expansions by Derleth in The Dweller in Darkness and Beyond the Threshold; stories trying to get hold of the cosmic horror feeling like The Space-Eaters, The Salem Horror and The Terror from the Depths; horrors beyond our comprehension taking its toll on the protagonists (Rising with Surtsey, Cold Print, The Return of the Lloigor); different takes on the mythos universe (My Boat, The Freshman and Discovery of the Ghooric Zone); and plain a simple great stories (Notebook Found in a Deserted House, Sticks and Jerusalem’s Lot).

This collections, having ups and downs, is mostly ups and the downs are just early takes or different takes of the Mythos, thus, even if they are not the best stories out there, they are at least academically interesting.

My favorites? That's hard, because of the many great stories. Obviously, The Call of Cthulhu is up there. If you haven't read this one yet, you should stop doing whatever you are doing and read it. Clark Ashton Smith could describe how paint dries and it would turn into a good story, if you add dismembered bodies (The Return of the Sorcerer) or lost continents (Ubbo-Sathla), you get a great story. The Black Stone is one of the greatest stories ever written, it's so vivid, so clear, I can just close my eyes and se the votaress dancing with blood sputtering all over my face. The Haunter of the Dark is one of Lovecraft's best story, and that's high praise. Rising with Surtsey kept me entertained from start to end. Notebook Found in a Deserted House, Sticks (inspired in the life of Lee Brown Coye) and Jerusalem’s Lot are just great.