H.P. Lovecraft

[Madiac]

Im curious to see if there are any others here that enjoy reading his stories? Now, i dont read to often, but when i do start reading a book i might read daily, but Lovecraft certainly is my favorite writer, just love the combination of Sci-fi, Fantasy and Horror, perfect for my tastes, and the imagination in the stories, its hard to explain the feeling they give to me. Some of my favourite stories: "The Whisperer in Darkness", "The shadow over innsmouth", "At the mountains of madness", "The haunter of the dark", "The statement of Randolph Carter" and "Dream-Quest to unknown Kadath".  Really makes me think of all the "unknowns" of the universe, and earth!:)

[Philly Q]

Yeah, I first read them all about 30 years ago when I was a kiddie and I re-visit them every now and then.

He wasn't the greatest writer in the world but his stories do have an atmosphere that very few writers can match.  And I love the repeated references that keeping cropping up, like "gambrel roofs" and rooms with "non-Euclidean angles".  Not forgetting, of course, the dreaded Pnakotic Manuscripts and the cursed Necronomicon of the mad Arab Abdul Alhazred!!  :twisted:

[Madiac]

Yeah, I first read them all about 30 years ago when I was a kiddie and I re-visit them every now and then.

He wasn't the greatest writer in the world but his stories do have an atmosphere that very few writers can match.  And I love the repeated references that keeping cropping up, like "gambrel roofs" and rooms with "non-Euclidean angles".  Not forgetting, of course, the dreaded Pnakotic Manuscripts and the cursed Necronomicon of the mad Arab Abdul Alhazred!!  :twisted:

Haha yes, he was really good at creating an atmosphere. Now, ill admit that i dont understand some of the really old english words, and sometimes i have to read a sentance several times to make SURE that i got the right picture in my mind (a bit obsessive haha), but i just look them up and thus i learn. Sometimes though, the descriptions of a place can really go on for pages which can be a bit of a drag, but its always worth it in my opnion. Its probably the only author ive keept reading from, although i havent read that many books to be fair, so im sure theres others id like:)

Also, i wouldnt mind if someone recommended some other writers  8)

[blue]

philly's description is just what i was thinking!  he's not technically the greatest writer, but so what?  the stories are very readable and he had a fabulous way of conjuring a sense of dread.  and weirdness!  a writer called August Derleth wrote more stories based on the Cthulu mythos, i seem to remember them being quite good, although it's years since i read them.

another writer that wasn't technically great but i very much enjoy is Robert E Howard, and not just Conan.  there are various anthologies of his other stories, King Kull etc., and i have a collection of stories about an irish warrior who has joined with a group of vikings, but i can't remember what he's called  :oops:  they are basically Conan with a different name, but they're good.

[Philly Q]

If you like Lovecraft and want to read some similar stuff, try Clark Ashton Smith, Robert E Howard, Arthur Machen, August Derleth and The King In Yellow by Robert W Chambers.

For more "modern" atmospheric horror stories, the late Robert Aickman was brilliant.  And there's also Ramsey Campbell - his novels are always disappointing but his short stories are amazingly creepy.

[Philly Q]

another writer that wasn't technically great but i very much enjoy is Robert E Howard, and not just Conan.  there are various anthologies of his other stories, King Kull etc., and i have a collection of stories about an irish warrior who has joined with a group of vikings, but i can't remember what he's called  :oops:  they are basically Conan with a different name, but they're good.

Cormac Mac Art, I think?  The Solomon Kane and Bran Mak Morn stories are good too.  He wrote all sorts of adventure stories in different historical settings, some of them were even reworked into Conan stories by other authors.

Howard had a really big cult following when I was a kid in the late '70s/early '80s, then he went out of fashion.  I'm not sure how much of his stuff is in print now.

[Madiac]

Ah yes, Derleth, didnt think of him, ive known about him and his relation to lovecraft for quite a while, but never actually gave his writings a chance, will check some of his stories out whenever i start reading again, same goes for Howard, thanks!

[Denim n Leather]

Huge Lovecraft/Poe/Clark Ashton Smith/Robert E Howard fan here!

[Fourth Feline]

I remember really enjoying his story 'The Shuttered Room' as a teenager ; - but as often happens ,  the film version was dire compared to the intense atmosphere / build up and 'flesh creeping'  revelation of his original story.

In the same vein, I have often enjoyed the stories of M.R. James ; at least with those the BBC usually made a good job of translating them to screen.

[nfe]

I've never actually read Lovecraft. But he's probably responsible for as many of my favourite songs as Satan.

[Philly Q]

I remember really enjoying his story 'The Shuttered Room' as a teenager ; - but as often happens ,  the film version was dire compared to the intense atmosphere / build up and 'flesh creeping'  revelation of his original story.

In the same vein, I have often enjoyed the stories of M.R. James ; at least with those the BBC usually made a good job of translating them to screen.

Yeah, that's a good point - there's never really been a successful film adaptation of Lovecraft.  Although I have a DVD of a cheaply-made little B&W film called The Call Of Cthulhu which comes pretty close.  Re-Animator and From Beyond are fun, but they're nothing like the original stories, they don't capture the atmosphere at all.

But the BBC M R James adapations were great.  :)

[Elliot]

I liked him as a teen, great mythos, good atmosphere in his stories, but to be honest, I think he's a pretty cr@p writer - he takes too long to get anywhere, even in a short stories.  I find his plots often don't always resolve very well, or end in a predictable sort of way.

[Madiac]

I remember really enjoying his story 'The Shuttered Room' as a teenager ; - but as often happens ,  the film version was dire compared to the intense atmosphere / build up and 'flesh creeping'  revelation of his original story.

In the same vein, I have often enjoyed the stories of M.R. James ; at least with those the BBC usually made a good job of translating them to screen.

Yeah, that's a good point - there's never really been a successful film adaptation of Lovecraft.  Although I have a DVD of a cheaply-made little B&W film called The Call Of Cthulhu which comes pretty close.  Re-Animator and From Beyond are fun, but they're nothing like the original stories, they don't capture the atmosphere at all.

But the BBC M R James adapations were great.  :)

This ones looking good! Hope it gets released soon, seems promising, really gave me the Lovecraftian vibe:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQkos7WTHjg

[Philly Q]

Yeah, those are the guys who made The Call Of Cthulhu.  :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHuY2wXTd0o&feature=related

[nfe]

Talking of him as someone who creater great stories but wasn't a great writer...


I LOVE Lord Of The Rings. Love it to bits. Best stories ever created. But Tolkien couldn't write for toffee.