A review by molochthagod
Dagon by H.P. Lovecraft

5.0

This was the first Lovecraft story I've ever read. I was probably about 16 or 17. The gradual descent into the dark and hideous disgusting slime, with corpses of some strange sea creatures and a sky as black as the terrestrial expanse beneath it, as effectively horrific as it is, only gives way to revelations of more dreadful and mind-expanding nature. These revelations crash upon the reader with the weight of buried centuries, the placement of our species within the deep time and the endless space, and the exposure of the lurid recesses of human psyche. It's difficult to say more without spoiling, because it is a short story. But, personally, I believe this is the best introduction to Lovecraft and his brand of horror. It is the ultimate Lovecraftian story, featuring many of the trademark tropes attributed to the subgenre, and one that delivers them in a succinct and effective way. A quick, increasingly nightmarish trip that culminates with one of the most iconic images in horror history.