A review by quotidianwriter
The Lovecraft Anthology, Volume 1 by H.P. Lovecraft
4.0
Graphic art is the perfect medium for these abridged tellings of Lovecraft's cosmic horror stories. Seven tales are included in total, and I'll admit that I have only read the original version of "The Call of Cthulhu," which I enjoyed despite Lovecraft's dense, showy writing style. I wanted to read this anthology to sample his other stories in a more accessible form. "The Colour Out of Space" was by far my favorite, followed by "The Rats in the Walls." I didn't care much for the others.
This book is meant to be an introduction to Lovecraft or a new way to re-experience his stories rather than a substitute for reading the originals. As with any adapted version of something, the reader loses the nuances and prose. Still, the varied artwork provides a unique atmosphere for each story, as all seven tales are illustrated by different talented artists. I especially enjoyed Alice Duke's watercolor-esque style in the last story, which was unfortunately also the shortest tale in the book.
The four-star rating is more due to my own "meh" feelings toward Lovecraft than this wonderfully curated collection.
This book is meant to be an introduction to Lovecraft or a new way to re-experience his stories rather than a substitute for reading the originals. As with any adapted version of something, the reader loses the nuances and prose. Still, the varied artwork provides a unique atmosphere for each story, as all seven tales are illustrated by different talented artists. I especially enjoyed Alice Duke's watercolor-esque style in the last story, which was unfortunately also the shortest tale in the book.
The four-star rating is more due to my own "meh" feelings toward Lovecraft than this wonderfully curated collection.