A review by lokster71
The Classic Horror Stories by H.P. Lovecraft
3.0
"Atmosphere is the all important thing..." says Lovecraft in his Introduction from 'Supernatural Horror in Literature', which is included as an Appendix in this collection and Lovecraft's strength is creating atmosphere. Specifically creeping terror. The way the protagonists of his stories feel that something isn't right and that more and more things seem to confirm it and gradually chip away at their sanity.
Often the stories are narrated by someone who starts off by saying: "Look you might have heard some of the story I'm about to tell but this is the full story in all its horror. But even then what happened is so weird that I might not be able to find the words to explain what I saw." The stories will be warnings not to explore a particular area or ask too many questions. Because there are things out there in wildernesses, under the Earth, in the depths of the sea, in the strange angles of a New England bedroom or in the depths of space. Things that you can't understand. Things that are so beyond your understanding that they will drive you mad.
Be afraid.
Roger Luckhurst's Introduction and End Notes help contextualise Lovecraft's stories and his influences and both are worth reading.
The problem with Lovecraft, of course, is that he's a racist. Even by the standards of his time. And it leaks through into his stories. Sometimes in little comments but sometimes, like The Shadow Over Innsmouth, it is at the core of the story.
All of that affects how you feel about the stories. Some of which are a tad over-written for me, but that is I think a deliberate choice. It helps the atmosphere of the stories.
Lastly reading these makes you realise that there will be a Lovecraftian thread in all modern horror / SF / Weird stories going forward regardless of how we feel about Lovecraft as a person.
Often the stories are narrated by someone who starts off by saying: "Look you might have heard some of the story I'm about to tell but this is the full story in all its horror. But even then what happened is so weird that I might not be able to find the words to explain what I saw." The stories will be warnings not to explore a particular area or ask too many questions. Because there are things out there in wildernesses, under the Earth, in the depths of the sea, in the strange angles of a New England bedroom or in the depths of space. Things that you can't understand. Things that are so beyond your understanding that they will drive you mad.
Be afraid.
Roger Luckhurst's Introduction and End Notes help contextualise Lovecraft's stories and his influences and both are worth reading.
The problem with Lovecraft, of course, is that he's a racist. Even by the standards of his time. And it leaks through into his stories. Sometimes in little comments but sometimes, like The Shadow Over Innsmouth, it is at the core of the story.
All of that affects how you feel about the stories. Some of which are a tad over-written for me, but that is I think a deliberate choice. It helps the atmosphere of the stories.
Lastly reading these makes you realise that there will be a Lovecraftian thread in all modern horror / SF / Weird stories going forward regardless of how we feel about Lovecraft as a person.