Edited: Peter Straub
Publishers: Library of America
ISBN 1-9310827-2-3
The following review was contributed by: SHELDON (SHELLY) WAXMAN & click to view Shelly's reviews.
Lovecraft has been called the “20th century horror story’s dark and baroque prince”. He wrote his stories from around 1920-1930. His stories are creepy but he is considered (excepting Poe) to be the creator of a new genre—pulp horror.
The Library of America, who commissioned Peter Straub to provide the best of Lovecraft’s short stories, published this book. It is a good starting point for those interested in this genre. Stephen King is the latest to make a lot of money. Lovecraft pointed the way for him.
The stories are frightful and deep into symbolism but they show Lovecraft’s interest in technical descriptions—unifying horror with science fiction. A huge fan base exists and in the ‘60’s there was even a rock band called, “H.P.Lovecraft” that was greatly copied by Metallica and Black Sabath.
If you are a fan of horror, Lovecraft is a must. These stories were chosen because they best characterized the elements that made Lovecraft who he was—a different kind of writer, who most would call a weirdo of the first order. I had some difficulty sleeping after reading some of them.
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