This year I resolved to read more classic science fiction and fantasy, hopefully making a dent in that stack of books I really should have read by now. Mostly because they should be good books, but also to be better informed about my genre and its history. I decided that this meant reading six science fiction and six fantasy books written before 1980 by authors that were completely new to me.
Since I feel weird saying I’m “reviewing” giants like H.G. Wells and T.H. White, let’s just say these will be my reactions to books that have shaped the science fiction and fantasy genres in one way or another.
Up this month is “The Cats of Ulthar” (1920), “The Outsider” (1921), “The Call of Cthulhu” (1926), “The Dunwich Horror” (1928), and “At the Mountains of Madness” (1931) by HP Lovecraft.
The Complete Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft (2016)
Written By: H.P. Lovecraft
Genre: Horror
Pages: 728 (Kindle)
Publisher: Chartwell Books
Why I Chose It: Cthulhu. The idea of Cthulhu is so pervasive, referenced in so many books, games, and pop culture that I felt like I needed to finally check it out, if only so I’d know what the heck everyone is talking about. Also, I really wanted to see why the “Father of Horror” is the “Father of Horror”.
Premise:
Howard Phillips Lovecraft was an American author of fantasy, horror and science fiction.
He is notable for blending elements of science fiction and horror; and for popularizing “cosmic horror”: the notion that some concepts, entities or experiences are barely comprehensible to human minds, and those who delve into such risk their sanity. Lovecraft has become a cult figure in the horror genre and is noted as creator of the “Cthulhu Mythos,” a series of loosely interconnected fictions featuring a “pantheon” of nonhuman creatures, as well as the famed Necronomicon, a grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works typically had a tone of “cosmic pessimism,” regarding mankind as insignificant and powerless in the universe.
Lovecraft’s readership was limited during his life, and his works, particularly early in his career, have been criticized as occasionally ponderous, and for their uneven quality. Nevertheless, Lovecraft’s reputation has grown tremendously over the decades, and he is now commonly regarded as one of the most important horror writers of the 20th Century, exerting an influence that is widespread, though often indirect. (From this edition of Lovecraft’s complete works; there are numerous volumes of his work in existence, and many of them have no introduction.)
Spoiler Free
Discussion: I enjoyed these a lot. More than I thought I would. I’ve had a couple false starts with Lovecraft before but never gotten more than a page or two in for various reasons. But this month I started with a couple of his shorter stories and that just made me want more.
From what I’ve read so far, I wouldn’t say Lovecraft is particularly scary, but he is the master of creepy and a subtle growing dread, which I actually prefer to psychological horror like It. I don’t really like being scared but that shivery creeped out feeling that you get from too many tentacles and triangles that are just a little off is very satisfying when I’m in the right mood. And seriously, what is it about tentacles that humans find so awful?
If you’re looking to get into Lovecraft, “The Outsider” and “The Cats of Ulthar” were both quick, easy reads with creepy mysteries at the center and “The Horror of Dunwich”, while a bit longer, was a great monster story with some dark magic thrown in.
As for “The Call of Cthulhu”, I thought this would be a good intro to the Cthulhu mythos. And it was pretty indicative of the monster itself, but I read way too much speculative fiction to be really scared by a big squid monster that’s somehow inherently evil. So “The Call of Cthulhu” didn’t really do it for me. But mysteries and bodies showing up where they have no right to be…that’s shudder worthy to me. So “At the Mountains of Madness” was much more my speed.
I loved the exploration aspect of it and its roots in paleontology and prehistoric biology. I have a degree in biology and I think it another life I would have loved digging up dinosaurs so the science of it really appealed to me. And with some lovely creepy mysteries this one seemed tailor made for me.
There’s a lot of complaints about Lovecraft being racist and classist and considering the way he wrote about rural communities and people of color, yeah, I can definitely see that argument. And since there was only one pitiful example of a woman in all five stories I read, we can probably add sexist to that list. But given the other classics I’ve read so far in this project – 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Time Machine, A Princess of Mars – let’s just say he’s not the only example of this.
Conclusion: I’m really loving Lovecraft so far. I felt like I got a good introduction to his work and in retrospect I can definitely see his influence in plenty of the dark fantasy and horror I’ve read. As with 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, I really like having this perspective on the genre. Since I’ve only read five out of sixty-three of his stories, I have plenty of reading for the future.
Next month I’ll be reading The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White. Who’s up for some King Arthur?
I found Lovecraft pretty underwhelming. Describing something as ancient, slimy, and green does not make it terrifying! The Cthulu boardgame is good though.
I first read Lovecraft in my early teens and he sent me to the dictionary more than any other writer. (Not that I’ve ever had much use for the vocabulary.) I remember being around 13 and reading “The Horror in the Museum” in a Michigan cabin full of my family in broad daylight and being scared silly. I don’t think his style has aged well and these days he’s easily dismissed as overwritten, but along with Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard, his name on a book was an automatic buy for me. Lately his racism is extremely off-putting–far more extreme than his predecessors and contemporaries and that makes his name on awards tough to swallow. I remember a passage in one story disparaging of Polish laborers which surprised and disappointed me. Yet I can’t deny his influence. Kristen Dearborn’s “Whispers” is an excellent tribute story based on HPL’s story of the same title. (Not sure where she published it.) As an antidote to HPL’s racism, I strongly recommend LOVECRAFT COUNTRY by Matt Ruff and Jonathan Howard’s CARTER & LOVECRAFT series.
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY was excellent. Also WINTER TIDE by Ruthanna Emrys.