The Call of Cthulhu, by H.P. Lovecraft

[aric]

The Call of Cthulhu (Wikisource, by H.P. Lovecraft)

Lovecraft is a classic American horror/SF author who isn't very well known. A bit of a contradiction, huh? He was never a popular author in his day, but he influenced an ungodly amount of authors including L. Sprague DeCamp and Stephen King. And, copies of his stories has brought in millions to the August Derleth, who inherited Lovecraft's works after the author died.

Anyway, the genre Lovecraft writes in is, on the surface, horror. However, a closer inspection actually reveals a science fiction undercurrent. These aren't supernatural beings he writes of, but rather, extremely old and powerful aliens.

IMO, he doesn't have quite the power some people claim, though that may be because I came across him later in life. If I had read the guy in my teens, I might have had a deeper impression of the guy's works. As it stands now, the stories are still often quite entertaining, but not as earthshaking as it may be for impressionable youths.

The Call of Cthulhu is perhaps one of his most famous works. Although, I should warn you that Lovecraft was an unabashed racist and it shows in his stories. However, I can look past that and enjoy the story. If some of you are a little queasy about racism, though, then I suggest you lay off the story.

Actually, I based my now-dead Mythos story on Lovecraft's works. For those of you who actually read it, you can now read the originals in all their frightful glory!

Ia! Cthulhu Fhtagn!

- Aric

[Christopher]

Oh, Lovecraft! I really enjoyed what few short stories of his that I've read (If I recall correctly, Dagan, The Cave/Beast, and one other one that slips my mind at the moment). I have a link to a geocities site that has a good amount of his short stories written onto it, but I have the nagging feeling that it violates some copyrights. But if no one has any objections to doing that (or think grand literary work should be viewed by all without anyone hindering you from it <<) then message me and I'll send you the link.

I am a bit embarrassed to admit, though, that my first fascination with Lovecraft's writing was first inspired by the video games and Sci-fi movie that was based off his books.

[aric]

chrisindixie said:

I have a link to a geocities site that has a good amount of his short stories written onto it, but I have the nagging feeling that it violates some copyrights.

According to Wikipedia, there's no legal evidence that anyone owns the rights to Lovecraft's. Therefore, it's public domain. Besides, I just linked to Wikisource, which has a heck of a lot of published materials from Lovecraft. I don't think they'd risk legal action from those who claim to own Lovecraft's intellectual property if those folks actually had a case for ownership.

chrisindixie said:

But if no one has any objections to doing that (or think grand literary work should be viewed by all without anyone hindering you from it <<) then message me and I'll send you the link.

There's a list of works by Lovecraft on Wikisource. You will probably find it there as well.

BTW, if there IS some trouble about copyright, then tell me so that I can break the links. I personally doubt it though, but if the administration feel otherwise, then please tell me.

chrisindixie said:

I am a bit embarrassed to admit, though, that my first fascination with Lovecraft's writing was first inspired by the video games and Sci-fi movie that was based off his books.

You have nothing to be embarrassed about. The vast majority of people who get interested in Lovecraft's stuff do so not by his stories but by games and such inspired by his works.

- Aric