October / H.P. Lovecraft Reading: The Call of Cthulhu: And Other Weird Stories

Cool Air was made into a rather poor "night Gallery" story back in the 70s I believe. Night Gallery was a Rod Serling program that was a variation on his Twilight Zone programs.

While it was true that HPL said things that were racist and anti-semitic, he also married a Jewish woman. So one has to be careful about how much he said was for effect. It may be closer to the mark to say that HPL was bitter because he felt he had missed out on the 18th Century, which is the time he felt he belonged in. His idealization of the 18th Century was essentially that Britain ruled the world, and God saw it was good. This is not to say that HPL actually knew his history that well, but he was passionate about his conception of it.

This is my first time reading Lovecraft's work. I tried to pick out the stories randomly to read. I sampled Dagon, The Picture in The House and when I came to Cool Air, I'm captured. I felt the coldness, eerieness as narrated. As I read along, I kind of know what's coming up, but when the moment finally comes, it oozes horror!

Which stories would you recommend reading first? I hope to read his other stories once I have the time.

I haven't finished with the book yet, I have to read The Colour out of space and The Whisperer in Darkness. Still I am not satisfied with Lovecraft's works. I have already said that in my opinion the stories could be developed better. In spite of this I quite like The Call of Cathulhu, so may be you would like to continue with this one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alexei

I haven't finished with the book yet, I have to read The Colour out of space and The Whisperer in Darkness. Still I am not satisfied with Lovecraft's works. I have already said that in my opinion the stories could be developed better. In spite of this I quite like The Call of Cathulhu, so may be you would like to continue with this one.

---

Being that Lovecraft wrote for the pulps time was not on his side. Time was money, so get it done and get it sold. What makes his stories special is that he was able to write as well as he did in that hurry up atmosphere.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jlb4tlb

Being that Lovecraft wrote for the pulps time was not on his side. Time was money, so get it done and get it sold. What makes his stories special is that he was able to write as well as he did in that hurry up atmosphere.

---

I didn't know that :)
I have just finished the book and I still think that I don't like it so much. Still I will probably read some of his other works, so it isn't as if I haven't like the stories at all :p

Alexei,

Try At the Mountains of Madness. It's a novella, so it should be developed enough for you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dark Star

Alexei,

Try At the Mountains of Madness. It's a novella, so it should be developed enough for you.

---

Thanks, I will read it, but right now I am absolutely unable to do it. Yesterday, I decided to take all the books i am currently reading and I ended up with two small piles and I will probably keep it for later.
Actually, after I finished all the stories, I didn't really change my mind about stories being a bit unsatisfying, but there were some ideas that really started interesting me, so I would like to read more by Lovecraft. Thanks for the recommendation, I will start reading it as soon as I menage to reduce the piles a little :D