H.P. Lovecraft

I can in no way claim to be an “old” fan of the works of H.P. Lovecraft. I was only introduced to his stories a year ago by a good friend of mine. I started with Forsaken, Innsmouth, The Shunned House and some other versions of his work. Since reading Lovecraft’s classic horror stories, I have gained insight in some of that peculiar madness that follows his first person gothic writings. Some might even call his stories the ideas and dreams of a mad man.

Much has been stated about H.P. Lovecraft and his early life. Sadly the reality of what he lived through seems almost heartbreaking and could be a whole article on its own, but for this article I am primarily focusing on the work he left behind.

HP Lovecraft

The Outsider

The Outsider is undoubtedly one of my favourite H.P. Lovecraft novels and the first that comes to mind. I heard of the ‘Lovecraftian’ style of writing described by others as being difficult to get used to, and for me personally, this was mainly due to his tendency to start and keep writing in the first person.

Numerous tiny details enter your mind through the thoughts and eyes of the protagonist. With The Outsider details are never hidden from the reader. You are given the full truth from the beginning and yet once you reach the end of the story, you stop dead in you tracks. I remember listening to the audio book about five times in a row. The story in its whole is extremely short but very thought provoking. Saying anything more would just ruin the experience if you haven’t read the story.

The Rats in the Wall

The last descendant of a bloodline of cattle farmers, that rose to great wealth before the Civil War in America, finds that his working days are coming to an end. He decides to acquire and move to his ancestral abandoned house and moves to the local town near the estate and starts with the lengthy renovation work.

The story reads like the notes of a construction foreman: “…building the gates that lead to hell. A paranoid and fearful town scared of what was once buried. Superstitious workers, strange tales from the local inn-keeper, the diaries of his grandfather, and one damn cat“.

One of the other reasons why I included this title was due to the recent Indie Game Beta release on Steam – ‘Darkest Dungeon’. The premise of the game feels so much like a direct sequel to Lovecraft’s story.

If you’re into H.P. Lovecraft, don’t miss out on our Fandom page, dedicated to all things Lovecraft.