Howard Phillips Lovecraft, born on August 20, 1890 in Providence, Rhode Island, died at the age of 47 without ever achieving any financial success. In his lifetime, he never experienced fame and only was able to publish some of his works in pulp magazines. Inspired by authors like Edgard Allen Poe and Robert Chambers, he created short stories and poems that captured a new kind of horror which incorporated cosmic elements, mathematics, astronomy, fictional gods and characters – which has now become its own genre. As of today he is well known as the creator of ‘Cosmic Horror’, ‘The Elder Gods’, ‘The Cthulhu mythos’ and so many more…. his short stories has inspired writers and creators like Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Junji Ito and many others who inspired by his style has put several pearls of cosmic horror out in front of us.

“That is not dead which can eternal lie,

And with strange aeons even death may die.” – H.P.Lovecraft

I recently visited a book store and was looking at the work of some of the authors and manga artists who are inspired by his genius and I got reminded that I should revisit this book “The Call of Cthulhu and other Stories ” Edited with an Introduction and notes written by Leslie S. Klinger on his birth anniversary.

The introduction is a nice read which introduces us to the life and the perspective of H.P.Lovecraft’s writing – the insecurities, the miseries, the hate, and the self deprecating thought that Lovecraft went through. The introduction also covers how his stories became famous after his death and gave rise to Lovecraftians who used his style and his characters across many of the presently famous horror titles.

After that the book has a compilation of several of Lovecraft’s famous stories, properly cited with resources and footnotes to explain and provide important background, origins, and references wherever necessary.

I belong to a category of readers who after finishing a book/story – thinks about it – makes an animation of its own in my mind and plays it forward and backward and often think about the characters and their endings. Because of this, Lovecraft’s style of writing goes very well with me as his writing leaves a lot of room for the reader’s imagination to run aloof. I would highly recommend all to revisit his work and to experience the Lovecraftian world – its characters, and mysteries.

Those who are interested should also watch this TED-ED video which provides a very nice introduction on H.P.Lovecraft and this YouTubeChannel and video which covers ‘Mythos Monday’ – Choosing the right edition and some of the great books and stories of H.P.Lovecraft.