Which H.P. Lovecraft book should I read.

[Sparrowsabre7]

I've only read "Call of C'thulu and other weird tales", it's a compilation of his stories, I definitely recommend it as an introduction to his work.

I second this. Penguin has published 3 compilation books which covers most all his "Cthulhu mythos" works. I've read 2/3 "Call of Cthulhu..." and "Dreams in the Witches House" or something to that effect.

The former is a fantastic and varied romp through the deepest recesses of psychological torment. "Dreams..." is plain ****. I wanted to like it and some of the stories were rather good, but the majority is taken up with a massively long and boring dream-based tale which is neither horrifying nor interesting and seems an excuse for ol' H.P. to invent a new creature with a silly name every five minutes.

 

[Sparrowsabre7]

So, yeah. It's not just a story about scary fish men. The "hidden" nature of this particular iceberg of paranoia and disgust is his intense fear of any community of immigrants from a country besides his beloved England. The moral and message is this: If your English dad married a lady from Morocco or wherever then you're just as subhuman as her and will eventually "turn into one." It's a diatribe against interracial marriage. As the son of an interracial couple, I cannot express how repugnant that is.

His beloved England? He was American. Also his cat was named "n-word man" (as the cat in one of his books) which he was very fond of. I find it a little bizarre that someone would name a favourite pet after something they supposedly hate and fear.

Also : it is possible to enjoy someone's work without supporting the person's ideals. Look at all the people who play Shadow Complex with abandon despite the views of its writer (who is alive and still espousing these views). Going even further, many of us play videogames in which we kill people, hundreds often, but that doesn't mean we support murder.

I'm not saying people should read racist texts for fun, but an analogy between an otherworldly creature and a race that was considered inferior at the time could easily be read into just about any monster-based work out there.

 

[SquidVicious]

The Penguin classics editions also contain an explanatory notes section to give you some more insight as well as a background to the stories to help them make a little more sense.

 

[4173]

snip

I'm not sure why that needs to matter.* One of the best features of art is that it transcends the individual artist and can take on personal meanings. That his stories have evolved beyond their origins into something that creates meaning, not only on a personal level, but a shared meaning for a diverse group of readers is great. If anything, the continued popularity of Lovecraft's work as horror stories (and nothing more**) is a loud refutation of any possible bigotry in their origins. In effect, the bigoted ideas are so ludicrous, cosmic horrors are more credible.


*When it comes to the work. Certainly, you are welcome to determine what is important personally for yourself.

**Nothing more for most of the audience.