Lovecraft, HP - Little Silver Book Of Supernatural Stories
Minimalist introduction to Lovecraft is a clever one.
Nine stories here, selected and edited by HPL scholar ST Joshi.
Most are early, fledgling tales, clearly showing influences of Poe, Blackwood, Machen.
“Dagon” and “Nyarlathotep” both hint at outside forces, with perhaps cults or underlying agencies.
The backwoods lead to treasures best left undisturbed in “The Picture In The Picture In The House” as well as “The Festival”.
“He” transplants many of the same themes to Gotham, “The Hound” likewise from England.
The longest, “The Call Of Cthulhu”, Joshi saves for last, and is a tour de force. In countless collections and anthologies – rightfully so – this remains an enjoyable reread. Lovecraft masterfully weaves separate narratives, hints, whispered blasphemies, journals and ship’s logs, tightening them into a monstrous finale.
Joshi’s introduction on HPL is succinct and useful. Joshi’s editing is impeccable.