Lovecraft for Beginners: Where to Start

Cthulhu. Arkham. Lovecraft. You can't miss this legend in the horror genre, a man whose wild imagination changed the world. Despite his relatively short life (it’s been 88 years since he passed away at 46), he enriched literature with a phenomenon that still fascinates many today. It lives on across various media—beyond books, you can now find Lovecraft-inspired board games, PC games, gamebooks and RPGs, movies, music—you name it.

Given his influence across so many spheres, you might expect he wrote a mountain of work to keep his mythology alive and relevant for the 21st century. When we look at another founding father of a genre—J. R. R. Tolkien for fantasy, just as Lovecraft was for horror—we see his magnum opus (The Lord of the Rings) alongside so many other works expanding his world and history.

However, a closer look at Lovecraft’s work reveals it wasn't actually that extensive, despite its massive significance. H. P. Lovecraft is primarily known as the father of the Cthulhu Mythos, but his literary legacy consists mostly of short stories and novellas. This can make it tricky for readers to navigate the various editions and potential connections. We already took a look at Lovecraft's influence on horror literature in the past.

Verdict: So, what should you definitely add to your to-read list? Let's find out today!

The Call of Cthulhu

If you want to dive straight into the heart of Cthulhu, it’s worth starting with this collection of short stories. It’s just a fragment of the mythos itself, but if you’re going to venture into the world of immense horrors the author prepared for us, you might as well start with the most iconic of all the Great Old Ones.

At the Mountains of Madness

A cornerstone of Lovecraft’s bibliography is definitely this account of a scientist on a catastrophic Antarctic expedition sent by Miskatonic University. He provides testimony while trying to warn others away from similar ideas, fully aware he’ll be branded a madman.

The story introduces the ancient, alien history of Earth and blends many of the author's recurring motifs: ancient beings that once ruled the world, an interest in polar expeditions, geology, and an admiration for Edgar A. Poe. Split expedition members, mysterious tracks, groundbreaking discoveries—the stage is set for a truly unpleasant turn of events!

When they find a mention of the last city of the Great Old Ones, you can bet their fate is sealed…

Lovecraft’s original 1936 story has also seen comic book adaptations. A successful one is the two-part manga At the Mountains of Madness by Japanese writer and illustrator Gou Tanabe, who captured the dark atmosphere and horror elements of Lovecraft’s stories with his art. You can read more in our review.

The Dunwich Horror

Set in the fictional town of Dunwich, this story is essentially the core of the Cthulhu Mythos. It gives us a glimpse into the Necronomicon, the fictional work of Abdul Alhazred. The main character is Wilbur Whateley—a precocious, monstrous son of one of the lonely Dunwich families who guards part of the terrifying secret of the forbidden book. It is knowledge that no human should uncover, for the armies of evil survive, and if someone were to summon them, the apocalypse would be within reach…

I believe the titles mentioned above are the foundation of the author's mythology. However, if you're tempted to explore how the author's craft evolved throughout his life and see where his imagination wandered, the Knihy Zlín collection offers a unique opportunity to read through his collected works. Hidden within five volumes featuring beautiful illustrations by František Štorm, a dense and captivating atmosphere awaits.

The Collected Works of H.P. Lovecraft

These collected works were released individually as: The Tomb, Moon-Bog, The Call of Cthulhu Part 1, The Call of Cthulhu Part 2, and The Shadow Out of Time. Two years ago, they were re-released in a beautiful box set, making it easy to get them all at once. You can work your way through them from start to finish or choose a completely different reading order.

I started with The Tomb and worked my way through chronologically, as I’m not one for skipping around. I dove deep into the fantastic and bizarre world of Lovecraft’s prose, which either enchants the reader or repulses them—it all depends on how good friends you are with the horror genre.

In the very first volume, I was reminded of the story Dagon, which I had the pleasure of experiencing earlier this year in the gamebook of the same name. It sends shivers down your spine whether you're reading it or living it yourself with the gamebook.

Another story that stuck in my memory was The Cats of Ulthar—it seems Lovecraft was a cat lover just like me, and let’s be honest, after reading it, I look at my own feline demons with a bit more respect.

There are so many stories in the complete Works that I don't have the space to break them all down in one article. I also think you should form your own opinion—some stories you might like more, some less; we all have different tastes.

So, grab any of the mentioned books and let yourself be captivated. You’ll either fall for the Cthulhu Mythos or lose your mind just like many of the author's heroes. Give it a try and see. After all, reading is a safe hobby, right? What could possibly go wrong? Fortunately, the original Necronomicon isn't available…

Verdict: How are you doing with Lovecraft? Have you read his works? Or are you just getting started? Don't put it off and let us know on the imago Discord if you think there's a better way to get to know Lovecraft and his world.

author Jana Mrkvicová