Lovecraft advice

[jsweet]

I've never gotten around to reading Lovecraft, but want to give it a try. I've seen a number of different collections. Any advice on where to start?

[Bev Vincent]

You can get it all for $20: H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Fiction (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions), half that if you want an eBook: The Complete Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft (Knickerbocker Classics) Kindle Edition

[frik]

Ben's suggestion is the one to get, I think. All of the stories, affordable price. If you like what you read, you can go for the Arkham editions.

http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356128434l/8320840.jpg

sk

[jsweet]

Any particular stories that are best to start with?

[killjoy72]

The Shadow Over Innsmouth
The Colour Out Of Space
The Call Of Cthulhu
Rats In The Walls

[frik]

I would go for the book Bev mentioned and read it from cover to cover.
Personally, I always like to read the works of a new (to me) author in chronological order.

http://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/fiction/chrono.aspx

sk

[ur2ndbiggestfan]

My advice is not to pronounce the words correctly if you don't want Nyarlathotep eating you.

[bugen]

You are in for a treat and a challenge and I both envy you and fear for your sanity.

I have three states of Lovecraft collections:

1. ebook - complete works. I thought it was free but maybe $1
2. B&N - complete works, pretty good quality for $20
3. Centipede (NOT Masters series, the $60 Library of Weird Fiction series)

The Centipede is by far my favorite state and it is selected works, not complete. No essays, no Dunsanian tales, and limited early (short) short stories. It's pure supernatural horror and it's 850 pages of badass. But still challenging.

He has a VERY particular, dry style, and a lot of people struggle with him, myself included for a good while. Once you learn the language that he's speaking, though, it's worth every minute you've spent stumbling around in the dark.

[jsweet]

Thanks for the advice, everyone!