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The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories

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'The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories' by H.P. Lovecraft is a brilliantly written and often super scary collection of some of Lovecraft's best work. The stories in this collection delve into horror and the occult, featuring doomed characters confronting cosmic horrors. The book includes iconic tales such as 'The Dunwich Horror', 'The Music of Erich Zann', and 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward', showcasing Lovecraft's unique writing style that creates an enveloping atmosphere of dread. Readers are taken on a journey through Lovecraft's fantastical narratives, exploring themes of mystery, arcane arts, and the supernatural.

The stories in this collection are arranged in chronological order, allowing readers to witness Lovecraft's growth as a writer and his control over various prose styles. Lovecraft's writing is often described as poetic, dreamlike, and precise, immersing readers in eerie and dark realms. The book not only presents classic horror tales but also provides insights into Lovecraft's imagination and his ability to blend genres like fantasy, horror, and science fiction. With intricate plots, mysterious characters, and chilling themes, 'The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories' offers readers a glimpse into Lovecraft's macabre and captivating storytelling.

Characters:

Characters typically encounter cosmic horrors and existential challenges, often depicted as doomed and grappling with madness.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is rich and descriptive, often poetic, with a focus on creating atmosphere and emotional depth, varying according to the story's tone.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is characterized by cosmic horror, exploring themes of madness, death, and the supernatural, often involving body soul switching.

Setting:

The settings often evoke dread and isolation, utilizing both real and fictional locales to enhance the atmosphere of cosmic horror.

Pacing:

Pacing varies between stories, ranging from gradual tension-building to abrupt climaxes, reflecting each tale's thematic elements.
IN RELATING THE CIRCUMSTANCES which have led to my confinement within this refuge for the demented, I am aware that my present position will create a natural doubt of the authenticity of my narrative....

Notes:

'The Tomb' was written in June 1917 and explores themes of consciousness and perception.
Jervas Dudley finds a mausoleum of the Hyde family and waits years to enter it, inspired by Plutarch.
In 'Beyond the Wall of Sleep', a murderer dreams of other worlds and receives messages about human existence as light beings.
'The White Ship' tells the story of a lighthouse keeper's journey to mystical islands, reflecting on hope and dreams.
'The Music of Erich Zann' features an old mute musician whose haunting melodies ward off unseen creatures.
'The Temple' narrates the last days of a U-boat commander who discovers Atlantis at the bottom of the ocean.
This collection includes some of Lovecraft's best-known stories such as 'The Dunwich Horror' and 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward'.
The stories are arranged chronologically, showcasing Lovecraft's development as a writer.
'The Thing on the Doorstep' involves a creepy body-soul switching plot imbued with the arcane arts.
Lovecraft's narratives often reveal characters confronting cosmic horrors, leading to broken minds and spirits.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of insanity, body horror, death, and potentially unsettling cosmic horrors.

From The Publisher:

Part of a new six-volume series of the best in classic horror, selected by Academy Award-winning director of The Shape of Water Guillermo del Toro Filmmaker and longtime horror literature fan Guillermo del Toro serves as the curator for the Penguin Horror series, a new collection of classic tales and poems by masters of the genre.

Included here are some of del Toro’s favorites, from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Ray Russell’s short story “Sardonicus,” considered by Stephen King to be “perhaps the finest example of the modern Gothic ever written,” to Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and stories by Ray Bradbury, Joyce Carol Oates, Ted Klein, and Robert E. Howard.

Featuring original cover art by Penguin Art Director Paul Buckley, these stunningly creepy deluxe hardcovers will be perfect additions to the shelves of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal aficionados everywhere. The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories Howard Phillips Lovecraft's unique contribution to American literature was a melding of traditional supernaturalism (derived chiefly from Edgar Allan Poe) with the genre of science fiction that emerged in the early 1920s.

The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories brings together a dozen of the master's tales—from his early short stories "Under the Pyramids" (originally ghostwritten for Harry Houdini) and “The Music of Erich Zann” (which Lovecraft ranked second among his own favorites) through his more fully developed works, “The Dunwich Horror,” “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward,” and “At the Mountains of Madness.” The book presents the definitive corrected texts of these works, along with Lovecraft critic and biographer S. T. Joshi's illuminating introduction and notes to each story.

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