[Abe Sargent]

As mentioned in a post in the general forum, I am interested in doing a dynasty where I read one of the great horror short stories in the Cthulhu Mythos. Then I post my own review and synopsis.

Here is how this dynasty will run:

1). I'll post what the next story in the dynasty is, and if possible, I'll supply a link to where you can find it on the Net. Then I'll wait a day or two before posting my review. This gives any reader a chance, if they want, to read the story. Some of the stories that I will be reading are among the most influential short stories in the history of horror literature.

2). Then I post my review and synopsis, and we can comment on the story, you can post your own thoughts if you've read it, and so forth. I'll also provide a historical perspective on many of these stories.

And thus the dynasty would go, slowly moving over the face of the great Mythos stories.

So, let's try it out! The first short story that I am going to review is "The Call of Cthulhu." You have to start with this story. It is easily one of the top ten or maybe even five most influential horror short stories of all time and the originator of the Mythos.

If you are interested in reading The Call of Cthulhu, clck your mouse at:

hxxp://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/thecallofcthulhu.htm

And give it a read!


I will post more on the Mythos and this story in particular a bit later. I hope to post my review and synopsis on Friday, but if I can't, expect it over the weekend.


Good luck!


Let's include an updated Table of Contents, in case folks want to catch up. These are the stories we've read and discussed thus far:


1). The Call of Cthulhu, by HP Lovecraft; 4.5 stars
2). The Shadow over Innsmouth, by HP Lovecraft 5.0 stars
3). The Dunwich Horror, by HP Lovecraft, 4.0 stars
4). The Haunter of the Dark, by HP Lovecraft, 4.0 stars
5). At the Mountains of Madness, by HP Lovecraft, 4.0 stars
6). The Colour Out of Space, by HP Lovecraft, 4.5 stars
7). The Tale of Satampra Zeiros, by Clark Ashton Smith, 4.0 stars
8). Ubbo-Sathla, by Clark Ashton Smith, 3.5 stars
9). The Seven Geases, by Clark Ashton Smith, 5.0 stars
10). The Black Stone, by Robert E. Howard, 4.0 stars
11). The Thing on the Roof, by Robert E. Howard, 3.0 stars
12). The Fire of Asshurbanipal, by Robert E. Howard, 4.0 stars
13). Worms of the Earth, by Robert E. Howard, 4.0 stars
14). The Hounds of Tindalos, by Frank Belknap Long, 3.0 stars
15). The Shadow out of Time, by HP Lovecraft, 2.0 stars
16). The Challenge from Beyond, by CL Moore, A. Merritt, HP Lovecraft, Robert Howard and Frank Belknap Long, 2.0 stars
17). The Space-Eaters, by Frank Belknap Long, 2.5 stars
18). The Lair of the Star-Spawn, by August Derleth and Mark Schorer, 2.5 stars
19). The Walker on the Wind, by August Derleth, 3.0 stars
20). The Sealed Casket, by Richard F. Seawright, 2.0 stars
21). An Inhabitant of Carcosa, by Ambrose Bierce, 5.0 stars
22). Haita the Shepherd, by Ambrose Bierce, 4.0 stars
23). The Yellow Sign, by Robert W Chambers, 5.0 stars
24). A Shop in Go-By-Street, by Lord Dunsany, 3.5 stars
25). Of Skarl the Drummer, by Lord Dunsany, Unranked (Too Short)
26). The Kraken, by Alfred Lord Tennyson, Unranked, too short and famous
27). The Moon Pool, by A. Merritt, 3.5 stars for short story (3.0 for five five chapters of novel)
28). The Shambler from the Stars, by Robert Bloch, 2.5 stars
29). The Shadow from the Steeple, by Robert Bloch, 2.5 stars
30). Fane of the Black Pharaoh, by Robert Bloch, 3.5 stars
31). Winged Death, by HP Lovecraft and Hazel Heald, 4.0 stars
32). The Outpost, by HP Lovecraft, Unranked (too short)
33). The Tree-Men of M'Bwa, by Donald Wandrei, 4.0 stars
34). The Fire Vampires, by Donald Wandrei, 2.5 stars
35). Ithaqua, by August Derleth, 3.5 stars
36). The Whisperer in Darkness, by HP Lovecraft, 3.0 stars
37). Bells of Horror, by Henry Kuttner, 3.0 stars
38). The Eater of Souls, by Henry Kuttner, 3.5 stars
39). The Jest of Droom-Avista, by Henry Kuttner, 3.0 stars
40). The Dreams in the Witch House, by HP Lovecraft, 2.0 stars
41). The Salem Horror, by Henry Kuttner, 2.0 stars
42). The Black Kiss, by Henry Kuttner and Robert Bloch, 2.5 stars
43). A Study in Emerald, by Neil Gaiman, 5 stars - Won Hugo Award
44). Only the End of the World Again, by Neil Gaiman, 3.5 stars
45). I, Cthulhu, by Neil Gaiman, 3 Stars
46). Pickman's Modem, by Lawrence Watt-Evans, 3 stars
47). 24 Views of Mt. Fuji, by Hokusai: by Roger Zelazny, 5 stars - Won Hugo Award
48). A Quarter to Three, by Kim Newman, 3.5 stars
49). The Big Fish, by Kim Newman, 4 stars
50). Jerusalm's Lot, by Stephen King, 3 Stars
51). Crouch End, by Stephen King, 3.5 Stars
52). The Church in High Street, by Ramsey Campbell 2.5 stars
53). Cold Print, by Ramsey Campbell, 3.5 stars
54). Some Notes Concerning a Green Box, by Alan Dean Foster, 3 stars
55). The Horror on the Beach, by Alan Dean Foster, 2 Stars
56). The Eye of Hlu-Hlu, by Donald Burleson, 2 Stars
57). Dark Awakening, by Frank Belknap Long, 3.5 stars
58). The Terrible Parchment, by Manly Wade Wellman, 3 stars
59). Than Curse the Darkness, by David Drake, 2.5 stars
60). The Courtyard, by Alan Moore, 4 stars
61). Neonomicon, by Alan Moore, Not Ranked, Won Stoker Award
62). Shaft Number 247, by Basil Copper, 4 Stars
63). Black Man with a Horn, by T.E.D. Klein, 4 Stars
64). The Fishers from Outside, by Lin Carter, 3.0 Stars
65). Dead of Night, by Lin Carter, 2.5 Stars
66). Out of the Ages, by Lin Carter, 2.0 Stars
67). The Horror in the Gallery, by Lin Carter, 2.0 Stars
68). Nameless City, by H.P. Lovecraft
69). The Hound, by H.p. Lovecraft


EDIT - I decided to edit in my ratings for these stories.