Out of Time"

3. "The Shadow Over Innsmouth"

2. "The Whisperer in Darkness"

1. "The Call of Cthulhu"

10. "Dagon"

An Introduction to Lovecraftian Style

A very short, maddening tale, "Dagon" is a great introduction into Lovecraft's writing style. The story centers around the written account of an unnamed man of seafaring background, now heavily addicted to morphine.

He begins by explaining how he fell into the sea as a passenger of a cargo ship during World War I. The ship is brought down by a German sea-raider, but he escapes and drifts across the Pacific Ocean. At that point, he is drained of strength and confused, unable to use his mental faculties until he winds up on some strange, "putrid" region with many fish carcasses. He speculates that a volcano may have raised theis he to whom the memories of childhood bring only fear and sadness. — "The Outsider"

9. "The Outsider"

One Level Deeper Into the Mind of Lovecraft

Another great introductory tale and short story, "The Outsider" gives the reader a further peek into the descriptive narrations that Lovecraft has mastered, putting the (anti) protagonist into a world of "vine-encumbered trees" and a castle of "infinitely old and infinitely horrible" theme.

Once again, there is no name given to the main character; he merely stumbles through the story searching for an end to his discomfort and melancholy. As the plot continues, he explores the upper levels of his home, finding a way to escape his seclusion.

"The Outsider" twists the mind; up is now down, left is right. At the end of the story,