series of horror stories that implied the transfer of consciousness.

The main character is Nathaniel Wingate Peaslee, who believes he is on the verge of losing his mind. There are many Cthulhu Mythos elements throughout—he references Miskatonic University, Nyarlathotep, and even Professor William Dyer—but the greatest achievement of this work is his level of detail to archeology, research, and investigation. The reader takes a dismal position finding the revelations as unbecoming as the protagonist.

Each step staggers closer to the truth: learning of the Yithians, their purpose, and what awaits those they choose. Lovecraft at his finest, "The Shadow Out of Time" is number four.

The Shadow Over Innsmouth

3. "The Shadow Over Innsmouth"

Enter the Deep Ones

Set in the village of Innsmouth, Massachusetts, Robert Olmstead was only revealed later to be thenarrator and main character of the story through notes presented by the authorized Lovecraft publisher Arkham House. Through his travels as a scholar of genealogy, he encounters the city and its abnormal resident, with traits that cause him concern. Later, he learns many nefarious rumors and gains insight from, perhaps, the only human inhabitant, a town drunk named Zadok Allen.

This is an excellent primer to the deity Cthulhu and a masterpiece recognized by the Lovecraft community. The architectural descriptions are a fascinating assemblage of images as well as the concept of an amphibious race corrupting the human stock.

2. "The Whisperer in Darkness"

This Is Lovecraft; This Is Your Brain. This Is Your Brain on Lovecraft. Any Questions?

Picking "The Whisperer in Darkness" as number two was a really hard sell.