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Slightly off-topic, but is "The Call of Cthulu" still worth reading? I haven't read it yet, so I'm curious if it's somewhat dated, or tame according to modern

Slightly off-topic, but is "The Call of Cthulu" still worth reading? I haven't read it yet, so I'm curious if it's somewhat dated, or tame according to modern sensibilities.

Lambdanaut 7y ago
It's very short. Go for it. Personally it's one of my least favorite short stories by Lovecraft and it's amusing to me that Cthulhu became so wrapped up in popular culture when there are many far more interesting beasties in his lore.
- DoofusOfDeath 7y ago
  Thanks! Which of his stories would you most recommend?
  - sdmike1 7y ago
    The color out of Space[1] is pretty good! However the Dunwich Horror[2], The Shadow over Innsmouth[3], At the Mountains of Madness[4], and of course, the Call of Cthulhu[5] are all good. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXyda5iiGEo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXyda5iiGEo [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKkya1pMhMQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKkya1pMhMQ [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gviofDcypzE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gviofDcypzE [4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2iSmE129uQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2iSmE129uQ [5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM9Z39D1yyI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM9Z39D1yyI
sdmike1 7y ago
I enjoyed it, however I have something of a weakness for "cosmic horror" and the whole "mysteries beyond our understanding" thing that Lovecraft does. It mostly holds up, but the proliferation of the themes explored by it and the memeification of Cthulu and the "Great Old Ones" does probably make it more tame than reading it without foreknowledge of the contents. You can find most of Lovecraft's works (and some of his ghostwriting) as audiobooks on youtube if you want to give them a try [1]. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM9Z39D1yyI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM9Z39D1yyI
SAI_Peregrinus 7y ago
I'd say it's still quite good.
ghostDancer 7y ago
It's not what you expect and probably other of his stories are better. But it became the most famous one of his tales. You can get a copy of most of them together: http://arkhamarchivist.com/free-complete-lovecraft-ebook-nook-kindle/ http://arkhamarchivist.com/free-complete-lovecraft-ebook-noo...
runedog 7y ago
There is much that has been done since Lovecraft's work that has vastly improved on the basics, and his writing feel a bit rough to me. John Dies at the End might be a good read, though keep in mind it is also comedic (so dark comedy), so if you're looking for that serious horror tone then you might want to look elsewhere. My friends have played a video game called Bloodborne and they claim it's the best cosmic horror story they have seen. Supposedly to really get the story though, you have to either spend a lot of time trying to piece it out by playing it, or just read/watch a synopsis. Synopsis if you're interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjWOy6ioVHI&feature=emb_logo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjWOy6ioVHI&feature=emb_logo

Slightly off-topic, but is "The Call of Cthulu" still worth reading? I haven't read it yet, so I'm curious if it's somewhat dated, or tame according to modern sensibilities.

Lambdanaut 7y ago

It's very short. Go for it. Personally it's one of my least favorite short stories by Lovecraft and it's amusing to me that Cthulhu became so wrapped up in popular culture when there are many far more interesting beasties in his lore.

DoofusOfDeath 7y ago
Thanks! Which of his stories would you most recommend?
- sdmike1 7y ago
  The color out of Space[1] is pretty good! However the Dunwich Horror[2], The Shadow over Innsmouth[3], At the Mountains of Madness[4], and of course, the Call of Cthulhu[5] are all good. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXyda5iiGEo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXyda5iiGEo [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKkya1pMhMQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKkya1pMhMQ [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gviofDcypzE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gviofDcypzE [4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2iSmE129uQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2iSmE129uQ [5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM9Z39D1yyI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM9Z39D1yyI

sdmike1 7y ago

I enjoyed it, however I have something of a weakness for "cosmic horror" and the whole "mysteries beyond our understanding" thing that Lovecraft does. It mostly holds up, but the proliferation of the themes explored by it and the memeification of Cthulu and the "Great Old Ones" does probably make it more tame than reading it without foreknowledge of the contents. You can find most of Lovecraft's works (and some of his ghostwriting) as audiobooks on youtube if you want to give them a try [1]. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM9Z39D1yyI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM9Z39D1yyI

SAI_Peregrinus 7y ago

I'd say it's still quite good.

ghostDancer 7y ago

It's not what you expect and probably other of his stories are better. But it became the most famous one of his tales. You can get a copy of most of them together: http://arkhamarchivist.com/free-complete-lovecraft-ebook-nook-kindle/ http://arkhamarchivist.com/free-complete-lovecraft-ebook-noo...

runedog 7y ago

There is much that has been done since Lovecraft's work that has vastly improved on the basics, and his writing feel a bit rough to me. John Dies at the End might be a good read, though keep in mind it is also comedic (so dark comedy), so if you're looking for that serious horror tone then you might want to look elsewhere. My friends have played a video game called Bloodborne and they claim it's the best cosmic horror story they have seen. Supposedly to really get the story though, you have to either spend a lot of time trying to piece it out by playing it, or just read/watch a synopsis. Synopsis if you're interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjWOy6ioVHI&feature=emb_logo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjWOy6ioVHI&feature=emb_logo