C
H.P. Lovecraft’s first short story isn’t really anything special. By today’s standards it’s quaint, with a twist that is so predictable it’s hardly one at all. Most of the length of this story is dedicated to very lengthy descriptions of what the protagonist hears and sees, both real and imagined. What’s notable about it is the analytical approach to the sights and sounds described, never outright stating the nature of the beast, only assuming based on observations. This is an essential part of Lovecraft’s approach to horror and what makes it so influential, and it’s cool to see that it was in his work from the start.
H.P. Lovecraft’s first short story isn’t really anything special. By today’s standards it’s quaint, with a twist that is so predictable it’s hardly one at all. Most of the length of this story is dedicated to very lengthy descriptions of what the protagonist hears and sees, both real and imagined. What’s notable about it is the analytical approach to the sights and sounds described, never outright stating the nature of the beast, only assuming based on observations. This is an essential part of Lovecraft’s approach to horror and what makes it so influential, and it’s cool to see that it was in his work from the start.