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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.52
EAN num: 9780142180037
ISBN number: 0142180033
Label: Penguin Classics
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 464
Printing Date: October 01, 2001
Publishing house: Penguin Classics
Release Date: October 02, 2001
Sale Popularity Level: 118381
Studio: Penguin Classics
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Product Description:
Howard Phillips Lovecraft's unique contribution to American literature was a melding of traditional supernaturalism (derived chiefly from Edgar Allan Poe) with the genre of science fiction that emerged in the early 1920s. This new Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics edition brings together a dozen of the master's tales-from his early short stories 'Under the Pyramids' (originally ghostwritten for Harry Houdini) and 'The Music of Erich Zann' (which Lovecraft ranked second among his own favorites) through his more fully developed works, 'The Dunwich Horror,' The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, and At the Mountains of Madness.
The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories presents the definitive corrected texts of these works, along with Lovecraft critic and biographer S. T. Joshi's illuminating introduction and notes to each story.
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Rated by buyers -
It was a dark, storm tossed night. Sheets of freezing rain slashed down upon me and peals of thunder crashed like the hammer of Thor above. I staggered, near eyeblind, into a bookstore. No, it wasn't one of those clean, well lit, new Barnes and Noble franchises that sprung up across the land like a plague of locusts. It was a damp, musty used book store. A place where alcoholic street urchins sell ratty vestiges of books for beer money. Piles of unread, unused, unloved tomes reach heavenward as a monument of literary futility. All around them, pasty faced, painfully thin denziens lost in abominable fantasy worlds of their own devising. And the proprietor; lurching about the aisles, slumped behind his counter, his face twisted grotesquely in a surly sneer that he offered all his customers.
It was here that I crossed paths with the very spawn of hell itself.
In a dark, dusty section where horror and science fiction books went to die, I saw it. Its yellowing and moldy cover displaying a painting of a creature so surealistic that only the most demented of minds could imagine such a thing. And the name on the spine that simutaniously summonded and mocked me; LOVECRAFT!
It was then that I learned the horrible truth, the utter unspeakable horror of an unhinged mind hellbent upon writing bizarre pulp fiction!
What fun!
Rated by buyers 
-
A studious version, if you like. There are a large number of notes for each story for you to delve into - some 70 odd pages worth, and a list of texts given for more of a look at Lovecraft.
Thing on the Doorstep : The Tomb - H. P. Lovecraft
Thing on the Doorstep : Beyond the Wall of Sleep - H. P. Lovecraft
Thing on the Doorstep : The White Ship - H. P. Lovecraft
Thing on the Doorstep : The Temple - H. P. Lovecraft
Thing on the Doorstep : The Quest of Iranon - H. P. Lovecraft
Thing on the Doorstep : The Music of Erich Zann - H. P. Lovecraft
Thing on the Doorstep : Under the Pyramids ["Imprisoned with the Pharaohs", as Harry Houdini]
Thing on the Doorstep : Pickman's Model - H. P. Lovecraft
Thing on the Doorstep : The Case of Charles Dexter Ward - H. P. Lovecraft
Thing on the Doorstep : The Dunwich Horror - H. P. Lovecraft
Thing on the Doorstep : At the Mountains of Madness - H. P. Lovecraft
Thing on the Doorstep : The Thing on the Doorstep - H. P. Lovecraft
Rated by buyers -
"The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories" represents the second of three (to date) collections of H. P. Lovecraft's work edited and annotated by J. T. Joshi and published by Penguin. Like the preceding volume ("The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories") the stories unfold in the chronological order of their writing, allowing the reader to both observe Lovecraft's development as a writer, and the interlinking of his developing mythos. The only substantial differences between this volume and the former are that this one contains more stories within the Cthulhu Mythos, and it also contains Lovecraft's two longest (and to my mind best) works.
The book begins with an introduction from Joshi that readers of the very first volume will probably find disappointing as it offers no meaningful difference to that books introduction. It seems odd that someone who has chronicled Lovecraft's life as intently as Joshi has couldn't find a different avenue of consideration, and it is unfortunate that the same facts are repeated, regardless of how important they may be to understanding Lovecraft's writing.
Fortunately, that is the only grey mark against Joshi's work as he has provided exhaustive foot-noting of each story. Sometimes whimsical and sometimes critical, these observations open up an entirely new and deeper view of the stories in "The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories". In particular, residents of New England in general and Rhode Island in particular will appreciate the impression that regional history and geography had on Lovecraft's writing.
As for the stories themselves, they are somewhat better generally than the very first volume, which may simply be a reflection of my preference for the Cthulhu stories, or may alternately reflect that they are indeed better written (as I would argue). The stand out contributions can be found in the final four entries, "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward", "The Dunwich Horror", "At the Mountains of Madness" and "The Thing on the Doorstep", all of which are noteworthy for both individual and common reasons.
"The Case of Charles Dexter Ward", like all four stories, continues the evolution of Lovecraft's occult mythos, but it is most noteworthy (aside from being the longest piece he ever wrote) for the way that it inverts the traditional Yankee ghost/horror story. Lovecraft removes, or rather reassigns, the supernatural and places it instead within the realm of a vast, seemingly unfathomable but quite literally real hidden world. Likewise, "The Dunwich Horror" plays upon these same elements, but at the same time explores the deep mystery of New England's rural regions, and the dichotomy of the bustling coast and the relatively rural interior.
"At the Mountains of Madness" is my favorite Lovecraft story, and is significant in that it represent the most concrete conveyance of facts regarding the various "Old Ones" who ruled the earth untold millennia ago. It also helped create the adventure/techno-thriller genre which is so prevalent yesterday and which so frequently draws occult imagery and themes (the novels of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child being the best representation of this admittedly mixed bag). Finally, "The Thing on the Doorstep" is interesting in that it offers a sequel of sorts to the well regarded "The Shadow Over Innsmouth".
"The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories" comprises another nice collection of stories by Lovecraft. However, what really makes this edition stand out among other options are the fascinating contributions of Joshi which not only flesh out individual stories, but help place them within the larger context of Lovecraft's body of work, life experience and personal philosophies. As such, this is a book which can be enjoyed equally buy long time fans and new readers alike.
Jake Mohlman
Rated by buyers -
If you enjoyed the very first book of Lovecraft's work published by Penguin (The Call of Cthulhu) then you will undoubtedly appreciate this one. As before, it is a nice mix of the three areas of Lovecraft's work: the dream cycle, the Cthulhu and the Great Old Ones cycle, and the macabre tales cycle.
In this book you will find what I consider to be one of the best Lovecraft's story: At The Mountains of Madness. It's a novella (about a hundred pages)that's just one of the best short story he has ever written. Along with this there's also this other novella: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. The latter is equally interesting (although the beginning is slighlty deterring, it quickly changes).
On the whole, I'd recommend this book for anyone interested in Lovecraft; however, if you have never read anything by him I recommend you start with Penguin's very first book of his work. Not that it's very important but if you asked me that's what I'd advise you.
Rated by buyers -
It tells you something about the critical reappraisal of American horror writer H P Lovecraft that Penguin Classics is releasing short story collections by this writer.
The current collection, like the very first Call of Cthulhu, gives us a sampling of Lovecraft's writing arranged chronologically. This volume is dominated by two of his best novella: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, one of Lovecraft's most unsettling works, and the great tale of Antarctic horror At the Mountains of Madness. These are must reads for horror fans and among Lovecraft's best efforts.
There are also three classic short stories here: the enigmatic Music of Eric Zann, the ghoulish Pickman's Model and the late Cthulhu Mythos tale The Thing on the Doorstep, which takes some of the concepts of possession from Charles Dexter Ward and goes in another direction with them. These tales also rank high in Lovecraft's output.
The remaining stories are more of a mixed bag, especially the early tales, but we do get a nice representative tale from the writer's "Dunsany" fantasy period with The White Ship. However, the format allows one to see Lovectaft mature as a writer and even the weaker tales have their moments and point toward his later efforts.
Great work by editor Joshi, who is doing a great service for Lovecraft fans with his definitive texts. His notes are especially welcome for At The Mountains of Madness, which manages to cover an amazing amount of scientific, historical, and mythological ground in its simple format.
Lovecraft may not be the most subtle writer, but at his best he takes us on a slow gradual journey that begins simple enough and leads us to true cosmic horror. Just look at a movie like Alien and you'll see Lovecraft's influence has been remarkable.
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