Tales of H.P. Lovecraft
A collection of ten prototypical stories by Lovecraft (18901937), the influential myth-and monster-maker of Providence, Rhode Island, whose extravagantly gothic tales have spawned and inspired such latterday disciples as Stephen King and Ramsey Campbell. It's ingenuous for Ecco to claim that ``Now, at last'' we have a representative Lovecraft (considering all that several publishers have done over the years to keep even his ephemera in print). Still, here are some of his best, including such comparatively little-known triumphs as a harrowing depiction of a surrender to madness (``The Dreams in the Witch-House'') and a superb haunted-house tale (``The Shunned House''). Oates's brief, incisive introduction suggestively compares Lovecraft's experiences and temperament with those of his mentor Poe, and helpfully summarizes the content of the former's apparently immortal ``Chthulu Mythos.'' One misses only Lovecraft's hair-raising novella ``The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.'' But even without it this attractive volume offers a fine chance to sample Lovecraft's ghoulish pleasures. --Copyright &copy;1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.