2. The Complete Works Of H.P. Lovecraft
Like Edgar Allan Poe before him no single piece of literature by H.P. Lovecraft can be recommended alone. Simply hearing the name Lovecraft is enough to strike terror in the hearts of millions of men and women. Howard Phillips Lovecraft was born August 20, 1890 and grew up in Rhode Island. At the tender age of three he lost his father to a mental institution. Lovecraft spent most of his time as a child ill and grew up as a recluse who eventually devoted himself to his writing. Unfortunately his works went generally unnoticed until years after his death though he is now known as one of the greatest authors of horror fiction. Many of Lovecraft's stories focus on the "Cthulhu mythos" - a shared universe consisting of an ancient squid-like God worshiped by various people amongst different cultures. If you're looking to introduce yourself to this world start with The Call of Cthulhu. If you're interested in sleepless nights or fantastical nightmares try reading the Shadow Over Innsmouth and the Lurking Fear. The Shadow Over Innsmouth features body horror and mystery as the protagonist discovers he has roots in a hybrid race of amphibious monsters while the Lurking Fear perfectly establishes a dark mood as a man and his companions seek out a terrifying creature. With stories of cosmic horror, crazed occultists, and mysteries best left unsolved the works of Lovecraft are sure to keep you awake at night. Many of Lovecraft's works have been adapted into other forms of media including Dagon and Beyond the Wall of Sleep. The themes presented in his work have gone on to inspire other adaptations such as body horror classic Re-Animator and video game Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem. You've probably engaged Lovecraft's works without even being aware, but before you go looking for any movies or games he may be linked to stop by the library and check out some original tales of pure terror.