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Lovecraft's Monsters
This deliciously creepy and loving tribute to the master of modern horror features riveting illustrated stories of his wicked progeny.
In the century since the master of horror, H. P. Lovecraft, published his first story, the monstrosities that crawled out of his brain have become legend: the massive, tentacled Cthulhu, who lurks beneath the sea waiting for his moment to rise; the demon Sultan Azathoth, who lies babbling at the center of the universe, mad beyond imagining; the Deep Ones, who come to shore to breed with mortal men; and the unspeakably-evil Hastur, whose very name brings death. These creatures have been the nightmarish fuel for generations of horror writers, and the inspiration for some of their greatest works.
This impressive anthology celebrates Lovecraft's most famous beasts in all their grotesque glory, with each story a gripping new take on a classic mythos creature and affectionately accompanied by an illuminating illustration. Within these accursed pages something unnatural slouches from the sea into an all-night diner to meet the foolish young woman waiting for him, while the Hounds of Tindalos struggle to survive trapped in human bodies, haunting pool halls for men they can lure into the dark. Strange, haunting, and undeniably monstrous, this is Lovecraft as you have never seen him before.
Table of Contents
“Only the End of the World Again” by Neil Gaiman
“The Bleeding Shadow” by Joe R. Lansdale
“Love is Forbidden, We Croak & Howl” by Caitlín R. Kiernan
“Bulldozer” by Laird Barron
“A Quarter to Three” by Kim Newman
“Inelastic Collisions” by Elizabeth Bear
“That of Which We Speak When We Speak of the Unspeakable” by Nick Mamatas
“Red Goat Black Goat” by Nadia Bulkin
“Jar of Salts” and “Haruspicy” by Gemma Files
“Black is the Pit From Pole to Pole” by Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley
“I've Come to Speak with You Again” by Karl Edward Wagner
“The Sect of the Idiot” by Thomas Ligotti
“The Dappled Things” by William Browning Spencer
“The Same Deep Waters as You” by Brian Hodge
“Remnants” by Fred Chappell
“Waiting at the Cross Roads” by Steve Rasnic Tem
“Children of the Fang” by John Langan
In the century since the master of horror, H. P. Lovecraft, published his first story, the monstrosities that crawled out of his brain have become legend: the massive, tentacled Cthulhu, who lurks beneath the sea waiting for his moment to rise; the demon Sultan Azathoth, who lies babbling at the center of the universe, mad beyond imagining; the Deep Ones, who come to shore to breed with mortal men; and the unspeakably-evil Hastur, whose very name brings death. These creatures have been the nightmarish fuel for generations of horror writers, and the inspiration for some of their greatest works.
This impressive anthology celebrates Lovecraft's most famous beasts in all their grotesque glory, with each story a gripping new take on a classic mythos creature and affectionately accompanied by an illuminating illustration. Within these accursed pages something unnatural slouches from the sea into an all-night diner to meet the foolish young woman waiting for him, while the Hounds of Tindalos struggle to survive trapped in human bodies, haunting pool halls for men they can lure into the dark. Strange, haunting, and undeniably monstrous, this is Lovecraft as you have never seen him before.
Table of Contents
“Only the End of the World Again” by Neil Gaiman
“The Bleeding Shadow” by Joe R. Lansdale
“Love is Forbidden, We Croak & Howl” by Caitlín R. Kiernan
“Bulldozer” by Laird Barron
“A Quarter to Three” by Kim Newman
“Inelastic Collisions” by Elizabeth Bear
“That of Which We Speak When We Speak of the Unspeakable” by Nick Mamatas
“Red Goat Black Goat” by Nadia Bulkin
“Jar of Salts” and “Haruspicy” by Gemma Files
“Black is the Pit From Pole to Pole” by Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley
“I've Come to Speak with You Again” by Karl Edward Wagner
“The Sect of the Idiot” by Thomas Ligotti
“The Dappled Things” by William Browning Spencer
“The Same Deep Waters as You” by Brian Hodge
“Remnants” by Fred Chappell
“Waiting at the Cross Roads” by Steve Rasnic Tem
“Children of the Fang” by John Langan
379 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 2014
447 people are currently reading
3814 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Datlow
276 books1,875 followersEllen Datlow has been editing science fiction, fantasy, and horror short fiction for forty years as fiction editor of OMNI Magazine and editor of Event Horizon and SCIFICTION. She currently acquires short stories and novellas for Tor.com. In addition, she has edited about one hundred science fiction, fantasy, and horror anthologies, including the annual The Best Horror of the Year series, The Doll Collection, Mad Hatters and March Hares, The Devil and the Deep: Horror Stories of the Sea, Echoes: The Saga Anthology of Ghost Stories, Edited By, and Final Cuts: New Tales of Hollywood Horror and Other Spectacles.
She's won multiple World Fantasy Awards, Locus Awards, Hugo Awards, Bram Stoker Awards, International Horror Guild Awards, Shirley Jackson Awards, and the 2012 Il Posto Nero Black Spot Award for Excellence as Best Foreign Editor. Datlow was named recipient of the 2007 Karl Edward Wagner Award, given at the British Fantasy Convention for "outstanding contribution to the genre," was honored with the Life Achievement Award by the Horror Writers Association, in acknowledgment of superior achievement over an entire career, and honored with the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award at the 2014 World Fantasy Convention.
She's won multiple World Fantasy Awards, Locus Awards, Hugo Awards, Bram Stoker Awards, International Horror Guild Awards, Shirley Jackson Awards, and the 2012 Il Posto Nero Black Spot Award for Excellence as Best Foreign Editor. Datlow was named recipient of the 2007 Karl Edward Wagner Award, given at the British Fantasy Convention for "outstanding contribution to the genre," was honored with the Life Achievement Award by the Horror Writers Association, in acknowledgment of superior achievement over an entire career, and honored with the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award at the 2014 World Fantasy Convention.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
January 28, 2014
Lovecraft's Monsters is a short story anthology of tales featuring monsters created by H.P. Lovecraft.
First off, H.P. Lovecraft, along with Edgar Rice Burroughs and Arthur Conan Doyle, is a writer that I'm much more interested in the works they inspired rather than their own writings. I know it's akin to liking a remake better than the original but HPL's prose has always been hard to digest for me and his character read like they were written by someone who never leaves his house. However, his Cthulhu Mythos is pretty special so I snatched this up when it appeared on Netgalley.
The introduction gives a brief overview and then goes to say the stories were either commissioned or picked because they haven't appeared in many anthologies. And then the first story was a Neil Gaiman one I've seen in at least two other books. Not a good sign, although it was the one where a werewolf is going up against the Cthulhu mythos so it wasn't terrible.
Like all books of this type, the stories vary in quality and enjoyment level. The stories by Laird Barron and Joe Lansdale were both really good. Noir and Lovecraft go really well together for me.
The Same Deep Waters as You by Brian Hodge was by far my favorite tale in the collection. The psychic star of The Animal Whisperer gets taken to an island off the coast of Washington to converse with citizens of a little place called Innsmouth, who have been imprisoned there since 1928...
All things considered, it's a pretty satisfying collection of homages to H.P. Lovecraft's monsters. Three out of Five stars.
First off, H.P. Lovecraft, along with Edgar Rice Burroughs and Arthur Conan Doyle, is a writer that I'm much more interested in the works they inspired rather than their own writings. I know it's akin to liking a remake better than the original but HPL's prose has always been hard to digest for me and his character read like they were written by someone who never leaves his house. However, his Cthulhu Mythos is pretty special so I snatched this up when it appeared on Netgalley.
The introduction gives a brief overview and then goes to say the stories were either commissioned or picked because they haven't appeared in many anthologies. And then the first story was a Neil Gaiman one I've seen in at least two other books. Not a good sign, although it was the one where a werewolf is going up against the Cthulhu mythos so it wasn't terrible.
Like all books of this type, the stories vary in quality and enjoyment level. The stories by Laird Barron and Joe Lansdale were both really good. Noir and Lovecraft go really well together for me.
The Same Deep Waters as You by Brian Hodge was by far my favorite tale in the collection. The psychic star of The Animal Whisperer gets taken to an island off the coast of Washington to converse with citizens of a little place called Innsmouth, who have been imprisoned there since 1928...
All things considered, it's a pretty satisfying collection of homages to H.P. Lovecraft's monsters. Three out of Five stars.
June 27, 2022
Absolutely loved this collection!!
Stand out titles:
• The Same Deep Waters As You by Brian Hodge
• Black as the Pit, From Pole to Pole by Howard Waldrop & Steven Utley
• The Bleeding Shadow by Joe R. Lansdale
• Children of the Fang by John Langan
Stand out titles:
• The Same Deep Waters As You by Brian Hodge
• Black as the Pit, From Pole to Pole by Howard Waldrop & Steven Utley
• The Bleeding Shadow by Joe R. Lansdale
• Children of the Fang by John Langan
February 28, 2014
You can always count on Ellen Datlow to put together a good anthology! As with any collection, I personally like some stories more than others, but this is definitely recommended: not just for Lovecraft fans, but for any reader of horror and dark fantasy.
***** Only the End of the World Again by Neil Gaiman
A bad-ass werewolf visits Innsmouth, and gets mixed up in more than he bargained for. Reminded me a bit of 'The Wicker Man,' with extra paranormal elements. Humorous without being 'light,' Gaiman's sincere love for Lovecraft shines through here.
**** Bulldozer by Laird Barron
A bad-ass Pinkerton agent travels West, in search of a circus strongman who's on the lam, suspected of multiple murders - and, more importantly, of stealing an ancient book on demonology from none other than P.T. Barnum. The premise isn't something that sounds like it'd be up my alley, but Barron really pulls it off. His Old West has a very 'Deadwood' feel to it that I enjoyed.
*** Red Goat Black Goat by Nadia Bulkin
Some kids get a nice magical nanny like Mary Poppins. And some kids get a magical nanny who's actually half nanny-goat and all terrifying. The Javanese setting here is a nice touch; though I don't know if the story is based on actual Indonesian myth as well as the Cthulhu mythos.
**** The Same Deep Waters as You by Brian Hodge
The popular TV host of 'The Animal Whisperer' is recruited by the US military and bundled off to a Guantanamo-style island, where 'enemy combatants'deemed a threat to National Security have been held secretly - for the past century. These 'mutants' were captured in a raid on Innsmouth. The TV personality's assignment? To learn to communicate with these fish-men. I had some doubts about the modern setting, but it's done well. This story does a remarkably good job of capturing Lovecraft's exact feeling toward his fish-men - a hard-to-pin-down mix of repulsion, horror, respect and sympathy.
** A Quarter to Three by Kim Newman
This one fell flat, for me. The story aims at humor, depicting a distraught pregnant teen who comes into a desolate all-night diner to meet her lover. The diner is in Innsmouth, so you can guess the reveal...
** The Dappled Thing by William Browning Spencer
A too-self-conscious steampunk story of British colonialism. An adventurer is sent to retrieve a wealthy aristocrat's wayward granddaughter from the savage jungles. The Brits' tentacled mechanical traveling machine tangles with a mysterious aquatic monster, and a narrow escape is made - or is it?
*** Inelastic Collisions by Elizabeth Bear
A couple of fallen angels (who seem a lot more like monsters) bewail their incarnate state, and seek their prey in urban pool halls... until they encounter a pool shark who may be more than he seems.
** Remnants by Fred Chappell
Lovecraft is 'cleaned up' for the 'middle-grades' in this post-apocalyptic sci-fi novella. Too long, too trite, the portrayal of the psychic autistic child was just annoying. It didn't have the 'feel' of Lovecraft's mythos at all.
*** Love is Forbidden, We Croak & Howl by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Unusual - both for this anthology and for Kiernan. It's humorous! Forbidden attraction between an Innsmouth fish-woman and an inhuman ghoul...
**** The Sect of the Idiot by Thomas Ligotti
The first few times I read short stories from Ligotti, I was actually under the impression that he was a contemporary of Lovecraft. He has that old-fashioned, circumnambulating and understated approach to horror (paired with a good vocabulary.) I enjoy it. Of all the stories in this volume, this one definitely comes the closest to resembling an actual Lovecraft story. A solitary man in a strange town... a bizarre dream, a seemingly random encounter, and of course, chthonic, alien forces.
*** Jar of Salts by Gemma Files
A poem.
** Black is the Pit From Pole to Pole by Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley
Frankenstein's monster, on his flight to the Arctic, discovers that the hollow Earth theory is factual, and goes on a strange rampage through subterranean realms. Overly ambitious, throws together too many disparate elements, and goes on too long for what it is.
*** Waiting at the Crossroads Motel by Steve Rasnic Tem
An abusive, nearly subhuman man, who's never known his father, is drawn by strange urges to bring his family to a remote and dilapidated motel. And then, other guests start filtering in... guests that all bear an odd, familial resemblance to one another.
*** I’ve Come to Talk with you Again by Karl Edward Wagner
A group of writers meet for their regular reunion, a pub night. One of them, the most successful, seems vigorous and preternaturally young. The others: old before their time, creaky and querulous. Some have died since their last meeting. Is there something more sinister than coincidence here?
**** The Bleeding Shadow by Joe R. Lansdale
Excellent noir horror with a 1930s (?) jazz setting. A private investigator is begged by a beautiful woman to see what's happened to her brother - a talented jazz musician but a freeloader - who's unexpectedly gone missing. The only thing she knows is that he's mailed her a deeply eerie recording. She recognizes her brother's voice, but the music is like nothing on earth. The narrator tracks him down - but there's a good reason that he'd left town.
*** That of Which We Speak When We Speak of the Unspeakable by Nick Mamatas
Some teenagers hanging out get gotten by the unspeakable.
*** Haruspicy by Gemma Files
a poem
**** Children of the Fang by John Langan
Ooh, nice one. A very well-realized horror story of two siblings who gradually uncover the secrets that their grandfather has held since his work, many years ago, as a contractor in the Middle East. Rich characterization, and a good job of creating a legally-blind protagonist.
Copy provided by NetGalley and Tachyon Publications. Thanks! My opinions, as always, are solely my own.
***** Only the End of the World Again by Neil Gaiman
A bad-ass werewolf visits Innsmouth, and gets mixed up in more than he bargained for. Reminded me a bit of 'The Wicker Man,' with extra paranormal elements. Humorous without being 'light,' Gaiman's sincere love for Lovecraft shines through here.
**** Bulldozer by Laird Barron
A bad-ass Pinkerton agent travels West, in search of a circus strongman who's on the lam, suspected of multiple murders - and, more importantly, of stealing an ancient book on demonology from none other than P.T. Barnum. The premise isn't something that sounds like it'd be up my alley, but Barron really pulls it off. His Old West has a very 'Deadwood' feel to it that I enjoyed.
*** Red Goat Black Goat by Nadia Bulkin
Some kids get a nice magical nanny like Mary Poppins. And some kids get a magical nanny who's actually half nanny-goat and all terrifying. The Javanese setting here is a nice touch; though I don't know if the story is based on actual Indonesian myth as well as the Cthulhu mythos.
**** The Same Deep Waters as You by Brian Hodge
The popular TV host of 'The Animal Whisperer' is recruited by the US military and bundled off to a Guantanamo-style island, where 'enemy combatants'deemed a threat to National Security have been held secretly - for the past century. These 'mutants' were captured in a raid on Innsmouth. The TV personality's assignment? To learn to communicate with these fish-men. I had some doubts about the modern setting, but it's done well. This story does a remarkably good job of capturing Lovecraft's exact feeling toward his fish-men - a hard-to-pin-down mix of repulsion, horror, respect and sympathy.
** A Quarter to Three by Kim Newman
This one fell flat, for me. The story aims at humor, depicting a distraught pregnant teen who comes into a desolate all-night diner to meet her lover. The diner is in Innsmouth, so you can guess the reveal...
** The Dappled Thing by William Browning Spencer
A too-self-conscious steampunk story of British colonialism. An adventurer is sent to retrieve a wealthy aristocrat's wayward granddaughter from the savage jungles. The Brits' tentacled mechanical traveling machine tangles with a mysterious aquatic monster, and a narrow escape is made - or is it?
*** Inelastic Collisions by Elizabeth Bear
A couple of fallen angels (who seem a lot more like monsters) bewail their incarnate state, and seek their prey in urban pool halls... until they encounter a pool shark who may be more than he seems.
** Remnants by Fred Chappell
Lovecraft is 'cleaned up' for the 'middle-grades' in this post-apocalyptic sci-fi novella. Too long, too trite, the portrayal of the psychic autistic child was just annoying. It didn't have the 'feel' of Lovecraft's mythos at all.
*** Love is Forbidden, We Croak & Howl by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Unusual - both for this anthology and for Kiernan. It's humorous! Forbidden attraction between an Innsmouth fish-woman and an inhuman ghoul...
**** The Sect of the Idiot by Thomas Ligotti
The first few times I read short stories from Ligotti, I was actually under the impression that he was a contemporary of Lovecraft. He has that old-fashioned, circumnambulating and understated approach to horror (paired with a good vocabulary.) I enjoy it. Of all the stories in this volume, this one definitely comes the closest to resembling an actual Lovecraft story. A solitary man in a strange town... a bizarre dream, a seemingly random encounter, and of course, chthonic, alien forces.
*** Jar of Salts by Gemma Files
A poem.
** Black is the Pit From Pole to Pole by Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley
Frankenstein's monster, on his flight to the Arctic, discovers that the hollow Earth theory is factual, and goes on a strange rampage through subterranean realms. Overly ambitious, throws together too many disparate elements, and goes on too long for what it is.
*** Waiting at the Crossroads Motel by Steve Rasnic Tem
An abusive, nearly subhuman man, who's never known his father, is drawn by strange urges to bring his family to a remote and dilapidated motel. And then, other guests start filtering in... guests that all bear an odd, familial resemblance to one another.
*** I’ve Come to Talk with you Again by Karl Edward Wagner
A group of writers meet for their regular reunion, a pub night. One of them, the most successful, seems vigorous and preternaturally young. The others: old before their time, creaky and querulous. Some have died since their last meeting. Is there something more sinister than coincidence here?
**** The Bleeding Shadow by Joe R. Lansdale
Excellent noir horror with a 1930s (?) jazz setting. A private investigator is begged by a beautiful woman to see what's happened to her brother - a talented jazz musician but a freeloader - who's unexpectedly gone missing. The only thing she knows is that he's mailed her a deeply eerie recording. She recognizes her brother's voice, but the music is like nothing on earth. The narrator tracks him down - but there's a good reason that he'd left town.
*** That of Which We Speak When We Speak of the Unspeakable by Nick Mamatas
Some teenagers hanging out get gotten by the unspeakable.
*** Haruspicy by Gemma Files
a poem
**** Children of the Fang by John Langan
Ooh, nice one. A very well-realized horror story of two siblings who gradually uncover the secrets that their grandfather has held since his work, many years ago, as a contractor in the Middle East. Rich characterization, and a good job of creating a legally-blind protagonist.
Copy provided by NetGalley and Tachyon Publications. Thanks! My opinions, as always, are solely my own.
May 4, 2014
This was an ARC from NetGalley.
This anthology is an excellent homage to the monsters of Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Solid stories by some of the best authors in the business, past and present, each with a striking illustration make this a must for any fan of the Mythos.
This anthology is an excellent homage to the monsters of Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Solid stories by some of the best authors in the business, past and present, each with a striking illustration make this a must for any fan of the Mythos.
April 19, 2014
Collections of short fiction based on the Cthulhu Mythos never get old but they can be predictable. Editor Ellen Datlow attempts to spice up the idea by featuring stories based on the monsters of H. P. Lovecraft's weird and twisted mind. Even the ardent Lovecraft fan may go mad trying to place some of the creatures, so Datlow added a neat Monster Index to keep you up on the creepies you will meet. The fiction itself tends to be uneven but there are enough gems to keep you reading. Neil Gaiman's "Only the End of the World Again" starts the collection and has the achievement of shining above most of the stories. It's hard to not like a story that brings Larry Talbot and Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos together. If you don't know who Larry Talbot is, you are not much of a horror fan. Another good mash-up, "Black as the Pit, from Pole to Pole by Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley, brings Mary Shelly and Lovecraft together with the hollow world theory. I haven't seen one of Howard Waldrop's speculative mini-masterpieces for ages. It isn't "The Ugly Chickens" but it is still really entertaining. The third "don't miss" story is by the always dependable Joe R. Lansdale who gives "The Bleeding Shadows" a bluesy East Texas drawl. Steve Rasnic Tem's "Waiting at the Crossroads Motel" qualifies as one of the creepiest of the bunch. The rest range from very good to passable but none are out of place in this Lovecraft Tribute. A strong three and a half stars.
February 4, 2014
This is an anthology with a great list of authors included. They've taken H.P. Lovecraft's stories and put their own spin on them. I got through a few of them, but they were mostly unable to hold my interest. It's not because they were written poorly, or boring in nature. I firmly believe this is a case in which many people will enjoy this book, but it was definitely not for me.
DNFed after skimming through many stories and not being gripped and sucked in.
I will say that the story about the goat had me engaged. That story was incredibly strange, and a very creepy concept. I thought Oh, good!! I can like this now!! But the next story lost me again. Don't be turned off by my review. It may hold your interest. It's not a bad book, or badly written. It's absolutely me.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
DNFed after skimming through many stories and not being gripped and sucked in.
I will say that the story about the goat had me engaged. That story was incredibly strange, and a very creepy concept. I thought Oh, good!! I can like this now!! But the next story lost me again. Don't be turned off by my review. It may hold your interest. It's not a bad book, or badly written. It's absolutely me.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2022
Some of these short stories were good, and some of them were just ok. Just a few of them stood out for me.
“Only the End of the World Again”, by Neil Gaiman: funny. 4/5 stars
“Bulldozer”, by Laird Barron: interesting, but didn’t really go anywhere. 3/5
“Red Goat Black Goat” by Nadia Bulkin: damn good story, very creepy. 4/5
“The Same Deep Waters As You”, by Brian Hodge: I’d have loved to read a full novel about all of this. But the ending of this short story has be totally confused. Can someone please explain the ending for me….? 3/5
“A Quarter to Three”, by Kim Newman: too short, but I liked the snarky asides, and found it quite weird. 3/5
“The Dappled Thing” by William Browning Spencer: another story I’d loved to read as a novel. Great fun! 4/5
“Inelastic Collisions” by Elizabeth Bear: this whole story confused me. What was even happening? 3/5
“Remnants” by Fred Chappell: LOVED, and wanted more. What happens next?!? 4/5
“Love is Forbidden, We Croak and Howl” by Caitlin R. Kiernan: it was ok. 3/5
“The Sect of the Idiot” by Thomas Ligotti: it was ok. 3/5
“Jar of Salts” by Gemma Files: ok poem, 3/5
“Black as the Pit, From Pole to Pole” by Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley: interesting story that was occasionally great, and occasionally boring. Even out to a 3/5.
“Waiting at the Crossroads Motel” by Steve Rasnic Tem: HATED the husband. I hope he dies. 4/5
“I’ve Come to Talk with You Again” by Karl Edward Wagner: it was ok. 3/5
“The Bleeding Shadow” by Joe R. Lansdale: this story made the entire novel for me. I now have to find more work by this author, because I was *riveted*…! 5/5
“That of Which We Speak When We Speak of the Unspeakable” by Nick Mamatas: it was ok. 3/5
“Haruspicy” by Gemma Files: It was ok. 3/5
“Children of the Fang” by John Langan: LOVED this story, and I felt it also made the whole novel. 5/5..!
Audible states that Bernard Clark is the narrator for the entire audiobook, but it sounded to me like a totally different person narrated the story by Joe R. Lansdale. Either way, Clark was wonderful. Whoever did “The Bleeding Shadow” needs to narrate a butt-ton more audiobooks, please…! 😍
All in all, this was a pretty fun way to spend the evening. I’ve never read anything by Lovecraft before, but these monsters are pretty cool. Maybe you will enjoy this novel as much as I did.
3.5 stars…? That’s what all my ratings even out to (3.555555555).
“Only the End of the World Again”, by Neil Gaiman: funny. 4/5 stars
“Bulldozer”, by Laird Barron: interesting, but didn’t really go anywhere. 3/5
“Red Goat Black Goat” by Nadia Bulkin: damn good story, very creepy. 4/5
“The Same Deep Waters As You”, by Brian Hodge: I’d have loved to read a full novel about all of this. But the ending of this short story has be totally confused. Can someone please explain the ending for me….? 3/5
“A Quarter to Three”, by Kim Newman: too short, but I liked the snarky asides, and found it quite weird. 3/5
“The Dappled Thing” by William Browning Spencer: another story I’d loved to read as a novel. Great fun! 4/5
“Inelastic Collisions” by Elizabeth Bear: this whole story confused me. What was even happening? 3/5
“Remnants” by Fred Chappell: LOVED, and wanted more. What happens next?!? 4/5
“Love is Forbidden, We Croak and Howl” by Caitlin R. Kiernan: it was ok. 3/5
“The Sect of the Idiot” by Thomas Ligotti: it was ok. 3/5
“Jar of Salts” by Gemma Files: ok poem, 3/5
“Black as the Pit, From Pole to Pole” by Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley: interesting story that was occasionally great, and occasionally boring. Even out to a 3/5.
“Waiting at the Crossroads Motel” by Steve Rasnic Tem: HATED the husband. I hope he dies. 4/5
“I’ve Come to Talk with You Again” by Karl Edward Wagner: it was ok. 3/5
“The Bleeding Shadow” by Joe R. Lansdale: this story made the entire novel for me. I now have to find more work by this author, because I was *riveted*…! 5/5
“That of Which We Speak When We Speak of the Unspeakable” by Nick Mamatas: it was ok. 3/5
“Haruspicy” by Gemma Files: It was ok. 3/5
“Children of the Fang” by John Langan: LOVED this story, and I felt it also made the whole novel. 5/5..!
Audible states that Bernard Clark is the narrator for the entire audiobook, but it sounded to me like a totally different person narrated the story by Joe R. Lansdale. Either way, Clark was wonderful. Whoever did “The Bleeding Shadow” needs to narrate a butt-ton more audiobooks, please…! 😍
All in all, this was a pretty fun way to spend the evening. I’ve never read anything by Lovecraft before, but these monsters are pretty cool. Maybe you will enjoy this novel as much as I did.
3.5 stars…? That’s what all my ratings even out to (3.555555555).
March 1, 2014
Anthologies can be a love/hate type of read.
Some tales suck you in....
while others leave you struggling just to get through.
This was the case with Lovecraft's Monsters. The premise is fabulous. Stories from wonderful modern day authors based on the monsters created by H.P. Lovecraft. Some held my interest, some did not.
I'll just chalk this one up to being "it's not you, it's me".
3 Ninja-Bunnehs-Saying-Eh
(Arc received in exchange for an honest review)
Some tales suck you in....
while others leave you struggling just to get through.
This was the case with Lovecraft's Monsters. The premise is fabulous. Stories from wonderful modern day authors based on the monsters created by H.P. Lovecraft. Some held my interest, some did not.
I'll just chalk this one up to being "it's not you, it's me".
3 Ninja-Bunnehs-Saying-Eh
(Arc received in exchange for an honest review)
March 29, 2024
Like most Anthologies I've read this goes from okay to amazing. But when it's amazing, it's really amazing! The ones I enjoyed the most are.:
The Same Deep Waters as You - Brian Hodge *****
The Dappled Thing - William Browning Spencer *****
Remnants - Fred Chappell ****
Love is Forbidden, We Croake and Howl - Caitlin R. Kiernan ****
Black as the Pit, from Pole to Pole - Howard Waldrop & Steven Utley ******
Waiting at the Crossroads Motel - Steve Rasnic ****
Children of the Fang - John Langan ****
Black as the Pit, from Pole to Pole is my absolute favorite from this collection. Think Hollow Earth mixed with Frankenstein. Yep, Frankenstein. It's bloody diabolical! It also throws in a lot of Classic Horror literature facts, and I loved it. LOVED IT! If you only read one short from this anthology, make it this one.
Recommend this for Horror fans, especially Classic Horror fans! Finally read this for the Horror Aficionados 2024 Mount TBR Challenge.
The Same Deep Waters as You - Brian Hodge *****
The Dappled Thing - William Browning Spencer *****
Remnants - Fred Chappell ****
Love is Forbidden, We Croake and Howl - Caitlin R. Kiernan ****
Black as the Pit, from Pole to Pole - Howard Waldrop & Steven Utley ******
Waiting at the Crossroads Motel - Steve Rasnic ****
Children of the Fang - John Langan ****
Black as the Pit, from Pole to Pole is my absolute favorite from this collection. Think Hollow Earth mixed with Frankenstein. Yep, Frankenstein. It's bloody diabolical! It also throws in a lot of Classic Horror literature facts, and I loved it. LOVED IT! If you only read one short from this anthology, make it this one.
Recommend this for Horror fans, especially Classic Horror fans! Finally read this for the Horror Aficionados 2024 Mount TBR Challenge.
February 6, 2019
Some of the writers here are usual guests in this kind of Anthologies, the likes like Barron, Kieran, Langan, Rasnic Tem, Mamatas, Ligotti and maybe even Lansdale, so the Lovecraftian new legacy has, in theory at least, a strong presence here.
The stories:
1.Only the End of the World Again • (1994) • by Neil Gaiman **** 4 Stars, Knew from before.
2.Bulldozer • (2004) • Laird Barron ** 2 Stars, Very hard text to get into.
3. Red Goat Black Goat • (2010) • by Nadia Bulkin *****, 5 Stars, Never heard of the writer before. Great idea & story!
4.The Same Deep Waters as You • (2013) • by Brian Hodge, ****, 5 Stars!!!!, Knew it from before.
5.A Quarter to Three • (1988) • by Kim Newman, Too slow & descriptive to my taste *, 1 Star
6. The Dappled Thing • by William Browning Spencer (variant of That Dappled Thing 2011), **,2 Stars
7. Inelastic Collisions • (2007) • by Elizabeth Bear , ****, 4 Stars, Quite original setting, using some good classic Lovecraftian elements.
8.Remnants • (2010) • by Fred Chappell, Knew this from a recent Lovecraft Anthology, not bad, ***, 3 stars
9. Love Is Forbidden, We Croak and Howl • (2012) • Caitlín R. Kiernan, **, 2 Stars, Interesting enough, but not so powerful as Kiernan usual work.
10. The Sect of the Idiot • (1988) • by Thomas Ligotti, So, so slow, and anyway, I`m not a big fan of Ligotti`s work. **, 2 Stars
11. Black as the Pit, from Pole to Pole • (1977) • by Steven Utley and Howard Waldrop, Meeh, *, 1 Star
12. Waiting at the Crossroads Motel • (2012) • by Steve Rasnic Tem, Strong stuff as usual from Rasnic Tem, *** , 3 Stars
13. I've Come to Talk with You Again • (1995) • by Karl Edward Wagner, Nice one.***, 3 Stars
14. The Bleeding Shadow • (2011) • by Joe R. Lansdale, *****, 5 Stars!!!, Lovecraftian horror at it`s best!
15. That of Which We Speak When We Speak of the Unspeakable • (2009) • by Nick Mamatas, ***, 3 Stars
16. Children of the Fang • (2014) • by John Langan, Quite long even for the usual Langan stories, but it has enough stuff (maybe for at least three other stories) to get you trough. ****, 4 Stars
Overall :
5 Stars x 3 stories
4 Stars x 3 stories
3 Stars x 4 stories
2 Stars x 4 stories
1 Stars x 2 stories
And if we add that there were 10 "good" to "very good" stories and with 4 "ok" ones results that this one was quite a blast( coming from Datlow!). Yeah, definitely this was much better than the usual Datlow effort.
And keeping in mind that from the total of sixteen stories I`ve read already just two of them, then you can guess that there is a lot of good stuff that you could discover in here.
The stories:
1.Only the End of the World Again • (1994) • by Neil Gaiman **** 4 Stars, Knew from before.
2.Bulldozer • (2004) • Laird Barron ** 2 Stars, Very hard text to get into.
3. Red Goat Black Goat • (2010) • by Nadia Bulkin *****, 5 Stars, Never heard of the writer before. Great idea & story!
4.The Same Deep Waters as You • (2013) • by Brian Hodge, ****, 5 Stars!!!!, Knew it from before.
5.A Quarter to Three • (1988) • by Kim Newman, Too slow & descriptive to my taste *, 1 Star
6. The Dappled Thing • by William Browning Spencer (variant of That Dappled Thing 2011), **,2 Stars
7. Inelastic Collisions • (2007) • by Elizabeth Bear , ****, 4 Stars, Quite original setting, using some good classic Lovecraftian elements.
8.Remnants • (2010) • by Fred Chappell, Knew this from a recent Lovecraft Anthology, not bad, ***, 3 stars
9. Love Is Forbidden, We Croak and Howl • (2012) • Caitlín R. Kiernan, **, 2 Stars, Interesting enough, but not so powerful as Kiernan usual work.
10. The Sect of the Idiot • (1988) • by Thomas Ligotti, So, so slow, and anyway, I`m not a big fan of Ligotti`s work. **, 2 Stars
11. Black as the Pit, from Pole to Pole • (1977) • by Steven Utley and Howard Waldrop, Meeh, *, 1 Star
12. Waiting at the Crossroads Motel • (2012) • by Steve Rasnic Tem, Strong stuff as usual from Rasnic Tem, *** , 3 Stars
13. I've Come to Talk with You Again • (1995) • by Karl Edward Wagner, Nice one.***, 3 Stars
14. The Bleeding Shadow • (2011) • by Joe R. Lansdale, *****, 5 Stars!!!, Lovecraftian horror at it`s best!
15. That of Which We Speak When We Speak of the Unspeakable • (2009) • by Nick Mamatas, ***, 3 Stars
16. Children of the Fang • (2014) • by John Langan, Quite long even for the usual Langan stories, but it has enough stuff (maybe for at least three other stories) to get you trough. ****, 4 Stars
Overall :
5 Stars x 3 stories
4 Stars x 3 stories
3 Stars x 4 stories
2 Stars x 4 stories
1 Stars x 2 stories
And if we add that there were 10 "good" to "very good" stories and with 4 "ok" ones results that this one was quite a blast( coming from Datlow!). Yeah, definitely this was much better than the usual Datlow effort.
And keeping in mind that from the total of sixteen stories I`ve read already just two of them, then you can guess that there is a lot of good stuff that you could discover in here.
May 24, 2021
I really wanted to love this, but quite a few stories fell short IMO. There were some really amazing tales, which is why I left 4 stars, but a few of them, I just couldn't finish. I'm still glad I got it and it's still absolutely worth getting. We all have different tastes after all.
June 19, 2015
Only the End of the World Again by Neil Gaiman
— As much of a Neil fan as I am, these story doesn’t do a lot for me. It’s clever and well-written, but just…not what I usually like. I’m afraid that’s going to be true for the entire book… 3/5
Bulldozer by Laird Barron
— This is more like it. A Pinkerton agent heads west on the trail of a man who has become something more, or maybe something less than human. All the tropes of a good Oater with all the unspeakable horror of the nameless elder ones. 4/5
Red Goat Black Goat by Nadia Bulkin
— Wow. It’s a rare story that actually sends shivers up my spine these days, but this one did it. A tale of one particular old god and its appetite. The story takes place in southeast Asia and concerns a family and a new babysitter. 5/5
The Same Deep Waters As You by Brian Hodge
— Loved this one. It’s a slow build that grows creepier and creepier as it moves, leading to a conclusion that is at once unexpected and completely unavoidable. Really, really well done. 5/5
A Quarter to Three by Kim Newman
— This one’s a short short, and there’s not a lot to it. There’s a diner, and a girl, and a tale of misbegotten romance of the sort none of us should ever have to experience, even secondhand. 3/5
The Dappled Thing by William Browning Spencer
— Steampunk-ish, Victorian era adventuring into the heart of the jungle to rescue a gentleman adventurer and the headstrong granddaughter of a wealthy industrialist? Yes, please. Excellent and fun melding of classic British adventure tales and Lovecraft. 5/5
Inelastic Collisions by Elizabeth Bear
— This one’s interesting, but I’m not sure of how it fits into Lovecraftian mythos. There are some hounds who may be angels, and other demons, and talk of old gods, and games of pool. What it all means together, I’m not sure, but it is beautifully written. 3/5
Remnants by Fred Chappell
— Another interesting one, but one that doesn’t quite work for me. It starts off great, but slows down somewhat and feels a bit too long. Still, what the author does with the mythos is really interesting and makes it more action oriented than most other stories in the collection. 3/5
Love is Forbidden, We Croak and Howl by Caitlin R. Kiernan
— This one didn’t do much for me. Nothing wrong with it, per se, it just didn’t connect with me. It’s a love story, of course. 2/5
The Sect of the Idiot by Thomas Ligotti
— This one, too, did little for me. It’s about a dream and a room and an old town and being recruited. 2/5
Jar of Salts by Gemma Files
— Lovely poem. Weird and scary as befitting Lovecraftian stories, too. 4/5
Black as the Pit, From Pole to Pole by Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley
— Great story from the perspective of Frankenstein’s Creature, with all manner of Lovecraftian monsters and worlds within the hollow Earth. Really fun. 5/5
Waiting at the Crossroads Motel by Steve Rasnic Tem
— Interesting take on the children of Lovecraft’s monsters. Makes me want to go to the desert for a while. 4/5
I’ve Come to Talk with You Again by Karl Edward Wagner
— A story about The Yellow King and a minor author and his newest generation of disciples. 3/5
The Bleeding Shadow by Joe R. Lansdale
— I first read this in “Down These Strange Streets.” My opinion hasn’t changed: This story, about a deal with the devil for some blues chops, is an old one, but very well told. 5/5
That of Which We Speak When We Speak of the Unspeakable by Nick Mamatas
— Just the end of the world. Nothing to do but wait for it. 3/5
Haruspicy by Gemma Files
— Lovely poem. 3/5
Children of the Fang by John Langan
— Long. Didn’t do much for me. 2/5
Monster Index & Contributors
— Wonderful resource and attribution. Lots of good info here, mainly a repository of other things you might want to read and / or the Lovecraft stories where most of these creatures first appeared.
— As much of a Neil fan as I am, these story doesn’t do a lot for me. It’s clever and well-written, but just…not what I usually like. I’m afraid that’s going to be true for the entire book… 3/5
Bulldozer by Laird Barron
— This is more like it. A Pinkerton agent heads west on the trail of a man who has become something more, or maybe something less than human. All the tropes of a good Oater with all the unspeakable horror of the nameless elder ones. 4/5
Red Goat Black Goat by Nadia Bulkin
— Wow. It’s a rare story that actually sends shivers up my spine these days, but this one did it. A tale of one particular old god and its appetite. The story takes place in southeast Asia and concerns a family and a new babysitter. 5/5
The Same Deep Waters As You by Brian Hodge
— Loved this one. It’s a slow build that grows creepier and creepier as it moves, leading to a conclusion that is at once unexpected and completely unavoidable. Really, really well done. 5/5
A Quarter to Three by Kim Newman
— This one’s a short short, and there’s not a lot to it. There’s a diner, and a girl, and a tale of misbegotten romance of the sort none of us should ever have to experience, even secondhand. 3/5
The Dappled Thing by William Browning Spencer
— Steampunk-ish, Victorian era adventuring into the heart of the jungle to rescue a gentleman adventurer and the headstrong granddaughter of a wealthy industrialist? Yes, please. Excellent and fun melding of classic British adventure tales and Lovecraft. 5/5
Inelastic Collisions by Elizabeth Bear
— This one’s interesting, but I’m not sure of how it fits into Lovecraftian mythos. There are some hounds who may be angels, and other demons, and talk of old gods, and games of pool. What it all means together, I’m not sure, but it is beautifully written. 3/5
Remnants by Fred Chappell
— Another interesting one, but one that doesn’t quite work for me. It starts off great, but slows down somewhat and feels a bit too long. Still, what the author does with the mythos is really interesting and makes it more action oriented than most other stories in the collection. 3/5
Love is Forbidden, We Croak and Howl by Caitlin R. Kiernan
— This one didn’t do much for me. Nothing wrong with it, per se, it just didn’t connect with me. It’s a love story, of course. 2/5
The Sect of the Idiot by Thomas Ligotti
— This one, too, did little for me. It’s about a dream and a room and an old town and being recruited. 2/5
Jar of Salts by Gemma Files
— Lovely poem. Weird and scary as befitting Lovecraftian stories, too. 4/5
Black as the Pit, From Pole to Pole by Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley
— Great story from the perspective of Frankenstein’s Creature, with all manner of Lovecraftian monsters and worlds within the hollow Earth. Really fun. 5/5
Waiting at the Crossroads Motel by Steve Rasnic Tem
— Interesting take on the children of Lovecraft’s monsters. Makes me want to go to the desert for a while. 4/5
I’ve Come to Talk with You Again by Karl Edward Wagner
— A story about The Yellow King and a minor author and his newest generation of disciples. 3/5
The Bleeding Shadow by Joe R. Lansdale
— I first read this in “Down These Strange Streets.” My opinion hasn’t changed: This story, about a deal with the devil for some blues chops, is an old one, but very well told. 5/5
That of Which We Speak When We Speak of the Unspeakable by Nick Mamatas
— Just the end of the world. Nothing to do but wait for it. 3/5
Haruspicy by Gemma Files
— Lovely poem. 3/5
Children of the Fang by John Langan
— Long. Didn’t do much for me. 2/5
Monster Index & Contributors
— Wonderful resource and attribution. Lots of good info here, mainly a repository of other things you might want to read and / or the Lovecraft stories where most of these creatures first appeared.
August 15, 2019
I loved the first five stories in this book, and the last few stories were also pretty good. This anthology is worth picking up just for the beginning and end, even if the middle wasn't the strongest.
June 14, 2018
I was kind of unsure about this book because I've read an anthology edited by Datlow before and wasn't all that impressed. I bought this on sale on audible, though, and so I was open.
After reading a couple of other reviews as well, I have to admit I'm pleasantly surprised.
Many of the stories had a Lovecraftian feel to them - which is the point, I think - even if it didn't work so well for me. They were never really scary, though, mostly just weird, with a couple of good ones in-between.
Review in the order I listened to them:
THE END OF THE WORLD AGAIN — Neil Gaiman
Not sure how to rate this. It had a clear Lovecraftian feel to it, but as with Lovecraft I didn't find it all that interesting, even if there were things I liked about it.
3/5
BULLDOZER by Laird Barron
This was a weird one. And sure, Lovecraft is weird, but this one was weird in a way I didn't like - so again, probably rather like Lovecraft.
My problem was in the storytelling. The jumping and short chapters and unfinished sentences.
Then it got good, before getting not all that good again.
Seriously not sure how to rate this, so...
2/5
RED GOAT BLACK GOAT by Nadia Bulkin
I liked this one. It was short and intense, and I enjoyed the fact that it wasn't set in USA. It was weird in a Lovecraft—way, but also in a way that I liked
4/5
THE SAME DEEP WATERS AS YOU by Brian Hodge
Never did Lovecraft have a female MC, and so I rather enjoyed this one, with a woman MC.
I also liked the story. I liked how it told what happened after the raids on Innsmouth originally written by Lovecraft, and I found it really interesting.
5/5
A QUARTER TO THREE by Kim Newman
So this was weird. At least it was short. Wasn't bad, though, just weird and kind of pointless
3/5
"The Dappled Things" by William Browning Spencer
I liked the steampunk feel of this one. The story was interesting, although it wasn't scary and didn't feel all that weird, so not sure it completely fit into this anthology.
I liked it anyway, though.
4/5
INELASTIC COLLISIONS by Elizabeth Bear
This one felt more like part of a longer story. It didn't really have a point or a story, but I think a longer story could be interesting.
2/5
JAR OF SALTS by Gemma Files
I think this was supposed to be a poem of some kind, but I don't know. Have no idea what it even tried at.
1/5
HARUSPICY by Gemma Files
Also a weird one that didn't make all that much sense, but more coherent than the other short by this author in this collection.
2/5
REMNANTS by Fred Chappell
This was a long but good short. It had an interesting premisse and story, as well as interesting characters. I would like to read a series set in this world!
4/5
LOVE IS FORBIDDEN, WE CROAK AND HOWL by Caitlin R. Kiernan
This was another good one. It wasn't scary in any way, but it was cute. It feels like it was part of something bigger, though, and I'd would like to read the rest.
4/5
THE SECT OF THE IDIOT by Thomas Ligotti
This was Lovecraftian in the way that it lost me. May just be because I'm tired, but I fell out of it rather quickly.
2/5
I'VE COME TO TALK WITH YOU AGAIN by Karl Edward Wagner
This was interesting enough. Had that air of mystery and was open for interpretation.
I liked it.
3.5/5
THAT OF WHICH WE SPEAK WHEN WE SPEAK OF THE UNSPEAKABLE by Nick Mamatas
I can understand it. The giving up and then changing your mind. I liked the humanity and personality of it. I also liked the setting
4/5
WAITING AT THE CROSS ROADS MOTEL by Steve Rasnic Tem
This worked but was at the same time rather pointless. Feel like there were many things it could have done, but didn't complete
3/5
THE BLEEDING SHADOW by Joe R. Lansdale
The devils music!
I liked the setting of this. Lovecraftian and still original. Also liked that the MC was a man of color. Lovecraft was sexist racist, so am glad to see authors challenging that.
4/5
BLACK IS THE PIT FROM POLE TO POLE by Howard Waldrop & Steven Utley
This one confused me. The story in itself could be good, if it didn't jump so much back and forth. Also, what was up with the facts at the begining of each chapter?
2.5/5
CHILDREN OF THE FANG by John Langon
This was a good one. It had an actually story to follow. It wasn't all that creepy, but it was interesting.
Also liked all the diversity
5/5
After reading a couple of other reviews as well, I have to admit I'm pleasantly surprised.
Many of the stories had a Lovecraftian feel to them - which is the point, I think - even if it didn't work so well for me. They were never really scary, though, mostly just weird, with a couple of good ones in-between.
Review in the order I listened to them:
THE END OF THE WORLD AGAIN — Neil Gaiman
Not sure how to rate this. It had a clear Lovecraftian feel to it, but as with Lovecraft I didn't find it all that interesting, even if there were things I liked about it.
3/5
BULLDOZER by Laird Barron
This was a weird one. And sure, Lovecraft is weird, but this one was weird in a way I didn't like - so again, probably rather like Lovecraft.
My problem was in the storytelling. The jumping and short chapters and unfinished sentences.
Then it got good, before getting not all that good again.
Seriously not sure how to rate this, so...
2/5
RED GOAT BLACK GOAT by Nadia Bulkin
I liked this one. It was short and intense, and I enjoyed the fact that it wasn't set in USA. It was weird in a Lovecraft—way, but also in a way that I liked
4/5
THE SAME DEEP WATERS AS YOU by Brian Hodge
Never did Lovecraft have a female MC, and so I rather enjoyed this one, with a woman MC.
I also liked the story. I liked how it told what happened after the raids on Innsmouth originally written by Lovecraft, and I found it really interesting.
5/5
A QUARTER TO THREE by Kim Newman
So this was weird. At least it was short. Wasn't bad, though, just weird and kind of pointless
3/5
"The Dappled Things" by William Browning Spencer
I liked the steampunk feel of this one. The story was interesting, although it wasn't scary and didn't feel all that weird, so not sure it completely fit into this anthology.
I liked it anyway, though.
4/5
INELASTIC COLLISIONS by Elizabeth Bear
This one felt more like part of a longer story. It didn't really have a point or a story, but I think a longer story could be interesting.
2/5
JAR OF SALTS by Gemma Files
I think this was supposed to be a poem of some kind, but I don't know. Have no idea what it even tried at.
1/5
HARUSPICY by Gemma Files
Also a weird one that didn't make all that much sense, but more coherent than the other short by this author in this collection.
2/5
REMNANTS by Fred Chappell
This was a long but good short. It had an interesting premisse and story, as well as interesting characters. I would like to read a series set in this world!
4/5
LOVE IS FORBIDDEN, WE CROAK AND HOWL by Caitlin R. Kiernan
This was another good one. It wasn't scary in any way, but it was cute. It feels like it was part of something bigger, though, and I'd would like to read the rest.
4/5
THE SECT OF THE IDIOT by Thomas Ligotti
This was Lovecraftian in the way that it lost me. May just be because I'm tired, but I fell out of it rather quickly.
2/5
I'VE COME TO TALK WITH YOU AGAIN by Karl Edward Wagner
This was interesting enough. Had that air of mystery and was open for interpretation.
I liked it.
3.5/5
THAT OF WHICH WE SPEAK WHEN WE SPEAK OF THE UNSPEAKABLE by Nick Mamatas
I can understand it. The giving up and then changing your mind. I liked the humanity and personality of it. I also liked the setting
4/5
WAITING AT THE CROSS ROADS MOTEL by Steve Rasnic Tem
This worked but was at the same time rather pointless. Feel like there were many things it could have done, but didn't complete
3/5
THE BLEEDING SHADOW by Joe R. Lansdale
The devils music!
I liked the setting of this. Lovecraftian and still original. Also liked that the MC was a man of color. Lovecraft was sexist racist, so am glad to see authors challenging that.
4/5
BLACK IS THE PIT FROM POLE TO POLE by Howard Waldrop & Steven Utley
This one confused me. The story in itself could be good, if it didn't jump so much back and forth. Also, what was up with the facts at the begining of each chapter?
2.5/5
CHILDREN OF THE FANG by John Langon
This was a good one. It had an actually story to follow. It wasn't all that creepy, but it was interesting.
Also liked all the diversity
5/5
January 30, 2021
I'm four stories in so far and completely loving this anthology of stories based upon the creatures of Lovecraft's imagination. So far my favorites include "The Same Deep Waters as You" by Brian Hodge, "Remnants" by Fred Chappell, and "Black is the Pit From Pole to Pole" by Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley. Awesome delicious horror.
"Only the End of the World Again" by Neil Gaiman - This story was later made into a graphic novel, and features a werewolf detective who sets up shop in Innsmouth, and becomes a target of the locals who want a new featured meat for their sacrifice. I enjoyed this a lot.
"Bulldozer" by Laird Barron - A historical weird western, Bulldozer is also the nickname for a Pinkerton detective who goes out west investigating a bad guy and mysterious mine. I didn't see this as one of Barron's better works.
"Red Goat Black Goat" by Nadia Bulkin - This one was dark and creepy, about a household that's been overcome by a 'Goat Nurse' to take care of the children.
"The Same Deep Waters as You" by Brian Hodge - My favorite story so far! The raid on Innsmouth in 1928 resulted in the capture of several hundred locals, sixty-three of whom are kept captive in a secret military prison in the middle of the ocean, akin to Gitmo but more primitive. When a famous animal behaviorist is tagged to try to communicate with these fish-people, things take a deep dive very quickly. I loved this one!
"A Quarter to Three" by Kim Newman - A fishy love connection at Cap'n Cod's 24 Hour Diner, located right on the edge of the water in good ol' Innsmouth.
"The Dappled Things" by William Browning Spencer - a steampunk-y adventure where an octopus-armed contraption filled with a group of intrepid explorers venture off to rescue an heiress in the wilds of some uncivilized content. Man-eating serpent encountered. Nice.
"Inelastic Collisions" by Elizabeth Bear - Two fallen angels, on the prowl for a human dinner in a local dive bar, encounter a fascinating man with the Innsmouth look. Incredibly awesome, as most Elizabeth Bear stories are.
"Remnants" by Fred Chappell - Wow! I loved this one, about the remnants of civilization after the Great Old Ones have destroyed the Earth and left roaming bands of "Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!" emitting shoggoths behind. The human family, however, is being tracked by another group of remnants, this time from outer space. Incredibly creative, and lovely, for a Mythos story.
"Love is Forbidden, We Croak & Howl" by Caitlín R. Kiernan - A love story between an Innsmouth girl and love-struck ghoul. Neat and short.
"The Sect of the Idiot" by Thomas Ligotti - I found myself skimming whole sections, so I must go back to this one.
"Jar of Salts" by Gemma Files - Poetry. Not my thing.
"Black is the Pit From Pole to Pole" by Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley - Another favorite of mine, a cross between a Frankstein's monster sequel (what exactly did the monster encounter in the Arctic wasteland?) and "The Land that Time Forgot." For me, this was sentimental.
"Waiting at the Crossroads Motel" by Steve Rasnic Tem - Told from the perspective of one of Lovecraft's "monsters," this one left a bitter taste in my mouth. I'm sure it was the descriptions of child neglect and abuse. Ugh.
"I've Come to Talk with You Again" by Karl Edward Wagner - A nice short, but nothing memorable. A group of aging horror writers meet in a London bar for their annual get-together. Several are missing as the years have not been kind. And neither, apparently, will the American writer, who seems to have somehow, quite mysteriously, not aged very much at all.
"The Bleeding Shadow" by Joe R. Lansdale - This was a wicked little take, about a musician who sells his soul to the devil for some wicked music. Creepy and delicious.
"That of Which We Speak When We Speak of the Unspeakable" by Nick Mamatas - This short story started like any tale of a group of teens hanging out in a cave, drinking and getting high. Until the reader realizes that shoggoths have appeared and have started wiping out the world, one city at a time. Lovely.
"Haruspicy" by Gemma Files
"Children of the Fang" by John Langan
"Only the End of the World Again" by Neil Gaiman - This story was later made into a graphic novel, and features a werewolf detective who sets up shop in Innsmouth, and becomes a target of the locals who want a new featured meat for their sacrifice. I enjoyed this a lot.
"Bulldozer" by Laird Barron - A historical weird western, Bulldozer is also the nickname for a Pinkerton detective who goes out west investigating a bad guy and mysterious mine. I didn't see this as one of Barron's better works.
"Red Goat Black Goat" by Nadia Bulkin - This one was dark and creepy, about a household that's been overcome by a 'Goat Nurse' to take care of the children.
"The Same Deep Waters as You" by Brian Hodge - My favorite story so far! The raid on Innsmouth in 1928 resulted in the capture of several hundred locals, sixty-three of whom are kept captive in a secret military prison in the middle of the ocean, akin to Gitmo but more primitive. When a famous animal behaviorist is tagged to try to communicate with these fish-people, things take a deep dive very quickly. I loved this one!
"A Quarter to Three" by Kim Newman - A fishy love connection at Cap'n Cod's 24 Hour Diner, located right on the edge of the water in good ol' Innsmouth.
"The Dappled Things" by William Browning Spencer - a steampunk-y adventure where an octopus-armed contraption filled with a group of intrepid explorers venture off to rescue an heiress in the wilds of some uncivilized content. Man-eating serpent encountered. Nice.
"Inelastic Collisions" by Elizabeth Bear - Two fallen angels, on the prowl for a human dinner in a local dive bar, encounter a fascinating man with the Innsmouth look. Incredibly awesome, as most Elizabeth Bear stories are.
"Remnants" by Fred Chappell - Wow! I loved this one, about the remnants of civilization after the Great Old Ones have destroyed the Earth and left roaming bands of "Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!" emitting shoggoths behind. The human family, however, is being tracked by another group of remnants, this time from outer space. Incredibly creative, and lovely, for a Mythos story.
"Love is Forbidden, We Croak & Howl" by Caitlín R. Kiernan - A love story between an Innsmouth girl and love-struck ghoul. Neat and short.
"The Sect of the Idiot" by Thomas Ligotti - I found myself skimming whole sections, so I must go back to this one.
"Jar of Salts" by Gemma Files - Poetry. Not my thing.
"Black is the Pit From Pole to Pole" by Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley - Another favorite of mine, a cross between a Frankstein's monster sequel (what exactly did the monster encounter in the Arctic wasteland?) and "The Land that Time Forgot." For me, this was sentimental.
"Waiting at the Crossroads Motel" by Steve Rasnic Tem - Told from the perspective of one of Lovecraft's "monsters," this one left a bitter taste in my mouth. I'm sure it was the descriptions of child neglect and abuse. Ugh.
"I've Come to Talk with You Again" by Karl Edward Wagner - A nice short, but nothing memorable. A group of aging horror writers meet in a London bar for their annual get-together. Several are missing as the years have not been kind. And neither, apparently, will the American writer, who seems to have somehow, quite mysteriously, not aged very much at all.
"The Bleeding Shadow" by Joe R. Lansdale - This was a wicked little take, about a musician who sells his soul to the devil for some wicked music. Creepy and delicious.
"That of Which We Speak When We Speak of the Unspeakable" by Nick Mamatas - This short story started like any tale of a group of teens hanging out in a cave, drinking and getting high. Until the reader realizes that shoggoths have appeared and have started wiping out the world, one city at a time. Lovely.
"Haruspicy" by Gemma Files
"Children of the Fang" by John Langan
December 17, 2022
Lovecraft’s Monsters edited by Ellen Datlow: ★★★★
Only the End of the World Again: A weird story that reminded me of American Gods in a way. I think I know what happened but I genuinely can’t be sure. 5/5
Bulldozer: This one started really well and then I wasn’t entirely sure I thought it stuck the landing. Very weird west in a way I enjoyed, and I loved the central character and the way it was written. 4/5
Red Goat Black Goat: This one was okay – creepy, but not particularly compelling for me. 3/5
The Same Deep Waters as You: This one was good until the ending, which was amazing. I really liked the premise, too. 5/5
A Quarter to Three: A neat premise, but too short to really land it – I wasn’t invested enough in what was happening for the ending to really land, I don’t think. 3/5
The Dappled Thing: Another one which I thought was good but not great because the ending didn’t really grab me. 3/5
Inelastic Collisions: This one was neat. I am not sure I thought it was very Lovecraftian (despite the monster index at the end claiming it’s about hounds of Tindalos, which it definitely isn’t) but I enjoyed the premise. 4/5
Remnants: Very much leaning more into the cosmic part of cosmic horror, I liked this one. Very creepy and tense. Reminded me a little of The Quiet Place. 4/5
Love Is Forbidden, We Croak and Howl: This was surprisingly sweet for a story about a ghoul! 4/5
The Sect of the Idiot: This was a story about a dream which felt very flat to me. 2/5
Jar of Salts: I never really know how to rate poems so I won’t, but I did enjoy it.
Black as the Pit, from Pole to Pole: Disjointed and dull. A truly bewildering inclusion, especially given it’s one of the longest stories in the anthology. 1/5
Waiting at the Crossroads Motel: This was so creepy, and so wonderful. Again, not really sure it was at all Lovecraftian, but I really didn’t mind. 5/5
I’ve Come to Talk with You Again: This is a spin on an old classic, but done well. 3/5
The Bleeding Shadow: This felt very Lovecraftian. Really interesting premise, and very satisfying ending. 4/5
That of Which We Speak When We Speak of the Unspeakable: I thought this was okay – the title is honestly the best part of the story. 2/5
Haruspicy: The second and last poem – I have to wonder, what was the logic behind including two poems spread out like this?
Children of the Fang: A great closer for the anthology; creepy characters and creepy happenings. 4/5
Only the End of the World Again: A weird story that reminded me of American Gods in a way. I think I know what happened but I genuinely can’t be sure. 5/5
Bulldozer: This one started really well and then I wasn’t entirely sure I thought it stuck the landing. Very weird west in a way I enjoyed, and I loved the central character and the way it was written. 4/5
Red Goat Black Goat: This one was okay – creepy, but not particularly compelling for me. 3/5
The Same Deep Waters as You: This one was good until the ending, which was amazing. I really liked the premise, too. 5/5
A Quarter to Three: A neat premise, but too short to really land it – I wasn’t invested enough in what was happening for the ending to really land, I don’t think. 3/5
The Dappled Thing: Another one which I thought was good but not great because the ending didn’t really grab me. 3/5
Inelastic Collisions: This one was neat. I am not sure I thought it was very Lovecraftian (despite the monster index at the end claiming it’s about hounds of Tindalos, which it definitely isn’t) but I enjoyed the premise. 4/5
Remnants: Very much leaning more into the cosmic part of cosmic horror, I liked this one. Very creepy and tense. Reminded me a little of The Quiet Place. 4/5
Love Is Forbidden, We Croak and Howl: This was surprisingly sweet for a story about a ghoul! 4/5
The Sect of the Idiot: This was a story about a dream which felt very flat to me. 2/5
Jar of Salts: I never really know how to rate poems so I won’t, but I did enjoy it.
Black as the Pit, from Pole to Pole: Disjointed and dull. A truly bewildering inclusion, especially given it’s one of the longest stories in the anthology. 1/5
Waiting at the Crossroads Motel: This was so creepy, and so wonderful. Again, not really sure it was at all Lovecraftian, but I really didn’t mind. 5/5
I’ve Come to Talk with You Again: This is a spin on an old classic, but done well. 3/5
The Bleeding Shadow: This felt very Lovecraftian. Really interesting premise, and very satisfying ending. 4/5
That of Which We Speak When We Speak of the Unspeakable: I thought this was okay – the title is honestly the best part of the story. 2/5
Haruspicy: The second and last poem – I have to wonder, what was the logic behind including two poems spread out like this?
Children of the Fang: A great closer for the anthology; creepy characters and creepy happenings. 4/5
February 25, 2022
One might expect a collection consisting of 18 separate submissions by 19 individual authors (not counting foreword and introduction) to be somewhat uneven, but it seems like virtually every author who contributed to Lovecraft's Monsters brought their A game. You can tell each and every one of the featured authors has a deep appreciation for Lovecraft's mythos, but their contributions don't just amount to mindless literary hero worship: every component of this anthology (even the ones that don't quite hit the mark for me personally) uses Lovecraft's mythos as a foundation, a jumping-off point from which to tell a unique and original story that honours the spirit of Lovecraft's oeuvre without resorting to rote imitation of Lovecraft's style. Not every work in the collection is an absolute gem, but the fact that I now feel the urge to check out at least 5 or 6 of the featured authors (the ones whom I wasn't already familiar with, at least) is probably a good sign! Ranking every contribution would be a very complicated task, if only because the anthology contains both short stories and poems, but my personal top 5 is as follows:
1) "The Same Deep Waters as You", Brian Hodge
2) "Bulldozer", Laird Barron
3) "The Dappled Thing", William Browning Spencer
4) "Black as the Pit, From Pole to Pole", Howard Waldrop & Steven Utley
5) "The Bleeding Shadow", Joe R. Lansdale
1) "The Same Deep Waters as You", Brian Hodge
2) "Bulldozer", Laird Barron
3) "The Dappled Thing", William Browning Spencer
4) "Black as the Pit, From Pole to Pole", Howard Waldrop & Steven Utley
5) "The Bleeding Shadow", Joe R. Lansdale
June 24, 2015
A very serviceable collection. Doesn't cleave as closely to Lovecraft's turgid prose as some I have read, which is a PLUS. Recommended.
October 12, 2020
I love all things Lovecraft (my license plate used to read "Dagon") and this was one of the first books I added to my list years back but just got my hands on it a week or so ago. The stories contained within are a mix of classical HP style mixed in with some werewolves, steampunk, and yes, even Frankenstein's monster makes an appearance. Not all of these tales are exclusive to the collection and can be found in other places such as Weird Shadows Over Innsmouth and others but Datlow applies a deft hand in selecting only the best of the bunch but the ones that fit the theme precisely.
December 29, 2024
Lovecrafts Monster ist eine Sammlung von 16 Erzählungen, verschiedener Autoren welche Wesen aus Lovecrafts Geschichten beinhalten. (Jedoch mit deutlichem Fokus auf Insmouth und die Tiefen Wesen)
Dadurch das es verschiedene Autoren sind, haben die Geschichten deutliche Qualitätsunterschiede. Manche sind besser und andere deutlich schlechter wie andere. Trotzdem sind die Geschichten lesenswert, es ist wirklich cool zu sehen was andere als Lovecraft aus den Wesen machen und wie sie weiterentwickelt werden. Fands nur schade das so viel Fokus auf die Tiefen Wesen gelegt wurde.
Dadurch das es verschiedene Autoren sind, haben die Geschichten deutliche Qualitätsunterschiede. Manche sind besser und andere deutlich schlechter wie andere. Trotzdem sind die Geschichten lesenswert, es ist wirklich cool zu sehen was andere als Lovecraft aus den Wesen machen und wie sie weiterentwickelt werden. Fands nur schade das so viel Fokus auf die Tiefen Wesen gelegt wurde.
June 3, 2021
Voice actors continue to amaze me. Across 15 hours and 18 tales and poems, Bernard Clark audibly crafts scores of distinct characters, embodying perfectly this diverse and deliciously mad collection of Lovecraftian descendants.
Like the recent (excellent) HBO series Lovecraft Country, these authors take everyone's favorite weird, goth boy as a jumping off point rather than an end game, creating new story out of old work. The DNA is there and unmistakable, but the modern generation of Lovecraftian works are richer for the new perspectives, and new cultures, they bring to the conversation.
Look out especially for Red Goat Black Goat, Black as the Pit from Pole to Pole, and Haruspicy.
Like the recent (excellent) HBO series Lovecraft Country, these authors take everyone's favorite weird, goth boy as a jumping off point rather than an end game, creating new story out of old work. The DNA is there and unmistakable, but the modern generation of Lovecraftian works are richer for the new perspectives, and new cultures, they bring to the conversation.
Look out especially for Red Goat Black Goat, Black as the Pit from Pole to Pole, and Haruspicy.
May 3, 2022
Great collection. Given the common “resource” for the stories, they sort of repeat and feel predictable when read back to back. To specify I mean the theme, The writing styles themselves Chang for the most part from author to author. The storytelling thus far has been gripping and the twists, coral at break neck speed berries dropping you at the feet of despair. Taking a break before continuing.
November 3, 2017
It's been a week since I finished this collection and already I can't remember much about it. Are the stories bad? No, well not actively so, but they're certainly pretty bland. It doesn't help that so many of them draw on the same parts of Lovecraft's work (Innsmouth, Innsmouth, more and more Innsmouth).
There's not even one tentpole piece to hold up the rest. Neil Giaman's inclusion is a selling point, but it's fair to say it's not one of his more notable works. I guess that leaves Kim Newman to lead the pack with a short story/long joke, the punchline of which is pretty obvious given the context.
One for Lovecraft and Gaiman completists only.
There's not even one tentpole piece to hold up the rest. Neil Giaman's inclusion is a selling point, but it's fair to say it's not one of his more notable works. I guess that leaves Kim Newman to lead the pack with a short story/long joke, the punchline of which is pretty obvious given the context.
One for Lovecraft and Gaiman completists only.
August 28, 2020
Ellen Datlow is an anthologist I can typically count on. When I see her name on the spine of a book I know I should pick it up. She has outdone herself with Lovecraft’s Monsters, which does not have a bad story in it. I am currently evacuated due to a hurricane so this review will have to do!
July 14, 2021
There's some good stories in here and some I just didn't get at all. It's always difficult to rate a collection of stories but if you enjoy Lovecraft it's worth a read but nothing special in my opinion.
October 24, 2025
Not an awful collection of short stories (and the audiobook has a good narrator) but too many felt off-beat and not really as haunting/spooky as I'd hoped. Two were practically old ones rom-coms, Gaiman's headliner was quirky with cultists doubling as aluminum siding salesmen because why not, and the largest part of the book was taken up by a chapter-spanning Frankenstein/Journey Center Earth mashup ... for some reason.
July 10, 2024
A great collection of stories and poems inspired by the works of Lovecraft. I truly enjoyed this.
May 18, 2021
Deliciously creepy indeed ....
October 9, 2023
A few standouts, but most of these were mediocre. Many of the stories started off strong, with great characters and dialogue, but wrapped things up with a weak ending that made me forget (or want to forget) the story altogether.
October 1, 2024
Really near book. Full of short stories.
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