The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

Jun 23, 2025 9:12 PM

Author:H. P. Lovecraft

A definitive collection of stories from the unrivaled master of twentieth-century horror in a Penguin Classics Deluxe edition with cover art by Travis Louie.

Frequently imitated and widely influential, Howard Philips Lovecraft reinvented the horror genre in the 1920s, discarding ghosts and witches and instead envisioning mankind as a tiny outpost of dwindling sanity in a chaotic and malevolent universe. S. T. Joshi, Lovecraft's preeminent interpreter, presents a selection of the master's fiction, from the early tales of nightmares and madness such as "The Outsider" to the overpowering cosmic terror of "The Call of Cthulhu." More than just a collection of terrifying tales, this volume reveals the development of Lovecraft's mesmerizing narrative style and establishes him as a canonical- and visionary-American writer.

Reviews

I think it is beyond doubt that H. P. Lovecraft has yet to be surpassed as the twentieth century's greatest practitioner of the classic horror tale

—— Stephen King

Realistic and funny... This is a funny book about serious stuff... Doyle's descriptions of fatherhood will leave a powerful impression on any reader

—— Christina Appleyard , Daily Mail

Probably the finest collection of Irish short stories since James Joyce's Dubliners

—— Globe and Mail

The trademark deadpan style of Doyle's storytelling make this an entirely believable comedy

—— Gerard Woodward , Guardian

Roddy Doyle's Bullfighting offers a series of rare and beautiful mid-life meditations

—— Jane Clinton , Sunday Express

Doyle's writing seems so natural, so effortless that I sometimes think we overlook how good it is

—— Teddy Jamieson , Herald

Doyle snaps entire lives into sharp focus in a handful of pages, which is short fiction doing what short fiction does best

—— The Times

These rather tender-hearted sketches of how men get old in contemporary Ireland may not be autobiographical but they're true; they come from life as lived

—— Evening Standard

Insightful collection of stories

—— Phil Hogan , Observer

A muted celebration of everday life and its consolations

—— Phil Baker , Sunday Times

Fans of Doyle's work will doubtless find much to celebrate in Bullfighting

—— Times Literary Supplement

This collection is brilliant: very funny, but also tragic and tender

—— Saga

Quite frankly, this is one of the most accurately observed books on human life I've come across and it's well worth a look

—— Iain Wear , The Bookbag

A collection of short stories musing on the masculine midlife crisis

—— Observer

These short stories flow beautifully yet there is something very sharp and crisp and understated here, too. You whizz through, then you read them again, and they’re even better the second time

—— William Leith , Scotsman

Doyle balances humour with pathos

—— Big Issue

Previous Article：Bullfighting Next Article：A Bunch of Fives

Comments

Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.