Side Gadgets

Top 10 H. P. Lovecraft Short Stories Ranked

 

Post cover photo, "TOP 10 LOVECRAFT SHORT STORIES"
Background image by Dennis Ariel.

I've read a fair amount of Lovecraft's short stories. I've probably missed a few, but I've accumulated his most important works in my brain over the years. As I was going through his catalog, I realized that I prefer his short stories over the longer (over)descriptive novellas so this list will mostly include shorter works.

I don't think he needs an introduction, but just to make sure: Howard Phillips Lovecraft was an American author, who created the genre of "Lovecraftian" weird cosmic horror singlehandedly. His works—mainly the Cthulhu Mythos—are still part of popular culture today, with movie and game adaptations popping up all the time.

I believe these stories are a good starting point for anyone looking to get into reading Lovecraft. Again, I will keep it spoiler-free, you'll only see a general summary of each story so you can read it yourself. (Though, sometimes Lovecraft keeps his stories spoiler-free himself as not much is explained. Sorry, that was a joke.)

So, here are my top 10 short stories, ranked. 🐙

Green smoke
Photo by Ricardo Lima
10.) The Festival

A man visits the ancient town of Kingsport to attend a strange, secretive festival. He follows a procession through dark tunnels and witnesses rituals involving... beings.

I think it's a good starting story to try out Lovecraft's work.

Skulls
Photo by Renato Danyi
9.) The Rats in the Walls

In a mansion in England, the narrator is plagued by the sound of scurrying rats within the walls. Investigating further, he uncovers a hidden labyrinth beneath the house. 

A dark and bleak short story that smells like mold and rat sh*t.

A grave in a graveyard
Photo by KoolShooters
8.) The Statement of Randolph Carter

Randolph Carter recounts a horrifying incident where he and a friend, Harley Warren, explore a crypt with forbidden knowledge. Warren descends into the darkness, leaving Carter to listen in fear to his friend’s growing terror until communication is suddenly cut off.

Has any grave robbery ever ended well?

Photo by Janko Ferlic
7.) The Picture in the House

A traveler seeking shelter during a storm stumbles upon a creepy, isolated house. Inside, he meets a sinister old man fascinated by a gruesome picture in a book. 

This one is different from the other entries on the list, as it is not the traditional Lovecraftian cosmic horror. Still, it's very effective and it's one of my favorites.

Photo by Martin Péchy

6.) The Strange High House in the Mist

In the coastal town of Kingsport (again), a man is drawn to a mysterious house perched on a high cliff, shrouded in mist. Venturing up to the house, he encounters strange things.

Honestly, all I remember of this story is that it was trippy, dreamlike, and atmospheric, and I liked it a lot. I need to revisit it again.

A black cat
Photo by Marek Kupiec
5.) The Cats of Ulthar

In the town of Ulthar, a cruel couple kills any cat that comes near their home. One day, a young boy prays for revenge after his cat disappears. Soon, the cats of Ulthar get together...
 
A dark and very short story with a satisfying ending. Worth checking out.

Photo by Mike Ralph
4.) The Terrible Old Man

Three robbers target an elderly man rumored to be very wealthy. Despite the man's odd behavior and warnings, they go through with their plan. They shouldn't have. 

A fun and quick story, I enjoyed it a lot.

Photo by Tristan Pokornyi
3.) The Color Out of Space

After a meteorite crashes on a farm, a strange, otherworldly color begins to seep into the land, corrupting plants, animals, and even humans.

This is a dark story of cosmic horror. If you liked it, make sure to check out the movie adaptation, starring Nicholas Cage. I hadn't expected it to be very good, but it was!

Photo by Archie Binamira
2.) Pickman's Model

Pickman is a painter who is known to create disturbingly lifelike paintings of ghoulish creatures. Hmm... Where does he get his inspiration from?

Short and creepy (around 10 pages in print), it's a must. There's also an episode in Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities on Netflix by the same title that might be worth checking out (I still need to sit and watch it).

Stars, galaxy, space
Photo by Francesco Ungaro
1.) The Music of Erich Zann

A student becomes captivated by strange music coming from the apartment of Erich Zann, a mysterious violinist. As he listens, he realizes that Zann’s wild and eerie melodies are a desperate defense against... something.

For me, this one was the most memorable and effective Lovecraft story. The description is so vivid and trippy that I had to return to it several times over the years.

Drawn image of Cthulhu.
Cute Cthulhu by Galletita Arts.

That was it. Do you agree with the list? What are your favorites? Let me know in the comments if I missed any essential stories. Thank you for reading, see you next time.





Share
comments Post a Comment Labels:, , ,

Comments