Free EPUB version of the Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft

This eBook has been completely revised and greatly improved since it was postd in 2010. The download link is for the improved version of the book.

I have completely redone the book listed below and created a chronologically-organized ebook of Lovecraft's complete original works. It can be downloaded here and you can read more about it in my complete works of Lovecraft ebook launch post.

I recently got a Nook, which is a real wonder if I want to read and crochet at the same time. I'd been casting around for a good ebook of H.P. Lovecraft's complete works, or as many of them as I could get. I couldn't find anything that I really liked, but then remembered a compilation of 69 Lovecraft stories on the Australian Project Gutenberg.

So I used that text as an HTML document and got Calibre‘s conversion process to turn it into a proper EPUB format, which is Nook compatible. The table of contents links seem to work for all the books (I tested a handful).

Need to Read “Call of Cthulhu”? Listen to the H.P. Podcraft

So after years of knowing about Cthulhu, I finally decided last summer that I was going to read Lovecraft. I think my Neil Gaiman kick was the main catalyst. I got myself one of the anthologies and read all the stories it contained. While I was doing that, I started searching online for everything Cthulhu & Lovecraft.

Of what I found, the two things which really stuck were the pattern for my crocheted Cthulhus and the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast (at HPPodcraft.com). The podcast goes week by week through Lovecraft's short stories and novellas (excluding childhood stories), starting with “The Tomb.”

I'm not entirely sure I'd call it “literary,” though it qualifies on the count of being concerned with his writings, not biographical or derivative or gaming stuff. It's done by Chad Fifer and Chris Lackey, two filmmakers/Lovecraft buffs. They often have guests, including Kenneth Hite who wrote Tour de Lovecraft and Andrew Lehman who directed the Call of Cthulhu silent film. It's not a serious study, it's generally lighthearted and amusing, but they often share fascinating trivia about Lovecraft or things derived from this week's story.

Even though I'd read the best-known stories before starting the project, I found it really helpful in keeping up with reading the rest. If it's one of his painful or atrocious stories (“The Street”? *shudder*), then I'll know that I'm not the only one suffering through it and can look forward to Chris and Chad making fun of it or talking about how irritating it was. Sometimes they've also found something redeeming about it or seen how it derives from something else or is drawn out in a later story.

There are also forums where other listeners can talk about episodes, Lovecraft, and related miscellanea. (If you're on the forums, I'm CthulhuChick there and you'll know me by my avatar.)

Anyway…..after starting last summer, we've finally made it to “Call of Cthulhu”! So, if you're one of those people who's never actually read the Cthulhu story, this is your chance. They're doing it over a series of weeks so we're only two parts in and you can catch up. The full text is available online and you can find the podcast by searching for Lovecraft Literary Podcast in the iTunes store (or on the website).

And hey, if you like it enough, then you can start at the beginning and read up on Lovecraft. Full texts of his complete works can be found at hplovecraft.com.

Standard Lovecraft disclaimer: the man was a racist. Really a xenophobe. He hated anything that was other than him. Including most other white people whom he thought degenerate for this or that reason. I sometimes think he may have hated himself too. While he wrote in an era where casual racism and eugenics were acceptable in many circles, he embraces it in ways which go above and beyond casual racism.

My favorite D&D spell — Phantasmal Killer

For a little Monday fun, what's your favorite spell/weapon/tool in an RPG? Doesn't have to be D&D, but since that's the only one I played, mine comes from there.

My favorite character was Anya (strangely enough, I didn't start Buffy until after naming her), a half-elf/half-human battle sorceress. If you're not familiar with the class, a battle sorcerer/ess is a variant of sorcerer who knows fewer spells than a regular sorcerer but has much better battle skills.

The spell was:

Phantasmal Killer(PH p260)

<Ill(phantasm)[fear][mind], VS, 1StdAct, Mediumrange,

WillDisbelief, SR applies>

– The targeted creature sees its worst fear

(though no one else sees anything). If the

target fails its Will save, it must then make a

Fortitude save. If it fails, the target dies. If

successful, the target takes still 3d6 damage.

Isn't it awesome? Just casting the spell means that the target takes a minimum 3d6 of damage. And unless it makes both a Will & a Fortitude save, it dies. It's a kick-ass 4th level spell. My DM used to read it as “The evil wizard looks next to him, screams in terror, and dies of a heart attack.”

I didn't prepare it every time, but it was a lot of fun to cast on the right target.

What's your favorite spell or super-cool weapon/tool?