Author
H. P. (Howard Phillips) Lovecraft
1890-1937
H. P. (Howard Phillips) Lovecraft (1890-1937) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
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Books by H. P. (Howard Phillips) Lovecraft
The call of Cthulhu
"The Call of Cthulhu" by H. P. Lovecraft is a cosmic horror short story written in 1926 and published in 1928. After inheriting his grand-uncle's mysterious notes, Francis Wayland Thurston pieces together a terrifying puzzle involving disturbing dreams, ancient cults, and a monstrous entity called Cthulhu. His investigation leads him across continents, from New Orleans rituals to a nightmare city on an uncharted island, where something immense and ancient awaits. As Thurston uncovers the truth, he realizes he may become the next target.
At the mountains of madness
"At the mountains of madness" by H. P. Lovecraft is a science-fiction and cosmic horror novella written in 1931 and published in 1936. The story follows Dr. William Dyer as he recounts a catastrophic Antarctic expedition in 1930, hoping to prevent future explorers from returning. His team discovers an ancient alien civilization predating humanity, preserved ruins beyond towering mountains, and prehistoric creatures that defy classification. As they uncover the terrifying history of Earth's original inhabitants through ancient murals, they encounter something far more dangerous lurking in the frozen wasteland.
The Dunwich horror
"The Dunwich Horror" by H. P. Lovecraft is a cosmic horror novella written in 1928. In the decaying Massachusetts village of Dunwich, Wilbur Whateley grows at an unnatural rate, aided by his sorcerer grandfather in dark rituals connected to the entity Yog-Sothoth. When a monstrous invisible presence escapes their farmhouse and terrorizes the countryside, three professors from Miskatonic University must confront an otherworldly horror that defies human comprehension. This tale of forbidden knowledge and cosmic terror is considered a core story of the Cthulhu Mythos.
The Shunned House
"The Shunned House" by H. P. Lovecraft is a horror novelette written in October 1924. Based on a real house in Providence, Rhode Island, the story follows a narrator and his uncle as they investigate mysterious deaths and illnesses plaguing residents for over a century. Strange fungi, foul odors, and yellowish vapors in the cellar hint at something monstrous beneath. Armed with flamethrowers and scientific equipment, they spend a night confronting an ancient, supernatural evil lurking in the foundation.
Writings in the United Amateur, 1915-1922
"Writings in the United Amateur, 1915-1922" by H. P. Lovecraft is a collection of essays and articles written during the early 20th century. This work captures the essence of amateur journalism as it thrived in America, showcasing Lovecraft's involvement with the United Amateur Press Association, where he not only contributed his own literary work but also engaged in critiquing the work of others. The collection highlights the communal and educational spirit of amateur journalism, offering insights into the practices and philosophies of this literary form. The opening portion provides a thorough introduction to the United Amateur Press Association, outlining its foundational goals and significant role in promoting literary expression among aspiring writers. It emphasizes the organization's commitment to education and the development of writing skills, serving as a training ground for many professional authors. Lovecraft discusses the importance of fostering a fraternal environment in which amateurs can share their works, receive constructive criticism, and learn from one another through an informal yet intellectually stimulating network. Through his reflections, readers gain an understanding of the unique character of the amateur journalism world during this time, which Lovecraft played an integral part in.
The shadow over Innsmouth
"The Shadow over Innsmouth" by H. P. Lovecraft is a horror novella written in November–December 1931. A young student's antiquarian tour through New England leads him to the decaying seaport of Innsmouth, where he encounters strange inhabitants with an unsettling appearance and discovers dark secrets about the town's history. His inquiries uncover a sinister conspiracy involving an ancient undersea civilization and a mysterious cult, leading to a nightmarish revelation that threatens his sanity and survival.
The colour out of space
"The colour out of space" by H. P. Lovecraft is a science fiction/horror short story written in March 1927. A surveyor investigates a cursed area called the "blasted heath" near Arkham, Massachusetts, uncovering the tale of a mysterious meteorite that crashed decades earlier. The impact unleashed something alien and incomprehensible that poisoned the land, corrupted all living things, and drove a farming family to madness and death. Something unnatural still lingers in the contaminated soil.
The case of Charles Dexter Ward
"The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" by H. P. Lovecraft is a horror novel written in early 1927. When young Charles Dexter Ward becomes obsessed with his ancestor Joseph Curwen, an alleged eighteenth-century wizard and necromancer, he uncovers dark secrets that lead to his institutionalization. Ward's doctor investigates disturbing physiological changes in his patient, discovering ancient documents, forbidden resurrection rituals, and a vast underground lair. As the investigation deepens, the line between past and present blurs, revealing a conspiracy that threatens mankind itself.
The horror at Red Hook
"The Horror at Red Hook" by H. P. Lovecraft is a short story written in August 1925. Detective Thomas Malone investigates the mysterious transformation of reclusive scholar Robert Suydam, who has suddenly become younger and more vibrant while haunting Brooklyn's crime-ridden waterfront slums. As kidnappings increase and Suydam's behavior grows stranger, Malone uncovers a sinister occult conspiracy lurking beneath Red Hook's tenements. His investigation leads him into a nightmare of devil-worship and dark rituals that will leave him forever changed.
Cool air
"Cool Air" by H. P. Lovecraft is a short story written in March 1926. A narrator recounts why cool air has become detestable to him, beginning with his arrival in a New York City brownstone in 1923. After suffering a heart attack, he meets his upstairs neighbor, Dr. Muñoz, a brilliant but reclusive physician obsessed with defying death. The doctor's apartment is kept freezing cold through an elaborate refrigeration system. As their friendship deepens, the narrator witnesses increasingly strange behavior—until the night the cooling system fails catastrophically.
The festival
"The Festival" by H. P. Lovecraft is a short story written in October 1923. An unnamed narrator travels to the ancient Massachusetts town of Kingsport to honor a family tradition—attending a forbidden festival held once every century. He finds a decrepit town frozen in time, where silent, masked figures lead him through colonial streets to a church hiding dark secrets. Beneath the crypt lies a nightmare realm where ancestral horrors gather for rituals older than mankind itself.
The haunter of the dark
"The Haunter of the Dark" by H. P. Lovecraft is a horror short story written in November 1935 and published in December 1936. When young writer Robert Blake becomes obsessed with an abandoned church in Providence, his investigation uncovers a sinister cult and an ancient artifact with terrifying powers. Inside the church tower, Blake discovers a mysterious stone object that can summon an otherworldly entity—one that can only move in darkness. His curiosity unleashes something that should have remained hidden forever.
Through the gates of the silver key
"Through the Gates of the Silver Key" by H. P. Lovecraft and E. Hoffmann Price is a short story written between October 1932 and April 1933. This cosmic horror tale follows the mysterious fate of Randolph Carter, who vanished after using a mystical artifact. A robed swami recounts Carter's journey beyond spacetime, where he encounters ancient beings and confronts the ultimate nature of existence itself. His wish to explore an alien consciousness on a distant world leads to catastrophic consequences, trapping him in an unimaginable predicament that transcends human comprehension.
The lurking fear
"The Lurking Fear" by H. P. Lovecraft is a horror short story written in November 1922. After a devastating storm leaves an entire mountain community destroyed with no survivors, a monster-hunter travels to the remote Catskills to investigate reports of mysterious creatures. His search leads him to the abandoned Martense mansion, where a once-prominent Dutch family vanished generations ago under disturbing circumstances. As thunderstorms roll in and companions disappear, he uncovers a horrifying secret lurking beneath the mountain itself.
The silver key
"The Silver Key" by H. P. Lovecraft is a fantasy short story written in 1926. At thirty, Randolph Carter realizes he has lost his ability to dream as he once did, finding that scientific thinking has eroded his access to the fantastic dream-cities of his youth. When his dead grandfather reveals the location of a mysterious silver key, Carter embarks on a journey to his childhood home, hoping to unlock the gates of dreams once more.
The thing on the door-step
"The Thing on the Doorstep" by H. P. Lovecraft is a horror short story written in August 1933 and published in January 1937. Daniel Upton confesses to killing his best friend Edward Derby, insisting he's not a murderer. Derby's marriage to the occult-obsessed Asenath Waite brings disturbing changes—he exhibits abilities he never learned, speaks of sinister body possession, and hints that Asenath's deceased father may still be alive. As Derby's behavior grows increasingly erratic, Upton confronts a terrifying truth about souls, bodies, and something waiting on his doorstep.
He
"He" by H. P. Lovecraft is a short story written in August 1925. After moving from New England to New York City, an anonymous narrator encounters a mysterious man in 18th-century clothing who promises to reveal the town's hidden secrets. The stranger shares a dark tale of a colonial squire who learned forbidden rituals from Native Americans, then betrayed them fatally. Through supernatural visions of the city's past and future, the narrator discovers a terrifying truth that awakens vengeful spirits long thought silenced.
The quest of Iranon
"The Quest of Iranon" by H. P. Lovecraft is a fantasy short story written in 1921. A golden-haired youth wanders from city to city, singing tales of Aira, the magnificent place where he claims he was once a prince. Accompanied by a companion who ages while he remains unchanged, Iranon searches endlessly for his lost homeland. But when an old shepherd finally reveals the truth about Aira's existence, Iranon must confront a devastating reality about his past.