Dimensions: approx. 8x2 inches (20cm x 5cm).
Now new and improved with the image reversed to adhere to the inside of your window for longer life.
I was intrigued how this was going to work but had a lot of fun running through the story. I am looking forward to trying different paths to see how much more trouble I can get the characters into. I'm a fan of this format and hope there are going to be more like it!
A truly amazing idol of the great Cthulhu, which no one can doubt was freshly picked up from the Louisiana swamps or some blasphemous shrine on the Greenland coast. To him belongs the highest place in my niche of weird and macabre literature.
But it also has drawbacks, namely:
The courier who brought the parcel anxiously mentioned that a New Zealand sailor had tried to steal it.
Apparently the reason for the disturbing vivid dreams that left me waking up with my feet covered in hideous grey mud and seaweed.
The base of the idol shows odd non-Euclidean angles that seem to engulf small objects such as coins and house familiars.
There is no shortage of Lovecraft collections, so what makes this one worth its hefty price tag?
For me the main draw was the Reader's Guide, which didn't disappoint in quality. A selection of ten titles were given commentaries reviewing their plots, characters, themes and motifs. If you're the kind of person who loves to look up wiki articles after finishing a book or movie, it's a great piece filled with flavor and passion. Though it is a bit sparse to recommend the physical set solely for its inclusion.
The other addition is the small package of collectible knick-knacks, which are good quality for what they are, but offer limited usability if you're not interested in roleplay. (However, I do absolutely love that I can tell my friends I have a degree from Miskatonic University).
The books themselves are great. There was no doubt a lot of care that went into the text itself. Scholar S.T. Joshi referenced original manuscripts to ensure the stories collected here are as close to Lovecraft's original intention as possible, though I'm not qualified to note what specific corrections might have been made for this collection.
The covers are tasteful and elegant, the pages feel great, and the text is readable. The two volumes are individually more comfortable and convenient for casual reading or carrying for travel. Together they're actually thicker than most other collections. They are divided at a good point, the first volume containing "Call of Cthulhu" and ending with "Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath", and the latter continuing from there, starting with "Dexter Ward". The effect is that the first volume contains mostly the shorter stories from early in Lovecraft's career and is perfect to keep with you if you just want quickly digestible shots of horror during a lunch break or waiting in a lobby, while the second volume contains mostly the denser stories, and is great if you prefer something denser for long trips. I do a bus/subway commute and frequently find myself unwinding in cafes near work, so these volumes feel quite suited for me, a weirdo who loves portability but stubbornly refuses to wholly abandon physical media even when using an ebook would be vastly easier, haha.
Overall, for passionate fans who don't mind indulging a bit of their disposable income, the physical set is a worthwhile luxury. For beginners just looking to get into Lovecraft, or for people who aren't as concerned with the ephemera, the digital version is offered at a much more reasonable price and still comes with the well-made and entertaining reader's guide.
In either format, this is a fantastic set and lives up to its name as a way to experience the mysterious and thrilling world of HP Lovecraft.
Highest production values reminiscent of a 1930s Universal Studios film.
Worth every dime I paid.
I can’t recommend this HPLHS production highly enough.
I wish these folks would release more film adaptations of Lovecraft.
If you love Lovecraft and if you love classic Horror movies of the 30s & 40s you need this!
This purchase was an incredible dream of fantasy come true. I can't sat enough nor recommend this with any higher regard and admiration then my words can afford. They will fall short of the surreal experience that transcends this realm and into the beyond. I adore this and will be getting many gifts and collectibles from this incredible society. With the great respect and honor to all your great works that pays homage to H.P Lovecraft I say "Ludo Fore Putavimus!"
