I also recommend 'The Shadow over Innsmouth'. This story has a great atmosphere. It follows a man who visits Innsmouth and gradually uncovers the town's dark and fish - like secrets. The idea of a town with a hidden and disturbing past, and the presence of the Deep Ones, makes it a very engaging Cthulhu Mythos story.
Some of the best Cthulhu Mythos stories include 'Pickman's Model'. It's a story that plays on the idea of art and the grotesque, as the main character discovers the disturbing paintings of Pickman. 'The Whisperer in Darkness' is also a great one. It has a lot of elements of paranoia and the discovery of hidden, alien entities. In addition, 'The Haunter of the Dark' is worth mentioning. It builds on the atmosphere of dread and the presence of an ancient, evil force in an abandoned church.
One of the best first Cthulhu Mythos stories is 'The Call of Cthulhu' by H.P. Lovecraft. It's a classic that really introduces the essence of the Mythos. It has this great build - up of mystery and horror, leading the reader into a world of ancient, malevolent beings and cults.
Another great one could be 'At the Mountains of Madness'. It takes the reader on an Antarctic adventure where the characters uncover ancient and dreadful secrets related to the Cthulhu Mythos. It's full of Lovecraft's signature atmosphere of dread and the idea that there are things in the universe that man was not meant to know. It also gives a lot of background about the Elder Things which are important in the Mythos.
One of the best is 'The Call of Cthulhu' by H.P. Lovecraft himself. It introduced the terrifying Cthulhu and the whole Lovecraftian horror concept. Another great one is 'At the Mountains of Madness', which takes readers on a chilling journey to Antarctica, filled with strange and ancient horrors. And 'The Shadow over Innsmouth' is also highly regarded, with its disturbing tale of a town with a dark and eldritch secret.
One of the best is 'The Call of Cthulhu' by H.P. Lovecraft. It introduced the iconic Cthulhu and the vast, mind - bending Mythos. It weaves a tale of horror and the discovery of an ancient, malevolent entity lurking beneath the surface of our world, with a great sense of atmosphere and dread.
One of the best new Cthulhu Mythos novels is 'The Ballad of Black Tom' by Victor LaValle. It offers a fresh take on the Mythos, exploring themes of race and power within the Lovecraftian framework. Another great one could be 'The Fisherman' by John Langan. It weaves a complex and spooky tale full of the dread that is characteristic of the Cthulhu Mythos.
August Derleth also made significant contributions. He continued to develop the Mythos after Lovecraft's death. His works added new elements and stories that are considered important for those new to the Cthulhu Mythos.
One interesting cthulhu mythos fanfiction could be about a modern - day detective who stumbles upon an ancient cult related to Cthulhu. He slowly uncovers the dark secrets of the cult as he delves deeper into the mystery, with each discovery leading him closer to the brink of madness.
For beginners, 'The Call of Cthulhu' is a must - read. It's not too long and gives a great introduction to the basic concepts of the Cthulhu Mythos, like the existence of these ancient, powerful and terrifying entities. 'The Shadow over Innsmouth' is also good. It has an engaging plot that's easy to follow and shows the strange and often disturbing elements that are common in these stories.
Brian Lumley is another author who has written some great Cthulhu Mythos stories. His works often explore different aspects of the Mythos, bringing in new elements while still staying true to the overall feel of Lovecraft's original ideas.