lovecraft horror novels

One common theme is the existence of cosmic horror. It's about the insignificance of humanity in the face of vast, unknowable and often malevolent cosmic entities. For example, in 'The Call of Cthulhu', Cthulhu is an ancient and powerful being that humans can scarcely comprehend. Another theme is the fragility of the human mind. Characters often go insane when confronted with the truth of the Lovecraftian horrors. And there's also the idea of forbidden knowledge. When characters seek knowledge that they shouldn't, it usually leads to their doom.

One of the main themes is the fragility of the human mind. When faced with the horrors in Lovecraft's works, characters often go insane. Also, there's a sense of doom. The forces at play in his novels are so powerful that there's an overarching feeling that humanity is doomed. For instance, the cults in his stories that worship these otherworldly beings seem to be working towards a dark end that humanity can't avoid.

Well, Cthulhu for sure. He's the face of Lovecraftian horror for many. His very appearance is terrifying. Nyarlathotep is another key character. He's not just a simple monster but more of a manipulative entity. And we can't forget about Azathoth, the blind idiot god. He is at the center of the universe in Lovecraft's cosmology, mindlessly creating and destroying. His existence represents the chaos and unknowability at the heart of the Lovecraftian universe.

Nyarlathotep is well - known. It is often depicted as a shape - shifter and a messenger of the Outer Gods. It spreads chaos and insanity wherever it goes. Shub - Niggurath, the so - called 'Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young', is also a famous monster. It is a fertility - like entity but in a very grotesque and terrifying way.

It brings Lovecraft's horror concepts into a more modern and inclusive setting. For example, it shows how the horror affects different races and genders, not just the typical white male protagonists of Lovecraft's original works.

Lovecraft's detailed descriptions also play a big role. For example, in 'At the Mountains of Madness', he describes the grotesque and strange creatures in great detail. The way they look, move, and interact with the environment is both fascinating and horrifying. Also, his use of dark and isolated settings, such as the Antarctic in that story or the strange town in 'The Shadow over Innsmouth', adds to the sense of horror. There's a feeling of being cut off from the normal world and being at the mercy of these unknown terrors.

The character of Herbert West is well - known. He is a mad scientist who tries to reanimate the dead, which of course leads to all kinds of horror. And there's also Abdul Alhazred, the so - called 'Mad Arab' who wrote the Necronomicon, an important and feared book in the Lovecraftian lore.

Well, there's the theme of the otherworldly. The creatures and forces in these stories are not of this world, and they bring a sense of unease. There's also a strong theme of decay, both physical and moral. Towns and people are often in a state of decay as a result of the presence of the Lovecraftian horrors. And there's a theme of the unholy or the profane, things that violate the natural order.

They've had a huge impact. His use of cosmic horror, where the horror comes from vast, unknowable entities and the insignificance of humanity, has been widely copied. For example, many modern horror movies and books use the idea of a powerful, otherworldly force that humans can't really comprehend or fight against.

Lovecraft's stories have had a huge impact. Firstly, his concept of cosmic horror has changed the way we view horror. Instead of just fearing the things we can see and understand, we now fear the vast, unknowable cosmos and the entities that might exist there. His works also introduced a sense of dread that builds slowly, which is now a common technique in modern horror. Additionally, his use of ancient and arcane knowledge as a source of horror has been picked up by many modern horror writers and filmmakers.