Review: Herbert West: Reanimator

Herbert West: Reanimator by H.P. Lovecraft
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is probably one of the best Lovercraftian books I have read so far!

Hertbert West is a doctor... However, he is more interested in bringing the dead back to life! When he disappears his companion recounts the history of their experiments and the circumstances that lead up to West's disappearance.

He and his companion experiment with various serums in order to reanimate the dead however they find that the body needs to be extremely fresh in order to restore any kind of higher brain function.

Although West endeavours to end all his experiments with a bullet a few remain at large...

This book is a perfect example of Lovecraft's ability to create an atmosphere of horror and mystery as he lays out the story in 6 sections each getting more and more unnerving.

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Review: He

He by H.P. Lovecraft
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A man enjoys exploring New York, however one evening he gets more than he bargained for...

One evening the narrator is approached by a nameless man who offers to show his something extraordinary. After taking a long and convoluted journey through the backstreets of New York (almost as if the stranger wishes the narrator to get lost?) the nameless man and the narrator arrive at a house whose upstairs window can show much more than just the city sky line.

'He' is an amazing example of Lovecraft's horror writing and his ability to create a atmosphere of suspense and imminent danger is exhibited within this short story.

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Review: From Beyond

From Beyond by H.P. Lovecraft
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Now this is cosmic-horror!

Crawford Tillinghast creates a device that allows humans to perceive planes of existence outside our reality. However, he turns Mad Professor and the 'beings' from these other planes kill a number of people (view spoiler)[ and tries to kill his supposed friend with these 'beings'! (hide spoiler)]

This short story is perfectly written to draw you in and really gets the horror aspect across to the read.
I would highly recommend this to any horror lovers!

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Review: Facts Concerning The Late Arthur Jermyn and his Family

Facts Concerning The Late Arthur Jermyn and his Family by H.P. Lovecraft
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Jermyn family has not had a run of good luck.
Each generation has frankly gone bonkers and its all due to a strange link with Africa...

Facts Concerning The Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family is a good example of Lovecrafts writing, however it is a bit of a strange detour from the cosmic-horror that you expect from Lovecraft (view spoiler)[with the strange possible interbreeding with apes? Yes, I understand that interbreeding with various cosmic-horrors in a thing in the Shadow Over Innsmouth and The Dunwich Horror but this seems a little strange and just off-tangent. (hide spoiler)]

That being said it is still worth a read and all adds to the amazing world of Lovecraft.

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Review: Dagon

Dagon by H.P. Lovecraft
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love this short story!
It feels like it would fit perfectly as an opening to The Shadow Over Innsmouth!

A man who has been running from the horrors in his past finally gives up but before he commits suicide he writes down a description of what has been haunting him all these years...

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Review: Cool Air

Cool Air by H.P. Lovecraft
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When the narrator takes a room in a boarding house under a mysterious Doctor Munoz he never expects what horrors it would bring him.
As the narrator becomes acquainted with Doctor Munoz he notices some very peculiar things about the doctor such as the coldness of his lodgings and the constant chemical baths that the doctors takes.
This is a great read for those looking to enter Lovecraftian fiction.

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Review: Beyond the Wall of Sleep

Beyond the Wall of Sleep by H.P. Lovecraft
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another short Lovecraftian story...
Although really short, this story is packed with unnerving cosmic horror and a glimpse into the ethereal world of dreams.
Joe Slater is an unremarkable man from the Catskill Mountain region and appears to be a 'country bumpkin' to all that encounter him.
However, when he awakes from sleep he talks of unknown things from a far off place and becomes violent which leads to his arrest by the authorities and placement in an institution where he is under the care of the narrator, who experiments with the transference of brain waves/ telepathic communication.

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Review: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by H.P. Lovecraft
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Although less 'cosmic horror' as some of his other works, The Case of Charles Dexter Ward is a great example of Lovecraft's work.
It follows the finding of Charles Dexter Ward and the inconceivable repercussions of those findings.
(view spoiler)[Ward's downfall at the hands of his cunning and insidious ancestor that he brings back from the grave leading to his untimely demise is one of the best plots I've read in a long while. (hide spoiler)]
I would highly recommend that this would be a great place to start for anyone looking to get into Lovecraftian fiction.

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Review: At the Mountains of Madness

At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book started off very slow. Lots of geological descriptions that were very long and very much like I was listening to my step-dad when he gets going about rocks.... zzzz.
However, when unidentified beings are uncovered in Antarctica the story really gets going.
This book gives an amazing insight into the mythos of Lovecraft and I am really happy I persevered with the first section.

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Bitten by Kelly Armstrong

So amongst all my dissertation panicking.... I mean writing, I read Bitten by Kelly Armstrong. Bitten is the first book in the Women of the Otherworld series and its safe to say gets it off to a good start.

Bitten by Kelly Armstrong.

Elena is the only female werewolf in existence and she hates it. She never asked for this life and is determined to get as far away from Stonehaven (and Clay, the super hot guy who she was going to marry until he bit her) as she can. But unforeseen players bring the Pack to her and she must help them stop the murderous mutt that is leaving presents on their doorstep.... Of the dead human variety.

I've read Kelly Armstrong books before and this one is just as amazing. The story is fast paced and just doesn't let up. There are sex scenes in it.... However they are a little dull (not Fifty Shades dull but still).

So if you fancy dreaming about a super hot guy with a Texan twang then this is for you :p. 

Bitten has been made into a Canadian TV series, which is really good. It doesn't quite stick to the book but it's still really good for a TV adaptation. 

That's all for now folks,