The most recommended Cthulhu books

Who picked these books? Meet our 14 experts.

14 authors created a book list connected to Cthulhu, and here are their favorite Cthulhu books.
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Book cover of The Call of Cthulhu

John Haas Author Of Cults of Death and Madness

From my list on Lovecraftian fiction you might have missed.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been reading Lovecraft, and those inspired by him, since I was in high school. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that there could be a whole world just outside of sight that we never see, and once we do see we can never un-see. After I’d been writing for a few years a friend of mine suggested/demanded I write a story for him inspired by Lovecraft’s world. Mostly I started it to satisfy him but once the jar was open it all spilled out. I wove in real elements from history, including historical figures. This story ended up winning a major award, but there was still so much more to tell.

John's book list on Lovecraftian fiction you might have missed

John Haas Why did John love this book?

Okay, so maybe you didn’t exactly miss at least hearing about this novel, but many readers skip over the original Lovecraft stories as being too difficult to read which is a shame.

This is the where the elder god mythos truly began for me, the first of any Lovecraft story I ever read. Split into three sections this book is linked together around nightmares, cults, and a sleeping god.

Call of Cthulhu was where I learned that not every question in a story requires an answer, and that heroes can face overwhelming odds and lose in the end. It is bleak and the perfect introduction to this world.

By H. P. Lovecraft, Colin J.E. Lupton (editor),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Call of Cthulhu as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

One of the feature stories of the Cthulhu Mythos, H.P. Lovecraft's 'the Call of Cthulhu' is a harrowing tale of the weakness of the human mind when confronted by powers and intelligences from beyond our world.


Book cover of Cthulhu's Minions

John Haas Author Of Cults of Death and Madness

From my list on Lovecraftian fiction you might have missed.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been reading Lovecraft, and those inspired by him, since I was in high school. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that there could be a whole world just outside of sight that we never see, and once we do see we can never un-see. After I’d been writing for a few years a friend of mine suggested/demanded I write a story for him inspired by Lovecraft’s world. Mostly I started it to satisfy him but once the jar was open it all spilled out. I wove in real elements from history, including historical figures. This story ended up winning a major award, but there was still so much more to tell.

John's book list on Lovecraftian fiction you might have missed

John Haas Why did John love this book?

Craft’s books are not as well known as some other Lovecraftian writers on this list, but they should be.

He takes the expected details for any Lovecraft-inspired story then turns it sideways. He weaves in an atmosphere from the hardboiled mystery writers of Lovecraft’s era, such as Dashiel Hammett and Raymond Chandler.

Cthulhu’s Minions starts a series which follows the Arkham Detective as he falls deeper into a world he never knew existed. This book taught me that a writer can take an existing world that is familiar to readers and still make it their own.

By Byron Craft,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Cthulhu's Minions as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Cthulhu’s Minions, in this story, are Pilot Demons. They originally came into being in my novel “The Alchemist’s Notebook” based on my screenplay for “The Cry of Cthulhu.” They are creepy little things that became such great supporting characters (in a terrible sort of way) that I thought that they deserved their own separate story.“Cthulhu’s Minions” takes place in an alternate universe somewhat like the 1930’s when H.P. Lovecraft was writing his Cthulhu Mythos and writers like Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler were creating the hardboiled mystery drama. Indeed, it is as if we are being treated to a Dashiell…


Book cover of H. P. Lovecraft Tales of Horror

Armand Rosamilia Author Of Keyport Cthulhu

From my list on tentacled horror.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been reading and writing horror for more than forty years and am prolific in both aspects. Show me a book with a tentacle and I’ll show you my newest purchase. 

Armand's book list on tentacled horror

Armand Rosamilia Why did Armand love this book?

Can we even talk about tentacle horror without a mention of the master, Lovecraft? Some of his best work is included in this collection, and it is the base that all other tentacle horror is founded form. Heck, all horror for that matter. You have to start at the beginning in order to move forward. Right?

By H. P. Lovecraft,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked H. P. Lovecraft Tales of Horror as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Let your imagination sink deep into more than a dozen classic tales of dark horror by H. P. Lovecraft.

The stories of H. P. Lovecraft have been a source of fascination for readers since they were published in the early twentieth century, and legions of fans continue to reinvent his dark and fantastical world to this day. This collection of short stories by the master of the macabre contains more than twenty of his most popular works, including "The Call of Cthulhu," "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," and "The Dunwich Horror." Each story will leave the reader feeling unsettled and uncertain,…


Book cover of The Occult Detectives of C.J. Henderson

Glynn Owen Barrass Author Of Arkham Nights: Tales of Mythos Noir

From my list on crossing crime fiction and the Cthulhu Mythos.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been a fan of the Cthulhu Mythos and detective fiction since childhood, cutting my teeth on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Raymond Chandler, and Dashiell Hammett at an early age. A voracious reader of both horror and mystery, I read and reread these tales and began crafting my own to the point where many years later, as an award-winning writer with over 200 fiction publications under my belt, I feel these genres go together like they were always destined to cross. I write daily, and have a Bachelor’s Degree in Crime Scene Science. You could say crime and horror are always on my mind!

Glynn's book list on crossing crime fiction and the Cthulhu Mythos

Glynn Owen Barrass Why did Glynn love this book?

This book features the best of author C.J. Henderson’s supernatural detective stories in one volume. Not only does it contain his creation P.I. Teddy London, he writes tales about many other supernatural detectives. There are stories here of Lin Carter's Anton Zarnak, H.P. Lovecraft's Inspector Legrasse, and more, including Cthulhu Mythos settings created by Brian Lumley and Ramsey Campbell. There are thirteen stories in total, this being an exciting collection detailing the adventures of investigators, both private and otherwise, taking on the horrors of the supernatural and the Cthulhu Mythos. I consider this book a must for all fans of detective fiction and horror.

By C. J. Henderson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Occult Detectives of C.J. Henderson as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Before The X-Files, before Buffy, his tales of P.I. Teddy London were being read and enjoyed by fans around the world. Now, for the first time ever, the absolute best of his supernatural sleuthing tales have been brought together in one incredible collection. Join him in the pages of fright-filled compilation as he furthers the careers of Lin Carter's remarkable Anton Zarnak and H.P. Lovecraft's resilient Inspector Legrasse. Experience his haunting takes on the mythos worlds of both Ramsey Campbell and Brian Lumley. And immerse yourself in stores featuring all the characters of his London universe. Here are thirteen tales…


Book cover of The Wide, Carnivorous Sky and Other Monstrous Geographies

Tamel Wino Author Of Ékleipsis: the Abyss

From my list on story collections that gnaw at your subconscious.

Why am I passionate about this?

Tamel Wino is a Canadian fiction writer from resplendent British Columbia whose works focus largely on the degeneration of sanity and morality. He studied Health Sciences and Psychology, which only furthered his interest in human nature. With inspirations including Shirley Jackson, Cormac McCarthy, Clive Barker, Margaret Atwood, and Edgar Allan Poe; Tamel’s expositions are strongly grounded in traditions of dark fiction. Yet, with his bold narrative voice and incisive plot construction, Wino is paving a new movement within the space.

Tamel's book list on story collections that gnaw at your subconscious

Tamel Wino Why did Tamel love this book?

A powerhouse collection, familiar and innovative, at times agonizingly devastating and horribly entertaining. After reading John Langan's novel The Fisherman, I just had to pick up this one. A profoundly, gratifying dark read. With such a sublime and unwavering collection, Langan rises in my book as one of the most fascinating in the contemporary, horror writer circle.

By John Langan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Wide, Carnivorous Sky and Other Monstrous Geographies as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"I want to be like John Langan when I grow up, okay? He blends meticulously crafted traditional narratives with joyous genre-bending and narrative rule-breaking. His stories are fiercely smart, timely, timeless, heartbreaking, and of course, flat-out scary. Langan fearlessly commits to his monsters, his characters, his readers, to his vision of the horror story and the messed-up, broken, frightening world we inhabit. Wide, Carnivorous Sky, indeed."-Paul Tremblay, author of The Little Sleep and Swallowing a Donkey's Eye.

John Langan has, in the last few years, established himself as one of the leading voices in contemporary horror literature. Gifted with a…


Book cover of The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide: Role-Play the Best Campaign Ever-No Matter the Game!

Megan A. Connell Author Of Tabletop Role-Playing Therapy: A Guide for the Clinician Game Master

From my list on learning and running tabletop role-playing games.

Why am I passionate about this?

TTRPGs are such a powerful medium for storytelling, and a tool that can be used by therapists to help their clients. Learning how to run games can seem daunting, these books have all helped me with learning how to run games more effectively. From thinking about stories, to exploring tropes, using storytelling techniques, and sharing the narrative with players this collection of books will help you on your journey of building worlds and telling stories. 

Megan's book list on learning and running tabletop role-playing games

Megan A. Connell Why did Megan love this book?

Sometimes you might find you have a great idea for a campaign, or know what theme you want to explore but are struggling to understand how to bring those ideas together.

D’Amato takes you through building your campaign through both a discussion of storytelling devices as well as pointed questions you can use to help flesh out your ideas and turn them into a full campaign. This book also helps GMs learn how to make their world feel lived in through descriptions and building history.

This is the book you want to use to build a small idea into a full campaign! 

By James D'Amato,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Improve your RPG campaign with this comprehensive and interactive guide to making the most out of your gaming experience.

Whatever RPG game you play, from D&D to Call of Cthulu to licensed games like Star Wars, every detail is important. From setting the scene to choosing the right music or even adjusting the lighting to create the right atmosphere, every choice helps maximize your gaming experience.

The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide provides practical advice for everything from pre-game preparations and in-game improvisation to working out a plan of attack with your teammates to learning how to lean into the setting…


Book cover of Sherlock Holmes vs. Cthulhu: The Adventure of the Innsmouth Mutations

Christian Klaver Author Of Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula

From my list on Sherlock Holmes mash-ups.

Why am I passionate about this?

My name is Christian Klaver, and I’ve had, in turn, many different jobs as a bookseller, martial arts instructor, and bartender before settling into a career in internet security. Books have always been a passion of mine, with science fiction, fantasy, and mystery as my main focus. I’ve been a lifelong fan of Sherlock Holmes and am a proud member of two different Sherlock Holmes Societies.

Christian's book list on Sherlock Holmes mash-ups

Christian Klaver Why did Christian love this book?

This is possibly a more Lovecraftian selection than a Holmesian one, as the monsters and the unfathomable world of Lovecraft and Cthulhu really dominate thematically. The sinister darkness of Lovecraft really comes through here.

It’s a little heartbreaking to see Holmes in over his head, struggling with non-Euclidian magic, but very well done and a gripping story.

By Lois H. Gresh,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Sherlock Holmes vs. Cthulhu as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The third novel in six-time New York Times best-selling author Lois H. Gresh's Sherlock Holmes vs. Cthulhu series.

THE OBLITERATING SHADOW

The deadly dimensions over London have been sealed, and the monsters have departed. But word has come to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson of a more terrifying creature still - the great Cthulhu has been sighted off the waters of Innsmouth, Massachusetts. Only Holmes can defeat him.

And in the muddy village of Innsmouth, surrounded by villagers who are more sea-monster than human, Holmes meets again his nemesis, Moriarty, and yet greater foes: Amelia Scarcliffe and Maria Fitzgerald, harbingers…


Book cover of The Thing From HR: A Cthulhu, Amalgamated Novel

Karina Fabian Author Of Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 1

From Karina's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Comedienne Humor writer Catholic Get ‘er done Project accomplisher

Karina's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Karina Fabian Why did Karina love this book?

Anybody who’s worked in an office or is a fan of Dilbert will love this book.

I loved the humor, but this goes beyond humor. Griff’s combination of bureaucracy, academic-ish prose, and the machinations of Hell are fantastic. He’s a craftsman of worldbuilding. The story is a lot of fun, especially as it’s told from a shoggoth being crammed into human form and sharing a mind with a surfer.

Just read it. You’ll not be disappointed.

By Roy M. Griffis,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Thing From HR as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of Autumn Cthulhu

Gordon B. White Author Of As Summer's Mask Slips and Other Disruptions

From my list on capturing the feel of autumn horror.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author of horror fiction and have always had an affinity for the autumn season. I grew up in North Carolina and have wonderful memories of the time of year when the summer heat finally ends and the chill returns—the season of long walks in the turning woods, campfires, ghost stories, and, of course, Halloween. There’s something about that time that has always stuck with me and finds its way into my writing even now. My first collection, As Summer’s Mask Slips and Other Disruptions, draws on this period of transition and so I absolutely love sharing those works which have influenced and entertained me.  

Gordon's book list on capturing the feel of autumn horror

Gordon B. White Why did Gordon love this book?

The “Cthulhu” in the title is a bit of a misnomer, since the big squid doesn’t actually make an appearance, but this anthology does collect some wonderful contemporary authors of Weird fiction exploring the autumn season. I love fiction that hints at the hidden world(s) behind our own, and these stories capture that immense and unsettling feeling of when the world’s disguises rot and fall away. You can open it to any page and find a gem, but my personal favorites include Laird Barron’s invocation of small-town bizarreness in “Andy Kaufman Creeping Through the Trees”; Nadia Bulkin’s election season meets haunted corn maze allegory “There Is a Bear in the Woods”; and Gemma Files’s archaeological horror “Grave Goods.”

By Mike Davis (editor), Laird Barron, Gemma Files , Robert Levy , Nadia Bulkin , John Langan , Richard Gavin , S.P. Miskowski , Daniel Mills , Joseph S. Pulver Sr. , Damien Angelica Walters , Orrin Grey

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Autumn Cthulhu as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award!

H.P. Lovecraft, the American master of horror, understood with horrible clarity that all things must die. After summer is winter, and life inevitably gives way to frozen sterility. In our modern world, we live cushioned existences, and congratulate ourselves on our supposed escape from the old dangers. We think ourselves caught out of nature’s reach by our technological wizardry. Safely cocooned. This foolishness blinds us to the truth that our elder forebears could not avoid. Engulfed by the rhythms of the world, they understood... Autumn means death.

There are far worse fates than mere…


Book cover of The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories

Marcel Ray Duriez Author Of Walking the Halls

From my list on delve into the darker side of human nature and reality.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a rising literary star, crafting captivating narratives that blend classic and contemporary themes. My work, like Tolkien, Lovecraft, and King, delves into the darker side of humanity and explores complex characters in intricate worlds. My unique perspective and deep understanding of storytelling make my book recommendations invaluable. I have a passion for the craft, offering insightful analysis and curating diverse reading lists. By introducing readers to classic works, I foster a deeper appreciation for the art of storytelling.

Marcel's book list on delve into the darker side of human nature and reality

Marcel Ray Duriez Why did Marcel love this book?

This is a chilling dive into the depths of cosmic horror. Lovecraft’s masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions transport readers to a world of ancient, otherworldly beings and unspeakable horrors.

What sets Lovecraft’s work apart is its ability to induce a sense of existential dread and cosmic insignificance. His tales explore the darkest corners of the human psyche, revealing the terrifying potential of the unknown. The titular story, The Call of Cthulhu, is a prime example of Lovecraft’s ability to craft a truly unsettling narrative.

If you dare to venture into the realm of the truly bizarre and terrifying, I highly recommend this book. Be warned, however: once you’ve encountered the cosmic horrors that lurk in the shadows, you may never look at the world the same way again.

By H. P. Lovecraft, S. T. Joshi (editor),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Part of the Penguin Orange Collection, a limited-run series of twelve influential and beloved American classics in a bold series design offering a modern take on the iconic Penguin paperback

Winner of the 2016 AIGA + Design Observer 50 Books | 50 Covers competition

For the seventieth anniversary of Penguin Classics, the Penguin Orange Collection celebrates the heritage of Penguin's iconic book design with twelve influential American literary classics representing the breadth and diversity of the Penguin Classics library. These collectible editions are dressed in the iconic orange and white tri-band cover design, first created in 1935, while french flaps,…


Book cover of The Call of Cthulhu
Book cover of Cthulhu's Minions
Book cover of H. P. Lovecraft Tales of Horror

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