Lovecraft: The Other Gods, The Music of Erich Zann, & Other Stories

by H. P. Lovecraft

Some more collection of the master of horror’s work. There has been some debate about his prehistoric and Dreamlands works and which stories exactly fit into which category, as they sometimes overlap in their geography. For example, it mentions certain events in Polaris (set in the very distant past), but also is a direct sequel to The Cats of Ulthar which is definitely a Dreamland setting. The answer is both. One area converged with the other in the mythic dawn of humanity and then split off. I have nothing Lovecraft wrote to support this, but it sounds good.

Once again, all of these are collected in reasonably priced formats or for free in the I have provided in each title. 

The Quest of Iranon (originally written in 1921, first published in Galleon in 1935). Another fanciful tale, set in the same prehistoric world as Sarnath (of  the Fame), which is roughly 24,000 BCE. Here we have a golden haired minstrel who is searching for the lost city of Aira, where he was a prince. The journey takes decades over which the minstrel never ages, until he comes full circle and learns a horrible truth. One that strips away his illusions and his age. Later in life, Lovecraft dismissed this tale, but it has a certain antique charm to it. They simply just don’t write fantasy like this anymore.

The Moon-Bog (originally written in 1921, first published in Weird Tales in 1926) This was a work for hire story which was written quickly and meant to be an after dinner story for a meeting of amateur journalists. It deals with an Irish-American made good who buys his ancestral castle and begins to drain the surrounding bog only to awaken an ancient evil. Some may be confused by the seemingly weird Greek elements in the story, but this actually comes from authentic Irish folklore about an invasion around 1200 BCE, all of whom died in a plague.

The Outsider (originally written in 1921, first published in Weird Tales in 1926). For this Lovecraft went back to Poe for inspiration. This is one of his most popular horror shorts and the most reprinted one. While I gave to admit it is a good twist on a standard gothic tale, and it is well written, it isn't what I read Lovecraft for. That is, it doesn't really add to the Mythos, except near the end where the narrator mentions the ghouls (who flit back and forth between the Dreamlands and waking world) and a certain Pharaoh who will pop up again in The Haunter in the Dark.

The Other Gods (originally written in 1921, first published in Fantasy Fan in 1933). Another tale from the Dream Cycle. The protagonist from The Cats of Ulthar returns and becomes the apprentice to a priest who delves into the Pnakotic Manuscripts (writings which predates mankind). The pair climb to a forbidden peak where the God's are said to rest and play. There bad things happen. The incident is brought up again in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath. Additionally. Kadath is mentioned here for the first time. This story was adapted into an animated short in 2006.

The Music of Erich Zann (originally written in 1921, first published in National Amateur in 1922). A student takes a cheap room near an old man who plays to viol all night to keep the monsters away. If you know Lovecraft you must have heard of this story. I have never been quite clear though whether the gables of the old man’s apartment looked into another dimension, like a hole in space, or if it was the music and it's odd notes that opened the gates. Considering the end, I lean towards the former but as the street itself disappears and no one seems to remember it.
For more readings, try books by Rex Hurst.