Dagon & Other Macabre Tales

5b H. P. Lovecraft. Sauk City: Arkham House, 1965. First Edition 

Notes

Dagon & Other Macabre Tales is a collection of short stories by H. P. Lovecraft, highlighting his early and formative explorations of horror, the supernatural, and cosmic dread. The stories, written primarily in the 1910s and 1920s, feature themes that would become hallmarks of Lovecraft’s work: ancient and unknowable entities, forbidden knowledge, and the insignificance of humanity in the vast cosmos. The titular story, Dagon, introduces readers to the horrifying idea of an ancient sea deity and the psychological torment of encountering the monstrous unknown. Other stories in the collection, such as The Statement of Randolph Carter and The Doom that Came to Sarnath, similarly explore isolation, madness, and encounters with forces beyond human comprehension, blending Gothic atmosphere with proto-science fiction elements.

Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890–1937) was an American writer who became one of the most influential figures in 20th-century horror and speculative fiction. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Lovecraft’s works combine Gothic tradition, antiquarianism, and a fascination with science and cosmic philosophy. Though largely unrecognized during his lifetime, his tales of cosmic horror—emphasizing the smallness and vulnerability of humanity in an indifferent universe—have since shaped modern horror, inspiring generations of writers, filmmakers, and game designers. Lovecraft’s meticulous world-building, inventiveness with mythology, and distinctive prose style make collections like Dagon & Other Macabre Tales essential reading for understanding the origins of the “Cthulhu Mythos” and his enduring influence on dark literature.

Description 

Black cloth with gilt title to spine. Slight bumping to spine ends. Small old bookseller sticker to bottom of first endpaper. Illustrated dust wrapper. Hint of toning to inside flap edges. fine condition.