Where can I find the lot of Cthulhu Mythos or Call of Cthulhu itself?

Question

I've been very interested in Cthulhu Mythos lately, and was wondering what stories make the lot of these 'mythos'? I mean, what would I have to read to have it completely understood and read?

Also, assuming I should start at Call of Cthulhu, where can I find the best version of just it? By that I mean an Amazon link or something like that, to just Call of Cthulhu in a book.

All help is very appreciated, I'm more concerned at the moment of just finding Call of Cthulhu by itself in a book, or maybe some other relative stories. Thank you.

Answer 1

This idea was invented by Howard Phillips ("H.P.") Lovecraft in the 1920's and 1930's. If you go to bookstores, you may be able to find paperback books of short collections of his short stories or hardbound editions of longer collections. Also, try amazon.com and alibris.com. My advice is to stick to Lovecraft himself and avoid "admirers." Other writers who knew and admired Lovecraft tried to continue his "mythos," with his approval and encouragement. The results are less satisfying than the genuine article. Also, as you pursue Lovecraft, don't be limited to Cthulhu. He has a lot of other deliciously scary stuff.

In my recollection, "Call of Cthulhu" was a short story that may be anthologized someplace. But there are plenty more.

Answer 2

The Mountains of Madness, while coming later, is a good early read, also, as it gives a good deal of backdrop and history for the mythos, mainly because it was written after much had already been established.

Beyond 'The Call' and MoM, there are quite a few other collections published. Some are purely Lovecraft stories, some include the works of the other authors that he corresponded with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cthulhu_Mythos#The_seven_key_Lovecraft_tales

The above Wikipedia article is a good place to start.

I went on a Lovecraft binge for almost a year, and ended up with a great appreciation for the body of work. I would suggest checking your local library and their network first, as attempting to purchase all the Cthulu-related works can be quite pricey, and redundant. Some of the stories really aren't much. Lovecraft did more short stories than novella, so collections will be the rule.

Answer 3

Well, considering Cthulhu is not a savior by any means.... When Cthulhu wakes, he will eat us all. How is that saving us? He would beat the FSM in a fight, but then he would eat us. I root for the FSM because then I get a beer volcano and stripper factory and all the carbs I can eat.