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One of the greatest short novels in American literature, and a key text in my own understanding of what that literature can do. --Michael Chabon
Lovecraft' s fiction is one of the cornerstones of modern --Clive Barker
Lovecraft' s fiction is one of the cornerstones of modern --Clive Barker
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Long acknowledged as a master of nightmarish visions, H. P. Lovecraft established the genuineness and dignity of his own pioneering fiction in 1931 with his quintessential work of supernatural horror, At the Mountains of Madness. The deliberately told and increasingly chilling recollection of an Antarctic expedition s uncanny discoveries and their encounter with untold menace in the ruins of a lost civilization is a milestone of macabre literature. This exclusive new edition, presents Lovecraft s masterpiece in fully restored form, and includes his acclaimed scholarly essay ''Supernatural Horror in Literature.'' This is essential reading for every devotee of classic terror.
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I am forced into speech because men of science have refused to follow my advice without knowing why. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
I am forced into speech because men of science have refused to follow my advice without knowing why. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
I consider myself a fan of Lovecraft's fiction, but this has been for me his most disappointing story to date, if only because of the enormous gap between the obvious effort that Lovecraft has invested into it and the result attained:
- A story a hundred pages long which is mostly description and nothing but description (in lots of cases implausibly, by the way, but I don't want to spoil any detail here; suffice it to say that the characters can't possibly learn so much so quickly in the circumstances given).
- The action consists almost entirely of what characters perceive with hardly any interaction with the situation. Several times while reading the story it occurred to me that what Lovecraft was trying to do would have a more suitable form as a fictional essay (as in Borges or Stanislaw Lem).
- The descriptions and hints themselves are quite repetitive and blatant, as if Lovecraft considered his readers too dumb to get clues at the first or second mention.
Lovecraft has a lot of mediocre stories, but he probably thought that this wasn't one of them: its ambition and scope is obvious. On the positive, the atmosphere, when not drowned by its descriptive excess, is excellent as usual, and the details and connections with other stories are evocative. Anyway, a letdown for me.
- A story a hundred pages long which is mostly description and nothing but description (in lots of cases implausibly, by the way, but I don't want to spoil any detail here; suffice it to say that the characters can't possibly learn so much so quickly in the circumstances given).
- The action consists almost entirely of what characters perceive with hardly any interaction with the situation. Several times while reading the story it occurred to me that what Lovecraft was trying to do would have a more suitable form as a fictional essay (as in Borges or Stanislaw Lem).
- The descriptions and hints themselves are quite repetitive and blatant, as if Lovecraft considered his readers too dumb to get clues at the first or second mention.
Lovecraft has a lot of mediocre stories, but he probably thought that this wasn't one of them: its ambition and scope is obvious. On the positive, the atmosphere, when not drowned by its descriptive excess, is excellent as usual, and the details and connections with other stories are evocative. Anyway, a letdown for me.
Format:Paperback
"At the Mountains of Madness" is a novella written in serial form, by H. P. Lovecraft in the 1930's.
The story follows a scientific expedition to a range of mountains higher than the Himalayas, in Antartica, where the evidence of ancient species and their society is discovered. The plot is told by William Dyer, a geologist, who writes the story of what he and colleagues experinced, in order to stop a second expedition to the same place.
Without revealing much details, the story develops when the expedition, led by William, finds a few preserved specimens of an unknown species. That by itself isn't overly strange, however they're unlike anything ever found and exhibit a lot more complexity that their geologic age would permit. Afterward, a city of enourmous scale is found which they (William and the expedition) associate to the specimens called Elder Things.
Despite all the set being composed of dead things or ancient monuments, there's still something alive in there (obviously), lurking among them, which of course brings a lot more excitement to the novella.
The style of the story is peculiar, because it is very expository, where the first intent is merely to inform. However as novella progresses, the style turns into a darker object, not merely informative, but also with an intent to scare, as if the writer is reliving the whole experience.
Much of the book is not engaging, because all the descriptions slow a lot the pace of the story. That does have a negative aspect, however all the tidbits of Lovecraftian facts dropped in the story map a quite interesting universe. Where the book is engaging (not as often as I would like), there's almost an overcompensation, where sensations matter a lot (which is usually fear).
For a first experience in Lovecraft, it was an oddly balanced and promising reading. I was certainly enticed to one these days pick up another Lovecraft story.
Recommend, but probably is best to read a couple of other Lovecraft's stories, so you can accustom yourself to Lovecraft's style.
Till next time,
M.I.T.H. (ManInsideTheHelm)
The story follows a scientific expedition to a range of mountains higher than the Himalayas, in Antartica, where the evidence of ancient species and their society is discovered. The plot is told by William Dyer, a geologist, who writes the story of what he and colleagues experinced, in order to stop a second expedition to the same place.
Without revealing much details, the story develops when the expedition, led by William, finds a few preserved specimens of an unknown species. That by itself isn't overly strange, however they're unlike anything ever found and exhibit a lot more complexity that their geologic age would permit. Afterward, a city of enourmous scale is found which they (William and the expedition) associate to the specimens called Elder Things.
Despite all the set being composed of dead things or ancient monuments, there's still something alive in there (obviously), lurking among them, which of course brings a lot more excitement to the novella.
The style of the story is peculiar, because it is very expository, where the first intent is merely to inform. However as novella progresses, the style turns into a darker object, not merely informative, but also with an intent to scare, as if the writer is reliving the whole experience.
Much of the book is not engaging, because all the descriptions slow a lot the pace of the story. That does have a negative aspect, however all the tidbits of Lovecraftian facts dropped in the story map a quite interesting universe. Where the book is engaging (not as often as I would like), there's almost an overcompensation, where sensations matter a lot (which is usually fear).
For a first experience in Lovecraft, it was an oddly balanced and promising reading. I was certainly enticed to one these days pick up another Lovecraft story.
Recommend, but probably is best to read a couple of other Lovecraft's stories, so you can accustom yourself to Lovecraft's style.
Till next time,
M.I.T.H. (ManInsideTheHelm)
Format:Paperback
This is pure fantasy gone mad. It is a serious case of 'when Arthur C Clarke met Sir Earnest Shackleton'. Gripping with the hold of a velvet vice it transports to the Shangrila of high latitudes - and takes no prisoners.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
What is all the fuss about?
Having recently read an article on Guillermo Del Toro, I was very excited about a film he was very keen to Produce and Direct based on the HP Lovecraft short story 'At the... Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2009 by A. Bennett
Great edition
The story's a classic, one of Lovecraft's finest. What sets this title above the rest is its presentation; nice paper, nice binding, excellent introduction. Buy it.
Published on 8 April 2008 by Black Mask
one of the greatest pieces of horror fiction ever written.
tis book is amazing and is H.P Lovecrafts crowning achievement the story is orginal (for the time it was written in) and eerie the idead of the book is awesome and its fun just to... Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2008 by D. mc kenna
Timeless Horror Classic
This Modern Library edition boasts not only an excellent introduction by China Mieville and the fully restored 'At the Mountains of Madness' but also Lovecraft's classic essay... Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2005
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