Discover the Secrets of Lovecraftian Horror with Encyclopedia Cthulhiana (Call of Cthulhu Fiction Series) - Free Download Available
Encyclopedia Cthulhiana: A Guide to Lovecraftian Horror (Call of Cthulhu Fiction Series) downloads t
If you are a fan of horror fiction, you have probably heard of H.P. Lovecraft, the master of cosmic horror. His stories feature ancient and powerful beings that lurk in the shadows of reality, waiting for the right moment to unleash their madness and destruction upon the world. Lovecraft's influence on horror literature and culture is immense, and his creations have inspired countless writers, artists, filmmakers, and game designers.
Encyclopedia Cthulhiana: A Guide to Lovecraftian Horror (Call of Cthulhu Fiction Series) downloads t
But how much do you really know about Lovecraft's universe? How many of his characters, creatures, locations, artifacts, books, and cults can you name? And where can you find more information about them?
If you are looking for answers to these questions, you need to read Encyclopedia Cthulhiana: A Guide to Lovecraftian Horror (Call of Cthulhu Fiction Series), a comprehensive and authoritative reference book that covers everything related to Lovecraft's mythos. In this article, we will tell you what Encyclopedia Cthulhiana is, what it contains, why you should read it, and how you can download it for free online. Let's get started!
Introduction
What is Encyclopedia Cthulhiana?
Encyclopedia Cthulhiana is a book written by Daniel Harms and published by Chaosium in 1998. It is part of the Call of Cthulhu Fiction Series, a collection of books based on the popular role-playing game Call of Cthulhu, which is itself inspired by Lovecraft's stories.
Encyclopedia Cthulhiana is not a novel or a collection of stories. It is a reference book that contains over 2,000 entries on various aspects of Lovecraft's mythos. Each entry provides a brief description of the topic, its origin and history, its appearance and abilities, its role in the stories, and its cross-references with other entries. The entries are arranged alphabetically and cover both canonical and non-canonical sources.
The book also includes four appendices that provide additional information on the chronology of the mythos, the genealogy of the elder races, the cross-references between different stories and authors, and the bibliography of secondary sources.
What is Lovecraftian horror?
Lovecraftian horror is a subgenre of horror fiction that draws from the works of H.P. Lovecraft and his followers. It is also known as cosmic horror or weird fiction. It is characterized by a sense of dread and awe in the face of incomprehensible and malevolent forces that exist beyond human understanding and control.
Lovecraftian horror often features themes such as madness, forbidden knowledge, cosmic insignificance, alienation, nihilism, and existentialism. It also features a rich and complex mythology that involves ancient and powerful entities, such as the Great Old Ones, the Outer Gods, the Elder Things, and the Mi-Go. These entities are usually indifferent or hostile to humanity, and their mere presence or influence can cause insanity, mutation, or death.
Some of the most famous examples of Lovecraftian horror are The Call of Cthulhu, The Shadow Out of Time, The Dunwich Horror, At the Mountains of Madness, and The Colour Out of Space.
Why should you read Encyclopedia Cthulhiana?
If you are a fan of Lovecraftian horror, you should read Encyclopedia Cthulhiana for several reasons:
It will enhance your appreciation and understanding of Lovecraft's stories and his mythos. You will learn more about the characters, creatures, locations, artifacts, books, and cults that populate his universe. You will also discover how they are connected and how they influence each other.
It will introduce you to new and exciting sources of Lovecraftian horror. You will find out about the works of other authors who have contributed to the mythos, such as August Derleth, Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, Ramsey Campbell, Brian Lumley, and many more. You will also find references to movies, games, comics, and other media that are inspired by Lovecraft's stories.
It will stimulate your imagination and creativity. You will be able to use Encyclopedia Cthulhiana as a source of inspiration for your own stories, games, art, or any other form of expression. You will be able to explore the endless possibilities of Lovecraft's universe and create your own scenarios and adventures.
In short, Encyclopedia Cthulhiana is a must-have book for any lover of horror fiction and especially for any lover of Lovecraftian horror. It is a treasure trove of information and entertainment that will keep you hooked for hours.
The contents of Encyclopedia Cthulhiana
The entries
As we mentioned before, Encyclopedia Cthulhiana contains over 2,000 entries on various aspects of Lovecraft's mythos. These entries are divided into six main categories: characters, creatures, locations, artifacts, books, and cults. Let's take a look at each category in more detail.
Characters
This category includes the names and biographies of the human and non-human characters that appear in Lovecraft's stories and in the stories of other authors who have contributed to the mythos. Some examples are:
Abdul Alhazred: The mad Arab who wrote the Necronomicon, the most infamous book of the mythos.
Charles Dexter Ward: The protagonist of The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, a young man who becomes obsessed with his ancestor's occult experiments.
Cthulhu: The most famous and iconic creature of the mythos, a gigantic winged octopus-like entity that lies dreaming in the sunken city of R'lyeh.
Herbert West: The protagonist of Herbert WestReanimator, a mad scientist who tries to revive the dead with disastrous results.
Nyarlathotep: The most active and malevolent of the Outer Gods, a shapeshifting being who often appears as a human messenger or prophet.
Creatures
This category includes the names and descriptions of the various monsters and aliens that inhabit Lovecraft's universe. Some examples are:
The Deep Ones: A race of fish-like humanoids that worship Dagon and Hydra and interbreed with humans.
The Elder Things: A race of star-shaped beings that colonized Earth in the distant past and created life on it.
The Mi-Go: A race of fungoid crustaceans that travel through space and perform experiments on humans.
The Shoggoths: A race of amorphous protoplasmic blobs that were created by the Elder Things as slaves but rebelled against them.
The Yithians: A race of cone-shaped beings that can swap minds with other creatures across time and space.
Locations
This category includes the names and details of the places where Lovecraft's stories take place or where important events or discoveries occur. Some examples are:
Arkham: A fictional town in Massachusetts that is home to Miskatonic University and the Arkham Sanitarium.
Artifacts
This category includes the names and descriptions of the objects and items that have magical or supernatural properties or significance in Lovecraft's stories. Some examples are:
The Necronomicon: The most infamous book of the mythos, written by Abdul Alhazred, that contains the secrets of the ancient ones and their cults.
The Shining Trapezohedron: A crystal of unknown origin that can summon Nyarlathotep and show visions of the past and future.
The Silver Key: A key that can open portals to other dimensions and times, used by Randolph Carter in several stories.
The Thing on the Doorstep: A clay figurine that can transfer the mind of its owner to another body.
The Witch House: A haunted house in Arkham that was once the residence of Keziah Mason, a witch who practiced black magic.
Books
This category includes the names and details of the books and manuscripts that contain information or lore about Lovecraft's mythos. Some examples are:
De Vermis Mysteriis: A book written by Ludwig Prinn, a medieval alchemist and necromancer, that contains spells and rituals for summoning and controlling various entities.
The King in Yellow: A play written by Robert W. Chambers, a contemporary of Lovecraft, that causes madness and despair to those who read it.
The Pnakotic Manuscripts: A collection of writings by the ancient races that record their history and secrets.
Unaussprechlichen Kulten: A book written by Friedrich von Junzt, a German occultist, that describes the cults and rites of the ancient ones.
Zanthu Tablets: A set of clay tablets inscribed with cuneiform writing that tell the story of Zanthu, a high priest of Ythogtha who discovered the Shining Trapezohedron.
Cults
This category includes the names and descriptions of the groups and organizations that worship or serve Lovecraft's entities. Some examples are:
The Black Brotherhood: A cult that worships Nyarlathotep and seeks to bring about his return.
The Church of Starry Wisdom: A cult that uses the Shining Trapezohedron to contact Nyarlathotep and gain his favor.
The Esoteric Order of Dagon: A cult that worships Dagon and Hydra and interbreeds with the Deep Ones.
The Hermetic Order of the Silver Twilight: A secret society that studies the occult and tries to harness its power.
The Star Spawn: A race of creatures that serve Cthulhu and dwell in R'lyeh.
The appendices
As we mentioned before, Encyclopedia Cthulhiana also includes four appendices that provide additional information on the mythos. These appendices are:
Chronology of the Cthulhu Mythos
This appendix provides a timeline of the events and stories that take place in Lovecraft's universe, from the creation of the cosmos to the present day. It also indicates the sources and authors of each event and story.
Genealogy of the Elder Races
This appendix provides a chart that shows the relationships and origins of the various races and entities that populate Lovecraft's universe. It also indicates their status and location in the present day.
Cthulhu Mythos cross-references
This appendix provides a list of cross-references between different entries in Encyclopedia Cthulhiana. It shows how different topics are related or connected to each other.
Bibliography of secondary sources
This appendix provides a list of books, articles, essays, and websites that contain further information or analysis on Lovecraft's mythos. It also indicates their availability and quality.
How to download Encyclopedia Cthulhiana for free
The legal and ethical issues of downloading books online
Before we tell you how to download Encyclopedia Cthulhiana for free online, we need to address some legal and ethical issues. Downloading books online without paying for them is considered piracy, which is illegal in most countries. Piracy violates the intellectual property rights of the authors and publishers, and deprives them of their income and recognition. Piracy also harms the quality and diversity of literature, as it discourages authors from writing and publishing new books.
Therefore, we do not condone or encourage piracy, and we advise you to respect the law and the rights of the creators. If you want to read Encyclopedia Cthulhiana, you should buy it from a legitimate source, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Chaosium. By doing so, you will support the authors and publishers, and you will enjoy a better reading experience.
However, we also understand that some people may have difficulties or limitations to access or afford books, especially in some parts of the world. In that case, we suggest you look for alternative ways to obtain books legally and ethically, such as borrowing them from a library or a friend, or using a subscription service or a free trial offer.
The best websites to download Encyclopedia Cthulhiana and other Lovecraftian books
If you still want to download Encyclopedia Cthulhiana for free online, despite the legal and ethical issues, you need to be careful and selective about the websites you use. Many websites that offer free downloads of books are unreliable, unsafe, or fraudulent. They may contain viruses, malware, spyware, or ransomware that can harm your device or steal your personal information. They may also require you to register, pay, or complete surveys or tasks that are scams or spam.
Therefore, you need to use only reputable and trustworthy websites that offer free downloads of books legally and safely. These websites usually have a large and diverse collection of books, a user-friendly interface, a fast and secure download process, and positive reviews and ratings from other users. Some examples of such websites are:
Project Gutenberg: A website that offers over 60,000 free ebooks of public domain works, including some of Lovecraft's stories.
Internet Archive: A website that offers over 20 million free ebooks of various genres and languages, including some of Lovecraft's stories and other Lovecraftian books.
Open Library: A website that offers over 3 million free ebooks of various genres and languages, including some of Lovecraft's stories and other Lovecraftian books.
PDF Drive: A website that offers over 90 million free ebooks of various genres and languages, including some of Lovecraft's stories and other Lovecraftian books.
Z-Library: A website that offers over 6 million free ebooks of various genres and languages, including some of Lovecraft's stories and other Lovecraftian books.
The steps to download Encyclopedia Cthulhiana from one of the websites
To download Encyclopedia Cthulhiana from one of the websites we mentioned above, you need to follow these steps:
Go to the website of your choice and search for Encyclopedia Cthulhiana by typing its title or author in the search box.
Select the book from the list of results and click on its title or cover image.
On the book's page, choose the format and language you prefer. The most common formats are PDF, EPUB, MOBI, and TXT.
Click on the download button or link and wait for the file to be downloaded to your device.
Open the file with an appropriate reader or app and enjoy reading Encyclopedia Cthulhiana.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In this article, we have told you everything you need to know about Encyclopedia Cthulhiana: A Guide to Lovecraftian Horror (Call of Cthulhu Fiction Series), a comprehensive and authoritative reference book that covers everything related to Lovecraft's mythos. We have explained what Encyclopedia Cthulhiana is, what it contains, why you should read it, and how you can download it for free online. We have also provided you with two tables: one with the outline of the article and one with the article with HTML formatting.
Call to action for the readers
If you are a fan of horror fiction and especially of Lovecraftian horror, you should not miss this opportunity to read Encyclopedia Cthulhiana. It is a book that will enrich your knowledge and appreciation of Lovecraft's universe and inspire your imagination and creativity. It is also a book that is hard to find in physical form, so downloading it online is a convenient and easy way to access it.
fascinating world of Lovecraftian horror. You will not regret it!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about Encyclopedia Cthulhiana and Lovecraftian horror:
Q: Who is H.P. Lovecraft and why is he important for horror fiction? A: H.P. Lovecraft was an American writer who lived from 1890 to 1937. He is considered one of the most influential and original authors of horror fiction, and the creator of the subgenre of cosmic horror or weird fiction. His stories feature a complex and coherent mythology that involves ancient and powerful entities that threaten the sanity and existence of humanity.
Q: What is the Cthulhu Mythos and who are its main contributors? A: The Cthulhu Mythos is the name given to the shared universe and mythology that was created by Lovecraft and expanded by other writers who followed his footsteps. The Cthulhu Mythos includes a vast array of characters, creatures, locations, artifacts, books, and cults that are related to Lovecraft's entities. Some of the main contributors to the Cthulhu Mythos are August Derleth, Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, Ramsey Campbell, Brian Lumley, and Stephen King.
Q: What is the Call of Cthulhu Fiction Series and what are its main titles? A: The Call of Cthulhu Fiction Series is a collection of books published by Chaosium that are based on the popular role-playing game Call of Cthulhu, which is itself inspired by Lovecraft's stories. The Call of Cthulhu Fiction Series includes novels, anthologies, and reference books that explore different aspects of the Cthulhu Mythos. Some of the main titles are The Hastur Cycle, The Necronomicon, The Book of Eibon, The Complete Pegana, and Encyclopedia Cthulhiana.
Q: How can I learn more about Lovecraft's stories and his mythos? A: There are many ways to learn more about Lovecraft's stories and his mythos. You can read his original works or the works of other authors who have contributed to the mythos. You can also watch movies, play games, listen to podcasts, or visit websites that are inspired by or related to Lovecraft's universe. Some examples are The Thing, Alien, Bloodborne, The H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast, and The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society.
Q: How can I write my own stories or create my own content based on Lovecraft's mythos? A: There are no fixed rules or guidelines for writing your own stories or creating your own content based on Lovecraft's mythos. You can use your imagination and creativity to come up with your own ideas and scenarios. However, you may want to consider some general principles that characterize Lovecraft's style and themes, such as using a first-person or unreliable narrator, creating a sense of dread and awe in the face of the unknown, avoiding explicit descriptions of the entities or their actions, and incorporating elements of science fiction and fantasy.
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