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kike_ram95's review against another edition
3.0
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Este es un ensayo en el que Lovecraft realiza un análisis de las historias de "terror" y, sobre todo, se enfoca en buscar la historia literaria de lo que el llama "horror cósmico".
En general, el libro es sólo una larga lista de libros y autores, con la descripción de las tramas. Opiniones al respecto, hay sólo unas cuantas perdidas entre todo ese listado. Llegué a saltarme páginas enteras porque no tuve interés. Sin embargo, es interesante ver la diferencia que Lovecraft hace de los cuentos antes de Poe y después de Poe.
Vale la pena esta edición por los apéndices, con notas de Lovecraft sobre ideas para "historias", que permiten ver el avance del escritor. También apéndices con su opinión sobre cómo escribir historias de horror cósmico, y sobre cómo no hacerlo, criticando historias de ciencia ficción.
Recomendado sólo para la gente que tenga interés en conocer las opiniones del autor respecto a lo que ya dije, en caso contrario no vale la pena.
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This is an essay in wich Lovecraft makes an analizis of "horror " stories and he focuses in the history of what he calls "cosmic horror".
In general, this is review of lots of books and stories by different authors. It's just a long list, with just few opinions in the middle. I even skipped whole pages because I was kind of bored. Nevertheless, he makes a nice discussion about stories before and after Poe.
This edition it's only worth for the appendices, with Lovecraft's notes with ideas for future tales, where you can see his growth as an author. There are also opinions about the proper way to write horror stories, and cosmic horror stories, with some critics for sci-fi writers from his era.
I only recommend this book for people who are interested in Lovecrft's opinion on the topics I mentiones above. If you don't give a damn, you can skip this.
Este es un ensayo en el que Lovecraft realiza un análisis de las historias de "terror" y, sobre todo, se enfoca en buscar la historia literaria de lo que el llama "horror cósmico".
En general, el libro es sólo una larga lista de libros y autores, con la descripción de las tramas. Opiniones al respecto, hay sólo unas cuantas perdidas entre todo ese listado. Llegué a saltarme páginas enteras porque no tuve interés. Sin embargo, es interesante ver la diferencia que Lovecraft hace de los cuentos antes de Poe y después de Poe.
Vale la pena esta edición por los apéndices, con notas de Lovecraft sobre ideas para "historias", que permiten ver el avance del escritor. También apéndices con su opinión sobre cómo escribir historias de horror cósmico, y sobre cómo no hacerlo, criticando historias de ciencia ficción.
Recomendado sólo para la gente que tenga interés en conocer las opiniones del autor respecto a lo que ya dije, en caso contrario no vale la pena.
_______________________________
This is an essay in wich Lovecraft makes an analizis of "horror " stories and he focuses in the history of what he calls "cosmic horror".
In general, this is review of lots of books and stories by different authors. It's just a long list, with just few opinions in the middle. I even skipped whole pages because I was kind of bored. Nevertheless, he makes a nice discussion about stories before and after Poe.
This edition it's only worth for the appendices, with Lovecraft's notes with ideas for future tales, where you can see his growth as an author. There are also opinions about the proper way to write horror stories, and cosmic horror stories, with some critics for sci-fi writers from his era.
I only recommend this book for people who are interested in Lovecrft's opinion on the topics I mentiones above. If you don't give a damn, you can skip this.
curtdubya's review against another edition
4.0
This should perhaps be more aptly titled "The History of Supernatural Horror in Literature." Lovecraft does an excellent job of listing works that contain cosmically horrific elements and themes – and that's it. If you're looking for a Grand Unifying Theory of supernatural horror, this isn't the place to find it. It's more genre-definition-by-name-dropping than critical combination of theoretical ideas.
Nonetheless, it's an interesting and useful resource. I don't know that I'll ever read it all the way through again, but it will definitely be useful as a reference.
Nonetheless, it's an interesting and useful resource. I don't know that I'll ever read it all the way through again, but it will definitely be useful as a reference.
andrewlynch's review against another edition
5.0
The most thoughtful (and shortest) travelogue through the history and development of horror fiction, written by one of its masters and most ardent zealots. I can't think of anyone today who can apply so much acumen to such a large body of work in about 100 pages.