Dictionaries & Encyclopedias : The Cthulhu Mythos Encyclopedia
Grimoire of the Necronomicon (Necronomicon Series) | 
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Manufacturer: Elder Signs Press
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- ISBN13: 9781934501054
- Condition: New
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 Usefull, but incomplete
The Cthulhu Mythos Encylopedia is an update of the Encyclopedia Cthulhiana, written also by Daniel Harns
Althought it presents new verbetes and informations, it lacks the cronology of the Mythos, penned in the previous edition. It also lacks an index, given a somewath sloop appearance. But don't misunderstand: it is a complete encyclopedia, and for those who don't have the previous edition it's the best list of all cthulhian information
Too much of a good thing
An admirable effort has been made here and has actually been spoiled by it's success. Harms has probably listed almost every Mythos related reference made since Lovecraft first picked up a pen. Admirable, but I think he perhaps goes to far when he includes information from "Call of Cthulhu" role playing game aids, decidedly non-canon. The bibliography is disappointing, he gives author, title and date for the novels and short stories but no publication details, that however is a minor quibble. For a man who needs to know his Sign of Kish from his Sign of Koth, this book is invaluable.
Excellent resource for both new & longtime fans of Lovecraft
Having recently gotten reacquainted with the stories of H.P. Lovecraft, I found this encyclopedia to be very informative. I had read some of Lovecraft's stories back in college, but now thirty years later, I am enjoying the stories again, along with tales by other authors who want to keep the Lovecraft or Cthulhu mythology alive in their own way. This encyclopedia covers many well known topics, characters and locations within the mythology from the dangerous book known as the Necronomicon to the professors of Miskatonic University. Sometimes, I will read a Lovecraft story and then see if any of the events or characters are featured in another story (maybe by another author) by checking the Cthulhu Mythos Encyclopedia. Unfortunately, the encyclopedia does not have any pictures or artwork inside, which would be helpful, but that is my only complaint with this book. I hope that if you do pick up this book, you will find it to be as much of a fun and helpful resource to Lovecraft's world as I have. Thank you for reading.
 An Excellent Resource for Mythos Writers
This is a resource that I keep beside me on my writing table while working on new books of Cthulhu Mythos fiction. Not only does it answers questions concerning every aspect of the Mythos, but it can also be a source of inspiration for new Mythos fiction; for one can read over the entries and find some line of reference that is so tantalizing that it makes one ache to write a story based on that entry. One important aspect is that after each entry there is a listing of the core stories, by H. P. Lovecraft and others, in which the entry subject is featured; such as this, following the main entry on Nyarlathotep:
"See Abbith; BOOK OF AZATHOTH; BLACK RITES; Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh; Byagoona; Cthugha; Cthulhu; Dreamlands; Eibon, sign of; elemental theory; Fable of Nyarlathotep; ghouls; gods of Earth; Great Old Ones; gugs; hunting horrors; Koth; Million Favored Ones; moon-beasts; NECRONOMICON (appendices); Nephren-Ka; N'gai, Wood of; Nophru-Ka; Old Ones; Other Gods; Outer Gods; Prinn, Ludwig; Set; SEVEN CRYPTICAL BOOKS OF HSAN; shantaks; Sharnoth; Smith, Morgan; S'ngac; Stygia; World of Seven Suns; Yegg-ha; 'Ymnar. ("The Faceless God", Bloch; "The Shadow from the Steeple", Bloch; THE LURKER AT THE THRESHOLD, Derleth and Lovecraft; DELTA GREEN, Detwiller, Glancy, and Tynes (G); MASKS OF NYARLATHOTEP, DiTillo and Willis (G); THE FUNGI FROM YUGGOTH, Lovecraft; "Nyarlathotep" (prose poem), Lovecraft (O); "The Rats in the Walls", Lovecraft; THE BURROWERS BENEATH, Lumley; ELYSIA, Lumley; "The Worm of Urakhu," Tierney.
Thus not only do the entries explain the nature of the thing, but they lead us to core Mythos tales in which the entry is fictionally evoked; and we learn of other things to which the entry is related. I've never heard of Nophru-Ka, nor Ymnar. This book is extremely thorough, and it can be enjoy'd both as a source of information and as a source of entertainment. For those of us who are professional Mythos writers, it is as essential guide. For those of us who love Lovecraft, it provides endless hours of entertainment. A great tome for all Mythos fans!
Excellent reference book
Other reviewers have gone into more detail than i will, but I'm very happy with this book, it was much higher quality and more thorough than i expected it to be.
I picked this book up for a quick reference to use while playing Arkham Horror or Call of Cthulhu RPGs. Its perfect for just that. Its got just about anything i can imagine that i'd want to look up, and about twice that many entries that i've never even heard of (but am more than happy to browse).
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