Black Wings of Cthulhu (Volume Six)

It’s hard to put a finger on just what makes a story feel truly Lovecraftian, but like that old chestnut about pornography, you know it when you see it. The strange melange of unknown forces, peculiar stilted writing, sinister otherworldly elements, and the unsettling sense that the firmament on which you stand is no longer quite so firm…these are just some of the qualities that feel universal in Lovecraftian tales.

It’s ambitious for any short story collection to try to add new takes on the Lovecraftian style. And yet, each edition of Black Wings of Cthulhu manages to do precisely that. In its sixth volume, Black Wings of Cthulhu presents all-new tales inspired by that strange, singular Victorian voice, unleashing new twists on old tales and threatening your nerves and very sanity with the presence of mind-shredding forces.

This volume in the series shies away from the cosmic side of Lovecraftian horror for the most part, but more than makes up for it with elements of bodily horror and the intense fear of the unknown. Whether it’s a hospital room haunted by one of Lovecraft’s most infamous creations or an archaeological dig where tomb-raiding meth-heads run afoul of creatures that would give the man in the moon nightmares, these stories feel fresh, even with the dusty pedigree of Lovecraft involved.