Lovecraft vs. Poe vs. King vs. Barker

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I have to say I'm a King fan, though Clive Barker did write some great YA fiction and short stories (Books of Blood and The Thief of Always are almost masterpieces, but his longer adult fiction is soooo turgid and sex-obsessed).

Poe was a master, but most of his stuff hasn't aged well. Lovecraft was a good writer but not really my cup of tea.

-Vorzac-, love your avatar!

Do you find that any of Lovecraft's writing is too wordy, as if he's trying too hard to impress the reader?

I agree, Lovecraft is wordy, but I think it's more due to the fact that he seemed unsure that his readers would understand what he was trying to describe. As a writer with AS, I have the same problem. Lovecraft was tormented by horrifically vivid dreams all of his life and his stories were based on those. Lovecraft was one of the first horror writers I ever read and when I found about about his lucid dreaming, I felt great empathy for him. I have extremely vivid dreams myself - the kind with impressive 3-D imagery and Dolby digital surround-sound, LOL, and many of these have turned into stories as well. I think out of all of Lovecraft's creations, his 'Night Gaunts' were the scariest for me.

Glad to see that you're a Queensryche and a Korn fan!

Lovecraft is my favorite. The way he writes is enchanting and lyrical. He makes use of the sounds of words to create mood, rhythm, and tone. Big influence on my writing. Poe has been quite influential as well.

I am kind of surprised; I though that because King's writing is much more mainstream than Lovecraft's that he would be leading the polls, rather than Lovecraft. I think that Lovecraft influenced King's writing.

Could you give me an example of the way that you think Poe hasn't aged well? I also find Lovecraft to be kind of difficult to read. King is just easier for me to understand.

I once read that almost every King story revolved around a haunted "thing". A haunted car, a haunted hotel, and so on. "The Mist" is a bit different though.
Can't read him, too wordy. Nobody needs to write thousand page stories.(! !)
Like Barker's "Weaveworld."

Lovecraft is really the master, he crossed the genres and was quite original. In my "Tea" thread I said I'd give ANYTHING to jump into a time machine and spend a dreary Rhode Island afternoon with the man ! !! !!

I'll have to go with my fellow Rhode Islander, Lovecraft.

Doc, have you ever been to his grave??

"I am Providence"

Lovecraft wins.
I even haven't read any of his books. But his cathulu mythos has even inspired real life occultists, can king say that there are western occultist (in real life) who use the the thing as symbolism for their rites. I don't think so.

No, but L. Ron Hubbard can.

OUCH ! !! !

I'd say Poe, and then King.

Yes, I have. I have a small jar with dirt from his grave.