Author Description

August W. Derleth (1909 - 1971), a well-regarded and prolific author of Holmesian mysteries, as well as regionalist fiction set in his native Wisconsin, was also a popular author and anthologist of weird fiction, particularly in the tradition of his friend and mentor H.P. Lovecraft. Zealous for the legacy of Lovecraft and other gifted pulp fiction authors, Derleth, along with Donald Wandrei, established the legendary Arkham House Publishers to enshrine the work of these writers in hardcover books. Beyond this, Derleth added several stories inspired by Lovecraft's "Cthulhu Mythos," putting his own creative stamp upon Lovecraft's creations. He introduced new characters, eldritch entities, and fictive grimoires to supplement the original Lovecraftian lore. The present collection assembles stories by various authors, set in the narrative world of the Derleth Mythos, tales utilizing Derleth's creations much as Derleth employed Lovecraft's.