The must - read Lovecraft stories are special due to their exploration of the unknown. He delved into the realms of the unknowable, like in 'The Shadow over Innsmouth' where there are hidden, inhuman races. His stories often play with the idea of forbidden knowledge, as seen in 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward'. His writing style, with its archaic language at times, adds to the atmosphere of unease and mystery. It makes the reader feel as if they are uncovering ancient and dangerous secrets.
Lovecraft's stories stand out because of his creation of the Cthulhu mythos. This interconnected web of gods, cults, and ancient evils is central to many of his must - read stories. For example, in 'The Dunwich Horror', the horror is tied to this larger mythological framework. His ability to instill a sense of dread through the very fabric of his stories is remarkable. The way he builds up the horror, like in 'The Rats in the Walls' where the protagonist's family history slowly reveals a nightmare, makes his stories truly special.
Lovecraft's stories are special because of his unique ability to create a sense of cosmic horror. In stories like 'The Call of Cthulhu', he makes the reader feel small and insignificant in the face of vast and incomprehensible entities. His use of vivid and often grotesque descriptions, like in 'The Colour Out of Space', also adds to their allure. His settings, whether it's the desolate Antarctica in 'At the Mountains of Madness' or the decaying New England towns, are so well - crafted that they become characters in themselves.