Can you recommend best eldritch horror stories for beginners?

One of the best is 'The Call of Cthulhu' by H.P. Lovecraft. It introduces the terrifying Cthulhu, an ancient and powerful being. Another great one is 'At the Mountains of Madness', which takes readers on a chilling journey in Antarctica, filled with strange and otherworldly creatures. And 'The Colour Out of Space' is also a classic, with its tale of a strange color that brings destruction and madness to a rural area.

Sure. 'The Monkey's Paw' is a great start. It's a short story with a simple but very effective horror concept. A family gets a magical paw that can grant wishes, but every wish comes with a horrible price. 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' is also suitable. The headless horseman is a well - known horror figure, and the story has a spooky, atmospheric setting. And 'The Canterville Ghost' which combines humor with horror in a story about a ghost that is trying to haunt a family but often fails comically at first.

A great beginner - friendly horror story is 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. It's a psychological horror about a woman who slowly descends into madness while being confined in a room with the eponymous wallpaper. It's more about the build - up of psychological terror rather than extreme scares.

Well, 'The Shadow Over Innsmouth' by H.P. Lovecraft is great. It follows a man who visits a strange seaside town filled with people who seem to have a disturbing connection to some deep - sea creatures. Then there's 'The Music of Erich Zann' which is about a strange musician in a garret whose music seems to hold back some unknown and terrifying forces. Also, 'The King in Yellow' by Robert W. Chambers has elements of eldritch horror, with its play that drives people mad who read it.

Sure. 'The Monkey's Paw' is a great one for beginners. It's a short story that shows how a simple wish - granting device can bring about great horror. A family gets hold of a monkey's paw that can grant three wishes, but each wish comes with a terrible price.

Roald Dahl's 'The Witches' is another good option. It's a bit more on the lighter side of horror but still has its spooky moments. The story is about a boy who discovers the existence of witches and has to stop their evil plan to turn all children into mice. It has Dahl's signature dark humor and engaging storytelling.

A more modern option could be 'The Conjuring' series tie - in novel. It has a clear story line about a family being haunted by a malevolent spirit. The scares are there from the beginning, and it's a good introduction to the horror genre as it has elements of both the supernatural and psychological horror.

I'd recommend 'The Little Stranger' by Sarah Waters for beginners. It's a more modern take on the haunted house story. The characters are well - developed and the sense of unease builds slowly. And 'The Woman in Black' by Susan Hill is also good. It has a classic ghost story feel, with a creepy setting and a menacing apparition that haunts the main character.

I'd say 'The Lottery and Other Stories' by Shirley Jackson could be a good choice for beginners. The stories in it are quite accessible. For example, 'The Lottery' has a very unexpected and creepy ending that gives a taste of what horror short stories can be like without being too extreme.

I would also suggest 'The Black Cat' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man whose personality deteriorates and he starts to harm his pets, especially his black cat. There are elements of the supernatural as the cat seems to have an otherworldly presence. It's a short and easy - to - read story that can introduce beginners to the horror genre.