An Evening with H.P. Lovecraft

Join the short story club in dissecting one of the most disturbing pieces of fiction in the H.P. Lovecraft canon. “The Thing on The Doorstep” (1937) is a “body swap” horror story that follows the tribulations of a helpless narrator forced to watch a dear friend succumb to a horrific fate.

While not as famous as signature tales like “The Call of Cthulhu” or “At the Mountains of Madness,” this story serves as a “greatest hits” collection of Lovecraftian elements. It’s also one of his most controversial works—and we’ll discuss why.

The story also inspired the recent film Suitable Flesh (2023), giving us a chance to explore how contemporary filmmakers interpret Lovecraft’s controversial themes for modern audiences. I’d recommend reading the story and watching the film for comparison.

You can read the full text of the story here.