Brilliant in its imagery, meager in plot. An anthropologist finds the notes of his great grand-uncle about the mysterious cult of Chtulhu, which send him on a series of investigations, ending with the discovery of a testimony of a sailor who claims to have been face to face with the haunting monster. Lovecraft's descriptions on Cthulhu are great, as he knows just how much he can tell and how much he should withhold to stir the reader's imagination.

But the story does not go much further than that, as none of the characters are developed or described in any detail. One could argue that this precisely the feat of this story, as it creates a sense of distance to the characters that makes the entire world that Lovecraft conjures up feel hollow, cold and frightening. But I would reply that it weakens the reader's involvement. Why care about a random sailor stumbling upon Chtulhu, as haunting as it may be?

Also worth discussing are the racist undertones (and overtones) in this piece of fiction, as the protagonists speaks with dedain of those of 'mixed blood', who are involved in dark and blasphemous secrets. Did Lovecraft include these remarks to reveal the arrogance of the scientist-protagonist or are they remnants of a colonial world view?