Recommendations based on Call of Cthulhu: Horror Roleplayingby Sandy Petersen

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. At the Mountains of Madness and Other Tales of Terror

    by H.P. Lovecraft
    Collection of horror stories about the unknown and unknowable, exploring the deepest fears of mankind.

    Few writers can evoke such nightmarish visions as H. P. Lovecraft—and few of his stories are as chilling as these canonical tales of terror. ,“H. P. Lovecraft has yet to be surpassed as the twentieth ... (Barnes & Noble)

  2. The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories

    by H.P. Lovecraft
    Collection of horror stories about a cult's dark rituals and the cosmic entity Cthulhu.

    This collection spans Lovecraft’s literary career, and charts the development of his ‘cosmicist’ philosophy; the belief that behind the veil of our blinkered everyday lives lies another reality, too ... (Goodreads)

  3. The Case of Charles Dexter Ward

    by H.P. Lovecraft
    A young man becomes obsessed with his ancestor's dark practices, leading to a descent into madness and the summoning of otherworldly beings.

    Charles Dexter Ward is a young man from a prominent Rhode Island family who has disappeared from a mental asylum. He had been incarcerated during a prolonged period of insanity, during which he ... (Wikipedia)

  4. The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian

    by Robert E. Howard
    Epic tale of a barbarian warrior on a quest for revenge and conquest.

    Poem and first 13 tales, in order written, plus Miscellanea drafts, notes, maps by author. Cimmeria poem 1 The Phoenix on the Sword 1932 2 The Frost-Giant's Daughter 1976 3 The God in the Bowl 1952 4 ... (Goodreads)

  5. Second Foundation

    by Isaac Asimov
    A quest to find the mysterious force controlling the fate of the galaxy.

    Part I is about The Mule 's search for the elusive Second Foundation, with the intent of destroying it. The executive council of the Second Foundation is aware of The Mule's intent and, in the words ... (Wikipedia)

  6. The Foundation Trilogy

    by Isaac Asimov
    Intergalactic future-history saga of a Galactic Empire on the brink of collapse.

    A THOUSAND-YEAR EPIC, A GALACTIC STRUGGLE, A MONUMENTAL WORK IN THE ANNALS OF SCIENCE FICTION FOUNDATION begins a new chapter in the story of man's future. As the Old Empire crumbles into barbarism ... (Goodreads)

  7. The Complete Stories and Poems

    by Edgar Allan Poe
    A collection of dark and mysterious stories and poems, exploring the depths of the human condition.

    This single volume brings together all of Poe's stories and poems, and illuminates the diverse and multifaceted genius of one of the greatest and most influential figures in American literary ... (Barnes & Noble)

  8. The Doll's House

    by Neil Gaiman
    A dark fantasy exploring the cruelty and power of fairy tales, and the consequences of secrets.

    As part of a manhood ritual, an old man in the desert tells a younger man an ancient story, detailing the tragic love between Dream and Queen Nada. Fearing the consequences of loving an immortal, ... (Wikipedia)

  9. Foundation

    by Isaac Asimov
    Exploring the possibilities of a galactic empire in a future driven by science and technology.

    For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. But only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future – to a dark age ... (Goodreads)

  10. Season of Mists

    by Neil Gaiman
    A supernatural journey through various mythologies and realms, a quest to reclaim a lost soul.

    This collection begins with an Endless family meeting, wherein Desire taunts Morpheus about his intolerant treatment of a former lover, the African queen 'Nada' ("Nada" is "Nothing" in Spanish ), ... (Wikipedia)

  11. A Wizard of Earthsea

    by Ursula K. Le Guin
    A young wizard embarks on a quest to master his own magical powers and battle a mysterious force of evil.

    Ged, the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, was called Sparrowhawk in his reckless youth. Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon ... (Goodreads)

  12. The Great Dune Trilogy

    by Frank Herbert
    Epic saga of a desert planet, where a powerful family must save the universe from destruction.

    Duke Leto Atreides of the House Atreides , ruler of the ocean planet Caladan, is assigned by the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV to serve as fief ruler of the planet Arrakis . Arrakis is a harsh and ... (Wikipedia)

  13. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

    by Max Brooks
    A collection of interviews recounting tales of the zombie apocalypse.

    It has been nearly twenty years since the start of the apocalyptic worldwide pandemic known as the Zombie War, and about ten years since the war has ended in humanity's victory. The framing device ... (Wikipedia)

  14. The Color of Magic

    by Terry Pratchett
    A comedic fantasy adventure full of humor, absurdities, and unexpected turns.

    The story takes place on the Discworld, a planet-sized flat disc carried through space on the backs of four gargantuan elephants – Berilia, Tubul, Great T'Phon and Jerakeen – who themselves stand on ... (Wikipedia)

  15. Brief Lives

    by Neil Gaiman
    A journey of self-reflection as a man discovers the power of stories and their ability to shape our lives.

    Dream's youngest sister, the loopy Delirium, convinces him to go on a quest for their missing brother, Destruction. But Dream may learn that the cost of finding his prodigal sibling is more than he ... (Goodreads)

  16. Shadows over Innsmouth

    by Stephen Jones
    A collection of horror stories set in the fictional town of Innsmouth, where dark secrets and ancient evils lurk.

    Librarian Note,: Please do not confuse this anthology with the original novella "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" by H.P. Lovecraft. Although "Shadows Over Innsmouth" includes the said novella, the book is ... (Goodreads)

  17. From Hell

    by Alan Moore
    A gripping story of murder, conspiracy and suspense set in 19th century London.

    Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence , also known as Prince Eddy, marries and fathers a child with Annie Crook, a shop girl in London's East End . Prince Eddy had visited the area under an assumed ... (Wikipedia)

  18. Kingdom Come

    by Mark Waid
    An exploration of a dystopian future, and the heroes who struggle to save it.

    In this Elseworlds story, Superman and the Justice League abandon their roles as superheroes after the rise and strong public support of a superhero named Magog , who has no qualms about ... (Wikipedia)

  19. Skeleton Crew

    by Stephen King
    Collection of short stories that explore horror and the supernatural.

    From the Flap: The Master at his scarifying best! From heart-pounding terror to the eeriest of whimsy–tales from the outer limits of one of the greatest imaginations of our time! Evil that breathes ... (Goodreads)

  20. The Mist

    by Stephen King
    A group of survivors confront terror and terrorizing creatures in a thick mist.

    The morning after a severe thunderstorm , an unnaturally thick mist gradually envelopes the small town of Bridgton, Maine. Artist David Drayton, along with his son Billy and neighbor Brent Norton ... (Wikipedia)

  21. Life, the Universe and Everything

    by Douglas Adams
    An intergalactic quest to find the answer to the ultimate question of life.

    After being stranded on pre-historic Earth after the events in, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, , Arthur Dent is met by his old friend Ford Prefect , who drags him into a space-time eddy , ... (Wikipedia)

  22. Red Mars

    by Kim Stanley Robinson
    Colonists brave the harsh landscapes of Mars, striving to make the planet their new home.

    Red Mars starts in 2026 with the first colonial voyage to Mars aboard the Ares , the largest interplanetary spacecraft ever built and home to a crew who are to be the first hundred Martian colonists. ... (Wikipedia)

  23. Consider Phlebas

    by Iain M. Banks
    A thrilling space opera about a galactic war between two powerful civilizations.

    The war raged across the galaxy. Billions had died, billions more were doomed. Moons, planets, the very stars themselves, faced destruction, cold-blooded, brutal, and worse, random. The Idirans ... (Goodreads)

  24. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1

    by Alan Moore
    A band of Victorian-era misfits join forces to protect the British Empire.

    In 1898, one year after her encounter with Dracula , Mina Murray has divorced her husband and now works for the British government. She meets with MI5 agent Campion Bond (the grandfather of James ... (Wikipedia)

  25. Batman: The Killing Joke

    by Alan Moore
    Dark tale of psychological warfare between Batman and the Joker.

    Critically acclaimed author Alan Moore redefined graphic novel story-telling with, Watchmen, and, V for Vendetta,. In, Batman: The Killing Joke, he takes on the origin of comics' greatest ... (Barnes & Noble)

  26. The Last Wish

    by Andrzej Sapkowski
    A dark fantasy adventure, filled with monsters, magic, and morality.

    The King of Temeria, Foltest, has offered a reward to anyone who can lift the curse on his daughter, Adda (the result of an incestuous union with his late sister, also named Adda), who was born as a ... (Wikipedia)

  27. The Illuminatus! Trilogy

    by Robert Shea
    An epic adventure spanning multiple continents, uncovering a mysterious worldwide conspiracy.

    It was a deadly mistake. Joseph Malik, editor of a radical magazine, had snooped into rumors about an ancient secret society that was still alive and kicking. Now his offices have been bombed, he's ... (Goodreads)

  28. The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead

    by Max Brooks
    A comprehensive guide to surviving a zombie apocalypse, from preparation to combat.

    The Zombie Survival Guide is your key to survival against the hordes of undead who may be stalking you right now. Fully illustrated and exhaustively comprehensive, this book covers everything you ... (Goodreads)

  29. The Island of Dr. Moreau

    by H.G. Wells
    A shipwrecked man's encounters with a mad scientist's experiments in animal-human hybridization.

    The Island of Doctor Moreau is the account of Edward Prendick, an Englishman with a scientific education who survives a shipwreck in the southern Pacific Ocean. A passing ship called Ipecacuanha ... (Wikipedia)

  30. Starship Troopers

    by Robert A. Heinlein
    A futuristic military drama, exploring the consequences of war and human nature.

    The novel opens with Rico aboard the corvette transport Rodger Young (named after Medal of Honor recipient Rodger Wilton Young ), , serving with the platoon known as "Rasczak's Roughnecks". The ... (Wikipedia)