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Brought to you by Altrusian Grace Media.
H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu is a classic horror short story that introduces the Cthulhu Mythos, one of the most influential works in cosmic horror. The story follows Francis Wayland Thurston, who investigates the mysterious death of his great-uncle, Professor Angell, a scholar of ancient cults. Through a series of documents, he uncovers chilling reports of a secret global cult worshiping Cthulhu, a monstrous, ancient entity that slumbers beneath the Pacific Ocean in the sunken city of R'lyeh.
Thurston's research leads him to Detective Legrasse, who, in 1908, raided a cult in Louisiana that worshipped Cthulhu, and Gustaf Johansen, a sailor who encountered R'lyeh firsthand. Johansen's crew accidentally awakened Cthulhu, a massive, tentacled being, before it retreated back into the depths. The story ends with Thurston fearing for his life, realizing that Cthulhu's return is inevitable when the stars align.
Key themes include cosmic horror, forbidden knowledge, and the insignificance of humanity in the vast, indifferent universe. With its iconic chant ("Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn") and atmospheric dread, The Call of Cthulhu remains one of the most influential horror stories of all time, inspiring films, books, games, and the broader Lovecraftian Mythos.