At the Mountains of Madness

"It is absolutely necessary, for the peace and safety of mankind, that some of the dark, dead corners of the world be let alone..." A chilling blend of science-fiction and horror, At the Mountains of Madness follows a doomed scientific expedition to the desolate expanse of Antarctica that uncovers ancient, alien ruins that reveal a terrifying, ancient history of Earth, predating humanity. The novella is a prime example of Lovecraft‘s "cosmic horror," a genre that emphasizes humanity‘s insignificance in a vast, uncaring universe. At the Mountains of Madness explores themes of the peril of forbidden knowledge, the price of discovery and the fragility of human sanity when confronted with the unknowable; it ranks among Lovecraft‘s most terrifying novellas, and is a firm favourite among fans of classic horror. Though virtually unknown and financially unsuccessful during his lifetime, H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937) is now regarded as one of the most influential 20th-century writers of supernatural horror fiction. Widely credited with inventing the "cosmic horror" genre—fiction that explores humanity‘s insignificance in the face of vast, unknowable cosmic forces—he also created the "Cthulhu Mythos", a shared universe of ancient alien beings and forbidden knowledge that has influenced generations of horror and science fiction writers.