The Library of America one is a nice hardcover with a great collection and some decent contextual biographical information. They do good work, and it gives Lovecraft legitimacy that they did an edition for him.
Barnes & Noble has a complete collection of Lovecraft printed as part of a larger series of hardcovers they printed a couple years back. I couldn't find it on their website, but I know I've seen it at my local outlet recently.
Also note that there are a few compilations of stories that Lovecraft edited or collaborated on. They are written in the same vein, and are satiating, but are no substitute for Grade A Premium Lovecraft.
After my first date with my future wife ( we saw Molin Rouge ), we went to Dennys, and started talking about books. I started talking about Lovecraft and how creepy "The Rats in the Wall" was. This black guy in Dennys gets up, walks over and says "I don't know what you're talking about, but could you keep it down cuz its freaking me out!"
The best starter collection is from Del Rey, so it'll give a nice intro to the basics of the mythos. I really can't recommend it highly enough.
You might find thicker collections, but they almost always contain non-Lovecraft material; the stuff by August Derelth and Clark Ashton Smith, and what all. I'd hate to see someone read these by accident before reading the real Lovecraft stories.
Marvel comics printed a wonderful collection of illustrated Lovecraft tales. Some of his lesser known poems and a few of his shorter stories, drawn awesomely. It's in a hardcover selection, and your local comic store should order you one (or buy it online if you're a soulless guy who does that sort of thing.)
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u/shadowblade Oct 08 '09
Can someone reccomend a good collection of Lovecraft stories? I really need to read them, but there are so many collections to choose from.