I read this after Waugh's "Monster in the Mirror," which seems a little unfair, since that book's analysis is so dense that anything else threatens to be damned with faint praise. The advantage that Cannon has over Waugh is that his work is much more readable, serving as a good solid critique of Lovecraft's fiction without being overwhelming or intimidating. What is sacrificed in depth is made up for in breadth, and anyone with a more than passing interest in Lovecraft will get something out of it. ( )