This book consists of a series of letters exchanged by Howard Phillips Lovecraft and Willis Conover, a 12-year-old boy at the time, in 1936 and 1937. It gives us a surprisingly relaxed and informal view of Lovecraft. Included is one of Lovecraft's poems, Homecoming, which was later published in his "Fungi From Yuggoth", his ideas on how the short story must be written, and a general discusssion of topics that interested him. He syas bluntly here the the Necronomicon was a book that he made up, and he goes to a great deal of trouble to answer Conover's questions in an intelligent and mature manner (I wonder how many other writers would have shown as much consideration to a 12-year-old child?). Also, he discusses his economic situation, "Weird Tales" magazine, his love of the eighteenth century, his critical view of his own work, and various topics that other writers have talked to him about. included are several pictures as well as the letter that Lovecraft's aunt wrote to Conover upon his death of stomach cancer. A very intimate look at the father of modern horror literature. ( )