This is Cthulhu Classics (1989), a book of reprints that supported the release of the fourth edition of Call of Cthulhu. It contains adventures that originally appeared in Cthulhu Companion, Curse of the Cthonians, Terror from the Stars and the entire campaign from Shadows of Yog-Sothoth (the originals of which have all appeared here in the past).

These early scenarios are odd. They definitely feel Cthulhu-y and distinct from just about everything else available at the time. But they also aren’t quite what I think of when I think of great Call of Cthulhu scenarios. They are a little rough around the edges and there is still a lot of dungeon crawler DNA baked in under the surface (both probably a function of designers figuring out the feel of a radically new game). You can definitely feel the difference when you contrast them to stuff that would come out in the next couple years, particularly the Lovecraft Country series.

Most of the interior art is reprinted (and you can probably see a lot of it in my earlier posts, too), but that sweet Lee Gibbons cover painting is new. I love how squishy and sleepy Cthulhu looks. There are a bunch of color plates inside, too. Most reproduce the covers of the previous books, but there are also a couple new ones, none of which light my fire (including a smug portrait of Carl Sanford that makes me want to punch him in the face).