Herbert West Reanimator

"Herbert WestReanimator" is a short story by American horror fiction writer H. P. Lovecraft. It was written between October 1921 and June 1922. It was first serialized in February through July 1922 in the amateur publication Home Brew. The story was the basis of the 1985 horror film Re-Animator and its sequels, in addition to numerous other adaptations in various media.

The story is the first to mention Lovecraft's fictional Miskatonic University. It is also notable as one of the first depictions of zombies, as corpses arising, through scientific means, as animalistic, and uncontrollably violent creatures.

Lovecraft himself considered this story drivel. He wrote it for money, which he felt was an artistic compromise. Yet it is really a great story. It definitely has more of a pulpy style to it than his normal fare, but it's both exciting and creepy. It also includes "fast zombies" decades before the movie 28 Days Later!

If you like creepy, horrific, pulpy fun, you should definitely latch onto Herbert West Reanimator.