Which of Lovecraft's short stories belong to the Cthulhu Mythos?

Some of the best Cthulhu Mythos stories include 'Pickman's Model'. It's a story that plays on the idea of art and the grotesque, as the main character discovers the disturbing paintings of Pickman. 'The Whisperer in Darkness' is also a great one. It has a lot of elements of paranoia and the discovery of hidden, alien entities. In addition, 'The Haunter of the Dark' is worth mentioning. It builds on the atmosphere of dread and the presence of an ancient, evil force in an abandoned church.

Some of the best ones include 'The Call of Cthulhu'. It introduced the iconic Cthulhu entity, with its dark and otherworldly themes of a sleeping, monstrous god waiting to rise again. The atmosphere is thick with dread and mystery.

Another great one could be 'At the Mountains of Madness'. It takes the reader on an Antarctic adventure where the characters uncover ancient and dreadful secrets related to the Cthulhu Mythos. It's full of Lovecraft's signature atmosphere of dread and the idea that there are things in the universe that man was not meant to know. It also gives a lot of background about the Elder Things which are important in the Mythos.

I also recommend 'The Shadow over Innsmouth'. This story has a great atmosphere. It follows a man who visits Innsmouth and gradually uncovers the town's dark and fish - like secrets. The idea of a town with a hidden and disturbing past, and the presence of the Deep Ones, makes it a very engaging Cthulhu Mythos story.

For beginners, 'The Call of Cthulhu' is a great start. It's relatively short compared to some other Mythos works and gives a clear introduction to the main concepts like Cthulhu and the idea of a hidden, terrifying reality. It has a good balance of mystery and horror.

August Derleth also made significant contributions. He continued to develop the Mythos after Lovecraft's death. His works added new elements and stories that are considered important for those new to the Cthulhu Mythos.

There might be cultists as well. These are the followers of the Cthulhu - related entities. They are usually depicted as being fanatical in their beliefs and willing to do whatever it takes to serve their dark masters. They can be quite menacing as they try to carry out their rituals or stop the investigators from interfering.

One interesting cthulhu mythos fanfiction could be about a modern - day detective who stumbles upon an ancient cult related to Cthulhu. He slowly uncovers the dark secrets of the cult as he delves deeper into the mystery, with each discovery leading him closer to the brink of madness.

One of the best first Cthulhu Mythos stories is 'The Call of Cthulhu' by H.P. Lovecraft. It's a classic that really introduces the essence of the Mythos. It has this great build - up of mystery and horror, leading the reader into a world of ancient, malevolent beings and cults.

No, it's not. There are many fictional verses out there with their own unique and powerful elements, and it's hard to say one is the absolute strongest.