Oh, I only just read your other replies in this thread and realized belatedly that you're a fan of Lovecraft as well. What are your favorite stories? The one that stayed with me the most were 'The Colour Out of Space', 'The Whisperer in Darkness', and my first and one of my favorites is 'At the Mountains of Madness'. The sense of wonder and exploration it evokes is unmatched. He somehow manages to combine science fiction elements with fantasy elements in a way that makes sense and is believable. It's nearly impossible to duplicate his style without sounding like an annoying smartypants, to say it crudely. I can't quite put into words how he manages to do it.

Same. It's Lovecraft's lingo. He had a knack for describing the indescribable in a grandiose style that touches the imagination; he did this without seeming verbose or intentionally obtuse.