Duane W Rimel may not seem an obvious choice of correspondent to launch a series of books discussing the vast collection of surviving letters written by H P Lovecraft, as likely unfamiliar to many readers of Lovecraftian fiction. However, it turns out this missive is a perfect introduction to Lovecraft’s letters, as in it, we are able to explore many different elements of both authors’ activities and minutiae of the time, late 1934, when it was written. There is advice on preparing story details, commentaries on published stories by others, some recent, some less so, investigations into “wind shake” in tree wood and the Owyhee Idaho Spud confection, some notes on cats, and a detailed exposition on nomenclature, etymology and New England dialects. We even discover something of Lovecraft’s preferences in writing pens, with his, and others’, recent travel plans. Once the letter’s text concludes on page 19, the rest of the book’s 107 beautifully bound and presented pages expand on many of the topics raised, including copies of Lovecraft’s notes for “Shadow Out Of Time”, images of magazine and book covers, published biographical items about Lovecraft, numerous published short stories, some with period or modern illustrations, plus more detailed notes and explanations. In short, an ideal introduction to what Lovecraft’s letters can reveal. I bought it as part of the full boxed set, and it remains my favourite of the three books in Volume I of the “Missives”. Heartily recommended!