"Lovecraft Rising" is a tribute honoring writer H.P. Lovecraft on Sunday at the Ladd Observatory in Providence. Pictured is the master of ceremonies, Christian Henry Tobler.

Keith E. Johnson

In life, he was easy to miss — a gangly, high-strung man given to writing bad poetry and weird stories with titles such as The Dunwich Horror and The Thing on the Doorstep. But in the 70-plus years since his death in 1937, Howard Philips Lovecraft has become one of the most respected figures in the history of horror and science fiction — the literary godfather of contemporary ghoul-masters such as Stephen King and John Carpenter.

On Sunday, Lovecraft fans from across New England can pay their respects to the Providence-born author as part of the city’s annual H.P. Lovecraft Tribute Service. This year’s event, dubbed “Lovecraft Rising,” will begin at 3 p.m. in front of Ladd Observatory at 210 Doyle Ave. (at Hope Street) on the East Side.

Activities include readings from Lovecraft’s poetry and prose, as well as an appearance by this year’s master of ceremonies — Christian Henry Tobler — a freelance military historian and author of several books on medieval weapons and combat. Hang around long enough, you may even catch a glimpse of Lovecraft’s ghost, which is said to haunt the observatory grounds after dark. For more information, call (401) 732-4870.