Cthulhu is a giant fictional being, one of the Great Old Ones in H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. It is often cited for the extreme descriptions given of its appearance, size, and the abject terror that it invokes. Because of this reputation, Cthulhu is often referred to in science fiction and fantasy circles as a tongue-in-cheek shorthand for extreme horror or evil. Although the cycle of stories written by Lovecraft, his protégés, and his literary successors bear the label Cthulhu Mythos (a term invented by August Derleth and never used by Lovecraft), Cthulhu is arguably one of the least terrible creatures in the pantheon.