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StayGolden
10-05-2007, 05:28 PM
Since it's October and I'm sad that there aren't any horror movies on yet for Halloween, I'm looking for a few of the best horror novels out there to read in addition to my regular reading. It doesn't necessarily have to be "horror", either, just something...creepy. :p

For the record: I'm not a fan of Stephen King. I read one of his more recent novels, and that was more than enough to tell me he's not my cup of tea.

So yes. Recommendations, please?
Lote-Tree
10-05-2007, 05:36 PM
For the record: I'm not a fan of Stephen King. I read one of his more recent novels, and that was more than enough to tell me he's not my cup of tea.


Then obiviously you don't value much about writing :D;-)
StayGolden
10-05-2007, 05:41 PM
I love the movie adaptations of his books. Salem's Lot will always be one of my favorites...but the book I trudged through? My god. Worst thing ever written. :p
Lote-Tree
10-05-2007, 05:44 PM
I love the movie adaptations of his books. Salem's Lot will always be one of my favorites...but the book I trudged through? My god. Worst thing ever written. :p

No way!!! He is brilliant at creating characters :D In fact sometime you want the horror to go away so that you can get to know more about them :D
StayGolden
10-05-2007, 05:49 PM
I suppose I just picked the wrong book as my first King novel, then. ;)

What are a few of your favorites?
Lote-Tree
10-05-2007, 05:52 PM
I suppose I just picked the wrong book as my first King novel, then. ;)


I think you have :D



What are a few of your favorites?

I have very much enjoyed IT
StayGolden
10-05-2007, 05:58 PM
Oh man. IT scared the heck out of me when I first saw it (I think I was around 5?). I still avoid walking near sewer drains. :lol:

Any other creepy/spooky books you enjoy?
Lote-Tree
10-05-2007, 06:03 PM
Oh man. IT scared the heck out of me when I first saw it (I think I was around 5?). I still avoid walking near sewer drains. :lol:


He he :D Yes movie was good too :D



Any other creepy/spooky books you enjoy?


Apart from Stephen King I do not read much of the horror genre to be honest.

I have read few of Dean R Koontz - but his writings do not appeal to me very much. And I have read some of Clive Barker books like Hell Raiser etc.
StayGolden
10-05-2007, 06:07 PM
Hm. I'll google after Clive Barker and try to read a few snippets of one of his books. I didn't know he wrote Hell Raiser.
Lote-Tree
10-05-2007, 06:11 PM
Hm. I'll google after Clive Barker and try to read a few snippets of one of his books. I didn't know he wrote Hell Raiser.

I think originally it was based on one of his short story called the "Captive Heart" I think....
jlb4tlb
10-05-2007, 09:26 PM
"Jaws" may be one of the best horror novels I have ever read. "The Exorcist" is a winner also. Most modern Horror fiction falls into the blood and gore genre and does not interest me all that much.

For short fiction try the latest issues of "Cemetery Dance," and "Weird Tales."

Good Luck
StayGolden
10-06-2007, 01:29 AM
"Jaws" may be one of the best horror novels I have ever read. "The Exorcist" is a winner also. Most modern Horror fiction falls into the blood and gore genre and does not interest me all that much.

For short fiction try the latest issues of "Cemetery Dance," and "Weird Tales."

Good Luck

Yeah, I'm not looking for blood and gore (I get more than I want of that in TV and movies) - I'm looking for a spine-tingling, make me pull the covers over my head story. ;)

Thanks for your suggestions.
applepie
10-06-2007, 01:47 AM
If you are willing to give King another try Misery was one of my favorite. As for something else.... hmmmm... I'll have to think on it for a bit.
manolia
10-06-2007, 04:28 AM
I have read few of Dean R Koontz - but his writings do not appeal to me very much. And I have read some of Clive Barker books like Hell Raiser etc.

:thumbs_up Hellraiser :D :D :D :D
Ok, i won't be posting any other Pinhead images..

Try Clive Barker's "books of blood" ;)
As for King, "The stand" and "Needfull things" are among my favourites
Of course try some of Lovecraft's stories (like "The mountains of madness")..he is the master after all :D
PeterL
10-06-2007, 10:59 AM
Horror is different for different people. I find most horror writing humorous, but I like some anyway. Horror that is close to ordinary experience I prefer over things that are fantastic. One of my favorite is Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber.
tommyb90
10-06-2007, 11:13 AM
why dont ya try some of the classic originals....edgar allen poe (the telltale heart and the black cat) was a master....perfect for those nights in bed when its cold outside and your snuggled up....all alone....and the story unfolds....
dracula was great in parts too....although poe was definately ahead of stoker...i also know that this is a lit forum...but hitchcocks rear window was incredible to watch....truly unnerving
StayGolden
10-07-2007, 12:45 AM
Horror is different for different people. I find most horror writing humorous, but I like some anyway. Horror that is close to ordinary experience I prefer over things that are fantastic. One of my favorite is Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber.

I've found that pretty much anything can scare me if I read it at the right time. :p It's just a matter of finding an author whose writing style I can enjoy.

I'll definitely check out Conjure Wife. :)


why dont ya try some of the classic originals....edgar allen poe (the telltale heart and the black cat) was a master....perfect for those nights in bed when its cold outside and your snuggled up....all alone....and the story unfolds....
dracula was great in parts too....although poe was definately ahead of stoker...i also know that this is a lit forum...but hitchcocks rear window was incredible to watch....truly unnerving

I've read the Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe, and finished Dracula about a month ago. ;) I love Edgar Allen Poe, though, so I might re-read some of his works soon.

Thanks for the suggestions!
bibliophile190
10-07-2007, 01:45 AM
Check out the short story "The Feather Pillow" by Horacio Quiroga. It is an excellent piece of horror literature. I recomment reading it right before you go to bed.
xJessicax
10-07-2007, 06:18 PM
Perhaps they aren't entirely 'horror' but both have gothic/horror kind of themes running through - try Dracula or Frankenstein. I found both a great read :)
StayGolden
10-07-2007, 10:40 PM
Check out the short story "The Feather Pillow" by Horacio Quiroga. It is an excellent piece of horror literature. I recomment reading it right before you go to bed.

Thanks for the recommendation!


Perhaps they aren't entirely 'horror' but both have gothic/horror kind of themes running through - try Dracula or Frankenstein. I found both a great read

I've read Dracula, will certainly give Frankenstein a shot. :)
Old Crow
10-08-2007, 12:59 AM
I find that the entire genre of horror writing (as in what you find if you walk down the "Horror/Thriller" aisle at B&N) extremely restricted, formulaic, and stale. I was always more frightened by books like Knut Hamsun's "Hunger" or Gunter Grass' "The Tin Drum". These frighten me mainly because they elucidate the mental mechanics of their protagonist's insanity more clearly than most sane people would want to see. Poe is a given, as is Stoker, of course.

As long as we're discussing horror/thriller novels, I just can't pass up the opportunity to trash Thomas Harris, and his catalogue of talentless dreck. His stories happen to make very good films (although Hannibal as a convincing character would have sunk like a rock had he been played by anyone other than Hopkins, but I'm getting off subject), but the books are wretched. Avoid them at all costs.
higley
10-08-2007, 02:19 AM
Dean Koontz has a few spooky books. The Taking scared the living daylights out of me even when it was, well, daylight. :D

It's kind of funny what once passed for horror. Poe's stuff can always unnerve but The Turn of the Screw by Henry James was a snoozer. I recommend Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, if nobody else already has.
robson
10-09-2007, 05:48 PM
George Orwell's "1984" and William Golding's "Lord of the Flies"... I know they're not genuine horror novels but I've never read anything more terrifying, maybe because it's easier to believe that things described in these books could really happen...
jlb4tlb
10-10-2007, 09:20 PM
George Orwell's "1984" and William Golding's "Lord of the Flies"... I know they're not genuine horror novels but I've never read anything more terrifying, maybe because it's easier to believe that things described in these books could really happen...

The reasons that you state are the reasons that they are true Horror novels. I used the same criteria when I nominated "Jaws."

Many people feel that Horror fiction has to have some sort of supernatural element or deranged killer, but that is not the case. Don't get me wrong, I love a good ghost,, vampire, etc. story but some of the best have no need for it.
Juggalo669
10-10-2007, 10:06 PM
Hands down Thomas Harris's masterpiece Silence of the Lambs. Along with Michael Chrichton's Prey (although Jurrasic Park, The Lost World, Sphere, Congo and The Andromeda Strain could also qualify lol). For something similar to, but even spookier than The Andromeda Strain, check out The Cobra Event by Richard Preston. :thumbs_up I actually have a book here full of 50 short horror stories but unless you want me to I'm not going to take the time to write down every single author lol.