Horror writers.

[Infinitefox]

Who are some good horror writers? Horror is, at the moment, my favorite genre. I've read/plan to read:

Stephen King
Dean Koontz
Bentley Little
Robert McCammon
Poe
Clive Barker
John Saul


I know there's a lot more out there, so who do ya recommend that's not on the list? Thanks.

[aBIGsheep]

creepypasta.com

It's often a hit or miss.

[Silas Thorne]

Some I've enjoyed, reading their stories or novels.

Kim Newman
Brian Lumley
William Hope Hodgson
Robert Aickman
Ramsey Campbell
H.P. Lovecraft
James Herbert
Ray Bradbury
Tanith Lee (check out her dark fairy tales)
Richard Laymon
Frank Belknap Long
Richard Matheson
Anne Rice
Clark Ashton Smith
Mary Shelly 'Frankenstein'
Bram Stoker 'Dracula'....



Pick and choose what suits you :) That should keep you going for now though.

[Infinitefox]

creepypasta.com

It's often a hit or miss.

I've been to creepypasta, and yes I agree it is a hit or miss.

[Dark Muse]

Most of the names I would have said have already been listed. But there is one horror writer who I do not think gets enough credit. While everyone talks about King, and I do enjoy his stories, don't get me wrong.

In my opinion Peter Straub is one of the better modern horror writers and his name rarely comes up.

[Silas Thorne]

I realise I haven't read Robert McCammon or Bentley Little, what stories/novels would you suggest I read?

[Terror Firmer]

Some I've enjoyed, reading their stories or novels.

Kim Newman
Brian Lumley
William Hope Hodgson
Robert Aickman
Ramsey Campbell
H.P. Lovecraft
James Herbert
Ray Bradbury
Tanith Lee (check out her dark fairy tales)
Richard Laymon
Frank Belknap Long
Richard Matheson
Anne Rice
Clark Ashton Smith
Mary Shelly 'Frankenstein'
Bram Stoker 'Dracula'....

Nice list!

to continue...
Shirley Jackson
Charles Beaumont
William F Nolan
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Arthur Machen
Algernon Blackwood
Montague Rhodes James
Christopher Fahy
Joe R Lansdale
Michael McDowell
Robert W Chambers
Fritz Leiber
Richard Lortz
Mary E Wilkins-Freeman
Ronald Topor - "The Tenant"
Oliver Onions
Vernon Lee
Edward Levy

[Infinitefox]

I realise I haven't read Robert McCammon or Bentley Little, what stories/novels would you suggest I read?

I'm almost done with my first Bentley Little novel. It's called "The Store". So I haven't finished any of his.

As for McCammon, I love his stuff. I bought 17 of his books off Ebay for $45. "Swan Song" is about what happens when nuclear war causes an apocalypse, and it's almost 1000 pages. You might hear that it's a rip off of "The Stand" but it's not. I actually liked it better. The characters seem very real, and just everything about it is good, IMO.

His Matthew Corbett series, which starts with "Speaks the Nightbird"(In Ameirca it's in two parts, and in the UK it's one big book, I think) is also good. It's about a magistrate and his clerk who go to a town thought to be under attack by a witch, and this suspected witch is on trial. It takes place in the late 1600s. It's sequel, "Queen of Bedlam" is also very good, too.

Also, "Boy's Life" is pretty good too, which is about a kid telling of his younger years in a town where strange, magical things are common occurrence. It's not really horror(A few parts are) but it's still a great read.

Also there's a collection of short stories titled "Blue World" which is also really good. I think you should start with that to get a feel for how he writes and if you like it then try "Swan Song".

He's my favorite horror writer. I can't recommend him enough lol. BTW thanks for the suggestions.

[Terror Firmer]

I realise I haven't read Robert McCammon or Bentley Little, what stories/novels would you suggest I read?

The McCammon titles I have enjoyed quite abit were:

A Boy's Life
Swan Song
They Thirst
Blue World (short story collection)

I have read several Bentley Little novels and werent too impressed. Namely the ones about a Mexican/Indian vampire, a church being invaded by giant monster babies, a creepy mailman (that fits the description of a former co-worker of mine to a T), and a few others.

Oh remember another author:

Dan Simmons who wrote "Carrion Comfort", "Summer of Night", "A Winter Haunting", etc.

[Zee.]

I really don't like "old" horror. I mean, Frankenstein, yeah it was great and all but that didn't shake me at all.
Check out, House of Leaves.
Anything written by Christopher Pike ( completely trashy but so good - die softly, etc, titles speak for themselves... )
Dean Koontz is amazing.

[Dark Muse]

When I was in like middle school and early high school I read Pike

[Zee.]

oh i read his stuff when i was really young. I don't read much of it anymore, if at all, but it's like a chick flick for me..meaning it's absolute fluff.

[twilight661]

HP Lovecraft is probably the most influential horror writer, despite Shelley and Stroker producing the most famous books, rather than rejigging the genre, Lovecraft expanded the genre into new territory which the genre is still feeling now.

[Akeldama]

Richard Matheson's "I Am Legend" is an excellent novel. The version I own also contains a handful of his short stories, which are also very good. I haven't had an opportunity to read any of his other work (must...get...through...pile of unfinished books...).

The movie adaptation certainly doesn't do the book justice; exchanging the isolation, hopelessness, and psychosis of the novel for cheap jump-out-and-shout-boo scares. The book is certainly much more unsettling than the movie, with a far superior ending.

[Zee.]

If you really want to read a terrifying novel, as i have said a million times.


read

house

of

leaves.

or google it at the very least.

[curlyqlink]

H.P.Lovecraft is the granddaddy of horror. I find his stuff truly creepy, plus it's imaginative, original, and literate.

[Silas Thorne]

Plus he uses words in a way you won't find anywhere else. :)