Best HORROR Book ever ? and Best HORROR Author ever ?
05-30-03, 02:25 AM
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It took me a scant few hours to get through Richard Matheson's "I Am Legend", and apart from a little-less-than-satisfying ending, it was well worth my time.
Pick it up, if only to see how a lot of modern authors have ripped him off
Pick it up, if only to see how a lot of modern authors have ripped him off
05-31-03, 04:06 PM
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A lot of people as usual seem to be confusing the words "best" & "favorite".
There is now way we can argue "best" horror author ever. But probably my favorite, who haven't seen anyone mention yet is . . .
Brian Lumley & his Necrescope series. It's really one the first 3-4 books that I really love & are some of the single BEST horror books I've ever read. After that it kind of falls into the pointless sequals category, but the first 3 books especially are MUST READS for any horror fan.
There is now way we can argue "best" horror author ever. But probably my favorite, who haven't seen anyone mention yet is . . .
Brian Lumley & his Necrescope series. It's really one the first 3-4 books that I really love & are some of the single BEST horror books I've ever read. After that it kind of falls into the pointless sequals category, but the first 3 books especially are MUST READS for any horror fan.
06-02-03, 06:51 PM
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Wow, lots of books and authors in this thread that I've never heard of, I'm definitely going to check some of them out. It's been quite a while since I read a good horror novel.
One of my favorites is Mirror by Graham Masterton. He's written several good ones, but this is the creepiest.
Of course, I'll repeat previous posts and vote for It and Night Shift too.
Regarding those Bentley Little books, are they part of a series or stand-alone novels? I hate when I start a book and realize that it's a Part 2.
Honk!
One of my favorites is Mirror by Graham Masterton. He's written several good ones, but this is the creepiest.
Of course, I'll repeat previous posts and vote for It and Night Shift too.
Regarding those Bentley Little books, are they part of a series or stand-alone novels? I hate when I start a book and realize that it's a Part 2.
Honk!
Last edited by Charlie Goose; 06-02-03 at 06:53 PM.
08-04-03, 04:06 AM
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Favourite book? How can you choose between King's best, impossible.
Having said that my favourite Horror author, although not strictly in the genre is Laurell K Hamilton.
I must also give a big shout for M.R.James, there's no one like him for classic ghost/horror. If I want a quick dose of fright I read one of his short tales.
Having said that my favourite Horror author, although not strictly in the genre is Laurell K Hamilton.
I must also give a big shout for M.R.James, there's no one like him for classic ghost/horror. If I want a quick dose of fright I read one of his short tales.
08-05-03, 01:07 PM
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Originally posted by Alien Redrum
I loved It by Stephen King.
That book is one of the few that scared the hell out of me. Part of that I guess is my hatred/fear of clowns.
A buddy of mine sent me a lifefx (www.lifefx.com) email. Basically it's a talking email service. Anyway, he had picked a clown and the clown did the whole happy birthday schpiel. After a few seconds, the clown said, "Come down here with us Steve, we all float down here..." Then did a convulsing shake of his head. It was so freaky I got goose bumps.
You would probably have to download the program to see what I'm talking about.
-Steve
I loved It by Stephen King.
That book is one of the few that scared the hell out of me. Part of that I guess is my hatred/fear of clowns.
A buddy of mine sent me a lifefx (www.lifefx.com) email. Basically it's a talking email service. Anyway, he had picked a clown and the clown did the whole happy birthday schpiel. After a few seconds, the clown said, "Come down here with us Steve, we all float down here..." Then did a convulsing shake of his head. It was so freaky I got goose bumps.
You would probably have to download the program to see what I'm talking about.
-Steve
That being said, I do believe that Stephen King is the best at writing horror. I also think HP Lovecraft was pretty damn good, too.
08-06-03, 01:51 PM
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I think King's greatest gift is the way he writes people. He is one of the few authors where you really care about the character. There are many authors who can nail mood, but their characters are lacking.
King not only can nail the mood, but he can write a damn good character.
King not only can nail the mood, but he can write a damn good character.
08-15-03, 05:14 PM
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It's not a novel, but Clive Barker would be my choice for Book's of Blood (his novels, which I also like a lot, aren't exactly horror, I don't think, even though they have elements of it).
I also like Stephen King a lot, especially early stuff. The Shining has totally spooked me every time I've read it. I like Peter Straub, who also seems to get classified as horror, but more for the fantasy elements.
I've tried and tried, but never been able to get into Lovecraft.
I also like Stephen King a lot, especially early stuff. The Shining has totally spooked me every time I've read it. I like Peter Straub, who also seems to get classified as horror, but more for the fantasy elements.
I've tried and tried, but never been able to get into Lovecraft.
08-15-03, 05:53 PM
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S. King has scared me growing up. I also like Robert McCammon. Was deeply engrossed in Swan Song (very similiar to The Stand) - i recall reading a vampire story by Robert McCammon - cant recall if it was They Thirst or if it was from an earlier collection of short stories - but recall a slight chill the next several days. Glad to hear he has a new novel out. Next on my summer reading list.
08-18-03, 09:47 AM
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Two books I think are best-Stephen King's Pet Sematary and Peter Straub's Ghost Story. I'm currently reading a collection of short stories by M.R. James, and I think he's up there with the best authors.
11-22-03, 08:57 AM
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Never caught this thread the first time around, but I can't believe it took a page and a half before Edgar Allen Poe was mentioned.
Stephen King. the Stand, and a handful of stories out of skeleton crew.
Stephen King. the Stand, and a handful of stories out of skeleton crew.
11-24-03, 05:10 PM
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Robert McCammon's Swan Song is the best pulp horror novel I've ever read. I liked one of his earlier books, They Thirst but the amount of improvement he makes between the former and latter works is simply staggering. If you didn't know it was the same writer I think it would be hard to connect up the two books in terms of style and complexity. Stephen King is my favorite overall writer and I would put his early work up against just about anyone contemporary. Some of his later work is also superb but he's recently developed a tendency to dish out some bloated prose, ala The Tommyknockers.
11-24-03, 06:26 PM
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Originally posted by JesseCuster
Stephen King is my favorite overall writer and I would put his early work up against just about anyone contemporary. [/B]
Stephen King is my favorite overall writer and I would put his early work up against just about anyone contemporary. [/B]
While The Stand and It are my overall favorite books of all time, Laymon's Beast House series gives King's work a run for it's money.
11-28-03, 09:56 PM
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i'm suprised it took so long to get Poe in here too. always classic, and most certainly a leader in the genre.
as far as the book that scared me the most when i initially read it, that would have to be Pet Sematary by King. The Skeleton Crew does indeed have some good, chilling short stories in it. (i always found The Mist very creepy!)
Koontz often gets credit in the horror genre, but i've never found any of his book to be very frightening. some are fascinating, some just ...bleh, but not scary.
always classic, and most certainly a leader in the genre.as far as the book that scared me the most when i initially read it, that would have to be Pet Sematary by King. The Skeleton Crew does indeed have some good, chilling short stories in it. (i always found The Mist very creepy!)
Koontz often gets credit in the horror genre, but i've never found any of his book to be very frightening. some are fascinating, some just ...bleh, but not scary.
06-25-08, 07:57 AM
#71
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Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin is a great book. The film adaptation is essentially the book word-for-word, but there's more to the novel.
Psycho by Robert Bloch - even though you've seen the film, do yourself a favor and spend a few hours with "Mary" Crane and Norman Bates in a more intimate way. You get to also meet Norman's mother in more depth.
In regards to what someone said a few years ago, about Stephen King not having good endings to his novels - I wholeheartedly disagree and must defend his endings. His endings usually leave me with chills and goosebumps, and have me staring at the last paragraph longer than what is considered normal - essentially because I'm stunned. Especially the ending for the novel "It", where he writes about Bill Denbrough trying to remember his childhood, and the friends with whom he shared it.
Psycho by Robert Bloch - even though you've seen the film, do yourself a favor and spend a few hours with "Mary" Crane and Norman Bates in a more intimate way. You get to also meet Norman's mother in more depth.
In regards to what someone said a few years ago, about Stephen King not having good endings to his novels - I wholeheartedly disagree and must defend his endings. His endings usually leave me with chills and goosebumps, and have me staring at the last paragraph longer than what is considered normal - essentially because I'm stunned. Especially the ending for the novel "It", where he writes about Bill Denbrough trying to remember his childhood, and the friends with whom he shared it.
07-06-08, 08:07 AM
#72
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Just read my first Koontz book, Phantoms. Bleh.
A few friends tell me to give him another try, and that the Odd Thomas series is good. I'll give it a go.
But I think I'll hunt down The Keep next.
A few friends tell me to give him another try, and that the Odd Thomas series is good. I'll give it a go.
But I think I'll hunt down The Keep next.
07-08-08, 10:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Trevor
Just read my first Koontz book, Phantoms.
I really like Richard Laymon - The Stake was a very good story.
Stephen King at his best is great - I would vote for The Dead Zone as my favorite.
Clive Barker's The Damnation Game is also worth a read.
07-08-08, 10:40 AM
#74
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One of the scariest, most suspenseful books I've ever read is Thomas Harris's Silence of the Lambs. I think it could easily be categorized as "horror," along with the precursor Red Dragon.
Unfortunately, ever since Hannibal, Harris as a writer has become a caricature of what he was. His continuing, greedy obsession with Hannibal Lecter is a huge literary tragedy.
Unfortunately, ever since Hannibal, Harris as a writer has become a caricature of what he was. His continuing, greedy obsession with Hannibal Lecter is a huge literary tragedy.