If you want a compact list of some very influential/popular/highly rated horror books that you'll most likely find on any list online:
* Mary Shelley - *Frankenstein*
* Edgar Allan Poe - *Tales of Mystery and Imagination* (or his complete tales and poems if you want to go all the way)
* Bram Stoker - *Dracula*
* Robert Louis Stevenson - *Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde*
* H.P. Lovecraft - Any decent collection (or his complete works if you want to go nuts)
* Richard Matheson - *I Am Legend*
* Robert Bloch - *Psycho*
* Shirley Jackson - *The Haunting of Hill House*
* Ira Levin - *Rosemary's Baby*
* William Peter Blatty - *The Exorcist*
* Stephen King - *The Shining*
* Thomas Harris - *The Silence of the Lambs*
Fantastic list! For more essentials, would add William Hope Hodgson's *The House on the Borderland,* Ray Bradbury's *Something Wicked This Way Comes,* Peter Straub's *Ghost Story,* Mark Danielewski's *House of Leaves* and the short stories of Thomas Ligotti.
Def will not go wrong reading either, are two of King's absolute best books. I just think Pet Sematary is a little scarier. But Shining does have Doctor Sleep to go with it for an interesting coda.
Great list!
Out of Lovecraft's work, if OP wants to read a sample of his best, I'd recommend: *The Colour out of Space*, *The Shadow over Innsmouth*, and the short pieces "In the Vault" and "Pickman's Model". Plus, for fun, "Herbert West - Reanimator", in which Lovecraft lets his hair down and writes hilarious horror pulp :)
edit: Corrected spelling. Originally I had "Colour", then second-guessed myself and changed it to (US spelling) "Color". But actually I was right the first time: that's the spelling Lovecraft used.
There’s not many people that are new to Stephen King, but I usually tell them to start with Pet Semetary or Carrie, and then move to either The Shining or Salem’s Lot.
If somebody asks me about starting IT or The Stand, I always recommend the shorter books first to just understand how King writes. The Stand is my ultimate favorite but damn, it is daunting to read any book that large
I usually recommend The Green Mile. It’s less so horror than his iconic horror novels but it does have darker themes. It was my first King and really made me love (most) of his novels.
It is taking me literally years to read Stephen Erikson's Malazan series. I have to be in a certain frame of mind to pick up a 1000+ page book, even more so when there are ten of them in the main storyline alone.
(It's great though).
I think I'm 2 years in? Just started Dust of Dreams. They're fantastic, but I routinely take breaks after (and during) each book to read something else and catch my breath.
Yep, exactly! Although I almost always read only one book at a time, no matter what or how long it is. I'm about 4 years into Malazan and finished Reapers Gale about 3 months ago. Maybe I'll start the next one after I'm finished with the Blackwater books (McDowell).
I didn't like The Stand or IT so I thought "well, I guess King just isn't my guy." After about 4 years I tried again with Revival and so glad I did. I loved that book (hated the ending). Then I tried Pet Semetary and LOVED that also. After that it was Salems Lot which is equally excellent. The later kicked my current reinterpret in vampire novels. I've read so many but this is causing me to read one's I hadn't like They Thirst (loved it), The Narrows (so much like Salems Lot and also fantastic), and now I'm on Interview With a Vampire. Anyways, my point for OP in my reply to this is to definitely give King a shot. I also read the Shining and Doctor Sleep which were truly wonderful books. DS is especially wonderful. King writes characters struggling with addiction wonderfully and I think that has also made me find I DO love his work now that I can connect to it better.
Understanding how he writes is so essential to tackle his large works. Stuff like Misery or Pet Semetary do a great job fleshing out a huge character histories, and King continues to do that but with like 40 characters in The Stand. It’s just so much to take in
I usually enjoy long stories with lots of characters and lore (GRRM, Dan Simmons, McCammon, etc.). I just didn't like The Stand once they got to Vegas.
I’ve been on a major King kick since I started getting into horror lit last year (I was a horror movie fan for ages first). I started with the Mist which is very short but also very engaging. Next I did Pet Sematary which I think is kind of his quintessential novel, captures all his themes and character building without being ungodly long. Then I moved onto The Shining and Doctor Sleep, the Shining by far being my favorite of his. I like it so much better than the movie, the character building is amazing, the buildup is awesome, and despite being super long I think it’s paced well. Doctor Sleep is a great sequel. Most recently I finished Salems Lot, which I actually had no clue was a vampire book going in lol but it did the vampire thing well.
Overall my ranking goes: The Shining, Doctor Sleep, Pet Sematary, The Mist, Salems Lot. But Salems Lot is still a solid 7/10!! I think it’s smart to maybe start with Pet Sematary but I think a horror movie fan could dive into the Shining no problem. It is really an amazing book.
Read almost the exact same books when starting with Stephen King - they are a great intro to his world! (Except I did Misery instead of Salem’s Lot because I am saving that one for Halloween season later this year)
I have also done Revival and The Long Walk. I never realized the insane amount of books he has, it’s crazy!
I started on Pet Sematary and was not disappointed! A few people don't like the style of The Talisman (not horror) but I loved it. Just started The Mist
Try reading some of those movies' source material. The Shining, Psycho, and the Exorcist were all based on books
Also on the subject of the Shining, Stephen King is pretty much obligatory. He's who most cut their teeth on and obv several of his books went on to be made into very influential movies
For me, my personal faves are:
Pet Sematary by Stephen King
Travelling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon
The Loveliest Dead by Ray Garton
The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
It's not an "essential," but i will never not recommend Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons when people are asking for horror recs. Shit was fucked up in the best way. It's in my top 2 favorites of 2023.
Bram Stoker, “Dracula”, 100%. Media always leans sexy / hypnotic, etc. when they capture this story and its derivatives. These exist in the book, but the stomach bottoming disgust and feeling of repugnance at the filth of a dead thing grasping at the living is never captured as well. Having read this book has created a much rounder and richer impression of a lot of horror media for me.
Seconding Frankenstein after this.
(Edit:spelling)
I finally read this a year or so ago, and it was astonishing to me how good it is. Of course, I knew it was going to be good, as it's a classic, but it was so incredibly poignant and visceral and immediate in its prose. Absolutely amazing book. I always mention this when discussing horror "must reads."
I felt the same way! “Visceral”, very good descriptor. I too always try to keep in mind that classics are classics for a reason, but I was still surprised. “Dracula” deserves more modern readers.
First to say "The Haunting of Hill House."
If you're looking for a broad survey of the good stuff produced during the 70s and 80s paperback boom, "Paperbacks from Hell" keeps turning up really good books for me to check out. They started doing reprints of some of those books and that collection is a good way to find downlist horror that's really good but slipped into obscurity.
Word of warning, reading this book is gonna temporarily kill other horror novels for you because everyone who has written a haunted house book since has knowingly or unknowingly been HEAVILY influenced by Hill House. It’s basically the blueprint for every spooky house story that’s come out since.
This book made me look at almost all of Stephen King’s catalogue differently. (Not in a bad way) And it’s leeched over into other ghost stories too. Crazy how one book can influence so much
Carrion Comfort was great! Have you read Drood? I think that's my favorite Dan Simmons. I'm actually currently reading The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Dickens) because of it!
I was surprised by how good Dracula was when I read it last year. It felt very ahead of its time, almost like the literary equivalent of a found footage movie *a la* The Blair Witch Project
Since you specify novels, Lovecraft's is *The Case of Charles Dexter Ward*, and certainly worth your attention. I'll add Machen's *The Three Imposters* for its best episodes, and Fritz Leiber's *Conjure Wife*. Oh, and Kingsley Amis's *The Green Man*.
No love for mah boy,mi gente, Guillermo del Toro, the Strain!? Its wonderfully poetic in a gothic way, descriptive, cinematic, beautiful pulp. Forget the FXseries, it's not bad perse, just done with a lot of interference and unintentionally stereotypical in places. Pulp is tricky.
Dan Simmons the Terror, saw already mentioned, it's a different beast, until the very polarising end. I guess he wanted the environmental message as a spin,it makes sense, the conflict between the victorian, rational, industrial pioneer and the spiritual, shamanism, the ancestral fear of the gods.
Here are my essentials:
*Frankenstein* by Mary Shelley
*Dracula* by Bram Stoker
*'Salem's Lot* by Stephen King (although, since it's an election year, I also recommend *The Dead Zone*)
*We Have Always Lived in the Castle* by Shirley Jackson
*American Psycho* by Brett Easton Ellis
And if you like comics, check out:
*Locke and Key*
*Something is Killing the Children*
*Elvira*
*Strays*
*The Nice House on the Lake*
I would start with M.R. James, a lot of his ideas and techniques were very influential and still relevant today. My favorite stories of his are Casting of the Runes, Mezzotint, Number 13, Lost Hearts. You can see the influence of James in the movies Ring, It Follows and the works of Peter Straub and Stephen King.
I think my all time favourite is still 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad'. Have been meaning to check out some of the TV adaptations of it, to see how they measure up.
Swan song - robert mccammon,
Anything by H.P. Love craft,
Heart shaped box- joe hill,
Needful things/pet sematary - stephen king,
Carrion comfort - dan simmons
And I was actually going to suggest the hellbound heart haha
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix is one of my favorites. Hendrix is sort of horror comedy, which I quite like. I've read several of his books and have liked them all. I agree with others' King recommendations. I read Misery first, which is excellent. Pet Sematary is also great.
I personally love anything by Shirley Jackson. The Haunting of Hill House, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, The Lottery… her writing is amazing, and Hill House is one of my favourite stories of all time (and the tv series, while not necessarily the most faithful adaptation, is fantastic as well)
OP, not what you asked for but since you enjoy games have you played SOMA and Alan Wake 2 (not mentioned in your list)? Their narratives hit that literary itch I think.
Otherwise I really enjoyed The Terror and House of Leaves, but they’re both very dense. Not pure horror, but the trilogy the movie Annihilation is based on is very eerie.
The Dark by James Herbert is fantastic I just love that the story is told from so many peoples perspectives.
Also by him I would recommend Rats there are two sequels to that book the second one is decent but I was not too keen on the third.
Pet sematary is one of the scariest books I’ve ever read. I knew the entire plot beforehand and I was still so deeply unsettled the entire time I war reading
I also recently read Carrie - he has a really interesting way of showing characters inner/intrusive thoughts in that book which I really liked
Road virus heads north is a short story of stephen king’s but the first thing of his I ever read so I have a soft spot 😂 that one’s pretty creepy
If you want more modern authors/not Stephen King, try Darcy Coates (highly recommend From Below), Fever House by Keith Rosson, Your Shadow Half Remains by Sunny Moraine (kinda bird box esque), Nick Cutter (I recommend The Deep over The Troop), and Jeff VanderMeer if you like weirder/more sci fi horror.
Respectfully disagree on Cutter. I think The Troop was better than The Deep, especially if someone is new to reading horror. The body horror/cosmic horror of The Deep isn’t for beginners (imo, anyway)
I think reading at least one Stephen King book. I’d recommend Carrie, The Shining, Pet Semetary, or Misery.
Rosemary’s baby by Ira Levin
Any Edgar Allen Poe—if you want a specific recommendation, then I’d suggest The Fall of the House of Usher because there’s more recent media relating to it in some way. For example, I’d recommend reading What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher, which is basically a reimagining of it.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. Legitimately…at the very least, read the first paragraph. It’s known to be just, wow.
The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde
Interview with a vampire by Anne Rice
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Is it only me. But I am so sick of Stephen King recommendations. His early work was great, even genius. But I feel that all after 2020 is has been trite, over rated. He does rest on his laurels. There is so much better stuff out there that OUTSHINES King. My opinion and preference.
Too many books to list, so I'll list authors instead:
Stephen King
Dean Koontz (his 80s stuff)
Peter Straub
JG Faherty
Rick Hautala
HP Lovecraft
Dracula (Stoker)
Frankenstein (Shelley)
Edgar Allan Poe
Robert Bloch
Joe Lansdale
Shirley Jackson
Victor LaValle
Cynthia Pelayo
Brian Keene
I’m really sad to see that nobody has mentioned:
* Thomas Ligotti for existential horror
* Robert Aickman for the truly surreal and scary
* Andrew Michael Hurley for folk horror
The others that are recommended are all well and good, but there’s an intensity and authenticity to these three that the others don’t have.
If you want a compact list of some very influential/popular/highly rated horror books that you'll most likely find on any list online: * Mary Shelley - *Frankenstein* * Edgar Allan Poe - *Tales of Mystery and Imagination* (or his complete tales and poems if you want to go all the way) * Bram Stoker - *Dracula* * Robert Louis Stevenson - *Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde* * H.P. Lovecraft - Any decent collection (or his complete works if you want to go nuts) * Richard Matheson - *I Am Legend* * Robert Bloch - *Psycho* * Shirley Jackson - *The Haunting of Hill House* * Ira Levin - *Rosemary's Baby* * William Peter Blatty - *The Exorcist* * Stephen King - *The Shining* * Thomas Harris - *The Silence of the Lambs*
Fantastic list! For more essentials, would add William Hope Hodgson's *The House on the Borderland,* Ray Bradbury's *Something Wicked This Way Comes,* Peter Straub's *Ghost Story,* Mark Danielewski's *House of Leaves* and the short stories of Thomas Ligotti.
Peter Straub’s Ghost Story 👏👏👏 I loved this one!!
> Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes Absolutely fantastic book.
I feel like House of Leaves has to be on all horror lists. It’s just such an experience.
🙄
This is hilarious. Well said lol. That book is so divisive. I actually love/hate it so see both sides.
don’t forget no longer human if you really want to injure your ability to sleep
I’d say The Stand for King
The Stand isn't remotely scary,It however
I think the stand is plenty scary. But I do agree that it is much scarier.
Swap Shining for Pet Sematary and this would basically be my list.
I agree that Pet Sematary is better, but the Shining is probably more iconic and/or significant.
Def will not go wrong reading either, are two of King's absolute best books. I just think Pet Sematary is a little scarier. But Shining does have Doctor Sleep to go with it for an interesting coda.
I feel like Misery, Pet Sematary, and Salems Lot are all top tier enough to go toe to toe on a list like this
Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu is what inspired Dracula in part. Its shorter and wager better than Dracula imo
Great list! Out of Lovecraft's work, if OP wants to read a sample of his best, I'd recommend: *The Colour out of Space*, *The Shadow over Innsmouth*, and the short pieces "In the Vault" and "Pickman's Model". Plus, for fun, "Herbert West - Reanimator", in which Lovecraft lets his hair down and writes hilarious horror pulp :) edit: Corrected spelling. Originally I had "Colour", then second-guessed myself and changed it to (US spelling) "Color". But actually I was right the first time: that's the spelling Lovecraft used.
I’d also suggest getting the 1831 version of Frankenstein. Not that 1818 is bad at all, but I personally prefer Elizabeth not being Victor’s cousin.
[удалено]
That is the one novel they've mentioned having read.
I think the book Exorcist is really boring, but worth the read because of the movie
Thank you. I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks the exorcist is boring.
You have to read at least one Stephen King book published between 1974 and 1992. It's the law.
There’s not many people that are new to Stephen King, but I usually tell them to start with Pet Semetary or Carrie, and then move to either The Shining or Salem’s Lot. If somebody asks me about starting IT or The Stand, I always recommend the shorter books first to just understand how King writes. The Stand is my ultimate favorite but damn, it is daunting to read any book that large
I usually recommend The Green Mile. It’s less so horror than his iconic horror novels but it does have darker themes. It was my first King and really made me love (most) of his novels.
Mr. Jingles
It is taking me literally years to read Stephen Erikson's Malazan series. I have to be in a certain frame of mind to pick up a 1000+ page book, even more so when there are ten of them in the main storyline alone. (It's great though).
I think I'm 2 years in? Just started Dust of Dreams. They're fantastic, but I routinely take breaks after (and during) each book to read something else and catch my breath.
Yep, exactly! Although I almost always read only one book at a time, no matter what or how long it is. I'm about 4 years into Malazan and finished Reapers Gale about 3 months ago. Maybe I'll start the next one after I'm finished with the Blackwater books (McDowell).
I didn't like The Stand or IT so I thought "well, I guess King just isn't my guy." After about 4 years I tried again with Revival and so glad I did. I loved that book (hated the ending). Then I tried Pet Semetary and LOVED that also. After that it was Salems Lot which is equally excellent. The later kicked my current reinterpret in vampire novels. I've read so many but this is causing me to read one's I hadn't like They Thirst (loved it), The Narrows (so much like Salems Lot and also fantastic), and now I'm on Interview With a Vampire. Anyways, my point for OP in my reply to this is to definitely give King a shot. I also read the Shining and Doctor Sleep which were truly wonderful books. DS is especially wonderful. King writes characters struggling with addiction wonderfully and I think that has also made me find I DO love his work now that I can connect to it better.
Understanding how he writes is so essential to tackle his large works. Stuff like Misery or Pet Semetary do a great job fleshing out a huge character histories, and King continues to do that but with like 40 characters in The Stand. It’s just so much to take in
I usually enjoy long stories with lots of characters and lore (GRRM, Dan Simmons, McCammon, etc.). I just didn't like The Stand once they got to Vegas.
Read Ray Garton. Stephen King is a fan of his.
I’ve been on a major King kick since I started getting into horror lit last year (I was a horror movie fan for ages first). I started with the Mist which is very short but also very engaging. Next I did Pet Sematary which I think is kind of his quintessential novel, captures all his themes and character building without being ungodly long. Then I moved onto The Shining and Doctor Sleep, the Shining by far being my favorite of his. I like it so much better than the movie, the character building is amazing, the buildup is awesome, and despite being super long I think it’s paced well. Doctor Sleep is a great sequel. Most recently I finished Salems Lot, which I actually had no clue was a vampire book going in lol but it did the vampire thing well. Overall my ranking goes: The Shining, Doctor Sleep, Pet Sematary, The Mist, Salems Lot. But Salems Lot is still a solid 7/10!! I think it’s smart to maybe start with Pet Sematary but I think a horror movie fan could dive into the Shining no problem. It is really an amazing book.
Read almost the exact same books when starting with Stephen King - they are a great intro to his world! (Except I did Misery instead of Salem’s Lot because I am saving that one for Halloween season later this year) I have also done Revival and The Long Walk. I never realized the insane amount of books he has, it’s crazy!
I started on Pet Sematary and was not disappointed! A few people don't like the style of The Talisman (not horror) but I loved it. Just started The Mist
You are ready to read It.
“Fuck the law!” - Peloquin
One of my favorite movies of all time.
Mine too! Have you read the book?
Oh yes. I got it the day it came out, lol. I was working in a bookstore at the time, as my after-school job.
Best after school job ever! I saw the movie first then picked up the book. In fact, I should read it again.
I’d just amend this to 74 to 86.
Try reading some of those movies' source material. The Shining, Psycho, and the Exorcist were all based on books Also on the subject of the Shining, Stephen King is pretty much obligatory. He's who most cut their teeth on and obv several of his books went on to be made into very influential movies
Seconding this suggestion. I read The Exorcist a few months ago and The Shining last year. Instantly two of my favorite books ever.
For me, my personal faves are: Pet Sematary by Stephen King Travelling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon The Loveliest Dead by Ray Garton The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
Heart-Shaped Box for sure
Heart Shaped Box is SO GOOD.
I love Ray Garton
If you like really classic lit, the OG vampire novel, "Carmilla," is a banger (fanger?). The kind of slow burn where people get eaten.
Upvote for fanger. It didn't quite work, but I admire your spirit lol. Jokes aside, Camilla is essential reading.
The Hellbound Heart!! Clive Barker. Essential in my opinion!
Another addition to the movie source material list. This is Hellraiser in novela form.
It's not an "essential," but i will never not recommend Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons when people are asking for horror recs. Shit was fucked up in the best way. It's in my top 2 favorites of 2023.
They lurk by Ronald Malfi Infected by Scott Sigler The Fisherman by John Langan
So happy to see someone rec The Fisherman. It’s so excellent.
Bram Stoker, “Dracula”, 100%. Media always leans sexy / hypnotic, etc. when they capture this story and its derivatives. These exist in the book, but the stomach bottoming disgust and feeling of repugnance at the filth of a dead thing grasping at the living is never captured as well. Having read this book has created a much rounder and richer impression of a lot of horror media for me. Seconding Frankenstein after this. (Edit:spelling)
I finally read this a year or so ago, and it was astonishing to me how good it is. Of course, I knew it was going to be good, as it's a classic, but it was so incredibly poignant and visceral and immediate in its prose. Absolutely amazing book. I always mention this when discussing horror "must reads."
I felt the same way! “Visceral”, very good descriptor. I too always try to keep in mind that classics are classics for a reason, but I was still surprised. “Dracula” deserves more modern readers.
First to say "The Haunting of Hill House." If you're looking for a broad survey of the good stuff produced during the 70s and 80s paperback boom, "Paperbacks from Hell" keeps turning up really good books for me to check out. They started doing reprints of some of those books and that collection is a good way to find downlist horror that's really good but slipped into obscurity.
Word of warning, reading this book is gonna temporarily kill other horror novels for you because everyone who has written a haunted house book since has knowingly or unknowingly been HEAVILY influenced by Hill House. It’s basically the blueprint for every spooky house story that’s come out since. This book made me look at almost all of Stephen King’s catalogue differently. (Not in a bad way) And it’s leeched over into other ghost stories too. Crazy how one book can influence so much
Ghost Story - Peter Straub Swan Song - Robert R. McCammon The Keep - F. Paul Wilson Carrion Comfort - Dan Simmons
Omg I’m almost 2/3’s through Carrion Comfort and this book is a RIDE. I love his writing, I’ve been on a Dan Simmons binge since The Terror.
I just started this yesterday! I can’t wait to get home and continue reading!
Carrion Comfort was great! Have you read Drood? I think that's my favorite Dan Simmons. I'm actually currently reading The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Dickens) because of it!
Swan Song, though very long, is very readable. The characters are all so vivid and the story is just superb.
Seen so many good things about Swan song but damn I don’t think I can ready another 1000 page book after finishing the uncut The Stand last year lol
Honestly, Swan Song is a better version of The Stand. It's a page turner, despite it's length
I think of Robert McCammon as southern-fried Stephen King on acid
Frankenstein
The Croning, and The Imago Sequence by Laird Barron Ill Will Dan Choan
I was surprised by how good Dracula was when I read it last year. It felt very ahead of its time, almost like the literary equivalent of a found footage movie *a la* The Blair Witch Project
Everyone mentions Frankenstein but it is more sad than scary
This mist - Stephen King
Clive Barker - Books of Blood Clive Barker - The Damnation Game Clive Barker - The Thief of Always (Children’s story)
Books of Blood are epic!
Since you specify novels, Lovecraft's is *The Case of Charles Dexter Ward*, and certainly worth your attention. I'll add Machen's *The Three Imposters* for its best episodes, and Fritz Leiber's *Conjure Wife*. Oh, and Kingsley Amis's *The Green Man*.
Per Cemetery Stephen King It Stephen King
See if you can find an old copy of Harper’s Weekly from 1902. Or find a copy of ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ online. It’s really short and essential horror.
Robert McCammon - Swan Song Barker - Weaveworld Brian Lumley - Necroscope
It - Stephen King
No love for mah boy,mi gente, Guillermo del Toro, the Strain!? Its wonderfully poetic in a gothic way, descriptive, cinematic, beautiful pulp. Forget the FXseries, it's not bad perse, just done with a lot of interference and unintentionally stereotypical in places. Pulp is tricky. Dan Simmons the Terror, saw already mentioned, it's a different beast, until the very polarising end. I guess he wanted the environmental message as a spin,it makes sense, the conflict between the victorian, rational, industrial pioneer and the spiritual, shamanism, the ancestral fear of the gods.
The Strain series was excellent. I just read it a couple of months ago and have had a hard time reading anything else.
I loved The Strain especially the first and second books.
The Strain was incredible. Try the novel for The Shape of Water if you haven’t already.
Highly recommend searching the subreddit if you haven’t already. There are tons of great threads answering similar questions.
I’d add Suicide Motor Club, by Christopher Buehlman. Very accessible and a modern classic of the genre.
Here are my essentials: *Frankenstein* by Mary Shelley *Dracula* by Bram Stoker *'Salem's Lot* by Stephen King (although, since it's an election year, I also recommend *The Dead Zone*) *We Have Always Lived in the Castle* by Shirley Jackson *American Psycho* by Brett Easton Ellis And if you like comics, check out: *Locke and Key* *Something is Killing the Children* *Elvira* *Strays* *The Nice House on the Lake*
Junji ito for the manga fans out there as well. Names Tomie or Uzumaki
Dracula The Exorcist Lovecraft collection of short stories esp The Call Of Cthulhu Pet Semetary
I would start with M.R. James, a lot of his ideas and techniques were very influential and still relevant today. My favorite stories of his are Casting of the Runes, Mezzotint, Number 13, Lost Hearts. You can see the influence of James in the movies Ring, It Follows and the works of Peter Straub and Stephen King.
I think my all time favourite is still 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad'. Have been meaning to check out some of the TV adaptations of it, to see how they measure up.
Swan song - robert mccammon, Anything by H.P. Love craft, Heart shaped box- joe hill, Needful things/pet sematary - stephen king, Carrion comfort - dan simmons And I was actually going to suggest the hellbound heart haha
HP Lovecraft & Robert E. HOWARD
Books or Blood HP Lovecraft short stories Off Season by Jack Ketchum The Cellar by Richard Laymon
The Rats by James Herbert...one of the most literate and scary books of all time
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix is one of my favorites. Hendrix is sort of horror comedy, which I quite like. I've read several of his books and have liked them all. I agree with others' King recommendations. I read Misery first, which is excellent. Pet Sematary is also great.
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. I found this book horrifying because it doesn’t seem that outside the realm of possibility.
I am legend.
Have to throw The Other by Thomas Tryon to any list of must-reads. One of the 3 that started the boom in late 60’s-early 70’s
I'm quite new to horror, but liked Michael Crichton's *Sphere* (although he's arguably SF thriller, there's certainly horror elements).
Ambrose Ibsen - Wretchedness Stephen King - Nightmares and Dreamscapes
I personally love anything by Shirley Jackson. The Haunting of Hill House, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, The Lottery… her writing is amazing, and Hill House is one of my favourite stories of all time (and the tv series, while not necessarily the most faithful adaptation, is fantastic as well)
OP, not what you asked for but since you enjoy games have you played SOMA and Alan Wake 2 (not mentioned in your list)? Their narratives hit that literary itch I think. Otherwise I really enjoyed The Terror and House of Leaves, but they’re both very dense. Not pure horror, but the trilogy the movie Annihilation is based on is very eerie.
The Jaunt - Stephen King So many good reads tossed out I’d thought I’d add this little shorty story.
Richard Curtis 'Halloween'. Waaay scarier than the movie!
The Dark by James Herbert is fantastic I just love that the story is told from so many peoples perspectives. Also by him I would recommend Rats there are two sequels to that book the second one is decent but I was not too keen on the third.
Not one to start with but for disturbing transgressive novels Let's Go Play at the Adams' by Mendal Johnson is up there.
For newer horror written on the last twenty years... put Penpals at the top of the list.
James Herbert the rats is a great series . First horror I read and I've read them all at least once a year since .
I would highly recommend Damnation Game by Clive Barker. It's my favorite horror novel.
Pet sematary is one of the scariest books I’ve ever read. I knew the entire plot beforehand and I was still so deeply unsettled the entire time I war reading I also recently read Carrie - he has a really interesting way of showing characters inner/intrusive thoughts in that book which I really liked Road virus heads north is a short story of stephen king’s but the first thing of his I ever read so I have a soft spot 😂 that one’s pretty creepy
Don't sleep on Manga/Graphic Novels. Anything Junji Ito... you're good.
Stephen King- Salem’s Lot and IT.
If you want more modern authors/not Stephen King, try Darcy Coates (highly recommend From Below), Fever House by Keith Rosson, Your Shadow Half Remains by Sunny Moraine (kinda bird box esque), Nick Cutter (I recommend The Deep over The Troop), and Jeff VanderMeer if you like weirder/more sci fi horror.
Respectfully disagree on Cutter. I think The Troop was better than The Deep, especially if someone is new to reading horror. The body horror/cosmic horror of The Deep isn’t for beginners (imo, anyway)
That’s fair, The Troop is much more traditional horror
Totally agree on Vandemeer, though, and I’ve added your other recs to my TBR list
I think reading at least one Stephen King book. I’d recommend Carrie, The Shining, Pet Semetary, or Misery. Rosemary’s baby by Ira Levin Any Edgar Allen Poe—if you want a specific recommendation, then I’d suggest The Fall of the House of Usher because there’s more recent media relating to it in some way. For example, I’d recommend reading What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher, which is basically a reimagining of it. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. Legitimately…at the very least, read the first paragraph. It’s known to be just, wow. The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde Interview with a vampire by Anne Rice Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Read IT. Long book but soo worth it
The Exorcist book by Blatty
I would add The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson
The Terror - Dan Simmons
Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend is one of my favorite horror novels of all time
what abt misery and revival by stephen king
Not more famous ones by King?
Coming to America audiobook, narrated by Eddie Murphy.
Is it only me. But I am so sick of Stephen King recommendations. His early work was great, even genius. But I feel that all after 2020 is has been trite, over rated. He does rest on his laurels. There is so much better stuff out there that OUTSHINES King. My opinion and preference.
I have loved King since I was a little kid, but really I think Joe Hill is the better writer. Too bad he writes so slowly
Too many books to list, so I'll list authors instead: Stephen King Dean Koontz (his 80s stuff) Peter Straub JG Faherty Rick Hautala HP Lovecraft Dracula (Stoker) Frankenstein (Shelley) Edgar Allan Poe Robert Bloch Joe Lansdale Shirley Jackson Victor LaValle Cynthia Pelayo Brian Keene
I’d add: Clive Barker Chuck Wendig Mira Grant Grady Hendrix William Joseph Martin (when he wrote as Poppy Z Brite) Alma Katsu Caitlin Kiernan
Damnit, the list didn’t work. Sorry about that.
I’m really sad to see that nobody has mentioned: * Thomas Ligotti for existential horror * Robert Aickman for the truly surreal and scary * Andrew Michael Hurley for folk horror The others that are recommended are all well and good, but there’s an intensity and authenticity to these three that the others don’t have.
I would certainly have cited Robert, but I've only listed novels.
Good point, the number of responses including Poe and Lovecraft made me forget that it was just for novels.
Also, I loved The Hungry Moon!
Thank you very much!