Best Horror Books to Read: Top 8 Horror Writers

[@georginamiles4024]

Peter straub

[@WELinde]

I literally read The Exorcist in less than a day. I was supposed to study for a midterm all day, and I was getting ready to start when I noticed that my roommate had the book in his bookshelf. So I thought, "I wonder what that's like." So I picked it up, meaning to just scan a few pages. The next thing I knew, it was past midnight and I had finished the book. Talk about scary. I don't think I slept well that night (or morning, I guess).

[@momrobare]

Why does nobody ever mention Robert McCammon's They Thirst. This is perhaps the best vampire book I've ever read in all my 67 years!

[@D3Reads]

I just looked it up, as I wasn't familiar with it. It sounds great! I've added it to my must read list, so thank you!

[@moondra3481]

Yes! WOW you just took me down memory lane this book was fantastic. I read this when I was 12 and was blown away (I'm 54). I loved his writing style and of course when Swan Song came out WOW. One of the best post apocalyptic novels ever💖💖

[@hollyvanwye9294]

They Thirst was a crazy ride. I remember one chapter where vampires seized control of the ambulances, all over town, so that they might reach injured accident victims before anyone else and drink their blood! McCammon's Swan Song was another great read, set in post-apocalyptic America.

[@momrobare]

@@hollyvanwye9294 One of the best parts in a book with many good parts. :)

[@curtjarrell9710]

Before Stephen King began writing about Castle Rock, etc. Thomas Tryon gave us the haunting rural landscapes of The Other and Harvest Home.

[@D3Reads]

Wow, you have no idea what door you just opened here. I didn't realize Tom Tryon, who I have never read, was an actor (I literally just looked him up on Wikipedia to see if I had heard of any of his work). He had a role in one of my all-time favorite war movies, In Harm's Way (he was one of the more likable Navy officers, as I recall). Thank you so much, because now I absolutely have to read his books.

[@vilstef6988]

In the 70s, I think there was a miniseries of Harvest Home. This set my Mother to reading any Thomas Tryon books I could find for her.

[@hollyvanwye9294]

The Other was one of the first horror novels I ever read. Very well done and unsettling!

[@LatrellMitchell-k1z]

What about James herbert writer of the fog and the rats

[@emiliotarsa6582]

I would disagree with your characterization of Frankenstein as 'horror'. I think it has scenes that some might find scary/horrifying, but it is more of a philosophical novel that deals with justice. The Creature is initially innocent; feels deeply, and has an agile mind. Qualifies as a human but because of how he looks, he is passionately rejected by his father/creator, and then society follows suit. In short, the Creature becomes evil because of societal prejudice. That and not the intent to horrify is the heart of the story. Also, readers should know that the prose is somewhat stilted (Jane Austen has cleaner, more elegant sentences) and b) it takes a while for the action to pick up -- if memory serves, the Creature does not even speak for himself until midway through. The narration is intricately layered: Walton is writing about how lonely he is to his sister back in England. Then he meets Victor and he quotes Victor's narration of his experiences with the Creature. Later on, the Creature's narration of his life story is quoted at length. I like this stuff, and even though the prose can read stiffly at times, the power of the story makes me love the novel. But I wanted to inform potential readers of the novel about some of its invongruities with novels of today. If read patiently and with these issues in mind, one can enjoy this powerful novel.

[@D3Reads]

Thanks for the insightful comments! You make some very fair observations about the style of the book. I agree some parts are stilted, but I'll dig in on the horror aspects of this novel. I totally agree about how the the creature becomes evil, but horror is woven throughout the story. Some would call it more science fiction than horror, which is fair, but Dr Frankenstein is tormented by a hell of his own creation, and I find it really fascinating (and creepy) throughout. But again, I appreciate your thoughts, and you've definitely made your case!

[@vilstef6988]

SF and fantasy legend Jack Vance wrote a dozen or more crime and horror books under the name John Holbrook Vance.

[@D3Reads]

I didn't realize. Is there one or two you'd recommend? I'd love to check them out!

[@vilstef6988]

I've only read one titled Bad Ronald which is about a serial killer. You can get titles for others under the name by going to Vance's author page at Internet Science Fiction Database, and page searching the name John there.

[@LiminalSpaces03]

Great list! Love to see people talking about Shirley Jackson!

[@D3Reads]

Funny thing, I read The Lottery in Middle School many years ago and was appropriately fascinated with and traumatized by it, but I didn't remember who wrote it. Every so often I would ask people if they had read it, and if they hadn't I'd gleefully tell it to them as best I could from memory. Years later I read Hill House and loved it, but didn't connect the dots. It wasn't until I started putting together this video that I realized it was the same person who left such a lasting imprint on me for so long. Yeah, she's great.

[@charlessmyth]

As influenced by Lovecraft, I would recommend Fritz Leiber as consistently readable and crafted. His Conjure Wife and Our Lady of Darkness are top examples. I've read my fair share of King, but now find him impossible to revisit :-)

[@jamiescott1080]

I’ve read his fafhrd and the grey mouser books but not his horror. Good reminder to look into it.

[@LiminalSpaces03]

If you haven't read Le Fanu's Carmilla I highly recommend it. Said to have really influenced Bram Stoker, plus, it's a vampire story!

[@D3Reads]

I am adding it to our list now! Thank you for reminding me, I had heard of it and wanted to check it out but it slipped my mind for the longest time. You have great timing too, because we're planning a "Best Vampire Novels" video for Halloween, so thank you!

[@LiminalSpaces03]

@@D3Reads Looking forward to the best of Vampire novels video!

[@TheBigStetson]

Thanks for this list, sir. Well thought. I enjoyed your commentary very much. Always ready to sub to an honest, well thought book channel. An appropriate honorable mention I think would be Ramsey Campbell, enormously prolific writer of fantastic Horror who's been on the scene for decades even predating King, and while King's been in the spotlight he's been telling us the whole time that Campbell is his superior, if not one of his chief influences. Incredible works of Folk Horror, Weird Horror, Psychological, Occult Horror- I can't spy your shelf too well but, based on your list, we seem to have overlapping tastes. I would very much recommend checking out Ramsey Campbell's work, sir. Even taking a look at his wiki page to see just how much he's done and how much of his fingerprints are on modern/contemporary Horror Lit. Thanks again for the video, looking forward to more.

[@D3Reads]

Thank you so much for the kind words and especially for suggesting Ramsey Campbell! I have been stunned by the number of authors out there that I've overlooked over the years. I just looked over a list of his novels and they sound amazing so I literally just went and got a Kindle copy of The Parasite. Looking forward to this! And thanks for joining us!

[@sidesup8286]

Ramsey Campbell's imagery and setting of mood is more sophisticated and creative than King. Ramsey's short story collections are a good way to start with him. His novels are a bit hit and miss. Rober McCammon is another horror author to check out.

[@D3Reads]

Thanks! And I've heard that I need to add McCammon to my list as well!

[@hollyvanwye9294]

Ramsey Campbell is a master of psychological horror. In his fiction the scariest thing of all is what goes on inside our minds! Love his stuff.

[@aaronedgell9426]

Robert Bloch should be on this list.

[@D3Reads]

You are no doubt correct. His impact on horror just by way of Psycho is immense, but I've never gotten around to reading his work. I just did some quick research and I have to admit I wasn't familiar with much of it at all (shame on me). So thanks for pointing this out, and we'll have to make sure to update this video in the future!

[@johnkeenan1829]

Jack Ketchum. One of the all-time greats. Also, I think it's hilarious how everyone mentions Lovecraft's "racism" but nobody, not one damn person, every mentions how later on in life he recognized the problem and tried to amend his thinking.

[@D3Reads]

You know, I haven't read anything by Ketchum. I just looked him up, and he's got a ton of work. Do you have a recommendation on where to start? I've heard about Lovecraft's apparent change of heart, but there's some speculation that this was more revisionism by fans than actual turning from those beliefs. I'd love to believe he recanted to any degree, but even if that was true that doesn't change the ugliness embedded in his writing and I'd still think it important to let readers know it's out there.

[@johnkeenan1829]

@@D3Reads I'd suggest "Offseason" "The Lost" and "Peaceable Kingdom" which is a collection of short stories. We'll have to agree to disagree on Lovecraft.

[@hollyvanwye9294]

An underrated 20th-century horror writer was the late, great Michael McDowell. His novel Blackwater is a Southern Gothic masterpiece that was originally published as 6 paperbacks in the '80's. In his story a Lovecraftian monster comes up out of the river in Perdido, Alabama, assumes human form, then marries and breeds with the most eligible bachelor in town! McDowell's writing is absolutely hilarious but also quite creepy.

[@D3Reads]

That sounds wild! I just looked it up and it sounds like a great read. One of our future "best of lists" is going to be "cosmic horror" and this sounds like it may just fit in so thank you for calling it out!

[@hollyvanwye9294]

You'll enjoy Blackwater, I'm sure. It's...unsettling!

[@redwawst3258]

😊

[@SuperStrangSshadow]

I love I Am Legend and prefer the movie with Vincent Price compared to the other movies.

[@D3Reads]

The Last Man on Earth was fantastic! I agree with you there, better than the other adaptations.

[@ericpeavey]

Can’t do the background music

[@D3Reads]

I got a few comments telling me the background music is too loud or distracting. Since this video I've tuned it down quite a bit, so I hope it's not distracting. Sorry about these first ones, there's been a learning curve to be sure!

[@rahulthekkedath8923]

Great list ! Loved your selections and the brief descriptions about them. I am happy to discover that the comments section has some great suggestions as well. I hope you make a follow up video including theses suggestions and any other discoveries soon.

[@D3Reads]

Thanks! We're planning an update (or two) to roll out before Halloween! Do you have any favorites that you think should be on a best of list? We really appreciate the comment!

[@rahulthekkedath8923]

I really liked Others by James Herbert. Gothic meets Noir. I also liked Koko by Peter Straub I loved the Shining and Dr Sleep by Stephen King. I also loved The Running Man and Thinner by Richard Bachman his shadow brother. I have not ready anything new for quite some time now (and thus would love the recommendations !) I also remember loving Locke and Key by Tom Hill but that's a Graphic Novel which feels like a cheat ! Hope you cover some of these... ​@@D3Reads

[@nanimaonovi2528]

'I Am Legend' is a story I keep returning to. The insideous misogyny and the slow realization that devation from the dominant culture is what becomes monstrous. Before I read this as a teen I didn't understand that hatred of the other is fear based and desire and hate can co-exist. Brr.

[@D3Reads]

It is definitely a deep story, with plenty of layers. There's also the observation that social and cultural change can be violent and ugly too. So while Robert's role as the monstrous legend was deep and unsettling, I feel he deserves a little slack, since Matheson makes it clear the new social order is pretty bloody and violent. Put another way, Matheson's horror story shows a lot to be horrified by.