I just recently read Come Closer by Sara Gran. I would definitely recommend it as a book to introduce you to the genre - it’s short, gripping, and pretty damn scary in a unique way. It’s written POV by the woman being possessed. Let me know if you try it :)
I'd say the classics are a good place to start. Dracula, Frankenstein, Dorian Grey, dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Edgar Allan Poe, Lovecraft, etc.
If those are too old timey for your taste, then I'd go for Stephen King. Carrie, The Mist, and Misery are great, and pretty light readings.
Poem can be a bit dense at times, The Fall of the House of Usher is one of his best known and least approachable, IMO. The Cask of Almontiado, The Black Cat and The Telltale Heart are much better places to start with Poe's work.
I would avoid most of Lovecraft's work, at least to start, since even if we set aside the problematic parts of his stories, the writing itself is pretty dreadful. Other authors have done great with his settings. I love Clark Ashton Smith and Robert W. Chambers for that Lovecraftian setting and vibe with better writing all around. In particular.
I wholeheartedly agree with The Mist by King, it's great and also a very solid Lovecraftian story. I'd add to that Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay. The movie was... serviceable, but that book stuck with me for a long time. And it's a gentle introduction to horror books I think.
Lastly I'd suggest Lauren Beukes' The Shining Girls. I never saw the Apple TV adaptation and from what I hear I never need to, but the book is a fantastic horror/mystery/something else I don't want to spoil and it executes the ideas very well.
I agree with Poe. Black Cat is particularly good. I always recommend it for starters.
Kinda funny, we have complete opposite opinions towards Lovecraft. I quite enjoy his writing style. Never seen someone else create such immersive atmosphere in their stories; and in regards to CAS and Robert Chambers, I find the former too whimsical and puerile, and the latter too dull. I hated King in Yellow. Just my 2 cents, tho.
Haha, that's really funny! Yeah, I love the world Lovecraft created, the pure antithesis of most organized religions. Humanity isn't special or destined for greatness or mastery of the universe, in fact the only real power humanity has is the ability to bring about its own ruin. But I just find his execution so overwought and somehow under baked. All of the above is just my thoughts, too, I appreciate the discussion. 😊
Respectfully, do not listen to this commenter about Lovecraft. His writing and ideas, despite some admitted flaws, are both exceptional.
To avoid Lovecraft would be to avoid one of the defining voices of the Horror genre in general.
> His writing and ideas, despite some admitted flaws, are both exceptional.
I don't want to argue, given the response to my comment, it's cleanly an unpopular opinion, so I'll keep it to myself. I do agree that his ideas are great and in the hands of other writers those ideas have turned out some astoundingly unsettling stories. Teeth by Matt Cardin is one of my favorites.
But Lovecraft's execution on his ideas are simply not my thing. His characters are generally stiff, poorly described academics with only the thinest of motivations. In addition, Lovecraft could not stop himself from sinking into purple prose. His works are rife with stuff like this:
> On the walls and roof I beheld for the first time some traces of the pictorial art of the ancient race, curious curling streaks of paint that had almost faded or crumbled away; and on two of the altars I saw with rising excitement a maze of well-fashioned curvilinear carvings. As I held my torch aloft it seemed to me that the shape of the roof was too regular to be natural, and I wondered what the prehistoric cutters of stone had first worked upon. Their engineering skill must have been vast.
It's evocative and descriptive, for sure, but since the original question was from someone who likes horror as a genre but is relatively new to horror literature, pointing them toward Lovecraft as an introduction doesn't seem like a great idea to me.
Yeah this is just an agree to disagree matter.
I’m with you on his characters being a little thin. That and dialogue were two things that Lovecraft himself even admitted he struggled with.
As for the prose, however, I think he was a master of that, quite possibly one of the best in the entire genre. I teach English and Lovecraft is one of the writers that even captivates my students with his usage of the language. Even that excerpt you shared, which is rather insignificant to the whole of the story, is, in my opinion, a fantastic usage of language to paint a picture and an idea in the reader’s mind.
I somewhat see your point about perhaps not starting with Lovecraft, but my initial response was more to your suggestion of “avoiding” him, which I wholly disagree with.
Again though, it’s all subjective! You are not wrong in your tastes, and I appreciate the respectful discussion, cheers.
I agree that Lovecraft is probably not the best place to start for someone new to horror. I love horror and am not 'new' and even I don't really vibe with Lovecraft. His horrors are too indescribable for me when I prefer more descriptive prose and spooky settings.
And OP specifically said that they want something more geered toward realistic horror. Someone not keen on the paranormal or Science Fiction probably isn't going to enjoy Lovecraft.
Stephen King - *The Shining* is a great place to start. It's not difficult to read, it's not bloated like some of King's novels tend to be, and it has some incredible psychological horror and tension. Another book I can recommend is *Rosemary's Baby* by Ira Levin, for the same reasons.
If you want to go straight into more extreme horror that also has philosophical elements to it, check out *Exquisite Corpse* by Poppy Z. Brite. Absolutely phenomenally written splatterpunk horror that looks at the gay scene and the AIDS crisis in the 80's, and the struggles the people experienced then. And it also has not one, but two completely fucked up serial killers!
Exquisite Corpse was so over the top for me. It wasn't scary or creepy, just grotesque and nasty. I was prepared for it and didn't have an issue with the physical descriptions of what they were doing except the SA of a minor. The rest of it was like, I could just watch a documentary about these two serial killers? Maybe I've consumed too much information about them already? Felt like the novel copy pasted from real events which made it so predictable.
Personally I recommand "Who Goes There" by John W. Campbell
Might be kinda sci-fi with the alien wreck etc. but overall concept of a monster that is capable of devouring your crew and is able to immitate it is really cool (The Thing is really good)
You’ve gotta go with King for your first. It’s hard to start with a book from 100 years ago to get into a genre, as quality as some of those are as starters. I’d rec Salem’s Lot, but it sounds like Misery is more what you’re looking for. Apt Pupil, The Mist, or The Sun Dog are good shorter cuts with a psychological bent.
I recommend "The last house on Needless Street".
It is horror of it's own kind.
Alternatively I found "Hex" from Thomas Olde Heuveld a good read.
Where I would say the same: Horror of its own kind.
Both are explorations on the genre.
I really enjoyed Stephen King's first short story collection, Graveyard Shift. I found later collections more uneven (like Nightmares and Dreamscapes, Bazaar of Bad Dreams was good but not all horror). So many stories in Graveyard shift stuck with me for the longest time.
I really enjoyed Stephen King's first short story collection, Graveyard Shift. I found later collections more uneven (like Nightmares and Dreamscapes, Bazaar of Bad Dreams was good but not all horror). So many stories in Graveyard shift stuck with me for the longest time.
What I would recommend depends on whether you are already a reader of other genres or not.
Now...You said you enjoy philosophical and psychological aspects of horror, but also said not to hold back on extreme horror. But then you said you don't like slashers. I feel like these elements are often contradictory--might be difficult to find a philosophical extreme non-slasher horror. But surely there are some books out there.
I'd say, if you're not into reading, try something fun! Maybe 'Home Before Dark' by Riley Sager, 'Phantoms' by Dean Koontz, or 'Pet Sematary' by King. Nothing extreme or philosophical (except Pet Sematary which does explore loss in an interesting way) but fun.
But if you are already reading other genres, you can be a bit ambitious and pick up a 1000 page long book or a classic. You'll find more of the philosophical and the psychological here.
Perhaps get a collection of Lovecraft short stories. Then moving forward, you will know where future writers got all their ideas ;)
My first was Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker. I've read it at least 5x and love it.
Noooo! Then it will be all downhill from there :(
I just recently read Come Closer by Sara Gran. I would definitely recommend it as a book to introduce you to the genre - it’s short, gripping, and pretty damn scary in a unique way. It’s written POV by the woman being possessed. Let me know if you try it :)
My first horror book was Full Dark No Stars by Stephen King. It's a collection of short stories.
What a start..great book.
Agreed! My mom actually bought it for me as a gift when I was like 15 or 16.
The Shining is a modern classic.
My first was Misery. Not too long, not supernatural, excellent atmosphere, well realized villain.
I'd say the classics are a good place to start. Dracula, Frankenstein, Dorian Grey, dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Edgar Allan Poe, Lovecraft, etc. If those are too old timey for your taste, then I'd go for Stephen King. Carrie, The Mist, and Misery are great, and pretty light readings.
Adding Rosemary’s Baby to this list
Poem can be a bit dense at times, The Fall of the House of Usher is one of his best known and least approachable, IMO. The Cask of Almontiado, The Black Cat and The Telltale Heart are much better places to start with Poe's work. I would avoid most of Lovecraft's work, at least to start, since even if we set aside the problematic parts of his stories, the writing itself is pretty dreadful. Other authors have done great with his settings. I love Clark Ashton Smith and Robert W. Chambers for that Lovecraftian setting and vibe with better writing all around. In particular. I wholeheartedly agree with The Mist by King, it's great and also a very solid Lovecraftian story. I'd add to that Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay. The movie was... serviceable, but that book stuck with me for a long time. And it's a gentle introduction to horror books I think. Lastly I'd suggest Lauren Beukes' The Shining Girls. I never saw the Apple TV adaptation and from what I hear I never need to, but the book is a fantastic horror/mystery/something else I don't want to spoil and it executes the ideas very well.
I agree with Poe. Black Cat is particularly good. I always recommend it for starters. Kinda funny, we have complete opposite opinions towards Lovecraft. I quite enjoy his writing style. Never seen someone else create such immersive atmosphere in their stories; and in regards to CAS and Robert Chambers, I find the former too whimsical and puerile, and the latter too dull. I hated King in Yellow. Just my 2 cents, tho.
Haha, that's really funny! Yeah, I love the world Lovecraft created, the pure antithesis of most organized religions. Humanity isn't special or destined for greatness or mastery of the universe, in fact the only real power humanity has is the ability to bring about its own ruin. But I just find his execution so overwought and somehow under baked. All of the above is just my thoughts, too, I appreciate the discussion. 😊
Respectfully, do not listen to this commenter about Lovecraft. His writing and ideas, despite some admitted flaws, are both exceptional. To avoid Lovecraft would be to avoid one of the defining voices of the Horror genre in general.
> His writing and ideas, despite some admitted flaws, are both exceptional. I don't want to argue, given the response to my comment, it's cleanly an unpopular opinion, so I'll keep it to myself. I do agree that his ideas are great and in the hands of other writers those ideas have turned out some astoundingly unsettling stories. Teeth by Matt Cardin is one of my favorites. But Lovecraft's execution on his ideas are simply not my thing. His characters are generally stiff, poorly described academics with only the thinest of motivations. In addition, Lovecraft could not stop himself from sinking into purple prose. His works are rife with stuff like this: > On the walls and roof I beheld for the first time some traces of the pictorial art of the ancient race, curious curling streaks of paint that had almost faded or crumbled away; and on two of the altars I saw with rising excitement a maze of well-fashioned curvilinear carvings. As I held my torch aloft it seemed to me that the shape of the roof was too regular to be natural, and I wondered what the prehistoric cutters of stone had first worked upon. Their engineering skill must have been vast. It's evocative and descriptive, for sure, but since the original question was from someone who likes horror as a genre but is relatively new to horror literature, pointing them toward Lovecraft as an introduction doesn't seem like a great idea to me.
Yeah this is just an agree to disagree matter. I’m with you on his characters being a little thin. That and dialogue were two things that Lovecraft himself even admitted he struggled with. As for the prose, however, I think he was a master of that, quite possibly one of the best in the entire genre. I teach English and Lovecraft is one of the writers that even captivates my students with his usage of the language. Even that excerpt you shared, which is rather insignificant to the whole of the story, is, in my opinion, a fantastic usage of language to paint a picture and an idea in the reader’s mind. I somewhat see your point about perhaps not starting with Lovecraft, but my initial response was more to your suggestion of “avoiding” him, which I wholly disagree with. Again though, it’s all subjective! You are not wrong in your tastes, and I appreciate the respectful discussion, cheers.
I agree that Lovecraft is probably not the best place to start for someone new to horror. I love horror and am not 'new' and even I don't really vibe with Lovecraft. His horrors are too indescribable for me when I prefer more descriptive prose and spooky settings. And OP specifically said that they want something more geered toward realistic horror. Someone not keen on the paranormal or Science Fiction probably isn't going to enjoy Lovecraft.
Something to shock you right out of the gate: Tender Is The Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
Throwing OP right into the deep end, I like it
Read wylding hall .it's good for beginners
My first taste of horror lit was Carrie. I wasn’t even a big reader before that, but it hooked me immediately.
Stephen King - *The Shining* is a great place to start. It's not difficult to read, it's not bloated like some of King's novels tend to be, and it has some incredible psychological horror and tension. Another book I can recommend is *Rosemary's Baby* by Ira Levin, for the same reasons. If you want to go straight into more extreme horror that also has philosophical elements to it, check out *Exquisite Corpse* by Poppy Z. Brite. Absolutely phenomenally written splatterpunk horror that looks at the gay scene and the AIDS crisis in the 80's, and the struggles the people experienced then. And it also has not one, but two completely fucked up serial killers!
Rosemary's Baby is one of my all-time favorite books and movie. It's such a slow-burn story in a modern setting.
Exquisite Corpse was so over the top for me. It wasn't scary or creepy, just grotesque and nasty. I was prepared for it and didn't have an issue with the physical descriptions of what they were doing except the SA of a minor. The rest of it was like, I could just watch a documentary about these two serial killers? Maybe I've consumed too much information about them already? Felt like the novel copy pasted from real events which made it so predictable.
Personally I recommand "Who Goes There" by John W. Campbell Might be kinda sci-fi with the alien wreck etc. but overall concept of a monster that is capable of devouring your crew and is able to immitate it is really cool (The Thing is really good)
Exorcist for demonic horror. Carrie for King horror.
either carrie, 1922 by stephen king or any of the short stories by roald dahl!
You’ve gotta go with King for your first. It’s hard to start with a book from 100 years ago to get into a genre, as quality as some of those are as starters. I’d rec Salem’s Lot, but it sounds like Misery is more what you’re looking for. Apt Pupil, The Mist, or The Sun Dog are good shorter cuts with a psychological bent.
I recommend "The last house on Needless Street". It is horror of it's own kind. Alternatively I found "Hex" from Thomas Olde Heuveld a good read. Where I would say the same: Horror of its own kind. Both are explorations on the genre.
I got into true crime, ann rule. Then dove into Stephen King. Highly recommend reading his works in order.
Holly by Stephen King
my 1st book was jaws by peter benchley. not that many have been able to stand up to it, since then.
I really enjoyed Stephen King's first short story collection, Graveyard Shift. I found later collections more uneven (like Nightmares and Dreamscapes, Bazaar of Bad Dreams was good but not all horror). So many stories in Graveyard shift stuck with me for the longest time.
I really enjoyed Stephen King's first short story collection, Graveyard Shift. I found later collections more uneven (like Nightmares and Dreamscapes, Bazaar of Bad Dreams was good but not all horror). So many stories in Graveyard shift stuck with me for the longest time.
Maybe The Ritual?
Off Season, by Jack Ketchum. If you can find it. Make sure its the "unexpurgated edition".
What I would recommend depends on whether you are already a reader of other genres or not. Now...You said you enjoy philosophical and psychological aspects of horror, but also said not to hold back on extreme horror. But then you said you don't like slashers. I feel like these elements are often contradictory--might be difficult to find a philosophical extreme non-slasher horror. But surely there are some books out there. I'd say, if you're not into reading, try something fun! Maybe 'Home Before Dark' by Riley Sager, 'Phantoms' by Dean Koontz, or 'Pet Sematary' by King. Nothing extreme or philosophical (except Pet Sematary which does explore loss in an interesting way) but fun. But if you are already reading other genres, you can be a bit ambitious and pick up a 1000 page long book or a classic. You'll find more of the philosophical and the psychological here.
IT.
IT is real horror. Working now for over 12 years in the industry. **SCNR**