Frequent guest contributor Matthew Jackson is back with a special post for the season on lesser-known horror stories. He wrote a series for us last year on Horror Lit 101. Matt is an entertainment writer for Blastr.com, film critic for the Huntsville Item, and frequent contributor to nerdbastards.com. Visit him at his personal blog at www.awalrusdarkly.blogspot.com.
Last year
rock star author Neil Gaiman suggested via his blog that we should begin a
tradition of giving each other scary books for Hallowe’en (British spelling;
it’s cooler). Bookish nerds (like myself) rallied around him, and All Hallow’s
Read was born. If you weren’t aware of this development last fall, you can read
all about it (really not much more than “Hey, give each other books.”) right
here (http://www.allhallowsread.com/).
rock star author Neil Gaiman suggested via his blog that we should begin a
tradition of giving each other scary books for Hallowe’en (British spelling;
it’s cooler). Bookish nerds (like myself) rallied around him, and All Hallow’s
Read was born. If you weren’t aware of this development last fall, you can read
all about it (really not much more than “Hey, give each other books.”) right
here (http://www.allhallowsread.com/).
I gave an
All Hallow’s Read book last year – a collection of short fiction edited by the
wonderful horror writer Peter Straub – to a friend with a fortuitous October
birthday, and I also spent some time talking here on this very blog about some
essential horror writing from the last two centuries. When I was asked by the
lovely ladies of STACKED to reprise my role as horror geek this October, I
started thinking about the books people might give (and get) to celebrate
Hallowe’en (again, cooler), and I realized that quite a few of them would be
the same book.
All Hallow’s Read book last year – a collection of short fiction edited by the
wonderful horror writer Peter Straub – to a friend with a fortuitous October
birthday, and I also spent some time talking here on this very blog about some
essential horror writing from the last two centuries. When I was asked by the
lovely ladies of STACKED to reprise my role as horror geek this October, I
started thinking about the books people might give (and get) to celebrate
Hallowe’en (again, cooler), and I realized that quite a few of them would be
the same book.
There are
essential horror texts, of course. A good portion of the Stephen King canon,
the complete works of Poe (particularly if you get one of the cool black
leather, gilded editions like I have), Gaiman’s own creepy all ages story Coraline and a host of others that
lovers of scary stories have already devoured. But what about the others? What
about those books that you thought about picking up, but didn’t, or those books
written by the bestselling author that didn’t quite go the distance? What about
those stories that have been forgotten by all but the enthusiasts?
essential horror texts, of course. A good portion of the Stephen King canon,
the complete works of Poe (particularly if you get one of the cool black
leather, gilded editions like I have), Gaiman’s own creepy all ages story Coraline and a host of others that
lovers of scary stories have already devoured. But what about the others? What
about those books that you thought about picking up, but didn’t, or those books
written by the bestselling author that didn’t quite go the distance? What about
those stories that have been forgotten by all but the enthusiasts?
With this in
mind, here are a few of those stories that I’ve discovered during my life as a
horror reader. If you’re a lover of creepy tales, you might’ve read a few of
these, but if you’re a casual reader who just gets the urge for such a story
around this time of year, you’re very likely in for some new experiences.
mind, here are a few of those stories that I’ve discovered during my life as a
horror reader. If you’re a lover of creepy tales, you might’ve read a few of
these, but if you’re a casual reader who just gets the urge for such a story
around this time of year, you’re very likely in for some new experiences.
TheGreat God Pan by Arthur Machen
H.P.
Lovecraft praised it in his critical writing on supernatural literature, and no
less than Stephen King labeled it the finest horror story in the English
language. The Great God Pan is the
story of a scientist who performs a horrific surgery in the hope that his
patient can see a god and the terrifying results of the experiment that emerge
years later. Published in 1894, it remains an essential precursor to the
classic weird fiction of the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s, and even more than a century
later is still among the more disturbing horror tales I’ve ever read.
Lovecraft praised it in his critical writing on supernatural literature, and no
less than Stephen King labeled it the finest horror story in the English
language. The Great God Pan is the
story of a scientist who performs a horrific surgery in the hope that his
patient can see a god and the terrifying results of the experiment that emerge
years later. Published in 1894, it remains an essential precursor to the
classic weird fiction of the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s, and even more than a century
later is still among the more disturbing horror tales I’ve ever read.
Cabalby Clive Barker
Lately Clive
Barker has been noted more for his fantasy fiction, but he began as a horror
writer, perhaps the most effective of the 1980s, and it’s those early tales of his
that I still read with the most affection. Cabal
is a novella from the sixth volume of Barker’s Books of Blood anthologies. It was made into a critically panned
but still interesting film, Nightbreed,
by Barker himself, but it’s the story that sticks in my head. It’s the tale of
a man whose life just feels wrong until he stumbles upon a group of
otherworldly creatures living in a sprawling necropolis. Cabal is one of the great modern monster stories, endlessly weird
and ambitious, filled with the imaginative power of all of Barker’s more famous
stories, and the same visceral punch of each of his other horror writing.
Barker has been noted more for his fantasy fiction, but he began as a horror
writer, perhaps the most effective of the 1980s, and it’s those early tales of his
that I still read with the most affection. Cabal
is a novella from the sixth volume of Barker’s Books of Blood anthologies. It was made into a critically panned
but still interesting film, Nightbreed,
by Barker himself, but it’s the story that sticks in my head. It’s the tale of
a man whose life just feels wrong until he stumbles upon a group of
otherworldly creatures living in a sprawling necropolis. Cabal is one of the great modern monster stories, endlessly weird
and ambitious, filled with the imaginative power of all of Barker’s more famous
stories, and the same visceral punch of each of his other horror writing.
Zombieby Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol
Oates has won loads of awards for her fiction, but she probably never expected
to get one from the Horror Writers Association. Zombie won the HWA’s Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in
a Novel in 1995, and even though it’s hard to find these days, it remains
worthy of the distinction. Oates is no stranger to dark writing, but this is
easily her greatest confrontation with literal horror. Based on the life of
serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, it’s a first person account of one man’s desire
to create a human slave for himself, and the victims he dispatches in the
process.
Oates has won loads of awards for her fiction, but she probably never expected
to get one from the Horror Writers Association. Zombie won the HWA’s Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in
a Novel in 1995, and even though it’s hard to find these days, it remains
worthy of the distinction. Oates is no stranger to dark writing, but this is
easily her greatest confrontation with literal horror. Based on the life of
serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, it’s a first person account of one man’s desire
to create a human slave for himself, and the victims he dispatches in the
process.
Song
of Kali by Dan Simmons
of Kali by Dan Simmons
The great
Harlan Ellison (who is known as much for his temper as his brilliant writing)
profusely praised this debut by Dan Simmons, who won the World Fantasy Award
for this novel and went on to win a host of other awards for later novels like Hyperion, Carrion Comfort and Drood. Song of Kali is the story of an American who travels to Calcutta and finds himself
embroiled in the horrific deeds of a cult worshipping the Hindu goddess Kali,
but in many ways the real star is Simmons’ layered and gorgeous writing.
Harlan Ellison (who is known as much for his temper as his brilliant writing)
profusely praised this debut by Dan Simmons, who won the World Fantasy Award
for this novel and went on to win a host of other awards for later novels like Hyperion, Carrion Comfort and Drood. Song of Kali is the story of an American who travels to Calcutta and finds himself
embroiled in the horrific deeds of a cult worshipping the Hindu goddess Kali,
but in many ways the real star is Simmons’ layered and gorgeous writing.
The Wine-Dark Sea by Robert Aickman
Aickman
didn’t consider himself a writer of horror. He called his work “strange
stories,” short fiction that was deeply evocative, dark and often
unclassifiable. There are Aickman stories that I have finished without even
really knowing what just happened, but I’m left with a feeling of glorious
doom, the kind of feeling that only a really good and creepy story can leave. Most
people don’t remember Aickman, but he’s experiencing a resurgence lately
(thanks in part to Neil Gaiman’s praise of his work). If you absolutely can’t
find any of his collections, do what I did and ask your local library for an
interlibrary loan.
didn’t consider himself a writer of horror. He called his work “strange
stories,” short fiction that was deeply evocative, dark and often
unclassifiable. There are Aickman stories that I have finished without even
really knowing what just happened, but I’m left with a feeling of glorious
doom, the kind of feeling that only a really good and creepy story can leave. Most
people don’t remember Aickman, but he’s experiencing a resurgence lately
(thanks in part to Neil Gaiman’s praise of his work). If you absolutely can’t
find any of his collections, do what I did and ask your local library for an
interlibrary loan.
Ghost
Story by Peter Straub
Story by Peter Straub
Ghost Story was one of the most popular
horror novels of the 1970s, and Peter Straub has written a ton of really wonderful
work since, but I’m always surprised how many people either don’t know about it
or just haven’t taken the time for it. It’s the classic New England hamlet
plagued by evil setup, but rarely has that tale been told so elegantly or
eerily. Straub is one of the greatest living horror writers, and Ghost Story is one of the most effective
and haunting horror stories of the 20th century.
horror novels of the 1970s, and Peter Straub has written a ton of really wonderful
work since, but I’m always surprised how many people either don’t know about it
or just haven’t taken the time for it. It’s the classic New England hamlet
plagued by evil setup, but rarely has that tale been told so elegantly or
eerily. Straub is one of the greatest living horror writers, and Ghost Story is one of the most effective
and haunting horror stories of the 20th century.
Hellboy:
Seed of Destruction by Mike Mignola
Seed of Destruction by Mike Mignola
Me being me,
I can’t get through this without recommending at least one comic book, and Mike
Mignola’s Hellboy was the first that came to mind. Seed of Destruction is the first story starring Hellboy, the
working class demon birthed by dark magic in World War II who’s now working for
the U.S. government, just trying to make the world a better place. It’s not
exactly nightmare-inducing, but it’s a dark, often funny and infinitely
ambitious take on a classic horror subgenre: the monster story. I started
reading Seed of Destruction about a
year ago and have since read every Hellboy story Mignola and company have
produced. They’re that addictive.
I can’t get through this without recommending at least one comic book, and Mike
Mignola’s Hellboy was the first that came to mind. Seed of Destruction is the first story starring Hellboy, the
working class demon birthed by dark magic in World War II who’s now working for
the U.S. government, just trying to make the world a better place. It’s not
exactly nightmare-inducing, but it’s a dark, often funny and infinitely
ambitious take on a classic horror subgenre: the monster story. I started
reading Seed of Destruction about a
year ago and have since read every Hellboy story Mignola and company have
produced. They’re that addictive.
It’s time
for spooky stories. Read your favorites, discover some new ones, and give a few
to friends. Happy All Hallow’s Read.
for spooky stories. Read your favorites, discover some new ones, and give a few
to friends. Happy All Hallow’s Read.
Thanks for this, Matt! Definitely adding a few to my reading list, including the Oates — I've always harbored a strange fascination with Dahmer.
Hmmmm, I'm not usually into creeptastic stuff but I'm feeling so differently about Halloween, this year. Maybe I'll bring this little list to B&N and see what strikes my fancy. Thanks for this great post!