Scary horror novels

[BAYLOR]

The Hungry Moon By Ramsey Campbell It's one of the best horror novels ever written.

 

[steelyglint]

Always been wary of Campbell since I read an early one of his entitled 'To Wake the Dead' where, in a 312 page novel, absolutely nothing happens for 300 pages, then it stumbles to a confusing halt.

Several mentions of one of the two best horror writers (in my opinion) in previous posts - Graham Masterton. His 'The Devils of D-Day' scared the waste-matter out of me when I was a teenager. James Herbert - the other of the top two - also penned some scary stuff.

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[dask]

Several mentions of one of the two best horror writers (in my opinion) in previous posts - Graham Masterton. His 'The Devils of D-Day' scared the waste-matter out of me when I was a teenager.

This sounds really good. I will look out for this book.

 

[Fried Egg]

The Hungry Moon By Ramsey Campbell It's one of the best horror novels ever written.

I've liked all of his novels I have read but "The Hungry Moon" was, for me, his weakest.

My favourite so far is "The Grin of the Dark".

Always been wary of Campbell since I read an early one of his entitled 'To Wake the Dead' where, in a 312 page novel, absolutely nothing happens for 300 pages, then it stumbles to a confusing halt.

I've not read this one but his novels often have a high degree of subtlety are often slow and gradual to build up tension so I can see how his books wouldn't be for everyone.

 

[anno]

Ramsey is a great author and being a northerner it was sometimes a culture shock when he mentioned places you knew,the Wirral spooks me out even today...

 

[Toby Frost]

Yes, I think it can be frightening, but it's got to do more than that. It's got to be more than "Oh this guy keeps cutting people up and can't die" or "That sounds really painful". For me the best horror novels are gripping in the sense that you don't want bad things to happen to the characters, but they've got some sort of weight behind them as well as that. Often the horrors are a way of giving a disturbing idea a physical shape: the decline of small-towns or alcoholism in 'Salem's Lot and The Shining, or the drive for thrills in The Hellbound Heart.

I liked Campbell's The Doll Who Ate His Mother very much.

 

[Randy M.]

I've read The Doll Who Ate His Mother, The Face that Must Die (two of my favorite horror novel titles because they sound so cheesy yet the books themselves are not), Ancient Images, Midnight Sun and The Grin of the Dark. I thought all were quite good, but that last stands head and shoulders above 95% of the horror novels I've read. Campbell's subtle use of language to convey the altering of the main character's perception of reality, the uncovering of layers of submerged reality, all left me deeply disquieted.

A disturbing read. Which, for me, is the best kind of horror. I can only think of a handful of horror novels I'd rank along with it.


Randy M.

 

[Fried Egg]

This is whetting my appetite for some more Campbell so I shall have to line something up for Horror month this year.

I must admit that I've always been put off by the titles "The Doll Who Ate His Mother" and "The Face that Must Die". But I should give them a try.

 

[j d worthington]

This is whetting my appetite for some more Campbell so I shall have to line something up for Horror month this year.

I must admit that I've always been put off by the titles "The Doll Who Ate His Mother" and "The Face that Must Die". But I should give them a try.

I've read The Doll Who Ate His Mother and, despite some minor flaws, thought it was quite a good novel. I began reading The Face that Must Die a couple of years ago, but got sidetracked by several things at once and never got back to it... still have it sitting next to my bed to attempt it again. The edition I have is the Scream/Press edition, which differs in some respects from others, I understand....

 

[hardsciencefanagain]

Like i said in another thread(whoa,rhyme):i read RC's "The Old School"(in F&SF)
that was one effective piece of short story horror writing (almost a master class in...)
Impressed me as much as a Chuck Beaumont short,whose title escapes me
(The Hunger?)

 

[BAYLOR]

Ancient Images by Campbell is also quite good.

 

[BAYLOR]

Always been wary of Campbell since I read an early one of his entitled 'To Wake the Dead' where, in a 312 page novel, absolutely nothing happens for 300 pages, then it stumbles to a confusing halt.

Several mentions of one of the two best horror writers (in my opinion) in previous posts - Graham Masterton. His 'The Devils of D-Day' scared the waste-matter out of me when I was a teenager. James Herbert - the other of the top two - also penned some scary stuff.

.

I've read Masterston's Manitou quite good . The movie based on it was utter crap.

James Herbert Ive read Shrine , found that to be a quite a good novel

 

[steelyglint]

The sequel 'Revenge of the Manitou' punts the original out of the park. Masterton has quite a few good tales out there.

'Shrine' is pretty good. Most of Herbert's product is. The 'Rats' trilogy is good fun, as is 'The Spear', 'Sepulchre', almost any of his earlier work. He has a stinker of a movie in his past, too - look out for 'The Survivor' starring Robert Powell.

.

 

[BAYLOR]

The sequel 'Revenge of the Manitou' punts the original out of the park. Masterton has quite a few good tales out there.

'Shrine' is pretty good. Most of Herbert's product is. The 'Rats' trilogy is good fun, as is 'The Spear', 'Sepulchre', almost any of his earlier work. He has a stinker of a movie in his past, too - look out for 'The Survivor' starring Robert Powell.

.

The Wells of Hell by him is not as well known but it is quite good .

 

[Randy M.]

Jus to clarify, by Masterton or by Herbert?


Randy M.

 

[BAYLOR]

Jus to clarify, by Masterton or by Herbert?


Randy M.

Masterton

 

[BAYLOR]

The Abyss by Jeremy Cunningham It's a town and sealed off mineshaft dug so deep in the ground that it literally tunnels in to hell. The Imagery in the book is unforgettable.

 

[dask]

Sounds worth seeking out.

 

[anno]

Wasn't it an underground classic?
(I'll get me coat...)

 

[Toby Frost]

That joke was the pits.