Favourite Horror writers

**Mal Hombre** · April 30th, 2010, 07:29 PM

As an adjunct to the Sci-Fi thread,I should like to celebrate authors in a field that is almost as despised as porn-Horror fiction.Here are five of My favourite writers in the medium,feel free to add your own.
Clive Barker
Kim Newman
Stephen King
Poppy Z Brite
David Wellington

**haldane4** · April 30th, 2010, 07:47 PM

Good thread, Mal.

Thomas Ligotti
MR James
Edgar Allan Poe
Algernon Blackwood

I haven't read everything by the above few - just a deal of their shorter fiction. Out and out horror isn't really my thing - I prefer mildly supernatural stories.

**tamsmith** · April 30th, 2010, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal Hombre

As an adjunct to the Sci-Fi thread,I should like to celebrate authors in a field that is almost as depised as porn-Horror fiction.Here are five of My favourite writers in the medium,feel free to add your own.
Clive Barker
Kim Newman
Stephen King
Poppy Z Brite
David Wellington

Edgar Allen Poe.

I read a number of his books when I was a kid. Maybe a bit "old hat" now but for me he is still the best.

**Night Haunter** · April 30th, 2010, 07:56 PM

Thinking of doing a thread on this subject myself - beat me too it Mal

Some great Horror Writers - A few of my favourites

Graham Masterton
James Herbert
Robert R. McCammon
Anna Rice

I won't mention Stephen King, although he's probably the most famous horror writer I've never really been a big fan, although I enjoy his short stories and I did like the Salem's Lot novel

Well Done Mal, great thread

laloco · April 30th, 2010, 08:35 PM

Anne Rice for the Vampire Chronicles
Brian Lumley for the Necroscope series - I really enjoyed these :-)

**Ghaleon** · April 30th, 2010, 09:03 PM

I don't read much horror. But the one author I've enjoyed is Stephen King. His epics, The Stand and the more recent Under The Dome are great reads, but his numerous other books are great as well.

**scoundrel** · April 30th, 2010, 09:17 PM

Horror isn't really my preferred genre so my exposure to writers in the horror/supernatural field is limited. That's a bit odd because I love classic horror films. I still rate Dracula as the most sophisticated and subtle horror novel I have ever read (I'm ashamed to admit I haven't read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein). Dracula is a story told mostly in letters and diary entries, so we get a cross-section of first person viewpoints, and Bram Stoker realises each male and female personality with seamless ease, possibly drawing on his skills as a theatrical impressario. The book is a window into the fears and paranoia of a deeply repressed society, where sexuality is associated with sin and disease: the vampire symbolises the theme of predatory wickedness and contamination, the wages of sin being Undeath.

The early section where poor unsuspecting solicitor's clerk Jonathan Harker visits Count Dracula's castle on his employer's business (Dracula is a client) and gradually discovers that he is the only living soul in that vast and ruinous pile is quite brilliantly written, as is the ships log of the Demeter, the unlucky Russian sailing ship which sails itself neatly into Whitby's narrow little harbour past the nasty rocks which guard it, but has only the dead captain tied to the ship's helm. Dracula has preyed on all the others but the captain has surrounded himself with the necessary crucifixes, garlic etc to ward him off and chosen to die of thirst rather than be the vampire's prey. I am reminded of the legend of the plague ship which sailed into Weymouth harbour in 1348 and brought the Black Death to England: some historians think that more than a third of the population of the British Isles died. Stoker had a very sensitive understanding of where the raw nerves, the folk memories live on and how to invoke them.

**Wendigo** · April 30th, 2010, 09:37 PM

One of my favourite genres, lots of great books, and plenty short stories.
Off the top of my head my current favourites are.

M R James
H P Lovecraft
James Herbert
Brian Lumley
Graham Masterton

**Clouddancer** · May 1st, 2010, 07:26 AM

For anyone not familiar with his work, this guys writing will send a genuine chill up your spine.
Some his finest works are
Ghost Sory, The Throat & Mr X

**Night Haunter** · May 1st, 2010, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wendigo

One of may favourite genres, lots of great books, and plenty short stories.
Off the top of my head my current favourites are.

M R James
H P Lovecraft
James Herbert
Brian Lumley
Graham Masterton

I assume then Wendigo, that you've read Masterton's Edgewise on the evidence of your psuedonym

If not you must read it, it's a cracking story

April 30th, 2010, 07:29 PM	#1
Mal Hombre El Super Moderador Join Date: May 2009 Location: Adoptive Monkey Hanger Posts: 58,144 Thanks: 772,791 Thanked 855,881 Times in 57,575 Posts	Favourite Horror writers As an adjunct to the Sci-Fi thread,I should like to celebrate authors in a field that is almost as despised as porn-Horror fiction.Here are five of My favourite writers in the medium,feel free to add your own. Clive Barker Kim Newman Stephen King Poppy Z Brite David Wellington __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. If in doubt, Just ask Yourself What Would Max Do ? It is a porn site,But its a Classy porn site. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by Mal Hombre; April 30th, 2010 at 07:50 PM..

April 30th, 2010, 07:47 PM	#2
haldane4 Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: 1977 Posts: 598 Thanks: 3,187 Thanked 7,055 Times in 592 Posts	Good thread, Mal. Thomas Ligotti MR James Edgar Allan Poe Algernon Blackwood I haven't read everything by the above few - just a deal of their shorter fiction. Out and out horror isn't really my thing - I prefer mildly supernatural stories. __________________ First you dream, then you die.

April 30th, 2010, 07:56 PM	#4
Night Haunter Vintage Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,306 Thanks: 15,042 Thanked 73,832 Times in 2,521 Posts	Thinking of doing a thread on this subject myself - beat me too it Mal Some great Horror Writers - A few of my favourites Graham Masterton James Herbert Robert R. McCammon Anna Rice I won't mention Stephen King, although he's probably the most famous horror writer I've never really been a big fan, although I enjoy his short stories and I did like the Salem's Lot novel Well Done Mal, great thread __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

April 30th, 2010, 09:03 PM	#6
Ghaleon Vintage Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Between Here & There Posts: 2,063 Thanks: 73,874 Thanked 34,818 Times in 2,064 Posts	I don't read much horror. But the one author I've enjoyed is Stephen King. His epics, The Stand and the more recent Under The Dome are great reads, but his numerous other books are great as well. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

April 30th, 2010, 09:17 PM	#7
scoundrel Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: England Posts: 26,242 Thanks: 162,409 Thanked 278,561 Times in 26,187 Posts	Dracula (1897) Horror isn't really my preferred genre so my exposure to writers in the horror/supernatural field is limited. That's a bit odd because I love classic horror films. I still rate Dracula as the most sophisticated and subtle horror novel I have ever read (I'm ashamed to admit I haven't read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein). Dracula is a story told mostly in letters and diary entries, so we get a cross-section of first person viewpoints, and Bram Stoker realises each male and female personality with seamless ease, possibly drawing on his skills as a theatrical impressario. The book is a window into the fears and paranoia of a deeply repressed society, where sexuality is associated with sin and disease: the vampire symbolises the theme of predatory wickedness and contamination, the wages of sin being Undeath. The early section where poor unsuspecting solicitor's clerk Jonathan Harker visits Count Dracula's castle on his employer's business (Dracula is a client) and gradually discovers that he is the only living soul in that vast and ruinous pile is quite brilliantly written, as is the ships log of the Demeter, the unlucky Russian sailing ship which sails itself neatly into Whitby's narrow little harbour past the nasty rocks which guard it, but has only the dead captain tied to the ship's helm. Dracula has preyed on all the others but the captain has surrounded himself with the necessary crucifixes, garlic etc to ward him off and chosen to die of thirst rather than be the vampire's prey. I am reminded of the legend of the plague ship which sailed into Weymouth harbour in 1348 and brought the Black Death to England: some historians think that more than a third of the population of the British Isles died. Stoker had a very sensitive understanding of where the raw nerves, the folk memories live on and how to invoke them. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

April 30th, 2010, 08:35 PM	#5
laloco Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Newcastle Posts: 10 Thanks: 6,718 Thanked 134 Times in 10 Posts	Anne Rice for the Vampire Chronicles Brian Lumley for the Necroscope series - I really enjoyed these :-)

April 30th, 2010, 09:37 PM	#8
Wendigo Former Staff Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Blighty Posts: 113,801 Thanks: 259,910 Thanked 1,139,510 Times in 113,923 Posts	One of my favourite genres, lots of great books, and plenty short stories. Off the top of my head my current favourites are. M R James H P Lovecraft James Herbert Brian Lumley Graham Masterton

May 1st, 2010, 07:26 AM	#9
Clouddancer Vintage Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Spain - Costa Blanca Posts: 811 Thanks: 10,238 Thanked 11,624 Times in 809 Posts	Peter Straub For anyone not familiar with his work, this guys writing will send a genuine chill up your spine. Some his finest works are Ghost Sory, The Throat & Mr X __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. [Follow your inclinations with due regard to the policeman round the corner.