Favourite Horror writers - Page 3

**Dumbassgo** · May 2nd, 2010, 12:51 AM

I've read a lot of Stephen King and James Herbert and some of the H.P. Lovecraft novels, but one horror novel that sticks in my mind is Headhunter by Michael Slade.

It's the story of a serial killer who uses an unusual (and incredibly cool when it's described near the end) weapon to decapitate victims. Slade has a nice style that sets the mood very well.

I also like the 'Dexter' novels by Jeff Lindsay. Actually that's not true... I liked the first two, the third took a weird turn that I didn't enjoy. The TV series decided not to follow the plot of the third novel and I think it's all the better for that.
Michael C. Hall is fantastic as Dexter, but I think Jennifer Carpenter as his sister is a bad choice - her character and her acting are spot on, but her look is way off.

Cheers,
Dumbassgo.

buggeration · May 2nd, 2010, 10:12 AM

Tame by today's standards, I suppose. But I've always been a fan of Dennis Wheatley

Aubrey · May 2nd, 2010, 11:28 AM

I have MR James's stories by my bed and read through it probably every few months: I wish I'd never read anything by him then I could read it for the first time.

The first horror story I ever read was The Tell Tale Heart by EA Poe, so I have a lot of affection for him.

HP Lovecraft - again, an early enthusiasm. I still enjoy his stuff - for all his faults, his stories work.

S King is very readable even when his stories don't work; I've read most of his stuff a couple of times, and some more. When he is good he is very good.

Ramsay Campbell, especially his stories.

Yes, and Peter Straub.

George RR Martin has done some wonderful stuff - Fevre Dream, Sandkings, the one about the slimming device. Dan Simmonds as well.

**haldane4** · May 2nd, 2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamsmith

What about Robert Louis Stevenson?

He might not be the first Horror writer that springs to your mind but how many copies or similar stories/films have been based on:--
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Just reminded me of The Bottle Imp which I enjoyed. And there's another story of his - not exactly horror, but horrific in parts - The Pavilion on the Links, which is a gripping read.

**nevermind** · May 2nd, 2010, 09:06 PM

Bram Stoker
Marry Shelley
Stephen King
H.G. Wells
John W. Campbell Jr.
William Peter Blatty
Henrik Galeen
Dan O'Bannon

**Leprechaun** · May 3rd, 2010, 09:43 AM

In no particular order:

Stephen King

Clive Barker

Edgar Allan Poe

Gustav Meyrink

Arthur Machen

Howard Phillips Lovecraft

**Night Haunter** · May 3rd, 2010, 02:39 PM

John Wyndham, like Richard Matheson a man years before his time.

Day of the Triffids
The Midwich Cuckoos
Chrysalids

Aubrey · May 3rd, 2010, 04:14 PM

Golly, I'd forgotten about Machin and Matheson.

Also, Robert Aickman.

Horror was a very early Genre - Beowulf, for one - and it is sad to see it so despised these days. There are bad writers, but there are in every genre - even in what is called literary fiction. At its best, horror can be as good as anything else, and it can do things that no other type of fiction can. And it lasts. There are not many writers from the early 1800s who are still read for fun rather than as part of a course, like Mary Shelly is. Or the 1930s, come to that.

IronMan · May 4th, 2010, 08:45 AM

Yeah Machen is another classic. I like some of Barker's stuff, just not when it gets too homo erotic. Sacrament was a great novel but I had to skip over some stuff. Tried to get into Imajica but started to get turned off with the whole love affair between the main character and Pi 'oh' Pah (whom I've read is based off of Barker's real life boyfriend). Algernon Blackwood is another great horror author.

I've never been much of a Stephen King fan. Whatever his style is doesn't really do much for me, but I do like Salem's Lot and Needful Things. Listened to the Gunslinger via unabridged audio cd's, but I just didn't care for it. Maybe because King's narrating wasn't that great. Not to mention every time I read about the Gunslinger following the man in black I pictured Johnny Cash.

JdeMolay · May 8th, 2010, 08:01 PM

Ramsey Campbell, Robert Aickman and John Farris seem to me to be the masters of the erotic supernatural story

May 2nd, 2010, 10:12 AM	#22
buggeration Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Halfway between here and there! Posts: 296 Thanks: 281 Thanked 2,510 Times in 277 Posts	Tame by today's standards, I suppose. But I've always been a fan of Dennis Wheatley __________________ We don't grow up; we just grow old.

May 2nd, 2010, 11:28 AM	#23
Aubrey Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 406 Thanks: 10,881 Thanked 3,510 Times in 392 Posts	I have MR James's stories by my bed and read through it probably every few months: I wish I'd never read anything by him then I could read it for the first time. The first horror story I ever read was The Tell Tale Heart by EA Poe, so I have a lot of affection for him. HP Lovecraft - again, an early enthusiasm. I still enjoy his stuff - for all his faults, his stories work. S King is very readable even when his stories don't work; I've read most of his stuff a couple of times, and some more. When he is good he is very good. Ramsay Campbell, especially his stories. Yes, and Peter Straub. George RR Martin has done some wonderful stuff - Fevre Dream, Sandkings, the one about the slimming device. Dan Simmonds as well. Last edited by Aubrey; May 2nd, 2010 at 11:29 AM.. Reason: sp correction

May 2nd, 2010, 09:06 PM	#25
nevermind Kurt Cobain 1967- 1994 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: @Home Posts: 2,043 Thanks: 34,651 Thanked 78,259 Times in 2,044 Posts	Some of my fav. Bram Stoker Marry Shelley Stephen King H.G. Wells John W. Campbell Jr. William Peter Blatty Henrik Galeen Dan O'Bannon __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. .

May 3rd, 2010, 02:39 PM	#27
Night Haunter Vintage Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,306 Thanks: 15,042 Thanked 73,831 Times in 2,521 Posts	John Wyndham, like Richard Matheson a man years before his time. Day of the Triffids The Midwich Cuckoos Chrysalids __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

May 8th, 2010, 08:01 PM	#30
JdeMolay Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 14 Thanks: 581 Thanked 51 Times in 8 Posts	Sex and Horror Ramsey Campbell, Robert Aickman and John Farris seem to me to be the masters of the erotic supernatural story Last edited by JdeMolay; November 25th, 2010 at 07:18 PM.. Reason: Spelling mistake

May 2nd, 2010, 12:51 AM	#21
Dumbassgo Vintage Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunny Stoke. Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 8,406 Thanked 42,504 Times in 1,504 Posts	I've read a lot of Stephen King and James Herbert and some of the H.P. Lovecraft novels, but one horror novel that sticks in my mind is Headhunter by Michael Slade. It's the story of a serial killer who uses an unusual (and incredibly cool when it's described near the end) weapon to decapitate victims. Slade has a nice style that sets the mood very well. I also like the 'Dexter' novels by Jeff Lindsay. Actually that's not true... I liked the first two, the third took a weird turn that I didn't enjoy. The TV series decided not to follow the plot of the third novel and I think it's all the better for that. Michael C. Hall is fantastic as Dexter, but I think Jennifer Carpenter as his sister is a bad choice - her character and her acting are spot on, but her look is way off. Cheers, Dumbassgo.

May 3rd, 2010, 09:43 AM	#26
Leprechaun Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 5,013 Thanks: 23,651 Thanked 77,923 Times in 4,988 Posts	In no particular order: Stephen King Clive Barker Edgar Allan Poe Gustav Meyrink Arthur Machen Howard Phillips Lovecraft

May 3rd, 2010, 04:14 PM	#28
Aubrey Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 406 Thanks: 10,881 Thanked 3,510 Times in 392 Posts	Golly, I'd forgotten about Machin and Matheson. Also, Robert Aickman. Horror was a very early Genre - Beowulf, for one - and it is sad to see it so despised these days. There are bad writers, but there are in every genre - even in what is called literary fiction. At its best, horror can be as good as anything else, and it can do things that no other type of fiction can. And it lasts. There are not many writers from the early 1800s who are still read for fun rather than as part of a course, like Mary Shelly is. Or the 1930s, come to that.

May 4th, 2010, 08:45 AM	#29
IronMan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 485 Thanks: 514 Thanked 3,209 Times in 432 Posts	Yeah Machen is another classic. I like some of Barker's stuff, just not when it gets too homo erotic. Sacrament was a great novel but I had to skip over some stuff. Tried to get into Imajica but started to get turned off with the whole love affair between the main character and Pi 'oh' Pah (whom I've read is based off of Barker's real life boyfriend). Algernon Blackwood is another great horror author. I've never been much of a Stephen King fan. Whatever his style is doesn't really do much for me, but I do like Salem's Lot and Needful Things. Listened to the Gunslinger via unabridged audio cd's, but I just didn't care for it. Maybe because King's narrating wasn't that great. Not to mention every time I read about the Gunslinger following the man in black I pictured Johnny Cash.