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Horror author Grady Hendrix has proven over the past few years that he is easily one of the top writers of the genre. While all of his books are great, the works set in Hendrix’s birthplace of Charleston, South Carolina hit with a little something extra. Which is why the fact his latest release How to Sell a Haunted House is set in the Holy City had me excited for what was in store. On top of…
In 2018, the acclaimed horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan created a mini-series for Netflix based off of the literary classic the Haunting of Hill House. It was easily one of the greatest things I have seen on my television. Loosely using the framework of the Shirley Jackson novel, he crafted a compelling and horrifying saga of a family unable to move past their experiences living in a haunted…
As summer draws to a close I, being the nerd I am, chose to spend it with my nose in a book as per usual. Haunting my local libraries, comic shops, and independent bookstores (break the chain and shop local) I had no shortage of reading material, both old books and new releases, to keep me occupied. Across a number of styles and genres here are the books of my summer reading.
Dandelion Wineby…
His mother wanted him to be a wholesome minister, but Peter Straub became something else entirely. He had a passion for writing which he pursued but did not find much of note. That was until he changed course and wrote a horror novel and that book, Juliaproved to be the breakout hit which had alluded him. From there he changed his focus to the horror genre which changed his career forever. Peter…
Over the past few years Jennifer McMahon has solidly cemented herself as one of the best authors in horror. She has a knack for beautifully crafting supernatural tales which will keep any reader on the edge of their seat. Her most recent output the Invited is no different. In this novel a young couple, Helen and Nate, purchase a piece of rural property with the dream of building a new home on the…
Most of us at some point have been exposed to the thought-provoking classic Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Acclaimed horror author, Nick Cutter, must have read it and thought it
needed a healthy dose of science fiction-laden terror hence this wonderful and horrifying book the Troop.
It all started as an innocent Boy Scout trip to a wilderness island only a few miles offshore from their…
On the banks of the Rappahannock River stands the infamous Alexander House. For centuries it has built a reputation as one of the most haunted housesin America. As the tale goes, a sadist known as “the Governor” Judson Alexander, lived in this house in the 1700’s, dishing out his cruelty on all who lived in the area. This is why the skeptical David Caine takes up residence here, to once and for…
The Moth Diaries by Rachel Klein (2005)
I’m a sucker for creepy tales set in boarding schools and this one did not disappoint. A young woman starts to think that there may be something supernatural about the new girl who is stealing away her best friend. While it was made into a film in 2011, the book retains a fairy-tale-like halo due to its clearly unreliable narrator. This ambiguity is…
We are in February which is known to many movie fans as Women in Horror Month. This is the month we pay tribute to the women who have have terrified us and given nightmares to horror fans. Often times they do not receive the credit they deserve for as big of an impact as they have had on the genre, so join me in lifting a goblet (probably made from a skull) in saluting the greatest women in…
The ill-fated group of pioneers known as, the Donner Party have become infamous throughout history, as the stranded group resorted to depravity and cannibalism to survive. The snow covered landscape filled with blood and death which the Donner family and those in their party experienced is the perfect breeding ground for horror, and author Alma Katsu takes full advantage of that in her historical…
The world of the early 19th century brought with it; war, revolution, and fast-paced scientific advancement. It is in this world that an 18 year old girl would come up with an idea which would influence the world and change it forever. In 1816, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (nee Goodwin) was in Geneva, Switzerland with her lovers, Percy Shelley and Lord Byron. Whenever there was downtime, the three…
When it comes to science fiction, fantasy, and horror in the literary world there seems to be one name which stands above so many others, Ray Bradbury. Originally from America’s Midwest, Bradbury is largely credited for bringing genre literature into the mainstream with his imaginative and timeless novels and short stories. With a career which spanned several decades, Bradbury earned numerous…
There are some wonderful classic vampire stories out there, led by the amazing Dracula and followed up by modern favorites such as Interview with a Vampire. I enjoy reading about vampires (at least the non-sparkly kind). I find them spooky, gothic, and usually sophisticated in their own way. People have been writing about these creepy figures for as long as there have been stories. Below I have…
I remember once hearing an interview with a literary agent on NPR, where he discussed regularly receiving manuscripts where the writer made no attempt at hiding the influence Victorian-era authors had on them. This particular agent said he quickly disregards these saying, that in modern publishing there is no market for books like this. Luckily, the Essex Serpent, the American debut for author…
In the early twentieth century one writer looked at the paranormal in a way which straddle the line between science and entertainment, Charles Fort. His works has inspired countless others and in the world of the paranormal we even have to term “Fortean” in honor of the man. From the time they were originally published his books detailed strange phenomena and challenged science to come up with a…
As many fans of fantasy and science fiction literature know, the late Ray Bradbury was an absolute treasure trove of stories. In a career that spanned decades, the legendary writer expanded our imaginations and took to us to places we never thought we would go. Sure he penned a number of novels which left a massive footprint on the genre, but for many fans his short stories are wat they remember…
Horror has always been one of the most popular genres no matter which medium of entertainment there is. In the twentieth century readers were treated to an explosion in terror filling book shelves and libraries. Acclaimed writers such as; Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Robert McCammon were game changers in fear who influenced an entire century of people. So in no particular order, I decided to…
