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Post by Ol' John Brown on Dec 9, 2003 3:29:33 GMT -5
Maybe a good place to start this board would be to talk about some of our favorite authors and their works.
My two favorite horror writers at the moment are Richard Laymon and Bentley Little.
The first book that I read by Little was 'The Return.' I was hooked even though, as a lot of folks reviewing the book have been saying, the end could have been better. It was still a great read however. So far, my favorite 3 by Little are 'The House', 'The Revelation' and 'Dominion.'
Little often begins with ordinary people and situations then eases the story further and further into the twisted and/or supernatural.
Laymon also tends to start with the ordinary and eases into the twisted but doesn't get into the supernatural as much. The characters and events still boarder on beleivable. As for endings, Laymon has a real knack for them!
Thus far, my favorite 3 by RL are 'Funland', 'In the Dark' and 'The Cellar.'
If you like one of these authors, there is a good chance you will like the other.
This would probably be a good place for us to exchange such suggestions (if you like this author, you may also like this other author) . . .
Ol' JB
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Post by The Folks @ TanneryWhistle.com on Dec 9, 2003 20:03:56 GMT -5
Well, I have read several Laymon splatter fests, but haven't read a Jeremy Little yet. I'll have to get to that. As a general rule, however, I have a preference for a different kind of horror (although I like all of it). I still recommend Richard Matheson as one of the most powerful writers in the horror/fanasy/science-fiction genre. He does them all. My favorite, of coruse, is "I am Legend." He is also the fellow that wrote the novel version of "A Stir of Echoes." I still think his anthology, "Third from the Sun," is one of the best science-fiction short story collections ever published. I let me say a bit for Robert McCammon. I started back with some bad stuff, like "Bethany's Sin" and an awful vampire thing aobut Nazis on a submarine. But, he also did "They Thirst." In addition, he did a horror novel set in the Biltmore House called "Usher's Passing," and a wonderful thing called "Mystery Walk." I still find myself remembering "Mine" for the opening chapter. He got disheartened about a decade ago and just quit. Didn't write a word for a decade. Then last year, he returned with 'Speaks the Night Bird," and I reviewed it about six months ago.
I also have a special place in my heart for Joe Lansdale and Neil Gaiman who can both frighten me and please me with many a well-turned phrase. Oh, and Jonathan Carroll, of course, the man who wrote "The Teeth of Angels" and a dozen others.
Gary
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Post by Ol' John Brown on Jan 23, 2004 23:21:37 GMT -5
Now there are some good leads!
Thanks Gary!
I read "I Am Legend" shortly after Gary's reply and I have to say that I am impressed! Great chill factor!
Several movies based on the book have been releaced but pale in comparison to the book. I highly reccomend it.
By the way Gary, that's Bentley Little that I spoke of earlier (rather than Jeremy) and he also does some impressive stuff. He is a little like Laymon with less splatter and more supernatural images. He starts with the real and twists it from there. The Walking, The Return or The University are great places to start. Some of his best are The House, The Summoning and Dominion (one of his more facinating and macabre.) The Ignored was very highly acclaimed by critics but I rarely agree with them; the concept and story were pretty good but I think that he has written better . . .
such as The Revelation . . . now this may just be Little's best work yet!
This nightmare is twisted, macabre and disturbing.
I loved it.
Other great current authors?
Read on! There are quite a few from now and then . . .
Join in and tell us yours.
For now, I have a few more to share with you in the next post . . .
Do you agree?
Yes?
No?
Fine either way! Different things scare different folks so lets talk about it!
OL' JB
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Post by Ol' John Brown on Jan 23, 2004 23:46:22 GMT -5
I have read two novels by this author recently and thus far, it seems that Clegg has quite a range
I look forward to more reading more of his works.
I have them on my to buy list.
The first Douglas Clegg novel that I read was "The Hour Before Dark."
Wow! This was low on gore and high on chills! To me, this makes the best horror. We have three children that have learned to play The Dark Game in which they tell fantasies and spooky stories to one another. It's important to play the game in the hour before dark; in daylight it's just not fun but, if played after dark . . . well, they did it and things come back to HAUNT years later.
Next, I read "You Come When I Call You" by the same author.
Wow again! Though this novel was high on the gore scale, (this usually means not as scary to me) it was gore written with a different style.
This novel still delivers chills. It's complex. written from several different viewpoints and from a couple of different time periods.
It may seem hard to wrap the mind around at first. Be patient, it all comes together in a cringe. An ending that you will probably either feel is super great or an ending that you will super hate.
It depends on whether you like endings sewn up or if you like to be left wondering.
Sorry, I'm not gonna tell you which it is 'cause I'm a Librairian by trade and I have to encourage you to read for yourself.
Which ever you like, the book will take you into what I can only describe as a nightmare in print.
Up for the challenge?
Let's hear from you then!
Ol' JB
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Post by Captain Obvious on Feb 22, 2004 20:52:50 GMT -5
I'm kind of surprised that no one has mentioned Manly Wade Wellman. His stuff is kind of hard to find, but it's just the sort of thing that goes along with this website.
Wellman's stories are built around (mostly) American superstitions and folklore. His Silver John stories take place in the mountains of North Carolina. Definitely worth reading if you can track it down. It's best to check out libraries and used book stores. Probably the easiest novel to find is "After Dark".
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Post by Gary Carden on Aug 22, 2004 7:40:36 GMT -5
Well, I'll be glad to mention Manley Wade Wellman. I probably appreciate his non-fiction works more than this ghost stories, and have a valued copy of "Dead and Gone" which treats some famous North Carolina murders. I especially like his treatment of "Frankie Silver." Recently, I saw a "tribute' to Manley Wade Wellman by Harlan Ellison, and Harlan don't compliment hack writers!
Gary
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Post by Gary Carden on Aug 22, 2004 7:41:37 GMT -5
Well, I'll be glad to mention Manley Wade Wellman. I probably appreciate his non-fiction works more than this ghost stories, and have a valued copy of "Dead and Gone" which treats some famous North Carolina murders. I especially like his treatment of "Frankie Silver." Recently, I saw a "tribute' to Manley Wade Wellman by Harlan Ellison, and Harlan don't compliment hack writers!
Gary
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Post by Captain Obvious on Sept 12, 2004 18:28:37 GMT -5
Great hearing from you, Mr. Carden.
Just wanted to say that I really like this website, and look forward to any stories you add. I check in every now and then, just to see if anything's happened.
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Post by Gary Carden on Oct 15, 2004 11:27:36 GMT -5
Are any of you posters familiar with an old Appalachian drama called "The Dark of the Moon"? If not, I heartily recommend it. It is still produced occasionally, and I was actually invited up to Long Island a few years back to "assist" in the "dialect" when a wealthy private school undertook a production. I was supposed to teach them to talk "mountain" in one hour. I attempted to teach them to say "can't" and failed. They overpaid me and I came home.
I first heard "Dark of the Moon" on the radio in the 40's (Lux Radio Theatre) and later saw it produced at a cast party for the actors in "Unto These Hills." Then, it showed up in Asheville a few times. It is a wonderful blend of mountain ghost stories with a bit of Irish folklore. As a child, it frightened me badly (or wonderfully).
Gary Carden
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john
New Member
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Post by john on Jul 23, 2007 0:46:54 GMT -5
I'm kind of surprised that no one has mentioned Manly Wade Wellman. His stuff is kind of hard to find, but it's just the sort of thing that goes along with this website. I'll also mention Karl Edward Wagner who was a good friend of Wellman's, published two volumes of his stories, edited The Years Best Horror Stories for Daw and wrote many a great horror tale himself, some of them set in East Tennessee and the Smokies. He grew up in Knoxville and lived in Chapel Hill, as did Wellman. He graduated from UNC medical school there. When he died he was little known, but you won't have any trouble finding info on him now. I'm building a webpage in his honor myself at www.karledwardwagner.org. ~ John |
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