Horror Aficionados discussion

Hey there, I am looking for any books that are a bit out-there or unexpected. i love having my mind expanded a bit. Favourite book is house of leaves, other notables of the last 5 years has been under the dome, and recently enjoyed the ruins, the main thing i liked about all of these was that i really did not guess the story from the beginning.

Also they were quite a bit out there and serious - i dont do cheesy stories, and dont like stupid characters or cheap tricks, also, maybe one bogeyman too many, idk.

any ideas for something quite adult & odd which ticks these boxes?


another thing ive just noticed is that all of these have a certain setting to them, like the place is as much part of the story

The King of "out-there" is Chuck Palahnuik. My favorites by him are Survivor, Invisible Monsters Remix (audiobook is awesome) Fight Club, Choke. He's funny, deep, super smart, vividly grotesque, shocking.
He's not for everyone, but those that "get" him, love him.

Oh fantastic, i have read 'Damned' and enjoyed it, but for some reason didnt think he verged on the more serious edge as this was a bit cartoony in style.


always good to get a new author!

Agreed, regarding Invisible Monsters Remix and the audiobook of the same.

I really loved NOS4A2 and the graphic novel follow up: Wraith, (which is a compilation of the 6 comics.)

The Croning by Laird Barron is quite different.
North American Lake Monsters: Stories I thought this collection was awesome and original.

Michael McDowell's The Elementals was an awesome dark fiction tale, but literary also, and very scary at times! "Savage mothers eat their children up"!
(McDowell wrote the screenplays for several movies, most notably Beetlejuice.)

Im reading NOS4A2 as we speak - done 30% in one sitting and havent put it down yet. A good example of what I mean, yes.

nos4a2 wasnt quite as hard as i like them, kinda like a darker gaiman with lots of action. I prefer a more serious note

Just read 'Horns' by Joe Hill and loved it. thought it was great! I love stuff thats a little bit different.

@scott, i'll take your word for it - i dont like reading synopsis, i'll just check it out :)

Yeah, Horns was funny and dark, both at the same time.

So i started reading 'survivor' and theres something about his writing style I find jarring, short, sharp paragraphs which push me out instead of pulling me in.

I love the idea behind the story though, im about halfway through but I feel like Im reading it to see what happens, and not enjoying it as much as I should.

Hmmm. I wonder if its a time & place thing, or maybe im one of those people that dont gel with him.. this might be the reason i didnt read more of his stuff after Damned.


I will continue to read it, maybe i just need to take a break for a while and go back to it. maybe im booked out a bit (ive read 3 books in a week)

Harbour this was one that stayed with me, a bit freaky and totally engrossing, i prefer this to let the right one in.

i havent read LTROI, ive seen the film :)

thanks, another added to my list