Horror Aficionados discussion

I'm looking for recommendations for high quality horror. All the lists are populated by King--who I really like, but have read everything I care to--and the same ole, same ole. I've had my fill of zombies and vampires. I would most appreciate recommendations for literary horror. And I love a good ghost/haunting story.
Thanks!

Thomas Ligotti says hi.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

Horrorshow wrote: "Thomas Ligotti says hi.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2..."

Thanks, I'm not real big short stories, though, and I'm not sure that's the kind of thing I'm wanting.

What I'm hoping to find is serious adult fiction that's creepy. You know something that could compete for a Man Booker Award that's spooky.

Have you ever read any of Robert McCammon or Clive Barkers books?

Deborah wrote: "Have you ever read any of Robert McCammon or Clive Barkers books?"

Yeah, I haven't read much Barker, but I've read quite a bit of McCammon old and new--he was actually my favorite author at one time. I'm currently on the fourth book of the Matthew Corbett series which I think is superb for the most part. His new stuff is way more literary. I think it's his best stuff, too.

Julia

The House Next Door

Coldheart Canyon

The Ceremonies

The Man in the Moss

The Dwelling

House of Small Shadows

Long Lankin

No King, no zombies, vampires or werewolves......just a few haunted houses and miscellaneous monstrosities.

Love Peter Straub - his book Ghost Story had me avoiding the basement for months! Also, The Ruins had me giving the trumpeter vine around our house a VERY wide berth!!

If you want to go classic, H.P. Lovecraft is always the way to go!

Naomi's Room by Jonathan Aycliffe

A ghost story and the writing is marvellous.

Ash StreetPrey DriveThe Killings

The Killings
Prey Drive
Ash Street

Try these out

Esme wrote: "

Naomi's Room by Jonathan Aycliffe

A ghost story and the writing is marvellous."

One of the scariest books I've ever read. And it's literary.

Come Closer
The Ruins
The Haunting of Hill House
Horns
The Godsend
Boy's Life
Carrion Comfort
When Darkness Loves Us
The Little Stranger
Her Fearful Symmetry
Let's Go Play At The Adams'
Dead Sea
Audrey's Door
Katie
The Strain
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
In the Miso Soup
Under the Skin

Thanks everyone, keep 'em coming if you don't mind.

Tressa, I just read The Little Stranger and I was pretty impressed to say the least. That's about as perfect as a novel as I've ever read.

Tressa wrote: "Esme wrote: "

Naomi's Room by Jonathan Aycliffe

A ghost story and the writing is marvellous."

One of the scariest books I've ever read. And it's literary."

Esme wrote: "

Naomi's Room by Jonathan Aycliffe

A ghost story and the writing is marvellous."

Thanks, I find this one real appealing. It's pretty short; I may just read through it right now.

Teresa, that is quite a list. Thank you so much.

Tressa has fantastic taste. You couldn't ask for a better response than that list.

Ramsey Campbell is about as literary as it gets. If you like short stories, Alone with the Horrors is fantastic. If novels are more your thing, I'd recommend The Parasite or The Hungry Moon.

I recommend The Troop. Nick Cutter is a pen name for a literary fiction writer that has obviously been carrying a lifelong love for pure, gross-out horror. Some of the sickest imagery I've ever encountered, but in stunningly beautiful language and with some fun pseudo-science that just smells "real" in context.

If your looking for something supernatural, scary and disturbing, try reading some of Edward Lee's novels. They are not for everyone as they can be very adult and disturbing but also very scary.
My favorites from Edward Lee are:

Messenger
The Black Train
Flesh Gothic
City Infernal - which is a look at Hell in a way that will make you hope you never make your way there when you die. Truly disturbing.
The rest of his work is also good but these novels will help you get a good start to something that is not main stream horror.

Charlene wrote: "Tressa has fantastic taste. You couldn't ask for a better response than that list."

Thank you!