Classic Horror Lovers discussion

Thank you :) Yes, I like Lovecraft a lot as well, although it is on my list to get to know his works even better in the future. I believe he is the most beloved horror writer here, together with Poe .

I like James to and I also think Stoker should get a little more attention. I suppose the fact that most of his stuff isn't as good as Dracula doesn't help. August Derleth is another to try.

Derleth I have never read, thank you for the tip!

Algernon Blackwood. The Keep, by F. Paul Wilson is a horror novel set in WW 2. Might be just what you're looking for.

Oh, yeah. Wilson did a companion series to the one The Keep starts.

Mike (the Paladin) said (in part):

August Derleth is another to try.

Opinions vary, of course, but I’m not sure how enthusiastic I would be in endorsing Derleth. I would imagine he’s much better remembered as an editor and publisher than as a writer. Personally, I’d avoid the Lovecraft pastiches. They’re not especially good and, moreover, they’ve been criticized (sometimes in rather strident terms) by Lovecraft purists who insist that Derleth’s stories violated key philosophical tenets set forth by Lovecraft regarding his mythos.

As for Derleth’s non-Lovecraftian weird fiction, here’s my take (for what it’s worth). Some of it’s not bad; in fact, a few stories are really quite good. But for every good story (e.g., “The Lonesome Place”), there are a bunch of subpar ones — some quite bad, indeed. In the foreword to one of his story collections (I forget which one), Derleth himself seemed pretty clear-eyed about the quality of his weird fiction. Derleth always expected that if any of his fiction were to be remembered by future readers, it would be his Sac Prairie regional stuff. It’s kinda too bad that they've largely been relegated to the literary dustbin.

If you like the older weird pulp stuff (i.e., in the Weird Tales tradition) see if you can dig up some of the old anthologies he edited as mid-century such as Sleep No More , Who Knocks? , and The Night Side .

A belated welcome to Dormouse.

I just suggested she try him Canavan. Tastes vary. She won't know how she feels till she tries his work. That's all I meant.

Mike (the Paladin) wrote:

I just suggested she try him Canavan. Tastes vary. She won't know how she feels till she tries his work. That's all I meant.

Gotcha, Mike. Sorry if it sounded as though I were trying to actively discourage anyone from reading an author. Opinions, as you note, vary, and I was merely registering mine about Derleth — influential editor and publisher, minor writer.

I'm DJ,I love Hp Lovecraft books and Audiobooks.I also like Algernon Blackwood and Edgar Allan Poe.The thing I love about classic horror is there is always an unknown story or lesser known Author waiting to be discovered in obscure short stories collections and compilations.

Hi, welcome.

Welcome, DJ.

Welcome, DJ!

Hi I'm Michaela. I'm quite new to the classic horror genre but so far some of my favourite's have been Dracula and Frankenstein and cant wait to get my teeth sunk into Edgar Allen Poe as well as HP Lovecraft. I've always loved classic books and have always been pretty morbid and so these combined are what draw me to classic horror.

Danielle The Book Huntress (Self-Proclaimed Book Ninja) wrote: "Sorry for the late welcome, Lamprini!"

It's ok D. Besides, i was reading another horror book.

Hello, Emma.

Welcome, Emma!

Hi

I'm vanda just popping in to get some new titles to add to my ever growing TO BE READ PILE :(.

I like Shirley Jackson and Richard Matheson. I think the classic may be safer than the over the gore fest that is called horror today.

I've been amassing tons (okay, maybe not tons) of classic horror novels/story collections, and I am wondering if there's some way to invigorate this group. I love the old stuff and would really like to share my enthusiasm with like-minded people. Group read anyone? It's going to be October soon.

Nancy said:

I've been amassing tons (okay, maybe not tons) of classic horror novels/story collections, and I am wondering if there's some way to invigorate this group. I love the old stuff and would really like to share my enthusiasm with like-minded people. Group read anyone? It's going to be October soon.

I agree that the group has been in the doldrums of late, although I’m not sure why. I think the last sustained activity was a couple of years ago when one of our members, Ken, headed up a number of buddy reads.

In any case I’d be up for some sort of group read next month. I think the trick is to find something that is readily available to participants — e.g., a collection whose contents are in the public domain and hence free or perhaps something a bit more recent that is available as a relatively cheap ebook.

Why we don't we take a look around for public domain material and meet up in a few days with a few suggestions.

Better yet:

http://manybooks.net/categories/HOR

Like some other members of this group, I'm also in the Supernatural Fiction Readers group. Every October, that group does a common read; and I always take part in that. So I'll be tied up in October myself; but I wish the rest of this group a good and scary group read! :-)

Nancy wrote:

Why we don't we take a look around for public domain material and meet up in a few days with a few suggestions.

Well, I took a look this morning at the response to the thread I created in the Book Discussion Threads section (see here) asking for buddy read suggestions. One noncommittal response and five views. Given the the lack of activity in this group over the past few years, I wasn’t expecting much of a response, but with over 1,000 members I was hoping for more than that.

I think the sad reality, Nancy, is that this group is for all intents and purposes dead.

Canavan wrote: "Nancy wrote:


Why we don't we take a look around for public domain material and meet up in a few days with a few suggestions.


Well, I took a look this morning at the response to the thread I c..."

That is a shame. There really are some very good works out there to be explored, with a number of small presses reprinting older, classic works these days. Sigh.

I wouldn't say that the group is dead, just that there isn't any interest right now in doing a common read. In my experience, not all Goodreads groups do the latter, and some that formerly did have outgrown them, but remained viable places for discussion. This group certainly has occasional activity on other threads, though I admit that I'm not a very active member.

The Classic Horror Reviews folder (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group... ) certainly offers one venue that could attract more posts, if people realized it's there. It's been over two years since I posted on my own thread there (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... ); I'll try to check my shelves this week and see if I have more reviews that could be posted there!

Nancy wrote: "I've been amassing tons (okay, maybe not tons) of classic horror novels/story collections, and I am wondering if there's some way to invigorate this group. I love the old stuff and would really lik..."

Welcome, Nancy!

V wrote: "Hi

I'm vanda just popping in to get some new titles to add to my ever growing TO BE READ PILE :(.

I like Shirley Jackson and Richard Matheson. I think the classic may be safer than the over the ..."

Welcome, Vanda!

In reply to Nancy and Canavan's question about a group read, you are welcome to create a thread under the section and solicit readers.

As the lead moderator, I have not personally had time to coordinate group reads, but members are more than welcome to self-coordinate.

I agree with Werner. I wouldn't say the group is dead. I think that activity has been lower with people doing life things and having other commitments.

As members, you are more than welcome to get some discussion going amongst yourselves. Personally, I don't have as much Goodreads time in my schedule, but I pop in when I can to check the groups I moderate, and my PM box is always open for questions. Hope that helps.

HI! I'm actually reading mostly classic horror before 2017! I just had my fill of HP Lovecraft, and Edgar Allen Poe looking for more. I will lurk around the page for some ideas!

I would recommend MR James, Manly Wade Wellman or William Hope Hodgson. Arthur Machen is good if you like your classic horror weird and off center spiritual. Manly Wade Wellman wasn't cheap for a long time, but some of his stuff is available in ebook now. The others are often very inexpensive if not free. Amazon is selling a lot of classic horror collections dirt cheap lately.

Hi Guys! My name is Kimberly and thanks for letting me join the group! I love horror/thrillers of all kinds. My favorite books in the classic horror are "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, "Dracula" by Bram Stoker and "Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde. Thanks again for letting me join I'm looking forward to everyone's reviews!

Welcome, Kimberly!

Welcome, Kimberly! We share some favorites.

1. Hello! I'm Laurel.
2. Some of my favorites are Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Shirley Jackson, Bram Stoker, M. R. James, Arthur Machen, Henry James, H. P. Lovecraft, Sheridan Le Fanu, and Richard Matheson.
3. I love classic horror for its atmosphere and ability to chill and thrill you with less. I'm not big into gore or shock value with horror novels, though I enjoy that occasionally in horror films. I like to be subtly creeped out, looking over my shoulder or having to leave the lights on after I close a book. The feeling of slow burning dread is so much more effective, in my opinion, than in your face splatter.
4. My first horror/Gothic author was Poe, and I've loved him ever since. "The Fall of the House of Usher" is my all-time favorite story. Frankenstein is my favorite novel. Lately I've been trying to discover more female authors of classic horror. Pleasure to meet everyone!

Hi Laurel. Welcome. I have similar reasons for loving classic horror. Poe was one of my first favorites as well. We do have a thread that talks about female classic horror writers, I believe. I'm on my phone right now but tomorrow when I post the poll, I'll go ahead and put a link on this thread for you. We're glad you joined us.

Laurel, here's the thread where we discuss women class horror writers.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

1. Adalante

2. M.R James, Poe, A.M Burrage, L.T.C Rolt, A.N.L Munby and many more.

3. To get a glimpse of a world lost.

4. Just started on Lovecraft.

Danielle The Book Huntress (Back to the Books) wrote: "Please tell us a little about yourself.

1. Dean Cowan
2. MR James, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker Conan Doyle ( when in Gothic mode)
3. Because it is genuinely frightening without resorting to sensationalism.
4. I am squeamish and not a bit frightening!

1. A.O. Monk / aomonk
2. William Sloane, Algernon Blackwood, Richard Matheson
3. Why do you like classic horror? - The stories scare me. The best stuff, for the most part, has stood the test of time.
4. Anything else you'd like us to know about you? - Not really.

1. Name: Marek

2. Who are your favorite classic horror writers?

H. P. Lovcraft, E. A. Poe. Bram Stoker, Sheridan Le Fanu, Marry Shelly, A. Blackwood R. E. Howard and others.

3. Why do you like classic horror?

Previously I was reading mostly non-fiction books but always felt very much attracted through the movies and wanted to know those great works directly from the first hand by means of reading them myself. The times in which most of them are happening to take place is what I really enjoy all of the Victorian, Gothic, Middle age Horrors and of course all kind of weird stories!

4. Anything else you'd like us to know about you?

Anything else will come out through the posts that I will eventually write so I leave that to the experience and insights that anyone can have while exchanging posts in this group.

1. name: Dwight
2. favourite writers: M. R. James, Shirley Jackson, Robert Aickman, H. P. Lovecraft, Arthur Machen, L. T. C. Rolt, Ray Bradbury, William Hope Hodgson.
3. reasons: I like horror from all eras, but I prefer works that focus on atmosphere and unsettling imagery to ones that rely on sex and violence.
4. my other interests include B-movies, rockabilly music, and obscure trivia. Politically, I am a socialist, but I try not to let politics affect my enjoyment of a work, or to discuss it obsessively on the internet (which is something that bothers me).

Hello everyone!
1. Call me C.C. Short and to the point.
2. It's been a little while since I've read classic horror but my favorites are Edgar Allen Poe (especially "Mask of the Red Death") And Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray. Heavily inspired by Frankenstein and Dracula but haven't actually read them yet. (I plan to soon, though!)
3. I don't know...there's something elegant and intelligent that appeals to me. A different sort of horror that sits in my bones and the back of my mind, and I don't find a lot of that in the modern books I read. I suppose I'm an old school romantic at heart, in the ways that Goya, Shelley and Poe were, and I think that in part is also why I'm drawn to tales of old.
4. Not only do I love classic horror novels and stories, I'm a huge fan of classic horror movies and audio dramas. Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Chaneys sr and jr...even the ol' Cabinet of Caligari. It's all good and all super inspiring for my own work.

hello!
1 Latasha or tosha, either is fine. I love all kinds of horror from all ages.
2. my favorite? Ambrose Bierce! I don't think he gets enough love. <3 but I adore all the usual's as well.
3. reasons: I don't know, I just like that ol bitter Bierce!
4. other interest: my cat. lol I love him. :p

are there still group reads for this group? or buddy reads? I enjoy them very much.

Danielle The Book Huntress (Back to the Books) wrote: "Please tell us a little about yourself.

1. Name or Screen Name: Alan Toner
2. Who are your favorite classic horror writers? R. Chetwynd Hayes, Bram Stoker, Ramsey Campbell, Roald Dahl.
3. Why do you like classic horror? Because it has atmosphere, interesting characters, and it makes me reminisce about the times I would regularly borrow all those wonderful classic horror books from my local library!
4. Anything else you'd like us to know about you?" I not only love reading horror, but I actually write horror myself too.

Hi. Nice to be here.

Name or Screen Name
2. Who are your favorite classic horror writers?
3. Why do you like classic horror?
4. Anything else you'd like us to know about you?

reply | flag *

Larry wrote: "Twilight, horror?? Yea right! Well it is a horror in one way-in as much it would be a horror for me to have watch it!"

I agree. Twilight horror is way too soppy and unscary. Give me good old classic SCARY horror any day.

I love classic ghost stories. E.F. Benson is my favorite. I also like M.R, James, Sheridan Le Fanu, etc... I've also read weird fiction Lovecraft, Robert W Chambers, Algernon Blackwood,
etc... and of course Gothic Horror Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker.

Latasha wrote: "hello!
1 Latasha or tosha, either is fine. I love all kinds of horror from all ages.
2. my favorite? Ambrose Bierce! I don't think he gets enough love. <3 but I adore all the usual's as well.
3...."

Hi Latasha, I'd love to do a buddy read / buddy listen. I listen to most of my old favourites on either Librovox or Youtube. Do you want to do a couple of short stories?

Danielle The Book Huntress (Back to the Books) wrote: "Please tell us a little about yourself.

1. Name or Screen Name
hi, i am Lamprini and i love a good horror story.
2. Who are your favorite classic horror writers?
JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK
NIKOLAI GOGOL
THOMAS PRESET PREST
MARY ELIZABETH BRANDON
JULIAN HAWTHORNE
BRAM STOKER
F. MARION CRAWFORD
Ε.F.BENSON
CARL JACOBI
CLARK ASHTON SMITH
SERINTAN LE FANU

3. Why do you like classic horror?
beacause there is an atmospheric feeling along with darkness and suspense. Even though many times along with the horror there is romanticism, scarcely there is a happy ending.The undead is the villain: cursed, sinfuly attractive but deadly to the bone.
Besides- the blood is the life!

4. Anything else you'd like us to know about you?"
Just an avid reader of vampire and paranormal stories

Melanie wrote: "Latasha wrote: "hello!
1 Latasha or tosha, either is fine. I love all kinds of horror from all ages.
2. my favorite? Ambrose Bierce! I don't think he gets enough love. <3 but I adore all the usua..."

sure! that would be great. do you have any suggestions?