Beyond Reality discussion

Laurel asked for good scary reads for October and I thought it would make a great topic for a separate discussion! So have at it - who's got suggestions for scary SF/F? I'm not talking the obvious (Stephen King etc), but books from authors who you don't normally think of as writers of horror.

The first two scary books that came to my mind are both by Dan Simmons. I actually did not like Song of Kali all that much, but his creepy portrait of Calcutta stuck with me and still gives me the shivers when I think about it. I absolutely LOVED The Terror, that definitely gave me some weeeeird scary dreams.

It's not really scary at all, but I can't let the topic of good October reads go by without mentioning A Night in the Lonesome October by Zelazny. Classic!

Can't think of anything else at the moment, but I'll come back if I'm reminded of anything else. What about the rest of you?

As soon as I posted that I remembered another - how could I have forgotten Perdido Street Station by China Mieville? The slake-moths in that book are hands-down THE scariest monster I've EVER encountered in a book. And the Weaver is fascinatingly creepy.

Shel wrote: "As soon as I posted that I remembered another - how could I have forgotten Perdido Street Station by China Mieville? The slake-moths in that book are hands-down THE scariest monster I..."

I disagree. I didn't find them scary at all. The medusa monster is pretty much old hat.

Its been a tradition with my mom and I to read at least one spooky book during October. I'm not one for the blood and guts type of horror. I tend to prefer either the more old fashioned gothic or psychological horror.

One of the creepiest I've read in recent years has been the audio version of Coraline read by Neil Gaiman. It has to be the audio version and there's one point where the mice are singing which still creeps me out. :D

One we read as a group last year I believe was Blindsight. I found it rather creepy at times, not because of the vampire, but because of the emotional tone of the characters and the behavior of the aliens.

I've also heard some good things about The Passage and its on my too read list.

I've been on more of a humor kick these last few years, so I'm drawing a bit of a blank for the moment on anything further.

As for the more traditional . . .

Poe and Lovecraft have been old standards for me. The Tell-Tale Heart has been a favorite since my 6th grade teacher read it aloud to us during class. (She's the one who helped show me just how cool Poe was. I thought his poem, The Bells, was utterly stupid until she read it to us in class and caused me to change my mind.)

Anyway, this year I believe I'm going for Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle: or The Haunting of Hill House. Maybe I'll do both since they appear to be rather short.

I'm reading A Night in the Lonesome October one day at a time. Not scary, although it is creepy (especially when you think about who you wind up rooting for) & so much fun. A lunatic scavenger hunt is how one of the characters describes it. Very true. Zelazny at his best.

I haven't read A Night in the Lonesome October before, but I've ordered a copy from my library and will try to catch up to you both. Is it purposefully a chapter each day?

Yes, there is a chapter for each day of the month with the big blow-out on Halloween night. It's kind of hard to read just one chapter, but if you really dissect each one & study all of the clues, that's probably enough. Even the dedication provides clues. Many are subtle & best enjoyed with additional reading.

We discussed it a couple of years ago in the Zelazny group, so you can gain some insight by reading the spoiler topic of this book there. I'd be happy to discuss it anywhere, though.

I know you eliminated Stephen King , but the scariest book I've ever reas was Salem's Lot. I had trouble sleeping and most certainly kept my windows closed for a while

I remember not sleeping for nights after watching Salem's Lot when I was a teen. I read Coraline after my ex recommended it, then I went on holiday and we had a locked door in our apartment that didn't seem to have anything behind it. Was convinced the button people would get me!

Shel wrote: "The first two scary books that came to my mind are both by Dan Simmons. I actually did not like Song of Kali all that much, but his creepy portrait of Calcutta stuck with me and still gives me the shivers when I think about it. I absolutely LOVED The Terror, that definitely gave me some weeeeird scary dreams."

Not to be missed by him are Carrion Comfort and Summer of Night. Both have the ability to raise those hackles on the back of your neck.

Jim wrote: "Not to be missed by him are Carrion Comfort and Summer of Night. Both have the ability to raise those hackles on the back of your neck."

Haven't read either of those - I'll have to add them to the ever-growing list :)

Rather than reading a horror, how about something about Samhain. A fiction does not jump to mind. Anyone have any suggestions?

I just finished reading
Lilith's Tears
by David Jones, and its mixed of classic horror Edgar Rice Burroughs style and dark fantasy I found quite enjoyable. Lots of action, but also nicely written in a descriptive way. It had a great gothic feel to it: shipwrecked on a mystery island with savages that keep coming even after they die.

It's the young adult fiction category but from several years ago, by Louise Lawrence, set in Wales is a good tale and the dark powers of the earth that reach their zenith during this time of the year.

I don't normally get "scared" but the most shocking scene, for me, was in Stephen King's Pet Sematary. The Trigger scene ( I dont want to spoil anything) that basically gives us the modivation of the main character. It was so shocking I actually spoke out loud on the Bus. It has stuck with me ever since.

The Ridge by Michael Koryta was really creepy. However, top honors for scary story for me goes to Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill.

Ooh, I need to read some Joe Hill. I've only read a few of his short stories and loved them.

I haven't read any of Hill's novels yet, but the Locke & Key GN series is really good, and a bit on the creepy/scary side.

Another book I finished the other week was one by Gareth Barsby,
The Werewolf Asylum

It was a little rough around the edges, but had a great premise, and the werewolf creatures were chilling and different than usually presented.

Okay, A Night in the Lonesome October arrived today! I'm going to catch up to today, then read a chapter a day like Shel and others recommended!