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Original poster

Where to start with horror fiction? Stephen King?

29 replies

clemetteattlee · 25/10/2013 19:01

I have never read any horror but was listening to a radio programme the other day about King's Pet Cemetry and thought I would give the genre a go. But where's the best place to start? I would like it to be scary but not necessarily ridiculously graphic and something well written.
Any recommendations?

OP posts:
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ILoveCwtches · 29/10/2013 10:23

I love SK. Yy to Duma Key and I read Desperation in 2 sittings, as couldnt put it down. The Shining goes without saying, as do IT, Carrie & Pet Semetary. I didn't like Insomnia, though. Starts well but gets all convoluted. Dreamcatcher is quite good.

Other authors: Dracula is excellent. Not keen on James Herbert but I did enjoy '48, but it's a bit gory, if I recall correctly.

I think I'll have to try some of the books/authors suggested on this thread. Broaden my "horror" mind! Grin

Original poster
clemetteattlee · 29/10/2013 10:05

Fab - keep 'em coming ...

OP posts:
pointyfangs · 28/10/2013 18:47

I second Kim Newman's Jago, it's very underrated. Early Dean Koontz is worth a read, but he gets a bit fundamentalist Christian/conspiracy theorist/Tea Party politics later on. Can't believe no-one has mentioned Clive Barker! Granted, he's written some shockingly bad books, but Weaveworld and Coldheart Canyon are great.

MadeOfStarDust · 27/10/2013 14:00

But soooooo worth it - one of those books you don't want to put down til it is over.....

Original poster
clemetteattlee · 27/10/2013 12:37

Wow the Stand is a long book!!

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 27/10/2013 01:04

The Shining!

Amazing book, and there's a reason why Joey from Friends keeps his copy in the fridge!

SinisterBuggyMonth · 27/10/2013 01:02

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PinkFairyArmadillo · 26/10/2013 17:38

Stephen King is my favourite author, it's rare that I don't have at least one of his books on the go!!

Another vote for The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, it's amazing. I read it in one sitting as I couldn't put it down once I'd started.

Some of his novellas are very good as well. Four Past Midnight is a good collection.

Duma Key is also excellent, it's more woo than gory.

The Shining is fantastic, don't let that Stanley Kubrick tripe put you off it's nothing like the book.

IT is probably my all time favourite.

Original poster
clemetteattlee · 26/10/2013 17:25

Wow, lots of votes for the Stand so I'll add that one to the list!
Thank you

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MadeOfStarDust · 26/10/2013 10:23

James Herbert The Rats + sequel the lair.... scary, but well written...
Stephen King - the Stand - really good - and they made a 2 parter for TV out of it which follows the story well...
Dean Koontz - Night Chills is a good one too.... ooohhh and Strangers... (only really like his 1980s stuff though...)

EverythingUnderControl · 26/10/2013 10:18

House of Lost Souls by FG Cottam was the scariest book I've ever read.

I have read a lot of SK. My favourite is Bag of Bones. I prefer psychological rather than gory horror.

Some books of SK's aren't really horror imho ie Under The Dome or 11.22.63. I know many will disagree but I didn't think either of those books were all that great. Both were long, rambly and rather overblown.

rachyconks · 26/10/2013 10:15

Have recently read the stand, under the dome and 11.22.63. Loved them all. The stand is particularly epic.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 26/10/2013 10:10

Have been a huge Stephen King fan since about 14. I would recommend his short stories (Skeleton Key and Night Shift are both fantastic books), The Stand (epic) and IT (because of the characterisation in it and all the wonderful 'little stories' we get).

I'd also recommend early Dean Koontz (Lightning, Midnight, The Bad Place, Dark Rivers of The Heart) but not his most recent stuff because I'm finding it all very samey (fuck off with all the genius, amazing kids in every family, Koontz!).

I've read a handful of James Herbert but I honestly wish I could scrub The Secret of Crickley Hall from my brain and leave a warning there to myself never to read it. Not because it was a bad book but because it was so bloody upsetting. If you get upset by stuff involving small children avoid avoid avoid!

Scariest book I read in ages was Let The Right One In (two film versions been made so far!) by John Ajvide Lindqvuist. I think he's Norwegian. Modern, vampire story. Scared the life out of me. Looking forward to reading his other books.

jellycake · 25/10/2013 22:28

The Stand - enough said!

Original poster
clemetteattlee · 25/10/2013 22:22

Fantastic - thanks all.
I shall give the Shining and the Shirley Jackson a go to start with I think.

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Junebugjr · 25/10/2013 21:43

You really can't beat The Shining.

From other authors, the last horror book I read was 'last days' by Adam Nevill - about a cult. Very good, I can usually watch horror films like the exorcist etc on my own and happily go off to bed. I was slightly nervous after this, and had to put the lights on!

runningonwillpower · 25/10/2013 21:28

I loved Stephen King's early stuff. He's lost it lately (since he got run over and banged his head?).

I would particularly recommend The Stand and Needful Things.

hoobypickypicky · 25/10/2013 21:26

James Herbert. Try The Magic Cottage or The Rats. Just don't read either just before bedtime!

MikeLitorisBites · 25/10/2013 21:24

I thought the secret of crikley hall was very predictable tbh. Not scary at all.

LEMisafucker · 25/10/2013 19:58

James Herbert latest offering was just awful though - i can't help but wonder if he was quite well when he wrote it.

glenthebattleostrich · 25/10/2013 19:37

Forget king and read some James Herbert. The secret of crickley hall is very good s is the magic cottage.

Of kings, try misery, shining or it.

KateCroydon · 25/10/2013 19:35

Try the Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. Stephen King's a fan.

ophiotaurus · 25/10/2013 19:26

The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon is very good.

LEMisafucker · 25/10/2013 19:23

STrump, i pretty much agree with you - most of them end up being some sort of giant alien spider anyway

Strumpetron · 25/10/2013 19:20

I'm going to say something here that people won't agree with... but I don't really like Stephen King's books. The stories and ideas are brilliant, absolutely brilliant but I don't like his writing style. I think sometimes the plot gets a bit lost in over descriptive text.

I'll be watching this thread because I do love a good horror!

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