I am pretty sure there has been a recent thread on books but, I can never seem to find them through the search function. So, I figured I start a new one. What are some fiction books you all would recommend that are in the Gothic,Horror, supernatural,or mythical genre. Seems like the only type of books I can find are vampire ones and that twilight crap has pretty much ruined vampires for me.
The Bible.
[quote]xXSeraphimXx wrote:
I am pretty sure there has been a recent thread on books but, I can never seem to find them through the search function. So, I figured I start a new one. What are some fiction books you all would recommend that are in the Gothic,Horror, supernatural,or mythical genre. Seems like the only type of books I can find are vampire ones and that twilight crap has pretty much ruined vampires for me.[/quote]
If you’re in your late 20’s and all you can find is Twilight crap, stop shopping in the kids section.
Stephen King is a master at that shit. His movies often used to suck (until we hit Shawshank Redemption and Green Mile), but his skills as a writer or nearly unmatched…even though I did like Robin Cook’s work when I was a kid.
HP Lovecraft is essential reading for Gothic Horror. He is an early 1920’s-1930’s writer that has probably influenced most of the modern horror writers out there.
Del Ray books has a couple collections of his works. I would start with the one titled “Blood Curling Tales of Horror and the Macabre” That has some of his best stories in it, namely “Call of the Cthulhu,” “The Dunwich Horror,” and “Shadow Over Insmouth.”
His work isn’t going to be “Oh god, I can’t possibly turn another page!” scary, but it’s definitely evocative with the atmosphere and characters.
try silmarillion by Tolkien. its great.
I like the books Kim Harrison writes although I’ve only read the Hollows series. I just ordered her latest book Black Magic Sanction. All her books are written from the view of this female bounty hunter that happens to be a witch, live with a vampire and pixy, and usually involves werewolves, demons, or some other mythical creature.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
[quote]xXSeraphimXx wrote:
I am pretty sure there has been a recent thread on books but, I can never seem to find them through the search function. So, I figured I start a new one. What are some fiction books you all would recommend that are in the Gothic,Horror, supernatural,or mythical genre. Seems like the only type of books I can find are vampire ones and that twilight crap has pretty much ruined vampires for me.[/quote]
If you’re in your late 20’s and all you can find is Twilight crap, stop shopping in the kids section.
Stephen King is a master at that shit. His movies often used to suck (until we hit Shawshank Redemption and Green Mile), but his skills as a writer or nearly unmatched…even though I did like Robin Cook’s work when I was a kid.[/quote]
x2
check out the Dark Tower series if you’re looking for a scifi/western/fantasy/autobiography
i’m reading Insomnia now, slow beginning but a really interesting concept.
try the turn of the screw by henry james, mary shelleys frankenstein, bram stokers dracula or dorian grey by oscar wilde
[quote]redstar144 wrote:
try the turn of the screw by henry james, mary shelleys frankenstein, bram stokers dracula or dorian grey by oscar wilde[/quote]
…addendum…if you are over the age of 55.
duma key - king’s best new work although i haven’t gotten to under the dome yet. try some dan simmons. the fact that tucker max is published is scary in and of itself, you could try reading one of his ‘books’.
[quote]WormwoodTheory wrote:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
[quote]xXSeraphimXx wrote:
I am pretty sure there has been a recent thread on books but, I can never seem to find them through the search function. So, I figured I start a new one. What are some fiction books you all would recommend that are in the Gothic,Horror, supernatural,or mythical genre. Seems like the only type of books I can find are vampire ones and that twilight crap has pretty much ruined vampires for me.[/quote]
If you’re in your late 20’s and all you can find is Twilight crap, stop shopping in the kids section.
Stephen King is a master at that shit. His movies often used to suck (until we hit Shawshank Redemption and Green Mile), but his skills as a writer or nearly unmatched…even though I did like Robin Cook’s work when I was a kid.[/quote]
x2
check out the Dark Tower series if you’re looking for a scifi/western/fantasy/autobiography
i’m reading Insomnia now, slow beginning but a really interesting concept.[/quote]
Stephen King is the master, and the Dark Tower Series, at least the first 4 books are simply awesome. I’m still not sure about the last 3, but I’m coming around.
Stephen King writes a good mind-fuck. I’m reading Desperation again right now.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
[quote]redstar144 wrote:
try the turn of the screw by henry james, mary shelleys frankenstein, bram stokers dracula or dorian grey by oscar wilde[/quote]
…addendum…if you are over the age of 55.[/quote]
im 19. the fact they are old doesnt make them any less good, the term is classic i believe
[quote]redstar144 wrote:
try the turn of the screw by henry james, mary shelleys frankenstein, bram stokers dracula or dorian grey by oscar wilde[/quote]
Ugh. That’s like going back and reading the old Wells stories.
I have this tendency to revisit the pulp authors of the 20s and 30s. And while it takes a very special person to love Lovecraft for much more than his endless list of adjectives, have you gone back and read the original Conan stories by Robert Howard?
The movies don’t do it justice. Although, the biography on Howard is awesome.
Conan in the literary form is like Ian Fleming’s bond. Just such a dark, hard ass compared to the parody that makes the big screen. As much as Tolkein is awesome, every damn fantasy author after him has suffered from elves. I can’t help but think suffering from barbarian would be so better.
Oh, and on the subject of fantasy anti-heroes. Have you tried reading Moorcock?
If you ever decide to pick up a mystery, I suggest the noirs from that period too. Hammet and Chandler, specifically.
I’m a bit biased towards “good” books, so to speak, so I found a few through the lists of recipients and nominees of the Hugo and Nebula awards and other such awards. I found… Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, American Gods (I’d avoid this if you aren’t particularly… “open minded” shall we say… it’s Neil Gaiman and he’s british…). I don’t know if this is the best thing to suggest, but seeing as how I enjoy certain plot points/character archetypes, tvtropes.org can help you find some books that feature such things.
“The Sword of Truth” series by Terry Goodkind is excellent if you like fantasy novels. Hell, it’s good if you don’t.
More stuff.
http://www.bestfantasybooks.com/top25-fantasy-books.php
Number 19 is a particular favorite.
[quote]ether_bunny wrote:
[quote]redstar144 wrote:
try the turn of the screw by henry james, mary shelleys frankenstein, bram stokers dracula or dorian grey by oscar wilde[/quote]
Ugh. That’s like going back and reading the old Wells stories.
I have this tendency to revisit the pulp authors of the 20s and 30s. And while it takes a very special person to love Lovecraft for much more than his endless list of adjectives, have you gone back and read the original Conan stories by Robert Howard?
The movies don’t do it justice. Although, the biography on Howard is awesome.
Conan in the literary form is like Ian Fleming’s bond. Just such a dark, hard ass compared to the parody that makes the big screen. As much as Tolkein is awesome, every damn fantasy author after him has suffered from elves. I can’t help but think suffering from barbarian would be so better.
Oh, and on the subject of fantasy anti-heroes. Have you tried reading Moorcock?
If you ever decide to pick up a mystery, I suggest the noirs from that period too. Hammet and Chandler, specifically.[/quote]
A few years ago, Del Rey re-released the original Robert E. Howard Conan stories, with some great, great extras. I have all the Conan, and the Kull. Couldn’t get into his other characters.
In Cthulhu, avoid that guy who turned it from “inscrutable, nameless horror” to “good vs evil.”
Admittedly, HPL was fond of . . . outright shitty, shitty dialauge . . . such abominable fins . . . the tentacles! - but he did invent tentacle rape.
Neil G. is the man. American Gods roxors, as does the Anansi Boys sequel-thing.
I’m still hip-deep in the Warhammer 40k books (just picked up my 47th), so if you like excellent pulp, then get this. Still say the initial three books of the Horus Heresy feature some of the most personal drama I’ve seen in a dog’s age.
The Shining by Stephen King is the only one of his novels I read, picked it up to see why he’s such an acclaimed author, I now understand it.
Infection (part 1) and Contagious (part 2) by Scott Abel were absolutely amazing. They’re sci-fi/horror if you want that genre.
Other than those, the only books I can think of in this genre I read ages ago when I was too young to truly enjoy them, but they were Descent, Congo, and Eaters of the Dead, all by Michael Chriton, as well as the Jurassic Park series which was FAR superior to the movies.
[quote]Brant_Drake wrote:
“The Sword of Truth” series by Terry Goodkind is excellent if you like fantasy novels. Hell, it’s good if you don’t.
More stuff.
http://www.bestfantasybooks.com/top25-fantasy-books.php
Number 19 is a particular favorite.[/quote]
Number 24 is a secret addiction, that I’ll only admit to via the anonymous perception of the internets.
another great fantasy series is “wheel of time” by robert jordan.
Hell, if we’re talking Fantasy, George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Fire and Ice” series is pretty awesome.