Books - Horror Books?

Stars_And_Sunsets · 10-27-2003, 05:18 AM

Lately I've been in the mood for a good scary book.
I want a change from Stephen King, but I have no idea where to start.
Can anyone suggest a good horror book?
I'm 17 and I'm a pretty good reader, so anything will be okay.

Jerseygirl · 10-27-2003, 09:17 AM

Have you read anything by Dean Koontz? I think he's the best horror writer there is. My favourite books by him are Phantoms & Dragon tears

Crossbow · 10-27-2003, 11:24 AM

I like Koontz too. I think his scariest is "False Memory."

PVCscully · 10-29-2003, 09:59 AM

I love a good Stephen King novel, particularly The Shining or The Dead Zone, they're two of my faves. I used to love the old Pan Horror books from about the 60s or 70s, and the Roald Dahl Someone Like You and his other short stories, which were filmed for UK TV as Tales of the Unexpected. For me though, you cant beat King. I've read most of his books and there's only been one (Insomnia) that I didn't like.

gossipGirl · 12-01-2003, 01:55 AM

Stephan King's It was quite good, it gave me somewhat of a scare.

Stars_And_Sunsets · 12-01-2003, 04:33 AM

I love that book [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

It's currently in my wardrobe because every time I see it, I picture the clown and have nightmares. [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img]

One of these days I'll read it again.

jjt · 12-01-2003, 11:38 AM

Besides King and Koontz .. Clive Barker most always turns a good tale. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Princess Bing · 12-05-2003, 01:27 AM

"It's" my favorite King, too, and I also read a lot of Koontz. If you want detailed personality descriptions and situations, get King, but if you're up for fast-paced page-turners, Koontz is good. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I'm just wondering, though. I read in a site somewhere that this one books was supposed to "the Koontz for smart people." Does that make his books...stupid? [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

AdriaMichelle · 12-05-2003, 08:22 PM

I enjoyed reading "The Shining" by Stephen King, I read it aloud along with my father on our way to job to job on Take Your Daughter To Work Day. We enjoyed a lot.

WaveBehr · 12-06-2003, 08:08 PM

An oldie but a goodie is Superstitous by RL Stine. it's not one of his teenie-booper books ... it s adult book that i love and recommand.

Crossbow · 12-07-2003, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by _andie_:
<STRONG>"It's" my favorite King, too, and I also read a lot of Koontz. If you want detailed personality descriptions and situations, get King, but if you're up for fast-paced page-turners, Koontz is good. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I'm just wondering, though. I read in a site somewhere that this one books was supposed to "the Koontz for smart people." Does that make his books...stupid? [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]</STRONG>

You mean that King is Koontz for smart people? I wouldn't say that. I would say, though, that King is much better at getting you involved with the chatacters. My problem with him is that even his best books become anticlimactic at the end. Koontz doesn't l;et that happen, but also I just don't care as much about his characters. People always mention them in the same sentence, and they have similar themes, but their writing is very different.

Also, Koontz never kills off important characters. In King, no one is safe. Even the main character could get offed, and his love interest or child almost definitely will. Koontz is "safer" that way.

jennarose · 12-07-2003, 08:36 PM

I've only read two of his books so far but I like John Saul.

Soz · 12-08-2003, 12:35 AM

It's weird, but I have not been scared by a single horror book I've ever read. I've found a few gross or disturbing, but they never freaked me out and made me sleep with the light on or anything. [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img]

My favorite horror authors are Clive Barker, Dean R. Koontz, Peter Straub, and Kathe Koja.

spikenmefantasy · 12-08-2003, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Soz:
<STRONG>It's weird, but I have not been scared by a single horror book I've ever read. I've found a few gross or disturbing, but they never freaked me out and made me sleep with the light on or anything. [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img]

My favorite horror authors are Clive Barker, Dean R. Koontz, Peter Straub, and Kathe Koja.</STRONG>

No Stephen King? This may be your problem.... It scared the crap out of me, and I had to finish reading The Shining in one night, just to get the end! Scary stuff. Of course I loved every minute of it!

I prefer King to Koontz, but then I prefer King to anyone, in any genre. I love his less horror filled Hearts in Atlantis book, and my all time favorite book of any other has to be On Writing. Even if you never plan on picking up a pen, this book is a great read! I like his less formal style and more conversational approach. Very concrete writing, you feel like you are there. What can I say? He is my "writing soul mate." [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Give him a try, if you haven't already!

Laura

evaki · 12-08-2003, 08:19 AM

I've never read any Clive Barker. Do you all have a recommendation for a good place to start to introduce myself to him?