Looking for darker recommendations - Page 2

caleb72 · 10-10-2012, 09:36 PM

I will agree with the Abercrombie suggestion. I think there's alot of ambivalence and darkness there. I only read the first book of the triology and overall it didn't ring my bell, but in terms of what you're looking for it sounds like a good fit.

I quite enjoy Glen Krisch when it comes to darkness in general. In particular - Where Darkness Dwells, but The Nightmare Within also sounds like it could hit some of your sweet spots.

I recently read The Tube Riders by Chris Ward and I thought that was pretty dark and very enjoyable as long as you don't mind most of the protagonists being children/teenagers.

I would also put 1984 by George Orwell and The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood in the list.

Dazrin · 10-10-2012, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caleb72

I would also put 1984 by George Orwell and The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood in the list.

If you haven't read 1984, it is definitely one that you (anyone really) should.

BookCat · 10-10-2012, 10:53 PM

Wuthering Heights.
It's a dark, almost gothic book in which there's no clear division between good and bad, and the ending is very poignant. Nothing like the films.
If you haven't tried this, give Emily Bronte's brooding classic a read.

purple_fishy · 10-11-2012, 12:43 PM

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Definitely not what I would consider a happy ending.

hard-boiled pat · 10-11-2012, 07:00 PM

a great classic is 'the postman' by david brin... check it out its nothing like the movie.

foghat · 10-11-2012, 07:10 PM

Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door. Pretty disturbing, but so well written - in the opening chapters before the s**t really starts to go down, I felt like I was back in the 70s reliving my youth.

speakingtohe · 10-11-2012, 11:52 PM

I like Andrew Vachss, F. Paul Wilson, Dean Koontz, Charlie Huston, Richard Kadrey, Walter Mosley for sort of darker authors.

Helen

owly · 10-12-2012, 07:11 AM

Just finished "Prince of Thorns" by Mark Larence.The main character is a 15-year old sociopathic prince who plans to unite the warring kingdoms of his world with a band of evil bastards and a lot of death and rape. The more his background is explained the more interesting it gets though. Think Fantasy Dexter.

Bookpossum · 10-12-2012, 07:32 AM

"The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters. Definitely dark and creepy.

DiapDealer · 10-12-2012, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by owly

Just finished "Prince of Thorns" by Mark Larence.The main character is a 15-year old sociopathic prince who plans to unite the warring kingdoms of his world with a band of evil bastards and a lot of death and rape. The more his background is explained the more interesting it gets though. Think Fantasy Dexter.

Loving these books so far. There's so much more to the protag than [initially] meets the eye. Plus Lawrence can turn an excellent phrase or ten along the way. The OP should definitely check these out.

foghat · 10-12-2012, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Loving these books so far. There's so much more to the protag than [initially] meets the eye. Plus Lawrence can turn an excellent phrase or ten along the way. The OP should definitely check these out.

Screw the OP, I'm going to check it out.

ekster · 10-12-2012, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foghat

Screw the OP, I'm going to check it out.

Hey, screw right back at you, I'm checking it out first!

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

I've definitely have a lot of great books to go through. Just need to find the time to sort it all out and then find even more time to read it all...

Penforhire · 10-12-2012, 12:47 PM

I also like Vachss but while his stuff is dark he also draws clear good-and-bad battle lines. They're just drawn a little differently than Disney would draw them. Burke (and Max) may not wear a white hat but his ethics are inflexible. He helps people who need help and hurts people who need hurting (a bit of a twisted Robin Hood).

foghat · 10-12-2012, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekster

Hey, screw right back at you, I'm checking it out first!

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

I've definitely have a lot of great books to go through. Just need to find the time to sort it all out and then find even more time to read it all...

Ha. In all seriousness, The Girl Next door is very good, very dark. Though definitely not for everyone.

ebusinesstutor · 10-12-2012, 03:11 PM

The Nightside series might fit this. By Simon R Green.

In some cases the best friends of the lead character try to kill him and have very good reason why. Good and evil are not always one or the other and there are major consequences to power.

10-10-2012, 09:36 PM	#16
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,227 Karma: 10912877 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	I will agree with the Abercrombie suggestion. I think there's alot of ambivalence and darkness there. I only read the first book of the triology and overall it didn't ring my bell, but in terms of what you're looking for it sounds like a good fit. I quite enjoy Glen Krisch when it comes to darkness in general. In particular - Where Darkness Dwells, but The Nightmare Within also sounds like it could hit some of your sweet spots. I recently read The Tube Riders by Chris Ward and I thought that was pretty dark and very enjoyable as long as you don't mind most of the protagonists being children/teenagers. I would also put 1984 by George Orwell and The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood in the list. __________________ Papyrus - Independent Author Reviews "Happiness is the hidden behind the obvious."

10-12-2012, 07:11 AM	#23
owly Addict Posts: 396 Karma: 2217808 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-T2	Just finished "Prince of Thorns" by Mark Larence.The main character is a 15-year old sociopathic prince who plans to unite the warring kingdoms of his world with a band of evil bastards and a lot of death and rape. The more his background is explained the more interesting it gets though. Think Fantasy Dexter. __________________ Annas E-bokhylla - Gratis e-böcker på svenska, i epubformat.

10-12-2012, 07:32 AM	#24
Bookpossum Snoozing in the sun Posts: 5,094 Karma: 64582303 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kobo Touch (mine), Sony PRS-T1 (husband's)	"The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters. Definitely dark and creepy. __________________ Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a purpose. (Garrison Keillor)

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10-10-2012, 10:53 PM	#18
BookCat C L J Posts: 676 Karma: 2524360 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505	Wuthering Heights. It's a dark, almost gothic book in which there's no clear division between good and bad, and the ending is very poignant. Nothing like the films. If you haven't tried this, give Emily Bronte's brooding classic a read.

10-11-2012, 12:43 PM	#19
purple_fishy Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 33812 Join Date: May 2011 Location: The land of sand and sun Device: Nook STR, Nook HD	Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Definitely not what I would consider a happy ending.

10-11-2012, 07:00 PM	#20
hard-boiled pat The Night Was Moist Posts: 177 Karma: 1018844 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: toronto, canada Device: kobo,kindle,supernova, playbook	a great classic is 'the postman' by david brin... check it out its nothing like the movie.

10-11-2012, 07:10 PM	#21
foghat Evangelist Posts: 423 Karma: 1006520 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: Kindle 3, ipad2 w/iBooks, PRS-T1	Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door. Pretty disturbing, but so well written - in the opening chapters before the s**t really starts to go down, I felt like I was back in the 70s reliving my youth.

10-11-2012, 11:52 PM	#22
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 2,296 Karma: 12774642 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-600, PRS-350, PRS-T1, Tablet	I like Andrew Vachss, F. Paul Wilson, Dean Koontz, Charlie Huston, Richard Kadrey, Walter Mosley for sort of darker authors. Helen

10-12-2012, 12:47 PM	#28
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 1,847 Karma: 5514220 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle PW, PRS-650, iPhone 4, iPad 4	I also like Vachss but while his stuff is dark he also draws clear good-and-bad battle lines. They're just drawn a little differently than Disney would draw them. Burke (and Max) may not wear a white hat but his ethics are inflexible. He helps people who need help and hurts people who need hurting (a bit of a twisted Robin Hood).

10-12-2012, 03:11 PM	#30
ebusinesstutor Star Gawker Posts: 392 Karma: 3381104 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Nanaimo, BC Canada Device: Samsung Galaxy Note	The Nightside series might fit this. By Simon R Green. In some cases the best friends of the lead character try to kill him and have very good reason why. Good and evil are not always one or the other and there are major consequences to power.


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