Scariest Books Ever Written - Page 4

theenframed · 11-05-2011, 05:32 PM

I have always found that virus outbreak fiction or non-fiction has given me the chills.

silky0439 · 11-11-2011, 09:08 PM

One of my very favorite books by Stephen King is Night Shift, which is a collection of stories. The last one is one you don't want to read while you are alone at night in the dark. Of course that is exactly what I was when I read it. LOL!

No one knows how to set up a scene and get your heart pounding like King. It is a page turner, one best left for when you are traveling because you go from story to story so quickly it will make the time pass quickly when traveling. His other books like the Bachman Books are nice for curling up in an easy chair next to the fire or stereo.

borg man · 11-12-2011, 03:59 PM

The House Next Door by Anne River Siddons.

Bookpossum · 11-15-2011, 07:15 PM

I have just finished reading "The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters and was glad I did it in daylight rather than late at night! Brilliant at many levels - it was on the short list for the Man Booker in 2009.

emmameade83 · 11-17-2011, 02:30 PM

Stephen King's The Stand

replica145 · 11-18-2011, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookpossum

I have just finished reading "The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters and was glad I did it in daylight rather than late at night! Brilliant at many levels - it was on the short list for the Man Booker in 2009.

Ooo thanks. TBR ever growing.

Traye · 11-18-2011, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by replica145

Ooo thanks. TBR ever growing.

Ditto!

Billsuits1 · 11-24-2011, 09:56 AM

If I can make a distinction, I think suspense is far greater to read than pure horror.

I feel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym is a good example of suspense writing. The combination of the pirates hijacking a vessel, almost dying in the hold as a stowaway, stuck starving on a boat that is half sinking in the ocean, and cannibalism really kept me interested in reading to see what Poe could come up with next. It was just so good. I just wish Poe would have written more novels but he died young.

The sequel by Verne was not in the same league and I would not recommend it.

Bookpossum · 11-24-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billsuits1

If I can make a distinction, I think suspense is far greater to read than pure horror.

Yes I agree, and "The Little Stranger" is a story of mounting and disquieting suspense rather than horror.

Now I have just finished reading "We Must Talk About Kevin" by Lionel Shriver, and can't stop thinking about it. Brilliantly done, with the feeling of dread mounting ever higher.

crash1211 · 01-24-2013, 05:17 PM

Speaking of the The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym. I read of a strange coincidence between that book, and the real life shipwreck of the Mignonette that happened some 50 years after the novel was written. The name of the person eaten after the Mignonoette shipwreck was a cabin boy named Richard Parker. I believe that that was the same name of the character eaten in the book. I wonder what the odds are on that happening.

pstjmack · 01-25-2013, 04:21 AM

You all might want to take a look at this thread, which focuses Hubble-sharp on fear, rather than disgust, as the core principle of great horror. Some fabulous recommendations too:

http://www.teemingbrain.com/2013/01/...hat-horrifies/

For my money, Charlie Stross's "A Colder War" is the most chilling modern horror story I've read - widely available free on the Web at that. T.E.D. Klein's "The Events at Poroth Farm" runs it a close second.

Ripplinger · 01-25-2013, 08:29 AM

Nightstone by Rick Hautala. When I was done with it I let my cousin borrow it and she read it late at night alone in the house. I don't think she's forgotten it yet or forgiven me for it, she was that freaked out.

Unfortunately it's not yet in ebook format, but he has a new publisher and it could be finished in around 6 months or so. I've re-read it at least 3x, I'm waiting for the 4th time to be on my ereader.

4691mls · 01-25-2013, 09:11 AM

Hmmm.... could I copy/paste this entire thread into a post in the "books you couldn't pay me to read" thread? I hate to be scared!

JoelArnold · 01-25-2013, 03:11 PM

I read Thomas Tryon's The Other which is high on the creepy factor - although it's a slow build.

11-11-2011, 09:08 PM	#47
silky0439 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: android	Scariest book One of my very favorite books by Stephen King is Night Shift, which is a collection of stories. The last one is one you don't want to read while you are alone at night in the dark. Of course that is exactly what I was when I read it. LOL! No one knows how to set up a scene and get your heart pounding like King. It is a page turner, one best left for when you are traveling because you go from story to story so quickly it will make the time pass quickly when traveling. His other books like the Bachman Books are nice for curling up in an easy chair next to the fire or stereo.

11-12-2011, 03:59 PM	#48
borg man Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: borg man	fav haunted house book The House Next Door by Anne River Siddons.

11-24-2011, 09:56 AM	#53
Billsuits1 Connoisseur Posts: 60 Karma: 7454 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Aluratek Libre Pro	If I can make a distinction, I think suspense is far greater to read than pure horror. I feel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym is a good example of suspense writing. The combination of the pirates hijacking a vessel, almost dying in the hold as a stowaway, stuck starving on a boat that is half sinking in the ocean, and cannibalism really kept me interested in reading to see what Poe could come up with next. It was just so good. I just wish Poe would have written more novels but he died young. The sequel by Verne was not in the same league and I would not recommend it. Last edited by Billsuits1; 11-24-2011 at 10:07 AM.

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11-05-2011, 05:32 PM	#46
theenframed Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 3504 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: none	I have always found that virus outbreak fiction or non-fiction has given me the chills.

11-15-2011, 07:15 PM	#49
Bookpossum Snoozing in the sun Posts: 10,146 Karma: 115423645 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: iPad Mini, Kobo Touch	I have just finished reading "The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters and was glad I did it in daylight rather than late at night! Brilliant at many levels - it was on the short list for the Man Booker in 2009.

11-17-2011, 02:30 PM	#50
emmameade83 Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 20000 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Ireland Device: none	Stephen King's The Stand

01-24-2013, 05:17 PM	#55
crash1211 Member Posts: 21 Karma: 500 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Houma, Louisiana Device: Sony PRS-600, Entourage Edge, Nook Simple Touch, iPad2, Kindle 4	Speaking of the The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym. I read of a strange coincidence between that book, and the real life shipwreck of the Mignonette that happened some 50 years after the novel was written. The name of the person eaten after the Mignonoette shipwreck was a cabin boy named Richard Parker. I believe that that was the same name of the character eaten in the book. I wonder what the odds are on that happening.

01-25-2013, 04:21 AM	#56
pstjmack Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 87474 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Budapest, Hungary Device: Android tablet	You all might want to take a look at this thread, which focuses Hubble-sharp on fear, rather than disgust, as the core principle of great horror. Some fabulous recommendations too: http://www.teemingbrain.com/2013/01/...hat-horrifies/ For my money, Charlie Stross's "A Colder War" is the most chilling modern horror story I've read - widely available free on the Web at that. T.E.D. Klein's "The Events at Poroth Farm" runs it a close second.

01-25-2013, 08:29 AM	#57
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	Nightstone by Rick Hautala. When I was done with it I let my cousin borrow it and she read it late at night alone in the house. I don't think she's forgotten it yet or forgiven me for it, she was that freaked out. Unfortunately it's not yet in ebook format, but he has a new publisher and it could be finished in around 6 months or so. I've re-read it at least 3x, I'm waiting for the 4th time to be on my ereader.

01-25-2013, 09:11 AM	#58
4691mls Wizard Posts: 2,776 Karma: 30081762 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: US Device: ALL DEVICES ARE STOCK: Kobo Clara, Tolino Shine 2, Sony PRS-T3, T1	Hmmm.... could I copy/paste this entire thread into a post in the "books you couldn't pay me to read" thread? I hate to be scared!

01-25-2013, 03:11 PM	#59
JoelArnold Fanatic Posts: 544 Karma: 1036914 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Savage, MN Device: Kindle 3	I read Thomas Tryon's The Other which is high on the creepy factor - although it's a slow build.