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Horror: 100 Best Books
In 1988, 100 contemporary authors responded to invitations by the editors to contribute short essays on their favorite horror books. Most of the books included are novels, but there are also anthologies and single-author short story collections.
Starting with Marlowe's Doctor Faustus (1592), and ending with Ramsey Campbell's collection, Dark Feasts (1987), this book fills the ground in between with great variety, including not only old chestnuts but a few surprises as well.
Starting with Marlowe's Doctor Faustus (1592), and ending with Ramsey Campbell's collection, Dark Feasts (1987), this book fills the ground in between with great variety, including not only old chestnuts but a few surprises as well.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
18 people are currently reading
746 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Jones
277 books344 followersStephen Jones is an eighteen-time winner of the British Fantasy Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 16, 2018
This was an invaluable resource for me when I was a young horror-fiction fan in the early 90s. The list of contributors here is staggering: King, Barker, Ramsey Campbell, Lovecraft, Michael McDowell, Terry Pratchett, Lisa Tuttle, T.E.D Klein, Lansdale, Harlan Ellison, Poe, Etchison, Bloch, Straub, Gaiman, Skipp & Spector, Dan Simmons, M.R. James, Robert E. Howard, Charles L. Grant, Masterton, and too many more to name.
Obviously the Lovecraft, Poe, M.R. James, and Howard pieces are taken from previously published essays, but the rest of the writers were asked to choose their favorite "horror" book of all-time, from any era -- whether novel, collection, or anthology -- and write a short (usually 1-3 pages) essay explaining why it's deserving. I put "horror" in quotes because several of the selections aren't typically associated with the genre, though the essayist usually makes a convincing case for its inclusion.
Some of the selections seemed to be there only to taunt me, becoming almost "holy grails," so rare and hard to come by were they (and still are in some cases). I'm looking at you, Karl Wagner. One day I'll have to bite the bullet and just pay the $100-plus for his selection, E.H. Visiak's 1929 novel, Medusa. Overall though, the book provides a nice mixture of old and new, bestsellers and hidden gems. The "recommended reading list" at the end is every bit as valuable as the main text, imo, and has turned me onto many excellent books I may have missed out on otherwise.
I've perused this book countless times over the years, and will continue to do so. This, as well as its companion volume, Horror: Another 100 Best Books, are essential reading for any self-respecting horror-fiction fan.
5 Stars
Obviously the Lovecraft, Poe, M.R. James, and Howard pieces are taken from previously published essays, but the rest of the writers were asked to choose their favorite "horror" book of all-time, from any era -- whether novel, collection, or anthology -- and write a short (usually 1-3 pages) essay explaining why it's deserving. I put "horror" in quotes because several of the selections aren't typically associated with the genre, though the essayist usually makes a convincing case for its inclusion.
Some of the selections seemed to be there only to taunt me, becoming almost "holy grails," so rare and hard to come by were they (and still are in some cases). I'm looking at you, Karl Wagner. One day I'll have to bite the bullet and just pay the $100-plus for his selection, E.H. Visiak's 1929 novel, Medusa. Overall though, the book provides a nice mixture of old and new, bestsellers and hidden gems. The "recommended reading list" at the end is every bit as valuable as the main text, imo, and has turned me onto many excellent books I may have missed out on otherwise.
I've perused this book countless times over the years, and will continue to do so. This, as well as its companion volume, Horror: Another 100 Best Books, are essential reading for any self-respecting horror-fiction fan.
5 Stars
July 1, 2019
He aprendido muchísimo con este libro. Me ha recordado lo variado que es el género y me ha descubierto no pocas maravillas. Me ha gustado también el formato, pues no se trata de una mera lista con reseñas, sino de una recopilación de recomendaciones escritas directamente por aquellos escritores que aman estos libros y los consideran esenciales y a mí me dan mucho gustito las cosas así, que salen desde la pasión de fan y me dan siempre unas ganas tremendas de empezar a leerlo todo. Os recomiendo encarecidamente estas 100 recomendaciones encarecidas (quién las desencarezca, buen desencarecedor será).
March 28, 2015
Damn good reference guide. 100 authors contributed by picking their favorite horror novel of al time. Kim Newman does a fine job of putting the whole project together. The collection put me on to a few titles I was unfamiliar with or perhaps needed a nudge to read, and I did. Although, tracking some of the titles down in the mid 90s was a major pain in the ass. Pre-internet mind you - it took me four years to track down a copy of Guy Endore's "The Werewolf of Paris" (made into the fine 1961 Hammer film The Curse of the Werewolf, a childhood and adult favorite of mine). But, half the fun was the "hunt". I totally recommend this book if you're looking for a pretty definitive list of the most powerful/influential "horror" novels of the last several centuries.
February 7, 2015
This is a fantastic resource. I am working on assembling a reading list for a book club themed around the history and evolution of horror. While Supernatural Horror in Literature can do a good job carrying my into the 1930's, this takes me on the same journey but up into the 1980's. I can fill out a list from the last few decades on my own.
Several of these essays sold me on whether or not I would find a book compelling, and many convinced me to give some books a chance. Some of these made me downright itchy to read. And some of these books are criminally out of print and unavailable for a reasonable price. My only significant regret is that I will not be able to fit more on the reading list for the book club, while simultaneously my own list has received significant fattening.
Several of these essays sold me on whether or not I would find a book compelling, and many convinced me to give some books a chance. Some of these made me downright itchy to read. And some of these books are criminally out of print and unavailable for a reasonable price. My only significant regret is that I will not be able to fit more on the reading list for the book club, while simultaneously my own list has received significant fattening.
November 23, 2012
This book and its follow up are two of the most compulsively readable and re-readable guides to horror fiction. It's a simple premise, ask 100 horror writers what their favourite piece of horror fiction is and get them to write a piece explaining why.
For a bibliophile, it's a wonderful way to expand your reading list and give you an idea of where to look for your next book... and besides the obvious, there are some very odd and unexpected choices.
For a bibliophile, it's a wonderful way to expand your reading list and give you an idea of where to look for your next book... and besides the obvious, there are some very odd and unexpected choices.
June 29, 2014
This is a fascinating book and one which is greatly under played. The idea is yes there are 100 books listed chronologically to their main publication date. However its how they were obtained - as the introduction (which is fascinating in itself and is worth reading - something I will admit I do not do all the time) it is explained that the top leading horror writers were contacted (those still with us that is there were a couple who I think they took historical comments -Lovecraft for example) and asked them to submit their favourite or most memorable book which inspired horror and terror in them. As I said the introduction is rather an insight since apparently there was a complete spectrum of results from this project from eager cooperation to blatant self promotion to outrage and dismissal.
So as a result you have horror (of course) but science fiction, fantasy, thrillers in fact almost all genres were represented but with one common thread that they have something horrific in them, be it physical or implied or mental it is there. And as a result you have some fascinating titles sneak in there that I will admit I would either never have considered or possibly recognised.
So for me it is a education and an eye opener. That coupled with the format- the fact that the editor writes as a brief overview of that the story is about and then you have the guest writers comments about that same title.
I for one will be taking away a number of books I will be hunting down to read - and although you may not agree with some of the selections you cannot dismiss the scope and breath of this book.
So as a result you have horror (of course) but science fiction, fantasy, thrillers in fact almost all genres were represented but with one common thread that they have something horrific in them, be it physical or implied or mental it is there. And as a result you have some fascinating titles sneak in there that I will admit I would either never have considered or possibly recognised.
So for me it is a education and an eye opener. That coupled with the format- the fact that the editor writes as a brief overview of that the story is about and then you have the guest writers comments about that same title.
I for one will be taking away a number of books I will be hunting down to read - and although you may not agree with some of the selections you cannot dismiss the scope and breath of this book.
November 10, 2010
Who couldn't love a book like this? Well-read individuals contributing short essays on their favorite horror novels, both famous and forgotten. A must read resource.
May 22, 2016
This and its sequel are two of my favorite reference works, easily. I have read them both multiple times. First, as reference/criticism, they have directed me towards many books that I now love. Second, as entertainment, being as the entries are (almost) all by professional writers discussing books they are passionate about, I often read entries just for fun, even if I have no intention to read the book discussed
September 29, 2011
Very interesting stuff, and the contributors are great, lots of novelists (Gaiman, King, Pratchett and more are there). I read the '88 version. So yeah, lots of good recommendations, lots of great writers, what's not to love?
September 21, 2021
Reread & I’d forgotten what a fabulous book this is. Compilation of reviews & commentaries by famous horror writers on other famous works. Favorite is still Poe’s review of Hawthorne but there’s reviews by HPL, Ligotti, de Lint, & scores more. Well worth your October reading
October 7, 2025
Still a great read, refreshing my memory of books I've read, as well as books I want to read.
May 2, 2022
This is a book where are authors are critiquing other authors in the same genre. It gave me some good ideas of the next books I should get from the library.
January 5, 2016
4 stars for the concept alone (100 authors write a short essay on one of their favorite horror books). There is also a handy index of extra reading ideas in the back, as well as bios on the authors. I read the '98 edition.
There were many entries from authors that were genuine. Genuinely funny, or thoughtful, or unique.
There were also many entries that were plain pretentious, or churned out. I won't say what authors. They are the people that say "Animal Farm IS a horror book technically" or "this obscure book about pirates isn't necessarily a horror, but...". Way to take the fun out of it. These authors also tend to complain that "vampires and werewolves aren't scary! People are!" MY question is what the hell is wrong with a good werewolf story!
There were many entries from authors that were genuine. Genuinely funny, or thoughtful, or unique.
There were also many entries that were plain pretentious, or churned out. I won't say what authors. They are the people that say "Animal Farm IS a horror book technically" or "this obscure book about pirates isn't necessarily a horror, but...". Way to take the fun out of it. These authors also tend to complain that "vampires and werewolves aren't scary! People are!" MY question is what the hell is wrong with a good werewolf story!
July 27, 2013
A collection of short essays by 100 different authors on a good mix of horror books (novels, single author collections, anthologies). It has a little too much emphasis on recent novels, as of the time of this book's publication in 1988--I wish there'd been more works from the 1950s and '60s. But it's still a fascinating book
February 15, 2017
I adore this book, and the book that followed in its cloven steps. Not much else needs said. A classic reference model, and one to be measured against future models. Bring on a third say I!
February 24, 2018
I love this type of book, I bought a good lot of them when I was just getting into speculative fiction, including David Pringle's 100 Best Science Fiction and 100 Best Modern Fantasy; James Cawthorn & Moorcock's 100 Best Fantasy; Bloomsbury's 100 Must Read Fantasy and 100 Must Read Science Fiction (a horror version was promised but it never materialized).
This book and the sequel Horror: Another 100 Best Books are different in that each book is chosen and essayed by a different person. You could argue it's a lesser approach if you want a more serious overview with a consistent set of standards but these two books are so much more fun for having a writer per book and the entries are probably a bit more passionate for this approach.
I feel some books get heavily overrated and I remember strongly disagreeing with many of the views but I didn't feel it harmed the book much.
There are hundreds of additional books listed at the end so the investigation potential is enormous.
One real annoyance is that every contributor's biography is at the back of the book, so after each essay I had to find each biography (I hardly knew who any of these people were at the time and many of them will be less known to readers today). The sequel fixes this by keeping the biographies after each review.
This will give you a good grounding in the genre, please buy the sequel too (and some of the other genre guides I mentioned above). Lots of fun.
This book and the sequel Horror: Another 100 Best Books are different in that each book is chosen and essayed by a different person. You could argue it's a lesser approach if you want a more serious overview with a consistent set of standards but these two books are so much more fun for having a writer per book and the entries are probably a bit more passionate for this approach.
I feel some books get heavily overrated and I remember strongly disagreeing with many of the views but I didn't feel it harmed the book much.
There are hundreds of additional books listed at the end so the investigation potential is enormous.
One real annoyance is that every contributor's biography is at the back of the book, so after each essay I had to find each biography (I hardly knew who any of these people were at the time and many of them will be less known to readers today). The sequel fixes this by keeping the biographies after each review.
This will give you a good grounding in the genre, please buy the sequel too (and some of the other genre guides I mentioned above). Lots of fun.
March 20, 2022
A slight but fun effort from editors Jones & Newman. A number of well-known horror figures chose their favourite horror novels over the past few hundred years. A good selection of fare here, going right back to the 18th century and through to the then-present day. There are some bizarre and outre choices which I rather appreciated and the analysis, on the whole, tends to be erudite and engaging. Jones also writes a precis for each novel so if you're unfamiliar with it, the commentary will still make sense.
January 3, 2024
A great resource for people who want to explore the horror genre, but don't know where to go after reading the most well-known authors, at least up to when this was published in the late 80s early 90s. Some authors I became a fan of after picking this up include: F. Paul Wilson, Dan Simmons, Richard Laymon, and David Morrell. Here are some of the novels I thoroughly enjoyed from the list that I would consider more obscure these days: Who Made Stevie Crye?, Falling Angel, The Sound of His Horn, The Cadaver of Gideon Wyck, The House on the Borderland, The Complete John Silence Stories, Conjure Wife, The Black Spider. The book hasn't been published in a long while, but you can find the list pretty easily online. Some of the essays in the book are better than others (some I stopped reading as they practically give away the story). Some of the books that are picked can be questionable at times (like Quartermass and the Pit, which is a screenplay--you can find the movie/TV show on the Internet Archive for free). Some authors are repeated (King, Lovecraft, Brom Stoker). Some of the stories you will run across may not have aged well. Nevertheless, it's a pretty good list if you really want go deeper into the horror genre.
May 31, 2008
My daughter introduced me to this book and it was a great way to find more and more books to read!
Want to read
March 14, 2012a great book...interesting to read what books turned on certain writers...a good reference to what books i should try to find...very well done...enjoyed it.
July 27, 2021
The contributors' essays vary hugely in quality. Most are pretty boring, but there are a few convincing recs.
April 24, 2022
Cool book. Definitely recommend.
This book was published in 1988; I just came across it in a used book shop in 2022. What a find!
Horror: 100 Best Books provides short essays from 100 well-known horror authors, each writing about a work of fiction that influenced him/her. The book's title was a bit misleading, as this isn't a list of the 100 'best' stories of all time, but rather authors' reflections on books or stories that shaped their thinking on horror as a form of storytelling.
I really enjoyed reading through this little book for two main reasons.
First, I really enjoy the 'time-capsule' aspect: the most recent essays here were written some 35 years ago. Some of them were written in the 1920s and 30s. I am not a horror aficionado, but I liked seeing how the idea of scaring people with stories has changed over the decades, and what prior authors found inspirational. The question of 'what is scary' in western literature has really changed a lot in the last 200+ years!
The second reason I enjoyed this book was learning about authors and/or works I'd never heard of. Writers whose work I am now reading, or searching for, include Karl Edward Wagner (In A Lonely Place, 1983), F. Paul Wilson (The Keep, 1981; The Tomb, 1984), and Ray Bradbury (The October Country; 1955). This compilation also describes books and authors that definitely aren't to my tastes, and I appreciate gaining that knowledge as well.
So, for historical reasons as well as a resource, I recommend this book for people who love horror in all its forms.
This book was published in 1988; I just came across it in a used book shop in 2022. What a find!
Horror: 100 Best Books provides short essays from 100 well-known horror authors, each writing about a work of fiction that influenced him/her. The book's title was a bit misleading, as this isn't a list of the 100 'best' stories of all time, but rather authors' reflections on books or stories that shaped their thinking on horror as a form of storytelling.
I really enjoyed reading through this little book for two main reasons.
First, I really enjoy the 'time-capsule' aspect: the most recent essays here were written some 35 years ago. Some of them were written in the 1920s and 30s. I am not a horror aficionado, but I liked seeing how the idea of scaring people with stories has changed over the decades, and what prior authors found inspirational. The question of 'what is scary' in western literature has really changed a lot in the last 200+ years!
The second reason I enjoyed this book was learning about authors and/or works I'd never heard of. Writers whose work I am now reading, or searching for, include Karl Edward Wagner (In A Lonely Place, 1983), F. Paul Wilson (The Keep, 1981; The Tomb, 1984), and Ray Bradbury (The October Country; 1955). This compilation also describes books and authors that definitely aren't to my tastes, and I appreciate gaining that knowledge as well.
So, for historical reasons as well as a resource, I recommend this book for people who love horror in all its forms.
July 21, 2024
OPENED THIS UP TO GET A COUPLE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I MAY HAVE MISSED/FORGOTTEN ABOUT. FOUND OUT, 1 AUTHOR I WAS INTERESTED IN (RICHARD LAYMON) I ALREADY OWN A COUPLE OF HIS BOOKS, SO I'LL VENTURE INTO ONE AND TRY TO LOCATE THE OTHERS AT HALF PRICE BOOKS (SINCE I HAVE ACCESS TO THE INVENTORY OF ALL LOCATIONS).
IT ALSO RECOMMENDED F. PAUL WILSON'S "THE KEEP"...WHICH I OWN. SO I'LL PLAN THAT ONE IN THE FUTURE.
I'LL GO BACK INTO THIS BOOK FROM TIME TO TIME FOR RECOMENDATIONS. GOOD THING ABOUT THIS BOOK IS YOU GET REVIEWS FROM OTHER AUTHORS AND A MINI SYNOPOSIS.
IT ALSO RECOMMENDED F. PAUL WILSON'S "THE KEEP"...WHICH I OWN. SO I'LL PLAN THAT ONE IN THE FUTURE.
I'LL GO BACK INTO THIS BOOK FROM TIME TO TIME FOR RECOMENDATIONS. GOOD THING ABOUT THIS BOOK IS YOU GET REVIEWS FROM OTHER AUTHORS AND A MINI SYNOPOSIS.
September 2, 2019
I picked this one up on a lark, best off books normally only useful for browsing, it this particular one really is worth the read. I’m not an expert on the genre, but the format of different authors suggesting different entries seems to work and introduced me to a lot of titles that will be clogging up my to-read list.
May 13, 2023
If you are looking for inspiration what to read in horror this is the best resource I came across for a very long time. From the very beginning (Marlowe's Dr Faustus) to the modern masters you'll find everything to scare you out of your wits. The books are described in a great way and you'll see at first glance if a books hooks up with you. What a great selection here. Highly recommended!
December 15, 2025
First, as reference/criticism, they have directed me towards many books that I now love. Second, as entertainment, being as the entries are (almost) all by professional writers discussing books they are passionate about, I often read entries just for fun, even if I have no intention to read the book discussed
February 9, 2016
If one loves reading horror stories, this collection of essays curated by Stephen Jones and Kim Newman is fantastic guide to reading the very best available.
One Hundred horror icons offer up critical essays on 100 captivating reads that moves beyond reviews and into realm personal enlightenment about what fine frights were brought to them and how they shined on a light on the path to become writers themselves.
Of the essays (see below for the full list), I was most struck by F.Paul Wilson's piece on William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist. How a devout Catholic was shaken to the core by the novel and film. That essay is worth the purchase price alone.
Works- Essayist
1. DOCTOR FAUSTUS (c. 1592) Clive Barker
2. THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH (1606) John Blackburn
3. THE WHITE DEVIL (1612) Diana Wynne Jones
4. CALEB WILLIAMS (1794) Scott Bradfield
5. THE MONK (1796) Les Daniels
6. THE BEST TALES OF HOFFMAN (1814-16) John Sladek
7. NORTHANGER ABBEY (1817) David Pirie
8. FRANKENSTEIN (1818) Jane Yolen
9. MELMOTH THE WANDERER (1820) Peter Tremayne
10. THE CONFESSIONS OF A JUSTIFIED SINNER (1824) Garry Kilworth
11. TALES OF MYSTERY AND IMAGINATION John M. Ford
12. TWICE-TOLD TALES (1837, expanded 1842) Edgar Allan Poe
13. THE BLACK SPIDER (1842) Thomas Tessier
14. THE WANDERING JEW (1844-45) Thomas M. Disch
15. THE CONFIDENCE MAN (1857) Michael McDowell
16. UNCLE SILAS (1864) M.R. James
17. DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE (1886) Jack Williamson
18. SHE (1887) Tim Stout
19. THE KING IN YELLOW (1895) H.P. Lovecraft
20. THE ISLAND OF DR MOREAU (1896) Gene Wolfe
21. DRACULA (1897) Colin Wilson
22. THE TURN OF THE SCREW (1898) R. Chetwynd-Hayes
23. HEART OF DARKNESS (1902) Douglas E. Winter
24. THE JEWEL OF SEVEN STARS (1903) Richard Dalby
25. GHOST STORIES OF AN ANTIQUARY (1904) Geoff Ryman
26. THE HOUSE OF SOULS (1906) T.E.D. Klein
27. JOHN SILENCE (1908) Hilaire Belloc
28. THE MAN WHO WAS THURSDAY (1908) David Langford
29. THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND (1908) Terry Pratchett
30. THE COLLECTED WORKS OF AMBROSE BIERCE (1909) Milton Subotsky
31. WIDDERSHINS (1911) Mike Ashley
32. THE HORROR HORN (1912-34) Basil Copper
33. A VOYAGE TO ARCTURUS (1920) George Hay
34. THE TRIAL (1925) Steve Rasnic Tem
35. SOMETHING ABOUT EVE (1929) Robert E. Howard
36. MEDUSA (1929) Karl Edward Wagner
37. THE WEREWOLF OF PARIS (1933) Marvin Kaye
38. THE LAST BOUQUET (1933) Jessica Amanda Salmonson
39. THE CADAVER OF GIDEON WYCK (1934) Robert Bloch
40. A SECOND CENTURY OF CREEPY STORIES (1937) Hugh Lamb
41. THE DARK TOWER (c. 1938) Lionel Fanthorpe
42. JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN (1939) Dennis Etchison
43. THE OUTSIDER AND OTHERS (1939) Donald A. Wollheim
44. OUT OF SPACE AND TIME (1942) Harlan Ellison
45. CONJURE WIFE (1943) Gerald W. Page
46. NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES (1943) Maxim Jakubowski
47. THE LURKER AT THE THRESHOLD (1945) Graham Masterton
48. DELIVER ME FROM EVA (1946) Forrest J Ackerman
49. AND THE DARKNESS FALLS (1946) David G. Hartwell
50. THE SLEEPING AND THE DEAD (1947) Peter Haining
51. TRACK OF THE CAT (1949) Robert R. McCammon
52. THE SOUND OF HIS HORN (1952) Suzy McKee Charnas
53. LORD OF THE FLIES (1954) Joe Haldeman
54. I AM LEGEND (1954) Richard Christian Matheson
55. THE OCTOBER COUNTRY (1955) Joe R. Lansdale
56. NINE HORRORS AND A DREAM (1958) Stephen Gallagher
57. PSYCHO (1959) Hugh B. Cave
58. QUATERMASS AND THE PIT (1959) Stephen Laws
59. CRY HORROR! (1959) Michel Parry
60. THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE (1959) Lisa Tuttle
61. THE THREE STIGMATA OF PALMER ELDRITCH (1964) Tad Williams
62. THE PAINTED BIRD (1965) Jack Dann
63. THE CRYSTAL WORLD (1966) Craig Shaw Gardner
64. SUB ROSA (1968) Colin Greenland
65. THE GREEN MAN (1969) Brian Aldiss
66. THE COMPLETE WEREWOLF (1969) Neil Gaiman
67. GRENDEL (1971) Dan Simmons
68. THE EXORCIST (1971) F. Paul Wilson
69. THE SHEEP LOOK UP (1972) John Skipp
70. WORSE THINGS WAITING (1973) Frances Garfield
71. BURNT OFFERINGS (1973) Stephen King
72. 'SALEM'S LOT (1975) Al Sarrantonio
73. DEATHBIRD STORIES (1975) Craig Spector
74. MURGUNSTRUMM AND OTHERS (1977) Brian Lumley
75. SWEETHEART, SWEETHEART (1977) Charles L. Grant
76. ALL HEADS TURN WHEN THE HUNT GOES BY (1977) David J. Schow
77. THE SHINING (1977) Peter Straub
78. FALLING ANGEL (1978) William F. Nolan
79. THE WOLFEN (1978) Charles de Lint
80. THE TOTEM (1979) Shaun Hutson
81. GHOST STORY (1979) Peter Nicholls
82. THE LAND OF LAUGHS (1980) Christopher Evans
83. THE CELLAR (1980) David S. Garnett
84. RED DRAGON (1981) Chet Williamson
85. THE KEEP (1981) J.N. Williamson
86. THE DARK COUNTRY (1982) Samantha Lee
87. IN A LONELY PLACE (1983) Ramsey Campbell
88. THE ANUBIS GATES (1983) John Clute
89. THE ARABIAN NIGHTMARE (1983) Brian Stableford
90. THE WASP FACTORY (1984) Malcolm Edwards
91. THE CEREMONIES (1984) Thomas F. Monteleone
92. MYTHAGO WOOD (1984) Michael Moorcock
93. WHO MADE STEVIE CRYE? (1984) Ian Watson
94. SONG OF KALI (1985) Edward Bryant
95. THE DAMNATION GAME (1985) Adrian Cole
96. HAWKSMOOR (1985) R.S. Hadji
97. A NEST OF NIGHTMARES (1986) Robert Holdstock
98. THE PET (1986) Guy N. Smith
99. SWAN SONG (1987) Eddy C. Bertin
100. DARK FEASTS (1987) Jack Sullivan
One Hundred horror icons offer up critical essays on 100 captivating reads that moves beyond reviews and into realm personal enlightenment about what fine frights were brought to them and how they shined on a light on the path to become writers themselves.
Of the essays (see below for the full list), I was most struck by F.Paul Wilson's piece on William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist. How a devout Catholic was shaken to the core by the novel and film. That essay is worth the purchase price alone.
Works- Essayist
1. DOCTOR FAUSTUS (c. 1592) Clive Barker
2. THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH (1606) John Blackburn
3. THE WHITE DEVIL (1612) Diana Wynne Jones
4. CALEB WILLIAMS (1794) Scott Bradfield
5. THE MONK (1796) Les Daniels
6. THE BEST TALES OF HOFFMAN (1814-16) John Sladek
7. NORTHANGER ABBEY (1817) David Pirie
8. FRANKENSTEIN (1818) Jane Yolen
9. MELMOTH THE WANDERER (1820) Peter Tremayne
10. THE CONFESSIONS OF A JUSTIFIED SINNER (1824) Garry Kilworth
11. TALES OF MYSTERY AND IMAGINATION John M. Ford
12. TWICE-TOLD TALES (1837, expanded 1842) Edgar Allan Poe
13. THE BLACK SPIDER (1842) Thomas Tessier
14. THE WANDERING JEW (1844-45) Thomas M. Disch
15. THE CONFIDENCE MAN (1857) Michael McDowell
16. UNCLE SILAS (1864) M.R. James
17. DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE (1886) Jack Williamson
18. SHE (1887) Tim Stout
19. THE KING IN YELLOW (1895) H.P. Lovecraft
20. THE ISLAND OF DR MOREAU (1896) Gene Wolfe
21. DRACULA (1897) Colin Wilson
22. THE TURN OF THE SCREW (1898) R. Chetwynd-Hayes
23. HEART OF DARKNESS (1902) Douglas E. Winter
24. THE JEWEL OF SEVEN STARS (1903) Richard Dalby
25. GHOST STORIES OF AN ANTIQUARY (1904) Geoff Ryman
26. THE HOUSE OF SOULS (1906) T.E.D. Klein
27. JOHN SILENCE (1908) Hilaire Belloc
28. THE MAN WHO WAS THURSDAY (1908) David Langford
29. THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND (1908) Terry Pratchett
30. THE COLLECTED WORKS OF AMBROSE BIERCE (1909) Milton Subotsky
31. WIDDERSHINS (1911) Mike Ashley
32. THE HORROR HORN (1912-34) Basil Copper
33. A VOYAGE TO ARCTURUS (1920) George Hay
34. THE TRIAL (1925) Steve Rasnic Tem
35. SOMETHING ABOUT EVE (1929) Robert E. Howard
36. MEDUSA (1929) Karl Edward Wagner
37. THE WEREWOLF OF PARIS (1933) Marvin Kaye
38. THE LAST BOUQUET (1933) Jessica Amanda Salmonson
39. THE CADAVER OF GIDEON WYCK (1934) Robert Bloch
40. A SECOND CENTURY OF CREEPY STORIES (1937) Hugh Lamb
41. THE DARK TOWER (c. 1938) Lionel Fanthorpe
42. JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN (1939) Dennis Etchison
43. THE OUTSIDER AND OTHERS (1939) Donald A. Wollheim
44. OUT OF SPACE AND TIME (1942) Harlan Ellison
45. CONJURE WIFE (1943) Gerald W. Page
46. NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES (1943) Maxim Jakubowski
47. THE LURKER AT THE THRESHOLD (1945) Graham Masterton
48. DELIVER ME FROM EVA (1946) Forrest J Ackerman
49. AND THE DARKNESS FALLS (1946) David G. Hartwell
50. THE SLEEPING AND THE DEAD (1947) Peter Haining
51. TRACK OF THE CAT (1949) Robert R. McCammon
52. THE SOUND OF HIS HORN (1952) Suzy McKee Charnas
53. LORD OF THE FLIES (1954) Joe Haldeman
54. I AM LEGEND (1954) Richard Christian Matheson
55. THE OCTOBER COUNTRY (1955) Joe R. Lansdale
56. NINE HORRORS AND A DREAM (1958) Stephen Gallagher
57. PSYCHO (1959) Hugh B. Cave
58. QUATERMASS AND THE PIT (1959) Stephen Laws
59. CRY HORROR! (1959) Michel Parry
60. THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE (1959) Lisa Tuttle
61. THE THREE STIGMATA OF PALMER ELDRITCH (1964) Tad Williams
62. THE PAINTED BIRD (1965) Jack Dann
63. THE CRYSTAL WORLD (1966) Craig Shaw Gardner
64. SUB ROSA (1968) Colin Greenland
65. THE GREEN MAN (1969) Brian Aldiss
66. THE COMPLETE WEREWOLF (1969) Neil Gaiman
67. GRENDEL (1971) Dan Simmons
68. THE EXORCIST (1971) F. Paul Wilson
69. THE SHEEP LOOK UP (1972) John Skipp
70. WORSE THINGS WAITING (1973) Frances Garfield
71. BURNT OFFERINGS (1973) Stephen King
72. 'SALEM'S LOT (1975) Al Sarrantonio
73. DEATHBIRD STORIES (1975) Craig Spector
74. MURGUNSTRUMM AND OTHERS (1977) Brian Lumley
75. SWEETHEART, SWEETHEART (1977) Charles L. Grant
76. ALL HEADS TURN WHEN THE HUNT GOES BY (1977) David J. Schow
77. THE SHINING (1977) Peter Straub
78. FALLING ANGEL (1978) William F. Nolan
79. THE WOLFEN (1978) Charles de Lint
80. THE TOTEM (1979) Shaun Hutson
81. GHOST STORY (1979) Peter Nicholls
82. THE LAND OF LAUGHS (1980) Christopher Evans
83. THE CELLAR (1980) David S. Garnett
84. RED DRAGON (1981) Chet Williamson
85. THE KEEP (1981) J.N. Williamson
86. THE DARK COUNTRY (1982) Samantha Lee
87. IN A LONELY PLACE (1983) Ramsey Campbell
88. THE ANUBIS GATES (1983) John Clute
89. THE ARABIAN NIGHTMARE (1983) Brian Stableford
90. THE WASP FACTORY (1984) Malcolm Edwards
91. THE CEREMONIES (1984) Thomas F. Monteleone
92. MYTHAGO WOOD (1984) Michael Moorcock
93. WHO MADE STEVIE CRYE? (1984) Ian Watson
94. SONG OF KALI (1985) Edward Bryant
95. THE DAMNATION GAME (1985) Adrian Cole
96. HAWKSMOOR (1985) R.S. Hadji
97. A NEST OF NIGHTMARES (1986) Robert Holdstock
98. THE PET (1986) Guy N. Smith
99. SWAN SONG (1987) Eddy C. Bertin
100. DARK FEASTS (1987) Jack Sullivan
April 21, 2018
A must-have for any horror fiction fan, and horror writers in general. You're guaranteed to learn something new, and want to read at least a dozen stories you never knew existed...ok maybe not so for the hardcore group, but you catch my drift. Brilliant stuff!
December 31, 2017
A great resource when looking for hidden gems at your local used bookstore. Also a critical look at some of the classics from contemporary writers in the genre.
January 3, 2024
Also has a large list of suggested continued reading in the back.
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