Horror Aficionados discussion

In your opinion, who's the most overrated horror author you've ever read?

I've never been able to get into Lovecraft. Most of the time when I finish one of his stories, I'm lost and confused and wondering where the ending to the story is.

I used to love Koontz, until I got to the point I'd start reading a new book of his and feel like I'd already read it. He tends to repeat a lot of common elements.

For me, I think it's the later King stuff. I'm not saying it's bad... his new stuff is actually wonderfully written. I've not read "Under the Dome," but I've heard some really great things about it.

But he has almost become too good for me (if that makes any sense at all). I loved his older, simpler stuff like 'Salem's Lot and The Shining. As he got "better" and his books got decidedly longer, they started to feel more like a challenge for me to read.

I guess I'm just a simpleton.

By "challenge" I don't mean in difficulty... I mean in keeping my interest.

WOW! Kindred spirits! I agree wholeheartedly on your assessments of Lovecraft, Koontz and King!!!!!

I have to add to the list Michael Crichton and Robert Ludlum.

The couple of books that I have read of Crichton's felt disjointed, as if different people had written different chapters. I also felt that the storylines had holes in them that you could drive a Buick through.

His books didn't make me feel like a simpleton, quite the contrary. They made me feel that others who enjoy these books must be simpletons.

For Robert Ludlum, I am basing my entire opinion on the Jason Bourne series. These books are so complicated that they have to stop every couple of chapters and rehash the storyline. Frustrating!!!

While I'm a fan of Crichton, I gotta admit you're right about his plots. I think I read his stuff for the fake-science and rants of characters like Malcolm, just so I can sound fake-educated when debating fake-science with my friends. :)

Whilst I do like Lovecraft a lot, I have to admit that he is often overrated. Many of his stories just aren't that good, although when he is at his best he is brilliant. But the almost religious fervour that some seem to regard the man and his work is unwarranted in my opinion.

I have to admit that Stephen King is one that I definitely think is overrated. I just don't understand his appeal but I have to admit that he is widely loved by many.

It would have to be King for me. I do like some of his stuff, especially his older stuff, but I don't see what makes him shine above the rest all the time.

I agree with Lovecraft and King but I still love Koontz.
I'll add Ann Rice, never found any of her stuff worth reading. Snorefest too me.

Ken wrote: "WOW! Kindred spirits! I agree wholeheartedly on your assessments of Lovecraft, Koontz and King!!!!!

I have to add to the list Michael Crichton and Robert Ludlum.

The couple of books that I have r..."

I love Crichton's books, so does that make me a simpleton? I strongly disagree about the Crichton criticism here. IMO, the stories are fascinating, well-written and very educational while managing to entertain the whole time. What more can you ask for?

Koontz is way overrated based on his amazing inconsistency. Read only one Bentley Little and found it highly overrated. Same with Ramsey Campbell.

I think Koontz is a bit overrated. Don't hate me.
I read Watchers when I was a teenager and I loved it. I still do. But ever since then it seems like the same story over and over again. Good guy, bad guy, GREAT DOG, good guy wins.
I confess to a little bit of love for Odd Thomas..but I don't know if it's enough love to continue reading.
After all, I know how it's going to end right?
I guess it's the same old forumula that gets on my nerves.

I agree with Gator about Crichton's books. I haven't read all that many, but the ones I have read I thought were enjoyable and scientific in a semi-plausible sci-fi way to make the story believable enough to give me a little thrill.

Haven't read enough Koontz to know if he's overrated.

I don't think Bentley Little is overrated at all, but he is hit or miss.

I do agree that Lovecraft gets way to much credit for his body of work, although not for being a horror pioneer.

Non-horror: Chelsea Handler. Her first book My Horizontal Life is hilarious, her others suck just like she does. Don't know why anyone would tune in to the snarkfest that is this sour puss's TV show.

Marcel Proust IMO is overrated. When no one can get through most of your work...well...

Dean Koontz
James Patterson

Peter Straub

I've only read Straub's early stuff and it's pretty solid. Not sure about his later books.

Patterson is on the ratings chart? I can't believe anyone would read his books.

I didn't include Patterson because he's not horror, although his writing is horrific. Add Dan Brown to the list, then, too.

I like the Straub I've read so far.

Gatorman wrote: "I didn't include Patterson because he's not horror, although his writing is horrific. Add Dan Brown to the list, then, too.

I like the Straub I've read so far."

I concur on Dan Brown. One reasonably intriguing book that wasn't even original material. The rest is complete crap. And, yes, I accidentally read them all.

Charlene wrote: "I read Watchers when I was a teenager and I loved it. I still do. But ever since then it seems like the same story over and over again. Good guy, bad guy, GREAT DOG, good guy wins."

Watchers and Lightning were my early reads for Koontz, and I loved them.

And, yes, that is the formula -- except, often, there is a damsel in distress as well. And, often, the dog is what connects them. Hmmm. Does that sound like Watchers?

Tressa wrote: "I've only read Straub's early stuff and it's pretty solid. Not sure about his later books.

Patterson is on the ratings chart? I can't believe anyone would read his books."

A moment of weakness, Tressa.

Yeah, don't rap me on the knuckles for mentioning non-horror authors. Sorry, Brandon. But I will continue to disrespect the OP by mentioning John Grisham. *groan*

I am finally happy to find someone who agrees with me about James Patterson. Everyone in my family acts like he is amazing but I think he is very overrated. His books are written horribly and contain certain elements which he seems to use repeatedly in every book. By the way Tressa I really think that John Grisham's earlier works were very good and had good plots, but I do think his recent writing seems to just be copying what he already wrote. He has became just as bad a writer as Patterson always was.

Okay so no one has mentioned her? at all? Stephanie Meyer! I have never read her awful Twilight Series but she is extremely overrated in my opinion. Making all this money on crappy books.
Another overrated author, J.K Rowling..enough said. They are overrated because aside from their series what have they written? nothing!

Layton, I agree with you about Grisham's early books. I read maybe five or six of his early works and enjoyed them; The Rainmaker is my favorite one. He veered from his formula with Painted House, and that was an OK story but nothing to write home about.

Justin wrote: "They are overrated because aside from their series what have they written? nothing! "

Well, using that logic I am going to nominate Charles Darwin. Because aside from "On the Origin of Species", what else did he write that was any good?

Justin wrote: "Another overrated author, J.K Rowling..enough said. They are overrated because aside from their series what have they written? nothing! ..."

Rowling's series is seven books long. That's not nothing.

Harper Lee wrote one stinking book. Therefore she is overrated.

Tressa wrote: "Harper Lee wrote one stinking book. Therefore she is overrated. "

Harper Lee wrote a book? HAHAHAHA!

Scott wrote: "Probably no one mentioned Stephenie Meyer because we've never heard anyone say anything good about her, thus she isn't overrated."

She's a bestselling author no one says anything good about.
Ergo, she's overrated.

Ken wrote: "Tressa wrote: "Harper Lee wrote one stinking book. Therefore she is overrated. "

Harper Lee wrote a book? HAHAHAHA!"

Oh, God. You're not in the Capote Camp, are you?

I agree with Stephen King when he says: "The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can't write worth a darn. She's not very good." He puts it perfectly.

Scott I was surprised how long it took for Meyer name to come up. Twilight and the Host were some of the most predictable bits of nonsense I have ever read.

I loved To Kill a Mockingbird. I think it is a wonderful story-not only as a coming of age story, but also for civil rights.
I think it was an important book which helped to change attitudes and therefore Harper is not overrated in my book. : )

To Kill a Mockingbird is my all time favorite.

The one I don't get is Catcher in The Rye. Its just a rich kid whining about his tough life.

It is a great book Charlene. I keep a copy of it on my desk at all times just because it is one of my favorites. I need to add it to my books one here.

Lots of people just at GR rate Meyers and actually like her.

I hope everyone got my sarcasm about Harper Lee and her one stinking book.

Scott wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "She's a bestselling author no one says anything good about.
Ergo, she's overrated. "

But... but... to be overrated, someone has to be rating her!"

The New York Times Book Review, for one....

Tressa wrote: "Lots of people just at GR rate Meyers and actually like her.

I hope everyone got my sarcasm about Harper Lee and her one stinking book."

Sarcasm?

You?

Scott wrote: "Probably no one mentioned Stephenie Meyer because we've never heard anyone say anything good about her, thus she isn't overrated."

Exactly.

Tressa wrote: "Oh, God. You're not in the Capote Camp, are you?"

You have to admit that it is a possibility!

I don't think high sales figures should determine if you are overrated. It's what the critics and readers actually say about the quality of the books. That's why I don't include Meyers. She sells lots of books but critics and readers other than her crazy fan base don't think much of her. Patterson and Brown still get good critical reviews from critics and casual readers, at least from what I have seen.

Ken wrote: "Tressa wrote: "Harper Lee wrote one stinking book. Therefore she is overrated. "

Harper Lee wrote a book? HAHAHAHA!"

Is that rumor still going around?

Tressa wrote: "Lots of people just at GR rate Meyers and actually like her.

I hope everyone got my sarcasm about Harper Lee and her one stinking book."

I did not recognize you in your sarcasm cloak, Tressa!
I felt that I had to stand up for Harper!

No, I don't have to admit that, Ken. Did you read Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee? They go in depth about how he didn't write it; in fact, they mentioned that she should have gotten more credit for helping him research In Cold Blood.

http://www.tokillamockingbird.com/cap...

Gatorman wrote: "I don't think high sales figures should determine if you are overrated. It's what the critics and readers actually say about the quality of the books. That's why I don't include Meyers. She sell..."

You have to count her crazy fans.
She only got those high sale figures by being overrated by somebody.

Charlene wrote: "I did not recognize you in your sarcasm cloak, Tressa! I felt that I had to stand up for Harper! ..."

LOL. I was just playing along with Ken's Darwin's-one-book crack that referenced someone's comment about Rowling being overrated because she "only" wrote the Harry Potter series and, aside from that, what has she written. I love TKAM.

Brain Keene. He's OK but I can't go more than OK. Some of the reviews and blurbs leave me bewildered.

Jon Recluse wrote: "Gatorman wrote: "I don't think high sales figures should determine if you are overrated. It's what the critics and readers actually say about the quality of the books. That's why I don't include ..."

I guess it depends on how you consider "rating" her. I'm sure there are plenty of people who bought the book but didn't like it. That's why I don't count sales figures.

I agree Rowlings is overrated not because she only wrote the HP series but because the parts I read in some of the books were not very well-written, IMO. I think her ideas are better than her execution.

Gatorman wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "Gatorman wrote: "I don't think high sales figures should determine if you are overrated. It's what the critics and readers actually say about the quality of the books. That's ..."

Kind of hard to be overrated if no one is buying your books.....like the way my library has 3 copies and one large print of every damn Patterson book.

Justin wrote: "Okay so no one has mentioned her? at all? Stephanie Meyer! I have never read her awful Twilight Series but she is extremely overrated in my opinion. Making all this money on crappy books.
Another o..."

I would have but thought this thread was about horror authors, SMeyer is paranormal romance. Rowlings is what YA/scifi?

Nora aka Diva wrote: "I would have but thought this thread was about horror authors, SMeyer is paranormal romance. Rowlings is what YA/scifi? "

I agree. While they both use horror icons (vamps, werewolves, etc), I don't really consider either of them to be horror authors.

They're horrific to me. : )