[Daedalusman]

I was thinking of getting a Horror novel, I haven't read any horror before so I don't know what is good. So if you people could let me in on a few great horror books that would be great.

[Steven Savile]

Goodness me, that's a broad one... it really depends what you are looking for. I could suggest a thoughtprovoking and scary novel like William Hjortsberg's Falling Angel, or sheer dizzy creativity and horror from someone like Clive Barker's Books of Blood (not novels, but long stories, all excellent - the omnibus editions are valuable beyond belief.

Novels:

The Nightwalker... Thomas Tessier -- Masterful.
Rapture... Tessier again. Always bankable.
The Doll Who Ate His Mother... Ramsey Campbell -- One of the masters of quiet horror.
The Face That Must Die... Campbell again.
Stranglehold... Jack Ketchum -- Ketchum's best book.
The Scarf, by Robert Bloch.
The Silence of the Lambs, by Thomas Harris. We've been Lectored to death, but this book is still incredible.
Some of Your Blood, by Theodore Sturgeon.
The Hellfire Club, by Peter Straub.
The Eighth Square, by Herbert Lieberman.
The Church of Dead Girls, by Stephen Dobyns.
Lie To Me, by David Martin.
Song of Kali, by Dan Simmons
Carrion Comfort, by Dan Simmons

Collections:

Black Evening, by David Morrell
By Bizarre Hands, by Joe R. Lansdale
Nameless Sins, by Nancy A. Collins
The Dark Fantastic, by Ed Gorman
Similar Monsters, by Steve Savile
Things Left Behind, by Gary Braunbeck
Deathbird Stories, by Harlan Ellison
Shadow Dreams, by Elizabeth Massie
Dark Gods, by T.E.D. Klein



Anthologies:

The Whispers Series, Edited by Stuart David Schiff
The Borderlands Series, Edited by Tom Monteleone
The Shadows Series, Edited by Charles Grant
Redbrick Eden, Edited by Steve Savile
Silver Scream, Edited by David Schow
The Books of the Dead, Edited by John Skipp & Craig Spector
October Dreams, Edited by Richard Chizmar & Robert Morrish
Prime Evil, Edited by Douglas Winter
999, Edited by Al Sarrantonio
Obsessions, Edited by Gary Raisor (This one is overlooked too often. Sad, it's marvelous)
Razored Saddles, Edited by Joe R. Lansdale and Pat LaBrutto
Dark Forces, Edited by Kirby MacCauley
Dangerous Visions and Again, Dangerous Visions, Edited by Harlan Ellison


There are more, but this is avoiding the King, Koontz, Rice trap.

[estranghero]

You've read Simmon's "Carrion Comfort", Kane? Didn't really enjoy much, that (considering I liked his sci-fi series, "Hyperion".). However, I picked up his "Summers of Night" on a previous recommendation of FF. Whatcha t'ink of that book?

What about this other anthology, I think "Graveyard collection(something or other?)" and "Graven Images"? :)

[Jack Burton]

WOW!! Not read any horror...my goodness, get the a Stephen King book pronto..the ease into Koontz...then perhaps some McGammon(or is McCammon..I forget)..the perhaps some Bentley Little...there, that should tide you over a bit!!!!!!

[Rob B]

King's is somewhat of a mixed bag...one of his most famous is quite the nerve-tickler The Shining.

McCammom is pretty good. Usher's Passing was a pretty good tale, read it back in High School.

[athenix]

It's very dark and vampiric, but two of my favorite horror authors are Poppy Z. Brite and Caitlin Kiernan (I just found a copy of their collaboration, Wrong Things at Shakespeare and Co. the other day ... autographed, too!).

At this point, since you've not read horror, don't be afraid of the cliched names such as King, Koontz, Rice, etc. Dean Koontz's writing style has actually improved with his two recent books, From the Corner of His Eye and One Door Away From Heaven , though they're not "classic" horror - more psychological suspense.

An anthology I just bought is The Darker Side , edited by John Pelan, which I've found quite satisfying. Particular standouts in the collection are "Do You See What I Fear?" (Edo van Belkom), "The Mannerly Man" (Mihitobel Wilson) and "Standing Water" (Caitlin Kiernan)... I'm sure that isn't all, I'm not through the entire book yet!

Douglas Clegg is also a great author, and a wonderful man also.

Just go slow and get a feel for the various sub-genres (of which there are many) and decide what you like and continue on that path.

[dragondrool]

I second Kane's suggestions of David Morrell's Black Evening (absolutely fabulous) and of the 999 anthology edited by Al Sarrantonio. I currently finished Caitlin R. Kiernan's Threshhold, too, and found it to be very good.

In my current book juggling pile, I'm working on the Darker Side anthology that Athenix mentioned. The Belkom and Kiernan stories are quite good. I've also thrown one of my Lovecraft books into the bag I pack around with me, as well as the new Year's Best Fantasy and Horror anthology from Datlow and Windling.

If I were you, I'd start with anthologies. Either single author or mixed collections. You can get a feel for different authors and then go on to their novels from there. I like the stories with a wicked twist at the end. Ramsey Campbell is good with this, as is David Morrell.

Caveat on Stephen Dobyns' The Church of Dead Girls. It really is more of a straight mystery/suspense novel than a horror novel. However, it does have a catchy title and a really quirky feel. I thought it was a bit slow in spots.

Good luck and have fun! :)

[Tacitus]

Also if you get yourself the REAL books off which countless movies are based(Frankenstein, Dracula, etc) You will find that the written works Beat ANY filmed rendition ALL to hell.

[Olivaw]

Wow, I knew Simmons did fantasy and Sci-fi, but I wasn't aware of any horror. I must look into that. :)
Good horror book to start on, hmm, lemme give you a couple of old favorites to whet yer whistle. Lightning by Dean R. Koontz(not a very scary read, but will serve to get you hooked on Koontz like me), and Christine by Stephen King.

[Heathen]

SWAN SONG by Robert McCammon (epic good vs evil)

IT by Steven King(kids worst fears,and as adults)

WATCHERS by Dean Koontz
(animal lover + military/govt conspiracy)