Horror stories/novels with hoodoo

**Grokl** · October 21st, 2012, 03:00 AM

Hi

I just saw the movie "the skeleton key" and got interested in hoodoo. Can anyone recommend some books?

**algernoninc** · October 21st, 2012, 01:04 PM

I'm not sure what the difference between hoodoo and voodoo is, but I read one book this year that makes references to African religions in the Carribean and the myth of the fountain of youth: On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers

**Grokl** · October 21st, 2012, 03:52 PM

From what I know voodoo is a religion and hoodoo is black arts mainly centered around conjuration.

**KatG** · October 21st, 2012, 04:15 PM

No, hoodoo isn't black arts necessarily. It's a set of magical practices that is heavily based on Christianity, but can also produce dire consequences believed to be part of God's will. You can try Adrian Phoenix's Hoodoo series, and Emma Bull's Bone Dance. John Horner Jacob Horner's Southern Gods might have some material.

**Riothamus** · October 21st, 2012, 04:49 PM

Hoodoo is highly related to the african diasporic religions such as Voodoo, Santeria, and Candomble which are not even primarily concerned with evil. Hoodoo itself itself is more of type of sorcery rather than a full fledged religion and is related to ancient African traditions as well as Christian beliefs and a bit of Native American lore.Just thought I'd throw that out there.

**Randy M.** · October 22nd, 2012, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by Grokl

Hi

I just saw the movie "the skeleton key" and got interested in hoodoo. Can anyone recommend some books?

Interesting movie, wasn't it? Not great, but the setting and the atmosphere of it was reasonably effective.

Anyway, check out Southern Gods does have some of that feel. You might also check out Masques by Bill Pronzini. It's in my TBR pile, so I can't say for certain, but what I've heard of it makes it sound a likely candidate. Another I haven't read, but might apply, Hugh B. Cave's The Evil Returns.

Also, a more serious treatment, The Red of His Shadow by Mayra Montero deals with voodoo. Terrific novel, but not primarily aimed at horror.

Also, a book of short stories some of which will apply, Zombies! Zombies! Zombies! ed. by Otto Penzler.

Fun, campy movie: White Zombie with Bela Lugosi.

Randy M.

**Hobbit** · October 22nd, 2012, 09:21 AM

Randy, you might be able to help here: how about Falling Angel, by William Hjortsberg? Was the book on which the film Angel Heart was based. Haven't read the book, but the film I remember quite well!

**Randy M.** · October 22nd, 2012, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by Hobbit

Randy, you might be able to help here: how about Falling Angel, by William Hjortsberg? Was the book on which the film Angel Heart was based. Haven't read the book, but the film I remember quite well!

Afraid it's a gap in my reading, too, Mark. It's been so long since I saw the movie, I'm not even sure how much it fits the request, though I do recall at least one scene with a voodoo ritual.

Randy M.

**Hobbit** · October 22nd, 2012, 12:18 PM

One of the characters is a voodoo priestess, so it does fit.

One that I haven't read, but may be of interest: Voodoo Tales: The Ghost Stories of Henry S. Whitehead, by Wordsworth Press:

Actually, one of the stories I have read, as it's in the Otto Penzler Zombies anthology, which Randy mentioned above. Seconded as a recommendation.

**Randy M.** · October 22nd, 2012, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by Hobbit

One of the characters is a voodoo priestess, so it does fit.

One that I haven't read, but may be of interest: Voodoo Tales: The Ghost Stories of Henry S. Whitehead, by Wordsworth Press:

Actually, one of the stories I have read, as it's in the Otto Penzler Zombies anthology, which Randy mentioned above. Seconded as a recommendation.

Ow! I want that, too!

Anyway, that looks very good. Whitehead, like Hugh Cave, spent time in Haiti and I take it that experience informed their stories. (Although I've heard that there are attitudes expressed in Whitehead's work that will offend -- or probably infuriate -- contemporary sensibilities.)

Randy M.

**Slack Bladder** · October 25th, 2012, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Randy M.

Afraid it's a gap in my reading, too, Mark. It's been so long since I saw the movie, I'm not even sure how much it fits the request, though I do recall at least one scene with a voodoo ritual.

Randy M.

It's a long time since I read the book but I remember it being very good indeed - better than the Alan Parker movie.

British author Steve Harris wrote a book in the early 90s called Hoodoo Man which, title alone, suggests it might be applicable. I haven't read it, though, so can't say for sure.

**Miss Speller** · October 23rd, 2012, 02:08 PM

I loved that movie!! There was a book by Sandra Brown, about a girl who goes to New Orleans and has a palm reading or something. I can't remember the name of it and I don't have time to google it right now. The cover was red and it had something to do with a crow or a raven. Maybe I will think of it.

**Miss Speller** · October 23rd, 2012, 02:16 PM

Try The Twisted Ladder by Rhodi Hawk.

**Randy M.** · October 23rd, 2012, 02:46 PM

Don't know what triggered this recollection ...

"You remind me of the man."
"What man?"
"The man with the power."
"What power?"
"The power of hoodoo."
"Hoodoo?"
"You do."
"Do what?"
"Remind me of the man."

From an old Cary Grant movie, The Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer, and what it reminds me of is how much junk gets stored in the attic.

Randy M.

**KatG** · October 23rd, 2012, 06:08 PM

There's a lot of stuff with voodoo, if you want to open it up. And vodun. Powers' Stranger Tides is definitely one, almost anything set in New Orleans, random novels like Laura Resnick's Unsympathetic Magic in her comic Esther Diamond series, Robert Asprin's NO Quarter, Neil Gaiman's Anasai Boys, etc., and lots of horror.