25 Dark Books To Make You Scream
Have you heard the saying, “If you’ve seen the movie, you’ve read the book”? 
It was very popular when I was in college, but it’s not always the case. Dark fiction has become an art, and good art fosters appreciation.
To further enhance your immersion into horror fiction culture, why not take a look at the beginnings of the Screamstress Horror Reading List? This is a partial list that will be updated as a resource for those who want to get back to their horror roots, and compare the latest reads.
These are some of the horror writers that started it all. Some of these stories are already very popular, and were recently made into movies, while there are great stories waiting to be explored in cinema. For now, count yourself lucky if they haven’t, as some movies are simply not as good as the book (and never will be?). Check out the partial list after the cut.
- Best Ghost stories of Algernon Blackwood
- The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
- Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
- Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite
- The Hungry Moon by Ramsey Campbell
- The Between by Tananarive Due
- Darklands by Dennis Etchison
- Raven by Charles L Grant
- Dead in the Water by Nancy Holder
- The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
- The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
- Turn of the Screw by Henry James
- The Ghost Stories of M.R. James
- Dr. Adder by K.W. Jeter
- The Metamorphosis and Other Stories by Franz Kafka
- Pet Semetary by Stephen King
- The Stand by Stephen King
- Skin by Kathe Koja
- Dark Dance by Tanith Lee
- Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber
- Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin
- Songs of a Dead Dreamer by Thomas Ligotti
- Lovers Living, Lovers Dead by Richard Lortz
- The Dunwich Horror and Others by H.P. Lovecraft
- At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft
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POSTED IN: Books, Classics & Vintage, Culture
2 opinions for 25 Dark Books To Make You Scream
Clae
Mar 16, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Have you read John Dies at The End? It’s a phenomenally interesting novel that blends horror and retarded comedy seamlessly. It can move from horrifically chilling to gut bustingly hilarious without a blink. You’d do well to check it out.
Alexandra
Mar 17, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Clae, thanks for the tip. I’m planning a trip to the bookstore and will be checking that one out! I read a brief synopsis and it sounds great.
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