Horror Lit - Books Reviews, News and Discussions

Weird Tales is an American fantasy and horror fiction pulp magazine founded by J. C. Henneberger and J. M. Lansinger in late 1922. The first issue, dated March 1923, appeared on newsstands February 18.[1] The first editor, Edwin Baird, printed early work by H. P. Lovecraft, Seabury Quinn, and Clark Ashton Smith

For example: Weird Tales v28 n04 [1936-11]

386 • Witch-House • [Jules de Grandin] • novelette by Seabury Quinn

495 • Pickman's Model • (1927) • shortstory by H. P. Lovecraft

LINK - October is for Horror Fans! Here are 8 Scarily Good New Releases

• Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror, edited by Jordan Peele and John Joseph Adams
• A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand
• The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey
• Frost Bite by Angela Sylvaine
• Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt
• Christmas and Other Horrors: An Anthology of Solstice Horror, edited by Ellen Datlow
• Nestlings by Nat Cassidy
• The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

First, I just want to say I am in no affiliated with Horrorsmith Publishing, any of their authors, or any other authors in general. I'm not even an author myself. This is not a paid advertisement. But of the mods still feel it doesn't belong, I understand. I just wanted to give a heads up.

Recently I guess Anazon had some sort of Stuff Your Kindle Event. They had a ton of free books people could claim. I missed it, but it sounds like it was largely romance novels, and a few other things hidden in there. And it was also mostly unknown authors, so it's one of those things where no one is sure how much is even worth reading.

However, there wasn't much horror, so Horrorsmith Publishing is hosting their own event, and encouraging others to join. It's gonna take place on Halloween, and it sounds like there will be a ton of free books. Maybe they will just be on sale. Unfortunately details are sparse. Hopefully more will come out. But even if it is just a sale, I'll likely take advantage of it and support some smaller authors.

Also, it was being weird with me trying to post a link, but you can just go to spookyourkindle.com I personally just have a tab open so I don't forget or anything.

I listened to the audiobook on Libby and found I could only during the day. It didn’t help much since this was very much daytime horror. Small town, animal farm like horror, pig revenge. Highly recommend.

The Ritual by Adam Nevill

When four old University friends set off into the Scandinavian wilderness of the Arctic Circle, they aim to briefly escape the problems of their lives and reconnect with one another. But when Luke, the only man still single and living a precarious existence, finds he has little left in common with his well-heeled friends, tensions rise. With limited experience between them, a shortcut meant to ease their hike turns into a nightmare scenario that could cost them their lives. Lost, hungry, and surrounded by forest untouched for millennia, Luke figures things couldn't possibly get any worse. But then they stumble across an old habitation. Ancient artifacts decorate the walls and there are bones scattered upon the dry floors. The residue of old rites and pagan sacrifice for something that still exists in the forest. Something responsible for the bestial presence that follows their every step. As the four friends stagger in the direction of salvation, they learn that death doesn't come easy among these ancient trees.

book-review

The story is also been adapted in the 2017 film The Ritual directed by David Bruckner. But i personally find the novel way more terrifying.

House of Leaves by ~~Mark Z. Danielewski~~ | ~~Johnny Truant~~ | Zampanò

One man’s discovery that his new family home is larger on the inside than the outside, by one inch. When a mysterious doorway appears, leading to a maze of smooth, ash-grey walls, Will Navidson – the house’s owner, a Pulitzer prize-winning photojournalist – goes in to investigate. The Navidson Record, his film of these explorations, becomes the intense focus of a blind man called Zampanò, who writes about the footage with lengthy, academic precision. When Zampanò is found dead in his apartment, troubled tattoo artist Johnny Truant discovers his notes and inherits the fixation. As Truant becomes increasingly obsessed with the story, so too does the reader.

'House of Leaves' is a terrifying masterpiece

'House of Leaves changed my life': the cult novel at 20

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Goodreads - A spread of great cosmic horror books, including both short fiction collections and anthologies and novels/novellas. Focus particularly on contemporary stories and settings.

Welcome to this week's Weekly Thread! This time around, our topic is:

What Books Live Up to the Hype?

Whether you heard about it from BookTok, a trusted friend, or a Buzzfeed listicle, what book lived up to or even surpassed the hype surround it?

For me, it would have to be Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman. Reddit was crazy about this book, so I gave it a try and absolutely loved it. I now have a Medieval Horror itch that I keep trying to scratch.

What about you?

For me it’s hard to say for sure, because my scariest book wasn’t meant as horror, but Communion by Whitley Streiber is definitely responsible for the most sleepless hours.

My favourite horror story (more like a series of stories) to come out of r/nosleep. I feel it deserves Its place here. I specially love the protagonist, she's a well written competent and brave woman that is also just a human confronting the supernatural. Greatly recommended.

Welcome to the Inaugural Weekly Thread! I am hoping to get different types of weekly threads going on different days.

Today's Topic: What Are You Reading This Week?

Horror, horror-adjacent, books, short stories, fanfics, magazine, comics, whatever! I want to know what you're reading, or just finished reading. Thoughts, reviews, and analyses welcome!

I just started the (very) short novella by Joe R. Lansdale, Shooting Star. People on a train have to deal with the aftermath of a collision with a flying saucer. It's pretty interesting, and my first taste of Lansdale.

Now you!

Hello everybody, I created this community a few days ago, as a big fan of r/horrorlit on reddit. And then my AC broke, and then a storm came through and killed power for my entire area, so I've been a little preoccupied.

I apologize, as I do want to be active in this community and see it grow. If you know anybody who is a fan of horror books, tell them to stop on by! Suggestions, reviews, discussions, and anything else you can think of are allowed here, as long as it's about horror books/stories/etc., and you're not toxic.

I've never been a mod for a community before, so bear with me as I learn. Also, if anybody wants to join as a mod, let me know, I'd appreciate the help!

To start things off, I want to know your favorite subgenre of horror. Personally, cosmic/strange horror with a heavy dose of comedy is right up my alley.

Thanks for reading my rambling, and I hope this community keeps growing!

I'm working my way through Dead Sea by Tim Curran, maybe 25% in. So far I like it but there are times when I feel like it's dragging a bit.

Also listening to the audiobook for Let Me In by John Ajvide Lindqvist. Almost finished and have been really enjoying it.

I found this book on a recommended list and added it to my 2023 TBR list. I started it a couple of months ago, couldn't get into it, and because it was a Libby loan it got automatically returned. I decided a couple of days ago to give it another try and UUUUUGH. I cannot.

For a book that is seemingly set in present day, the protagonist sure doesn't seem to be as phone-attached as the rest of us. How she gets caught without her phone or conveniently forgets to use it as a flashlight is a huge point of contention for me. Additionally, it feels like the first half of the book (where I eventually gave up) is just going from one unexplained jump scare to the next, with nothing actually happening. That MIGHT have been a ghost on the porch. Or in the hallway. Or in the tunnels under the vineyard. Or in the shed. Just one to the next to the next with NOTHING HAPPENING. Goodreads reviews say it's a slow burn with not much payoff so I did something I rarely do, which is log a DNF.

I understand that this is a good author and I'd appreciate a recommendation from her back catalog that will help me wash this disappointment out of my brain.