Horror Novels

admin · Rich Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 249 Location: Teesside

Ross asked me for some suggestions on what Horror novels to read. This being my fave area of reading I thought I'd post some suggestions!

Richard Laymon
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My fave author is Richard Laymon (US California author) who unfortunately died in 2001 from a heart attack I believe. Shame as he was a constant source for excellent slasher novels. A lot of his novels followed a victim who would be stalked by some mad slasher, but there was so much going on and the books were fast pased and never got boring or slow reading. Pretty much anything you pick up by him is going to be great. I've got about 25 of his novels, but here's some faves:

Endless Night
One Rainy Night
In The Dark
Midnight Tour (Part of a trilogy in order Celler/Beast House/Midnight Tour)
Funland
Darkness Tell Us
Island

Go to this website for synopsis of each book:
http://www.ains.net.au/~gerlach/rlaymon.htm

I've just found this forum too, i'm gonna check out after this post:
http://laymon.lostdestinations.com/

Brian Lumley
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UK author from Hartlepool, where Tucker's from! Now lives in US.

The Necroscope Series: This is the most indepth story ever! And so many films have ripped off elements of this story. It's about a man called Harry Keogh who has the talent of speaking to the dead and using their skills. It starts off when he is a kid and recruited by a secret ESP UK Govt dept and now that he's an adult he is used to battle against Russian enemies. That's the the background, it then leads to Vampirism then finding portal to other worlds where Vampires (Whampyre) rule.

It's a massive story that spans 13 novels, and the 3 Vampire world novels are like door stoppers.

For more info http://www.brianlumley.com/

Anne Rice
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The Vampire Chronicles. Needs no introducton if you have seen the movie 'Interview with the vampire'. The chronicles cover quite a few books, but the first 4 are the best. So to get you stared:

Interview With The Vampire
Lestat The Vampire
Queen Of The Damned
Tale Of The Body Thief
Memnoch The Devil (this is where they start to get slow)
Armand The Vampire (Bit gay this book, but beyond Marious gay stuff it's good, but slow and set before Lestat's time)

Her books at times can get very descriptive and be very slow and romantic, and because of this some of her later novels takes me ages to read (current one I've been reading almost four years lol) as my attention keeps wandering. But I will get through 'Merrick' which is book 7 as I have 'Blood & Gold' book 8 on my shelf to read. There's more after that too, arghh!

If you want the complete set, there's a side novel called 'Violin' which is Lestat's adventure with the Violin boy who appears in 'Interview With The Vampire'. I have not read this, but I have read 'Vittorio the Vampire' which is another similar style vampire novel but has no connection to the vampires in the Interview Chronicles.

James Herbert
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Another UK author. For me his books are hit or miss, and the ones I have read are quite old and the newest one I read was from 1993 and that was the year I read it, so I haven't kept upto date with his novels. I got 6 of his books (read eight) but I mention him because he has written my fave book of all time, that being:

'Domain' It can be read as a standalone book, but it does have two before it as it's a trilogy, them being 'The Rats' & 'The Lair' both excellent books too.

But what I like about 'Domain' is it's setting. 1984 Nuclear Holocaust, follows a group of survivors who managed to make it to a British underground Govt shelter underneath London Underground. After several months underground they go above to street level to find the devasted ruins of London. But all is not well, there's decaying dieing infected humans and large Killer rats on the loose. I've read this novel 4 times now, I've never repeated a read of a novel before, so that tells you how good it is.

Stephen Spruill
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Rulers of Darkness & Daughter of Darkness. Vampire novels that has a lot of medical scientific reasoning in the books because the author has a medical background, so that leads to some of the characters also being in the medical field, write what you know about I guess. These were written in 1995 and 1997 I think off hand, there's a third book written in 1999 that I haven't had chance to get hold of yet.

It's modern day Vampires who are being hunted down.

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#8 · Neophyte Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 42

I will check some of the above books out after i've finished my current batch of SW Novels.

Excellent thread!!

admin · Rich Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 249 Location: Teesside

Thanks dood, I suggest the Laymon ones the best. Fast paced action with lots of blood and fit lasses Very Happy

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#8 · Neophyte Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 42

Not sure fit lasses will have quite the same effect in print?!

admin · Rich Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 249 Location: Teesside

Descriptively fit, but true there's no glossy centre spread pages.
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#8 · Neophyte Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 42

Good - I would not approve of such distasteful, dispicable and downright disgusting imagery tainting what would normally be damn good book!!

admin · Rich Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 249 Location: Teesside

Ever give any of those books a try Ross? Note to meself... must get Lords of Light Stephen Spruill sometime when I can.

When I get round to it will also get those Zombie novels too.
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#8 · Neophyte Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 42

Havent had time Rich.

My book spell has passed for the time being.

Have many new SW books to read next winter!!

Back onto Xbox now.

& when I move into house ill be hooked on xbox, sky tv & the world cup!!

Will do at some stage I hope.

admin · Rich Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 249 Location: Teesside

yeah same here, not in a book mood at the moment, but when I am those will be the ones i'll be looking up.
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