I don't remember the name, but the story I read by Machen was about a pilgrimage of ghostly children. It was both sad and unsettling.

I've read (and liked) two Machen stories: "The Great God Pan" (which is probably his best-known work) and "The Coming of the Terror," which is actually a condensation (made by American editors for magazine publication) of his The Terror --but a condensed version that he praised as done with particular skill. They're both very effective works; and the first one particularly also has a theme that indicates Machen's own significant influence on Lovecraft.

I've read one short story by him (which I enjoyed), but I've collected a few of his volumes.

I haven't read any Arthur Machen but he is on my list to read as I understand he is another classic of the genre.

I have Algernon Blackwood on the list of classic horror authors to read. Simon, have you read any Arthur Machen? You might enjoy him if you're a Blackwood fan.

I would like to recommend Algernon Blackwood. I am currently reading the Penguin Classic collection entitled "Ancient Stories and other weird stories". He wrote stories spanning the first half of the 20th century. He was a major influence on H.P. Lovecraft who cited "The Willows" as being one of the greatest supernatural tales ever written (also featured in the collection I am reading).

I think Blackwood is a master at the slow and careful buiding of atmosphere. He writes with a very readable prose that is less florid than others of his time (such as Lovecraft).

Charlaine Harris, any of her mysteries or Sookie books extraspecially!!!!! Club Dead is so far my favorite, because of Alcide and Sookie it is actually making think twice about a Jacob-Bella couple in Twilight, lol.

Charles de lint. love his urban fantasy but his horror is to die for as well, lol.

@Always
Happily ever after, I swear. Enjoy - it's quite short, you might get through the sequel too!

Ira Levin's "Rosemary's Baby is on my Reading List for October (Halloween), as a matter of fact. I saw the movie years ago when I was Way Young, but never quite made it to the finish. So this should be quite a surprise ending for me.

I don't think anyone has mentioned Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin. I picked that up recently and really enjoyed it.

Hmm that seems like a good idea... I'll try it sometime after I read my Halloween book and the 3 or 4 Sookie book (Well actually I could read any Sookie book in a day or two if I did nothing else... But I have school so now staying up until 1:30 in the moring reading with my book light in my bed, -unless- I took a nap and can't sleep...)

lol, interesting way to choose but it works.

Elvia wrote: "I have The Strain at home waiting for me to read! I also have a 6 other books so I'm not sure which one I'm getting to first."

Put the books on your dining table, close your eyes, then spin around 3 times, & put your hand on 1 of the books and there you go; your next read.
Works for me :)

I have The Strain at home waiting for me to read! I also have a 6 other books so I'm not sure which one I'm getting to first.

You read it too Levi. Alright! That was an awesome book.

YAY! Someone else has read it!

I read Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. I thought that book was amazing. A new take on vampire lore and its pretty creepy. Check it out. It's the first book in a trilogy. Can't wait for the next one:o)

Danielle, it's one of those things you have to comb Ebay & other places for now. It's a shame. I hope they get republished sometime soon. I've never been able to find a copy of his "Where the Summer Ends" for a decent price. I refuse to pay $20 for a used paperback that's almost 20 years old.

I checked Nesfa.org, but they don't have any Wagner books. (I sent them an email to ask if they have plans.) They have revived a lot of older works with collections of authors in their choice book section. Check them out. You might find some favorites.
http://www.nesfa.org/press/NESFAsChoiceB...

Jim wrote: "I'm lucky. I bought a copy of it years back when it first came out in paperback & picked up another at a yard sale. One of those is still in good shape. I think his story about the kudzu was the..."

Jim I am so jealous that you own these Karl Wagner books!

Nona, I hadn't heard of either of them before --but they sound really interesting!

I came across a few authors Joseph Cito and SE Schlosser both had true folklore/myths/scary stories of New England and the South. Has anyone read any of there stuff?

Jim wrote: "My biggest complaint with the first 'Evil Dead' was that it made Ash into a character that I didn't like as well. It didn't fit Bruce Campbell's character as I knew him.

Have you ever seen the mu..."

Evil Dead: The Musical is the most fun I've had in a theater in a long time! Just don't wear good clothes, tends to get a bit bloody, esp. in a smaller theater.

I ask for suggestions alot but I'm looking for some good scary salem witch trial books and other older-era haunted books to read. Anyone have some great suggestions?

My biggest complaint with the first 'Evil Dead' was that it made Ash into a character that I didn't like as well. It didn't fit Bruce Campbell's character as I knew him.

Have you ever seen the musical?

I actually saw AoD first then went back and saw the other two....but honestly, while AoD is a unique classic, I appreciate the low-budget simplicity of ED 1 and yeah, it is cheesey at times and over-the-top gore but still fun nonetheless.

I watched Evil Dead 2 & Army of Darkness several times before I saw the first Evil Dead. I'm glad. The first one was fun to watch - once. Sort of like 'Through the Trees' the prequel. Have you seen the alternate ending for Army of Darkness? I haven't. Wondered if it was worth it.

Agreed, Jim. Raimi's Evil Dead films are simply horror classics.

I read the reviews on John Dies at the End & one reviewer said it reminds her of the Raimi movies; Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2 & Army of Darkness. Good enough for me. I LOVED those movies, especially the last 2. They were just too much fun.

If anyone can get a hold of a copy, I recommend
David Wong's 'John Dies at the End' Up to date, it's the 'Most Hysterical Dark Fiction' I've read. Totally changed my Life :)

Yes, the prices for some of the great genre writers are indeed insane/prohibitive. For example, I really want to read Lisa Tuttle's 80s paperback collection A Nest of Nightmares, but the price is too damn steep.

I'm lucky. I bought a copy of it years back when it first came out in paperback & picked up another at a yard sale. One of those is still in good shape. I think his story about the kudzu was the best, but I did like "Sticks" & "The Pines". Scary stuff.

I also have Exorcisms and Ecstasies, which has a lot of Wagner's stories with bits written in between by writers that knew him. I picked it up for $5 at a 75% off bookstore, a place that got books that didn't sell at the new bookstores. It was new, perfect condition. Now I see it for $100 or more occasionally.

It makes me wonder about publishers when I see prices like that on books. Most of Wagner's books go for very high prices & yet no one is reprinting them. Seems to me that they should. When battered paperbacks are going for $30 or $60, I would think they would want to make a few bucks on a limited run.

WOW!!!

I had no idea. I just looked up "In a Lonely Place" on Amazon. One copy of the mass market paperback that I have, in 'good' condition, is available for $185!!! The hardback is cheaper & more available (5 copies) for only $170! Ebay has a signed paperback for only $93 - but only one. Sheesh! Reprints are definitely needed!

I agree, Wagner wrote great short stories - "Sticks" in particular is regarded as a classic. I've encountered several of his stories in anthologies like The Dark Descent, Dark Forces and Fine Frights (the latter is a little book of short stories Ramsay Campbell selected - his criteria for inclusion was stories that really scared him!). I'd love to get In a Lonely Place, but yeah - it's expensive.

If you ever get a chance, In a Lonely Place by Karl Edward Wagner is good horror. Although he's probably best known for his Kane series & some Conan works, I really liked this book of short stories. It's a bit hard/expensive to find now, though.

Sure thing, man. I love some of the older horror authors, too. One of my favorite things to do is peruse the horror section at used bookstores...

Cool. I have this whole pile of horror/supernatural lit books (in between tons of other stuff) and I think after I tackle The Keep by F. Paul Wilson and Cold Moon Over Babylon by Michael McDowell (I told you - old school), then I will plan on tackling the Maberry trilogy, all three. Thanks for the advice!

Great question...and yes, you will definitely want to read 'em one after the other because--timeline-wise--they take place one after the other. Although they weren't published back to back...I think a year a piece...but just a great debut by Maberry. I'd go so far as to say instant horror classics.

Awesome, thanks - I've been putting off picking up GRB only because I feel if I want to read the sequels right after I want to be ready to commit to them...do you recommend reading book 2 right after GRB, or can it wait a bit? Never enough time to read everything...

Robert, the "Pine Deep" trilogy by Maberry is one of my favorites from the past few years. You won't be disappointed! :)

Chris wrote: "Wow, Klein is old school 80's horror, for sure. I read The Ceremonies way back when and liked it. "

Yeah, I'm way into the old school 70s/80s for sure - but I need to catch up into the modern world too, I guess. I've got Ghost Road Blues on my queue, and hope to get to it soon!

Wow, Klein is old school 80's horror, for sure. I read The Ceremonies way back when and liked it.

Two books by T.E.D. Klein are favorites of mine since reading them last fall: Dark Gods (consists of 4 novellas) and the novel, The Ceremonies. Ceremonies is long, and definitely of the "Slow Burn" school, but it's excellent. All 4 stories in Dark Gods are really good and frightening stuff. Both books were published in the mid-to-late 80s I think.

Ikiwiki and Always, I just wanted to let you know that I recently snapped up a copy of House by Dekker and Peretti at a flea market, because of your endorsements! It'll be awhile before I read it (I had my wife buy it for me as a Christmas present --so I can't have it until Dec. 25, anyway :-)); but whenever I do, I'll try to post some feedback to this group.

Salems Lot- Stephen King- Vampire novel.

The Dark tower- Stephen King- 7 Part series deals with alot of different themes, including a copy of our world but set in another universe/multi universe theme, with all kinds of creepy crawlies.

It- Stephen King- Deals with fear, and its evil form.

These are a few great from Stephen King I would gladly recommend.

Chris wrote: "Agreed. That was an excellent book. Look forward to future Kilborn novels...

Always wrote: "I'll recommend "Afraid" by Jack Kilborn.... It did a great job scaring me....And I'm old"

"

Under the name Jack Kilborn, the writer has another book coming out called "Trapped" don't know when but there was a snippet of it after the ending of Afraid...

Jim wrote: "I got to thinking about Sydney & her book "Haunted Lily". Anyone else read it yet? She's supposed to be getting it republished soon, I think.

One of the cool things about it - not sure if it is ..."

Sorry Jim, I read the Summary of Haunted Lily & it didn't appeal to me... :(

I got to thinking about Sydney & her book "Haunted Lily". Anyone else read it yet? She's supposed to be getting it republished soon, I think.

One of the cool things about it - not sure if it is in the book - is the manor house that Sydney used as a model for the one in her book. Whitemarsh Hall is worth looking over. Lots of photos & plans. Wonderful photos in its prime, after it was abandoned & what's left today.

Agreed. That was an excellent book. Look forward to future Kilborn novels...

Always wrote: "I'll recommend "Afraid" by Jack Kilborn.... It did a great job scaring me....And I'm old"

I'll recommend "Afraid" by Jack Kilborn.... It did a great job scaring me....And I'm old

Any of the novels by Edward Lee. Granted, he is NOT for everyone, due to the graphic nature of his books...but I think he is a uniquely gifted storyteller. My personal Lee favorite is Succubi.