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Book Recommendations > Authors that capture a sense of the uncanny/Otherworldly

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message 1: by Clashton (new)

Clashton | 14 comments Some of my favourite authors are M.R. James, Algernon Blackwood, Arthur Machen and others from that era.

All are fantastic at capturing a sense of the uncanny or other worldliness.

A recent favourite that I feel does something similar is Laird Barron.

Are there other similar authors that people would recommend?


message 2: by Christopher (new)

Christopher Conlon (goodreadscomchristopherconlon) | 530 comments Ramsey Campbell for sure.


message 3: by Clashton (last edited Mar 25, 2021 09:43AM) (new)

Clashton | 14 comments Christopher wrote: "Ramsey Campbell for sure."

Thanks for that. I just realized that I have almost completely overlooked Ramsey Campbell, and looking at the Wikipedia article, there is a ton of stuff by him I would enjoy reading.Ramsey Campbell


message 4: by Christopher (new)

Christopher Conlon (goodreadscomchristopherconlon) | 530 comments You’re welcome! He may be my favorite living writer, but he does blow hot and cold for me. Among my faves: The Grin of the Dark, Visions from Brichester, The Searching Dead (part one of a brilliant horror trilogy).


message 5: by Clashton (new)

Clashton | 14 comments Christopher wrote: "You’re welcome! He may be my favorite living writer, but he does blow hot and cold for me. Among my faves: The Grin of the Dark, Visions from Brichester, [book:The Se..."

Those will keep me reading for a while. Thanks again.


message 6: by Randy (new)

Randy Money | 432 comments I second Campbell and would add that much of his short work is brilliant.

I'm especially fond of Caitlin R. Kiernan. The Red Tree and The Drowning Girl, in particular, though what I've read of her shorter work also applies, especially "Le Peau Verte."

Barron has a pal, John Langan, who is also quite good: House of Windows & The Fisherman. I've liked quite a bit of his short work, too, though a few fell flat for me. I was especially like, "On Skua Island." "Mr. Gaunt," also good, is available at his website.


message 7: by Clashton (new)

Clashton | 14 comments Randy wrote: "I second Campbell and would add that much of his short work is brilliant.

I'm especially fond of Caitlin R. Kiernan. The Red Tree and The Drowning Girl, in particul..."


Caitlin R. Kiernan I have heard of, but never got around to trying, but going to give her work a try. John Langan I never heard of, but will also try. Thanks for these recommendations.


message 8: by Jordan (new)

Jordan West | 5 comments If you've yet to read him, Thomas Ligotti is a must.


message 9: by Clashton (new)

Clashton | 14 comments Jordan wrote: "If you've yet to read him, Thomas Ligotti is a must."

I don't know his works well, having read just Teatro Grottesco.


message 10: by Jordan (new)

Jordan West | 5 comments TG is a strong collection, if somewhat focused on his later period work; the omnibus The Nightmare Factory which collects his first three books, is an absolute masterpiece, although unfortunately pretty hard to find - however, there is a recent reprinting of the first two of those Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe together courtesy of Penguin classics.


message 11: by Clashton (new)

Clashton | 14 comments Jordan wrote: "TG is a strong collection, if somewhat focused on his later period work; the omnibus The Nightmare Factory which collects his first three books, is an absolute masterpiece, although unfortunately p..."

I am going to try that Penguin reprinting of Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe.
BTW, has he written any full-length novels?


message 12: by Jordan (new)

Jordan West | 5 comments Just one short novel (or novella) My Work is Not Yet Done; although while very well-written, it has much more of 'realistic' setting than the majority of his short fiction.


message 13: by Alan (new)

Alan | 7623 comments Mod
Randy wrote: "I second Campbell and would add that much of his short work is brilliant.

I'm especially fond of Caitlin R. Kiernan. The Red Tree and The Drowning Girl, in particul..."


Langan and Kiernan were the first to come mind for me.
Brian Lumley wrote a whole bunch of Lovecraftian/cosmic horror.


message 14: by Christopher (new)

Christopher Conlon (goodreadscomchristopherconlon) | 530 comments I like Lumley’s Cthulhu Mythos stories very much. A reader who has gone through all of the major Lovecraft tales would do well to try, say, The Taint and Other Novellas.


message 15: by Lora (new)

Lora Milton | 202 comments Tim Curran needs to be on this list. His book Dead Sea is definitely in another world.


message 16: by Joe (new)

Joe Pawlowski | 31 comments I vote Ramsey Campbell's Demons by Daylight


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