Seriously?

[Matt]

Okay, I'm about to lose my mind. Anyone following my comments know I am out to find an engaging well written horror novel. If you look at my book list, you know I have tried many authors. I sort of enjoyed Clive Barker's The Damnation Game although it got too paranormal for me. I jumped on Books of Blood because I heard it was incredible. I am 2 stories in and I cannot believe what I am reading. Midnight Meat Train has to be one of the most dull run of the mill short stories I've ever read. Nothing much happens and the reveal is so stupid, I had to pinch myself. Then I finished The Yattering and Jack. This (although I'm sure it was sort of intended to be funny) was like a rated G Beetlejuice. What in the world am I reading???? I don't need gore, I need eerie well thought out plot and dialogue. Why is this so difficult? I am hesitant to continue this book, because it is so dissappointing so far. Volume 1 is supposed to be the strongest???? Please help.

[[deleted user]]

I'm not quite sure what to say. I thought Books of Blood was good, but not great. I'm also not sure if you're looking for intelligent fiction that says something with the genre of horror or if you're looking for something that will simply scare you. Barker is more of a "let's explore this idea using horror tropes" than "let's scare the pants off of you" kind of guy. He's more interested in running down dark alleys of his own imagination than "entertaining" the reader.

I prefer intelligent horror so any recommendations I will give to you will no doubt bore you, such as T. E. D. Klein's Dark Gods or Arthur Machen's The Great God Pan. I'm also the kind of reader who follows the critics. That is to say that when S. T. Joshi tells me a horror writer is worth reading, I'm willing to trust his judgement.

As per Barker's specific short stories, keep in mind that these stories were published thirty years ago or more. When they were originally written, not much was similar to Barker's rather unique and esoteric style. The effect of their newness has diminished in the wake of a) the horror craze of the 80s and b) countless imitators to Barker and King.

[Gordon]

You may want to try thrillers instead of horror novels as they tend to focus less on the supernatural and more on fictional situation that "could happen." I'd suggest something like Red Dragon by Thomas Harris.

[Feliks]

I'm going to examine the OP's book lists to see what he's missing. There's got to be help for this guy.

[Feliks]

Okay, I'm back. He asks for engaging, well-written horror. Not sure what these adjectives really mean to him; but these are my go-to picks.

My rec's:

(challenging but satisfying)
'The Doll That Ate Its Mother'
'All Heads Turn When the Hunt Goes By'
'The Girl on a Swing'

(subtle, with slow-build up):
'The Ceremonies'
'The House Next Door'
'The Haunting of Hill House'
'We Have Always Lived in the Castle'

(some novellas):
'I See a Long Journey'
'The PearlKillers'

(thrillers with horrific elements):
'The Andromeda Strain'
'The Butcher's Theater'

(just try this one, and see how far you get):
'The House on the Borderland'

(fast and loose and raw):
'Death Trance'

(similar to Stephen King):
'Shadowland'
'Floating Dragon'

(tiny gems):
'The Horla'
'The Damned Thing'