1648 ratings | 48 reviews | avg rating:4.55

more photos (3)

Derek’s Year In Books

Derek’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Derek’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Derek’s 2025 Year in Books

Derek Austin Johnson’s Followers (52)

Derek’s Bookshelves

to-read (0)
currently-reading (1)
read (1743)
did-not-finish (0)
set-aside (0)
the-horror-challenge (0)

Derek’s Friends (1,328)

Karen

109 books | 148 friends

Tachyon Publications

228 books | 201 friends

K.T. Rose

536 books | 3,586 friends

Candace

717 books | 1,388 friends

Martin Milhomme

1,432 books | 1,569 friends

Nathan Barker

2,166 books | 555 friends

Chris Panatier

351 books | 14 friends

Daniel Clausen

571 books | 3,085 friends

More friends…

Derek Austin Johnson

Goodreads Author

Born

in Springfield, Massachusetts, The United States

Website

https://derekaustinjohnson.weebly.com

Twitter

daj42

Genre

Horror, Fiction, Science Fiction

Influences

Richard Matheson, Joe Lansdale, Shirley Jackson, Lucius Shepard, Harla ...more

Member Since

October 2007

edit data

Derek Austin Johnson has lived most of his life in the Lone Star State. His work has appeared in The Horror Zine, Rayguns Over Texas, Horror U.S.A.: Texas, Terror Tract, and Campfire Macabre.

He lives in Central Texas.

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Derek Austin Johnson questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Derek Austin Johnson’s books

Average rating: 4.05 · 358 ratings · 108 reviews · 16 distinct works

	Campfire Macabre by John Brhel (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Joe Sullivan (Editor), Kealan Patrick Burke (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 113 ratings — published 2020 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Camp Slasher Lake: Volume One by D.W. Hitz (Goodreads Author), John Adam Gosham, Gerri R. Gray (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 79 ratings — published 2022 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Horror Zine's Book of Ghost Stories by Jeani Rector (Editor), E.A. Black, S.J. Budd (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 75 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Rayguns Over Texas by Richard Klaw (Editor), Sanford Allen (Contributor), Aaron Allston (Contributor) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 37 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Generation X-ed by Rebecca Rowland (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Kevin David Anderson (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Glynn Owen Barrass (Contributor) 4.37 avg rating — 27 ratings — published 2022 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Horror USA: Texas by Gabriel Grobler (Editor), R.C. Bowman (Editor), Mark Artanis 4.18 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2020 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Family by Andrew Lennon (Goodreads Author), Joseph Rubas (Goodreads Author), Terry Miller 3.83 avg rating — 12 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Faith 3.83 avg rating — 6 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Terror Tract: January 2020 by Becky Narron (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Jasper Bark (Goodreads Author), R.C. Mulhare (Goodreads Author) 4.75 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Cthulhu Dreams by A. Basalmo (Editor), Derek Austin Johnson (Goodreads Author), Ian Klink it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Derek Austin Johnson…

74 posts
Derek Austin Johnson's Blog

"Devilfish" in the Pushcart

This was nice to wake up to. Inkd Publishing has nominated my story "Day of the Devilfish for the Pushcart Prize. The story is my attempt to answer the question of what John Steinbeck's fiction would have looked like if it had been published by Weird Tales. The book also includes stories by Rachel Roth, Armand Rosamilia, A. M. Sutter, Ross Baxter, and Kelli Dianne Rule, among many others. You can Read more of this blog post »

View more on Derek Austin Johnson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 05, 2025 06:59

View all 74 posts »

Series by Derek Austin Johnson

The Shadow Hills Chronicles (1 book)
by

Derek Austin Johnson (Goodreads Author)

3.83 avg rating — 6 ratings

Derek is Currently Reading

Derek is currently reading

The Broken Girls

by Simone St. James (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

May 24, 2025 07:28AM

rss
Derek’s Recent Updates

Derek is now friends with Noémie J. Crowley
Apr 15, 2026 05:13AM · like
Derek rated a book it was amazing The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 14, 2026 06:53PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Derek rated a book it was amazing Under the Skin by Michel Faber	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 14, 2026 06:52PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Under the Skin by Michel Faber. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Under the Skin by Michel Faber <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Derek has read Under the Skin by Michel Faber	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 14, 2026 06:52PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Under the Skin by Michel Faber. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Under the Skin by Michel Faber <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Derek has read Dagon by Fred Chappell	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 14, 2026 01:12PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Dagon by Fred Chappell. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Dagon by Fred Chappell <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Derek rated a book it was amazing Kill Your Darling by Clay McLeod Chapman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 05, 2026 05:03PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Kill Your Darling by Clay McLeod Chapman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Kill Your Darling by Clay McLeod Chapman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Derek rated a book it was amazing Pleasant Dreams by Robert Bloch	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 03, 2026 04:43PM · like
Derek rated a book it was amazing Lost in the Dark and Other Excursions by John Langan	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 02, 2026 03:41PM · like
Derek rated a book it was amazing The Voices Of Time and other stories by J.G. Ballard	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 27, 2026 11:34AM · like
Derek rated a book it was amazing Heroes and Villains by Angela Carter	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 26, 2026 12:39PM · like

More of Derek's books…

Derek’s Quotes

“...the look of a man who had made the devil's bargain and knew he had lost.”
― J. G. Ballard, The Atrocity Exhibition

8 likes

“Cats are loners that keep us company only when the mood strikes them,”
― Jonathan Carroll, The Loud Table

0 likes

“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
― Isaac Asimov

tags: democracy, elite, elitism, elitist, voter, voting

2716 likes

“Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the 'transcendent' and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself. Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others. Don't be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses. Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

tags: rational-thought, science

1070 likes

“Everybody does have a book in them, but in most cases that's where it should stay.”
― Christopher Hitchens

tags: books, christopher-hitchens, humour, literature, writing

1186 likes

More of Derek’s quotes…

Derek’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-5) post a comment »

date

newest »

message 5: by Richie

Dec 17, 2015 09:42AM

Derek, I wanted to let you know that TaXXXi Tales is being offered in a new 'Goodreads Giveaway'. Click here to enter http://bit.ly/1mpU42Z

Good luck!

Richie

reply | flag

message 4: by Richie

Nov 18, 2015 08:00AM

Hi Derek,

Thanks for accepting my friend request. If you have a chance please check out my novel TaXXXi Tales https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... and add it to your read list.

Best,
Richie

reply | flag

message 3: by Patricia

Nov 04, 2009 03:11PM

Thank You so much for adding me as a friend.

reply | flag

message 2: by Ed

Oct 19, 2008 11:58AM

Hey, thanks for the add, Derek. Much success and good reads to you. Have a great week.

Ed Lynskey
PELHAM FELL HERE

reply | flag

message 1: by Jeremy

Jan 31, 2008 02:20PM

Thanks for the friendship, Derek!

Here’s wishing you a fantastic day filled with fabulous fates, fanciful festivities, and frolicking phantom footstools.

I was wondering if you'd do me the honor of reading about my debut novel, Vacation, which recently made the Bram Stoker Award Preliminary Ballot. Your support would mean a lot to me. If you'd like to do me this honor, feel free to vist my site here:
http://www.hauntedhousedressing.com/v...

Happytimes,
-Jeremy :)

Peter: Oh my god, Brian, there's a message in my Alphabits. It says, 'Oooooo.'
Brian: Peter, those are Cheerios.

reply | flag

Derek Austin Johnson’s Followers (52)

Derek Austin Johnson

Goodreads Author

rssDerek’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis

See a Problem?

Preview — Under the Skin by Michel Faber

See a Problem?

Preview — Under the Skin by Michel Faber

See a Problem?

Preview — Dagon by Fred Chappell

See a Problem?

Preview — Kill Your Darling by Clay McLeod Chapman

rss
Derek’s Recent Updates