horror
DEFINITION:
Horror fiction is written to frighten the reader, as opposed to "dark fantasy" which is a fantastic or romantic story using vampires or werewolves to add ominous shadows. Supernatural or occult elements distinguish horror from suspense fiction, where a serial killer may be frightening but is all too human. The power of the natural world gone awry and uncontrolled is a common theme. The appeal of horror fiction is an emotional response of terror, fear, and disgust.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Populated by monsters of some sort as well as supernatural elements and beings (ghosts, ghouls, vampires), horror novels create a menacing atmosphere that evokes a feeling of fear in the reader. The dark tone and sense of foreboding are intensified by graphic violence, strong language, and explicit sex, as horror explores the dark side of human–and inhuman–impulses. While the disturbing atmosphere is important, the key to horror is the unresolved ending. Although the evil is beaten down, it is never destroyed. It waits, lurking just beneath the surface, to strike again.
APPEAL:
Whether readers enjoy the horror popularized by Stephen King, with evil invading a normal life, or that exemplified by Clive Barker’s early novels, characterized by explicit violence from the early pages, they expect an atmospheric tale with haunted protagonists stalked by evil monsters and attacked randomly. Horror is
appreciated for the level of fear it produces in the reader. In addition, an inescapable feeling of dread throughout heightens emotional reaction to these disturbing stories.
READERS:
Horror fans span a wide range of readers, male and female, young and old. Horror seems particularly attractive to teen readers, who appreciate these out-of-control worlds and emotions, with monsters of every type. Readers read horror to be surprised and frightened; they expect the unexpected. Many fans come to horror fiction from movies and television shows. Others cross over from dark fantasy and the thriller and suspense genres. Short stories provide a good introduction to popular horror authors, for readers and librarians interested in exploring the genre. While readers are often looking for newer authors, many appreciate the classic tales of established masters as well.
TRENDS:
Horror television and film often has a literary basis, and viewers appreciate referral to the source material. Authors whose works are perpetually adapted, like Stephen King or Neil Gaiman, will continually inspire readers. Fans of horror-inspired television shows could seek read-alikes. Books like Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero and My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix should satisfy the 1980s horror nostalgia of Stranger Things viewers. American Horror Story explores American horror tropes, such as freak shows (Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes), haunted houses (Richard Mathesons Hell House), and early American history (Katherine Howe's The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane).
The horror genre in teen literature has expanded beyond vampires in novels by Kendare Blake (Anna Dressed in Blood), Rebecca Schaeffer (Not Even Bones), and Emily Lloyd-Jones (The Bone Houses). Many adult patrons already read young adult literature or would be otherwise open to exploring horror published for teen readers.
Classic horror author H. P. Lovecraft continues to inspire new generations of writers, such as Matt Ruff (Lovecraft Country), and has been influential in the development of the "weird fiction" seen in the works of China Mièville (Kraken) and Jeff VanderMeer (Southern Reach novels).
AUTHORS:
Classic - Robert Bloch, Charles Grant, Shirley Jackson, H.P. Lovecraft, Richard Matheson, Edgar Allan Poe, John Saul, Bram Stoker
Popular - Kelley Armstrong, Clive Barker, Ramsey Campbell, Nick Cutter, Grady Hendrix, Joe Hill, Stephen King, Bentley Little, Josh Malerman, Graham Masterton, Robert R. McCammon, Adam L. G. Nevill, Peter Straub, Whitley Strieber, Koji Suzuki, Paul Tremblay,
Horror fiction is written to frighten the reader, as opposed to "dark fantasy" which is a fantastic or romantic story using vampires or werewolves to add ominous shadows. Supernatural or occult elements distinguish horror from suspense fiction, where a serial killer may be frightening but is all too human. The power of the natural world gone awry and uncontrolled is a common theme. The appeal of horror fiction is an emotional response of terror, fear, and disgust.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Populated by monsters of some sort as well as supernatural elements and beings (ghosts, ghouls, vampires), horror novels create a menacing atmosphere that evokes a feeling of fear in the reader. The dark tone and sense of foreboding are intensified by graphic violence, strong language, and explicit sex, as horror explores the dark side of human–and inhuman–impulses. While the disturbing atmosphere is important, the key to horror is the unresolved ending. Although the evil is beaten down, it is never destroyed. It waits, lurking just beneath the surface, to strike again.
APPEAL:
Whether readers enjoy the horror popularized by Stephen King, with evil invading a normal life, or that exemplified by Clive Barker’s early novels, characterized by explicit violence from the early pages, they expect an atmospheric tale with haunted protagonists stalked by evil monsters and attacked randomly. Horror is
appreciated for the level of fear it produces in the reader. In addition, an inescapable feeling of dread throughout heightens emotional reaction to these disturbing stories.
READERS:
Horror fans span a wide range of readers, male and female, young and old. Horror seems particularly attractive to teen readers, who appreciate these out-of-control worlds and emotions, with monsters of every type. Readers read horror to be surprised and frightened; they expect the unexpected. Many fans come to horror fiction from movies and television shows. Others cross over from dark fantasy and the thriller and suspense genres. Short stories provide a good introduction to popular horror authors, for readers and librarians interested in exploring the genre. While readers are often looking for newer authors, many appreciate the classic tales of established masters as well.
TRENDS:
Horror television and film often has a literary basis, and viewers appreciate referral to the source material. Authors whose works are perpetually adapted, like Stephen King or Neil Gaiman, will continually inspire readers. Fans of horror-inspired television shows could seek read-alikes. Books like Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero and My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix should satisfy the 1980s horror nostalgia of Stranger Things viewers. American Horror Story explores American horror tropes, such as freak shows (Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes), haunted houses (Richard Mathesons Hell House), and early American history (Katherine Howe's The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane).
The horror genre in teen literature has expanded beyond vampires in novels by Kendare Blake (Anna Dressed in Blood), Rebecca Schaeffer (Not Even Bones), and Emily Lloyd-Jones (The Bone Houses). Many adult patrons already read young adult literature or would be otherwise open to exploring horror published for teen readers.
Classic horror author H. P. Lovecraft continues to inspire new generations of writers, such as Matt Ruff (Lovecraft Country), and has been influential in the development of the "weird fiction" seen in the works of China Mièville (Kraken) and Jeff VanderMeer (Southern Reach novels).
AUTHORS:
Classic - Robert Bloch, Charles Grant, Shirley Jackson, H.P. Lovecraft, Richard Matheson, Edgar Allan Poe, John Saul, Bram Stoker
Popular - Kelley Armstrong, Clive Barker, Ramsey Campbell, Nick Cutter, Grady Hendrix, Joe Hill, Stephen King, Bentley Little, Josh Malerman, Graham Masterton, Robert R. McCammon, Adam L. G. Nevill, Peter Straub, Whitley Strieber, Koji Suzuki, Paul Tremblay,