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BS: Scariest book y'ever read.
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST,AR282 Date: 20 Dec 05 - 10:06 PM Lovecraft opened up a new universe to me. A whole new range of possibilities. And he did it horribly such as the unsavory surgical procedures of an unknown alien race at the end of "Whisperer in the Darkness" and the disturbing endings of "The Thing on the Doorstep" and the one about the Poe lookalikes the protagonist and his girlfriend keep seeing. I mean he took what should be ridiculous and actually manages to make it scary and a bit disturbing. And I loved "Call of Cthulhu" which was so intriguing to me (and which has an odd real-life parallel). Another story that really got my imagination stirring was Algernon Blackwood's 1907 story "The Willows." He transports you to this universe of powerful, unknown beings or gods. The way the willows keep piling up on these little islands in the wild Danubian marshes that our protagonists are camping on. The whole region so alien and desolate of human life. Where one universe butts up against another. There is also an old shortstory--can't remember who wrote it--called "The Spider" that I found highly entertaining. Then there was Robert W. Chambers and his "King in Yellow" series--especially "In the Court of the Dragon" and "The Yellow Sign." Spooky, strange stories. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Don Firth Date: 20 Dec 05 - 09:46 PM You describe the mood very well, AR282. In ways better than Lovecraft, because you use some real, concrete images, which, all too often, Lovecraft fails to do. For example, the "chains rattling against metal masts." One can hear it. And describing something as having an "aura of something ancient and evil." Although this latter is not concrete, it conveys the mood. Where I've found Lovecraft kind of weak was when he would go on for paragraph after paragraph talking about how horrifying some indescribable thing was, trying to weave mood, but without any concrete images—appeals to the senses—to back it up. Telling me how horrifying something is, especially if I have no idea of what it is or what it does, just doesn't really get to me. What does work is when a situation is set up, and then something really shocking and horrifying happens that is revealed in a word or two. No long, lavish description, the author just tells the reader straight out and lets the reader's imagination take it from there. This was how the movie Jaws developed a sense of horror early on. You don't actually see the shark until you're well along in the film. In a very early scene, you see the girl as she's suddenly attacked, and her reaction. All above the water. And a bit later in the film, you get a glimpse of bits of what's left of her. So when you finally—unexpectedly—get a direct look at the shark (as it's looking hungrily at Brody, who, by now, you've pretty much identified with), it really makes you jerk back in your seat! Especially by now, since you've also got a good idea of how relentless the damned thing is! The reason I picked "The Lurking Fear" and "Pickman's Model" was that these are two stories where Lovecraft doesn't spend all that time trying to describe the indescribable by telling you how friggin' scary it is, he just shows you and let's you work it out. For example, fairly early into "The Lurking Fear," they're out hunting for whatever this thing is that has been terrorizing the area, and a storm drives them to take shelter in a cabin. As they wait for the storm to pass, one of the guys, Arthur Monroe, is standing at a window and staring out at the storm. Finally, the storm abates. The protagonist speaks to him and he doesn't respond. He reaches out and shakes his arm and discovers that the reason he doesn't respond is that ". . . Arthur Munroe was dead. And on what remained of his chewed and gouged head there was no longer a face." There is the sudden realization that, whatever this—Thing—is, it had been outside the cabin. And it was hunting them! And later—the shadow on the chimney! He also brings it off in "Pickman's Model." You get descriptions of Pickman's grisly art work and a general idea of a sick, morbid imagination that can produce paintings like these. Then the story's zinger comes in the very last paragraph. Same with the Saki story, "The Interlopers." The irony of the two enemies, both rendered helpless, reconciling their long-standing differences. And then— Like I said, you never know what might be in the basement. . . . Sweet dreams. Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST,AR282 Date: 20 Dec 05 - 09:43 PM Poe intrigues me nowadays. I kind of him took him for granted when I was young. I think I read "Tell-Tale Heart" when I was 7. But I read that story now or something like "The Black Cat" and you kind realize the man was not exactly playing with a full deck. As a boy, I was chilled by the descriptions of the old man's vulture eye and the killer's extreme stealth--taking a whole hour to shove his head into the old man's room. How a man, in a drunken rage, grabs his faithful kitty-cat and cuts one of its eyes out with a pen-knife. Since I own a wonderful black cat, I cheer for the creature in the end. But you can tell Poe knew about the nature and character of cats. So his descriptions of the devil-cat's antics are very realistic because my cat does precisely those things. It would be horrible to find myself suddenly deathly afraid of it--total loathing and dread. I was chilled by his descriptions of the Red Death and the horrifying figure that walks silently about the ballroom. Poe perfectly captures utter madness to a degree I've never read in anything else. There is speculation that Poe may have murdered a girl named Mary Rogers and then wrote about it as a short story, "Murder of Marie Roget." Apparently, Poe was the last person to be seen with Miss Rogers before her untimely demise. He was apparently known to have been tragically infatuated with her. He had other faults as alcoholism, a gambling addiction, and being staunchly pro-slavery. I think he was also booted out of the Army for dereliction or something like that. If true that Poe murdered a girl, it no doubt weighed heavily on him throughout the remainder of his tragically short life. It might explain such stories as "Usher" (and other such stories that reveal a fascination for basements, cellars, mausoleums, dungeons) and poems as "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee" where the bereaved protagonist laments out his soul for his lost love. Perhaps it drove him mad until he was found wandering about deliriously in the streets of Baltimore. Apparently, even his last words might yield a clue: "Oh, my poor, poor soul." Ah Poe, ah humanity! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: jaze Date: 20 Dec 05 - 09:27 PM The Haunting Of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. Hands down. Also the best "scary" movie-the original one with Julie Harris. It let your own imagination scare the hell out of you before the age of special effects. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Little Hawk Date: 20 Dec 05 - 07:30 PM Very cool, Guest AR282. I get what you mean, and you have described it beautifully. I now have a much greater appreciation for what inspired Mr Lovecraft to write his spooky tales. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST,AR282 Date: 20 Dec 05 - 07:10 PM I became enthralled with the Lovecraft Mythos back in junior high where I could almost fancy it was real (I said almost). But until I vacationed in New Bedford in the early fall of '96 did I really understand what Lovecraft was getting at. I stayed at a place called the Seaport Inn and it was right off the water--a little bay. It was about 11:30 at night when I checked in and it was cloudy but the moon was visible. A fairly strong, steady wind blew in from the bay and you could hear all this chains rattling against metal masts. It was like a huge, incredible wind chime. The sound was incredibly meditative and relaxing and the wind was brisk and billowed my shirt but was warm and soothing. I couldn't help myself and went for a walk--I was actually in Fairhaven. All the houses there are historic but people actually live in them. When I saw these houses, I understood. Everything Lovecraft was saying to me hit home in a most visceral way. I remember murmuring, "I get it now." These old New England houses are--I don't know--different. They have this aura of something ancient and evil. That's the only way I can describe it. Some of the houses had bricked up basement windows which made me think of the "deserted" houses of Innsmouth. At one point, I walked past an old, deserted house. If you've never seen an old delapidated New England house, you can't imagine it. Even a photo (of which I took many) won't do. You have to stand before it. Nothing is so evil. I stood there and looked at it while the moon was hazy and the wind was warm and brisk. I decided to walk up the lawn and approach the house but I got to the porch I remember wondering what I would do if I heard an inhuman shriek from somewhere inside. I simply lost my nerve and turned and strode quickly away. I also visited Nantucket during that same vacation as well as Providence, Lovecraft's hometown which is close to New Bedford. I was also a fan of Moby Dick so this was all very cool for me. The following year I was fortunate enough to spend Halloween in Salem, which was great! I was also a fan of "The House of Seven Gables" and naturally I toured it (the story is fiction but the house exists). I also visited, Provincetown, Hyannis, Newburyport and the Salisbury Plains. Of course I spent time in Boston. There's just something about New England. Another horror story I forgot to mention--silly me--is Brett Easton Ellis's "American Psycho." I haven't seen the movie but you'll never forget the book. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Little Hawk Date: 20 Dec 05 - 06:34 PM H.P. Lovecraft was forever trying to describe what he had already decided to make indescribable. (grin) That's a daunting task. He appeared to be very frightened of things which were shapeless, formless, inchoate, etc. Why? What's scary about that? He was also scared of things which are very, very ancient. (OOOO! How frightening!) Again....why? I just don't get scared by old Lovecraft's peculiar concept of horror, but I do enjoy the way he uses words like "eldritch". Very stylish. It is great fun to write in the Lovecraftian style and use his favorite words and situations. Peter T., you would be a master at that. Do it. Read another few Lovecraft stories till you've got it down pat, then write one of your own. I wait with bated breath. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST,khandu Date: 20 Dec 05 - 06:17 PM I am not easily frightened. I love the dark, will walk in the pitch black night without any trepidation. Movies never frighten me and books less than movies, except... "Ghost Story" by Peter Straub. For weeks after I read it the first time, I'd feel the skin-willies whenever I'd walk into a dark room. I re-read it years later and experienced the same terrors. Something about Fenny Bate that still raises my hackles at night! Ken |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Mr Fox Date: 20 Dec 05 - 11:35 AM Can I list short stories? Why not........ 'A Neighbour's Landmark' - M R James. "That which walks in Betton Wood......." 'The Scarlet Lady' - Keith Roberts. A haunted (or perhaps possessed) car with a taste for blood. Written years before Stephen King's 'Christine'. 'High Eight' - Keith Roberts. A lonely ghost haunting an electrical sub-station calls for company......... 'Blackham's Wimpey' - Robert Westall. A haunted World War II bomber. 'Leave the light on at night' stuff all. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: JohnInKansas Date: 20 Dec 05 - 09:19 AM From: GUEST,Cluin 18 Dec 05 - 09:53 PM: Yeah, that's what happened to me. I'm not much into stories that try to scare me, but 'way back ca. 1956 while doing some "extra reading" for a High School course called "Modern World Problems" I happened on one that I found horrifying. Especially since it was true and actually happened. Especially since it could happen again. Especially since some seem to be determined to make it happen again, and don't think there's anything wrong with it. Here. John |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Lin in Kansas Date: 20 Dec 05 - 08:33 AM Silence of the Lambs" by Thomas Harris. I won't have it in my house, nor will I watch the movie (yes, I saw it--once). I agree with the comment above, that the scariest books are the ones that could be real. Brrrrrrrrrr! Lin |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Cluin Date: 19 Dec 05 - 04:13 PM Curious George and the Ebola Infested Poop Fight |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Don Firth Date: 19 Dec 05 - 03:58 PM The Monkey's Paw, by W. W. Jacobs. A classic. And another classic, The Interlopers, by Saki (H. H. Munro). Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Rapparee Date: 19 Dec 05 - 08:53 AM Let's not forget the classic short story, "Two Bottles Of Relish." |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Peter T. Date: 19 Dec 05 - 07:06 AM Thanks to this thread, I went out and bought some Lovecraft (never read it in the 60's because all my friends did, well, you know). I didn't think they were all that scary (they are all the same story told over and over again), but his idea of horror is really interesting -- how to describe something that breaks the laws of nature and human understanding -- his problem was that he can only fitfully do it in his stories. They all eventually turn into green goo, monsters from the deep, etc. But I suppose that is the problem with horror and mystery stories generally -- the premise is more interesting than the explanation. but the idea of them is really good. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: yrlancslad Date: 19 Dec 05 - 02:28 AM 1984, back in the late 50's. I was in love for the first time and horified at the end of the book when the lovers meet again and theres nothing left of their love.That happened to my first love and I in the 70's, the rest of the book's happening right now! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST,Art Thieme Date: 19 Dec 05 - 12:20 AM The Exorcist did not scare me. I hated it, though, because of the way it exploited things that real people really do believe.----And it was done just to make more $$$$$$$$$$$$$. There were folks sitting next to me who actually thought they were seeing actual depictions of the scary aspects of the religion they had grown up with. Watching a girl spin her head around a few times and spew green pancake batter from her mouth was just sort of funny to me. Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Little Hawk Date: 18 Dec 05 - 11:02 PM I find H.P. Lovecraft very, very amusing. Hilarious at times. Cluin - So that's what masturbation does to people! My gawd! How did I ever survive past 20????????????? LOL! What were those people smoking anyway? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: LilyFestre Date: 18 Dec 05 - 10:13 PM Ann Rice....the first book of vampire series....it's the only book I've ever had to put down because it freaked me out...the details were just over the top for me. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST,Cluin Date: 18 Dec 05 - 09:53 PM This one. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Don Firth Date: 18 Dec 05 - 05:19 PM "The Lurking Fear" and "Pickman's Model," both short stories by H. P. Lovecraft Lock all the doors and windows. Except for one, so you can escape if you have to. Then click HERE. But if you do have to escape, don't try to run and hide in the basement. You never know what might be down there. . . . Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST,Cluin Date: 18 Dec 05 - 02:51 PM I saw the movie and it spooked me out. Got a few actual chills. And it was the middle of a summer afternoon. Stephen King is a great story telling but nothing he ever wrote approached horror for me. Except one... a novella called "Apt Pupil". That one touched something. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: jillfiddle Date: 18 Dec 05 - 12:28 PM You're all right ... but have you read Susan Hill's 'The Woman in Black'? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Micca Date: 18 Dec 05 - 11:51 AM I think "Dracula" also, but it has a LOT do do with the circumstances under which I first read it!!! You are on a ship, anchored in the Thames Estuary,perhaps 1/4 of a mile from shore stuck waiting for 48 hours to go alongside for major Engine repairs, for this reason the ship is without power of any kind, No engine and NO Electricity. We have an Oil Lamp riding light and oil lamps and electric torches in the wheelhouse. You are the AB on anchor watch, alone in the wheel house, making sure she doesnt drag anchor. Ships in this situation are full of small natural sounds, creaking of rigging, the wind in rigging and bottle screws etc, that are usually masked by engine noise, on the 12 midnight to 4 am watch and reading "Dracula" when you reach the chapter about the ship and Whitby.......!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: John on the Sunset Coast Date: 18 Dec 05 - 11:15 AM 1st choice - Dracula (already mentioned above) 2nd choice - Rosemary's Baby, Ira Leven...it all seemed sooo normal. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Big Al Whittle Date: 18 Dec 05 - 03:55 AM The facts of life. I don't know who wrote it. I think it was published by some medical people and my mother gave it me, when she thought I was 'old enough to know'. It started off with a reassuringly pleasant disussion about birds laying eggs and flowers scattering pollen, and then brutal realism intruded and it posed the question, have you ever walked along behind a bulldog? And suddenly, I though shee-it!....I've got one of those! My life has been downhill all the way ever since, and I am still recovering from the trauma. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: richlmo Date: 17 Dec 05 - 09:25 PM Had to be,"The Exorcist". I was a grown man and it still scared the crap out of me. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Don(Wyziwyg)T Date: 17 Dec 05 - 03:34 PM I'm surprised that nobody has yet come up with John Wyndham's tour de force, "The Midwich Cuckoos". Not for it's premise that the children were implanted by aliens, but for the fact that the greatest threat to us might be the evolution of telepathic humans who would be almost forced, by survival needs, to supplant us by any possible means. Don T. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST Date: 17 Dec 05 - 02:04 AM That's ok, Greg...I got such questions like that when trying to check out such rique books as 20,000 leagues under the sea.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 16 Dec 05 - 11:19 PM |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 16 Dec 05 - 12:43 AM The only book I recall being frightened by is The Amityville Horror. I've read lots of Stephen King, Richard Straub, Dean Koontz et al, and have yet to be really frightened by any of them. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: bobad Date: 15 Dec 05 - 11:25 PM More likely to be seeing one of these guys. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST,amergin Date: 15 Dec 05 - 11:25 PM On The Beach by Nevil Shute.... Effects of Nuclear Weapons as mentioned above... The Plague by Albert Camus.... And the Band Played On. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Peace Date: 15 Dec 05 - 10:56 PM It works for these guys! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: bobad Date: 15 Dec 05 - 10:16 PM One foot on the floor - a popular technique to get the room to stop spinning after over-indulging at the punch bowl. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Peace Date: 15 Dec 05 - 09:27 PM Dang. Didn't mean to give a blank post. Honest question here: How many of you can fall asleep with a leg outside the covers and hanging over the side of the bed? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: SINSULL Date: 15 Dec 05 - 08:39 PM The Exorcist |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Peace Date: 15 Dec 05 - 08:37 PM |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST,AR282 Date: 15 Dec 05 - 08:14 PM Straub's "Ghost Story," Lovecraft's "Shadow Over Innsmouth," and Poe's "Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket." |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: maire-aine Date: 15 Dec 05 - 08:06 PM I read the dust jacket of a Stephen King book, and that was scary enough for me. Maryanne |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST,Art Thieme Date: 15 Dec 05 - 08:04 PM After posting the above mention of Lovecraft's story, I went back to read the thread. And there it was, "The Colors Out Of Space"----right in the second post to this thread! A few years ago I bought a Lovecraft collection that had "Colors" in it---and I gave it away before I re-read it.--- The memory of it was so strong that I never cracked the book. Art |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST,Art Thieme Date: 15 Dec 05 - 07:57 PM Only one short story really did that for me. "The Colors Out Of Space" by H.P. Lovecraft. Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: lady penelope Date: 15 Dec 05 - 06:23 PM I've got to admit that the one book that gave me total serious wiggins was 'It' by Stephen King. I already had a thing about clowns before I read it and the book just went on to push all my personal buttons from childhood. I didn't read it till I was 23, but it still took me months to be able to go downstairs at night in the dark again......... Other than that - I agree, scary does mean drastically different things to different people. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Shanghaiceltic Date: 15 Dec 05 - 05:53 PM Stephen King, 'The Stand' For spine chilling I also like any of Phil Rickman's books about a CofE female vicar working as an exorcist in the Welsh Marches. Good plots and often based around a real event. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST Date: 15 Dec 05 - 05:44 PM The Old Testament. Every kind of bizarre atrocity you can imagine is in there. Matter of fact, it's a holy book to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. No wonder they can't get along with each other. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST Date: 15 Dec 05 - 05:41 PM The Koran. They really are a bunch of fanatics. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: GUEST,irishsergeant Date: 15 Dec 05 - 04:48 PM Stephen King Pet semetery |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Rapparee Date: 15 Dec 05 - 01:07 PM Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House". And her short story, "The Lottery." In the nonfiction area -- "Effects of Nuclear Weapons" in either the 1957 or 1962 editions. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: frogprince Date: 15 Dec 05 - 12:24 PM In terms of the more usual idea of being "creeped out" by a horror story, I agree that "The October Game" is way up there. I get a little different reaction from Stephen King, that I think is best exemplified in part of "Needful Things". A little boy blows his brains out in front of his younger brother; King indicates that he writes stuff like that as good escapist fun; the reading public seems to buy that, en masse; that's frightening. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Scariest book y'ever read. From: Wyrd Sister Date: 15 Dec 05 - 12:04 PM Ayn Rand 'Atlas Shrugged'. It scared me that people could think like that. It didn't help when the person who lent it me became an MP and (I think) worked in the Treasury. Breathing a bit more easily now the Tories are out (although Tony Blair PM = I'm Tory Plan B is my favourite anagram) 'Horror' books I don't touch - do you have the curtains open so you can see nasty things when they appear or close the curtains and just KNOW they're there? |
