Top Ten Horror Book Writers

BarbwireHeart666

The top ten horror authors. Not films but books. Their ability to scare amazes and will pull you into the book.

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The Top Ten

1Stephen King
No other horror writer compares when it comes to characterization-- and if you don't care about the characters, then there is no horror, because there is no fear regarding that character's fate.
King is also getting better the older he gets-- maybe not scarier, but he's become a much better writer. "11/22/63" was thrilling and heartbreaking in equal measure.
Stephen King is probably one of the most well-known and prolific writers of our time. Ranging from the frustrated child that develops telekinetic powers to a mythic Universe of gunmen and creatures, and passing through the basic horror of the classic vampire and werewolves, King does one thing for sure: he keeps you reading and devouring the next chapter.

Is he the best horror writer of all times? Probably. Quality and quantity joins the concept of diversity, but above all, King is even better day after day, and he has something new to tell. Something to write about. And we, well, we'll just wait for his next book.

santhros

Wrote so many great books, reading IT right now. It's great!
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2H.P Lovecraft
I really do think Stephen King should be second and Lovecraft first. Lovecraft laid the foundation for horror/science fiction as we know it today. He completely reshaped the game, as it were. There will never be another writer like him and have the same cosmic vision.
Stephen King was the first horror author I had the chance to read. I was introduced to horror movies and literature at an early age and I've been hooked ever since. However when I branched out I realized that King is kind of elementary and doesn't really branch out from his standard formula after the first few classics. I'll always respect the Shining because come on - it's a masterpiece! But Lovecraft opens and imagines entire worlds to us and there's just nothing like him. Disturbing, violent, scary in so many different ways!
This guy revolutionized the history and craft of writing horror stories.

Through his literary works, he even opened up doors for philosophy and psychology.
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3Edgar Allen Poe
He creates so much suspense and it's like he's right there telling you an ancient story that has been passed for generations but has nether therless decreased it's scariness.
In his short but frightening stories he doesn't scare you wi
Th the typically ghouls, ghosts and zombies, it's just the ideas behind it all that are terribly fightening.
Like for example the tell tale heart: don't you find the idea of some stranger watching you night after night for seven night? It's scary, especially when you think about the fact that the stranger was biding his time when he could have killed a long time ago. And the stranger thinks he's not crazy which is stupid because the way he goes on about the poor old man really is horrific. I mean imagine killing a man because his bone chilling eye was getting under your skin. And the way he hid the heart under the floorboards, a complete psychopath in my experience,
Edgar Allen Poe finds a way of expressing feeling perfectly as if were second nature to him. Edgar Allan Poe is the best scary writer by far. I haven't read many scary books but I don't need to to know the Edgar is certainly the best.
People say Stephen King, only because they know the name. Yet King is nothing compared to Poe. Poe was able to capture emotion, dread, fear, loneliness and utter desperation that King, just can't get. Whereas King shocks with imagery (Blood, or like in Misery, the dead rat ice cream cone) Poe shocked with internal tension and dread ( the shared feeling you have with the protagonist in Tale-Tell Heart, as it beats, beats, beats through the floor boards). Poe was able to make the story personal, something you connect too and forces you to share the experience with the hapless victim.
Edgar will forever be the the #1. His stories simpy connected by way of putting you in the mind of the story's main character. You experienced what they experienced. He showed youhow terrifying being human can truthfully be. The tell tale heart with the guilty concious of the muderer, the lke with the haunting of his dead victims & their revenge, or even the conqueror worm with the fragile mind trying to put unacceptable realities in an accepteble context by viewing it differently. Poe inspired fear in his readers unlike any other
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4Dean Koontz
Dean Koontz is mostly suspense... but when he dives deep into his horror, man you probably don't sleep (inro to Watchers *said suspiciously*)

fireinside96

I've tried to read Koontz different times and can't come close to finishing a book. Poor character and plot development. Makes me want to write because if he can get published, maybe I can too.
Dean koontz stomps all over stephen king! I also like john saul and he's better than king also!
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5Darren Shan
Cirque Du Freak was and is amazing and terrifying and lord loss is even better!
Darren is an amazing author, his ability to mix horror with adventure is amazing and every book makes you just sit on the edge of you seat wanting more and more!
Darren Shan is an excellent author who makes his readers lean on the edge of there seats. Readers can't wait for the next book in the Darren Shan series as they can't wait to find out what happens next in his dangerous life.
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6Clive Barker

Clive is way more intelligent than Dean Koontz. His books are more on par with serious literature. Koontz has a mainstream appeal to his books and probably makes more money, but Clive is on another level. Back in 1985, Stephen King said he is the future of horror. This is true. Clive is still the future of horror. His books are literally so good that he's still ahead of his time.

His 'books of blood' are really awesome. His short story 'midnight meat train' also made movie.

7Richard Matheson

I am Legend... Need I say more. Forget the films they are pants, check out the real thing, it is simply outstanding!

Great novelist and an equally one of the great Twilight Zone teleplay authors

Hell House trumps every "scary" book written by King.

Matheson's work is so much more solid than Barker or King, I don't know why I am the first to vote for him?

Mathson explores themes of inner human darkness, choices, consequences and evil. King writes boo stories and Barker writes gore stories.

Hell House in itself is a disturbing piece that is so intense. Despite having ghosts there are other dark themes including necrophilia, sodomy, abortion, rape, murder, lust and the corruption of the soul.

I would also vote for his collection of short stories over 60% of the authors on this votes best list.

Closing I will say the only really good horror novel by King is Thinner. (Salems lot was ok, but not truly as horrifying as Hell House or the Button by Matheson. )

8Shaun Hutson
My favorite! GORE GALORE!

9Bentley Little

His novels made me stay awake all night, unable to put it down. I was so eager to know how the end would turn out... Not to mention they made me glance at the darkness within the room every now then, Boy was I sacred! Laugh out loud

10Christopher Pike

This person is reasonably unknown but it's sad he is, because he really knows how to make amazing characters, fantastic plots and exellent character development. Don't let his ignominy fool you, he is one of the best if not the best horror writers.

The Contenders

11Thomas Tessier

12Bram Stoker

13Graham Masterton

14Ted Dekker

15James Herbert
First Horror Stories I read were by Herbert. Survivor is seriously terrifying. Having said that, Lovecraft is more imaginative and outlandish.
Just finished reading Ash. A top quality read. Made me want to read more Herbert so currently reading survivor and so far its very weird and disturbing. Will definitely be reading more Herbert!

16Ramsey Campbell

He's not the fear of the slasher or the satanic being, but rather that of everyday uncomfortable situations - a traffic stop, a confrontation, an audit, etc. - heightened to the point of the unbearable. And if you need them, there are usually monsters underneath.

17R. L. Stine
R.L. stine is the best novelist I have ever seen

18Ambrose Bierce

19Mary Shelley

20Frank Peretti

21Anne Rice

22Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

23Douglas Clegg

24Koji Suzuki

25John Everson
About the best modern horror author going.

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      This list was created 5 years, 104 days ago and has been voted on over 1,000 times.

      Updated Saturday, May 25, 2013

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