Top Ten Horror Book Writers

Wrote so many great books, reading IT right now. It's great!

I love how some joker actually also put OTHER people on this list as if they had a chance. Long live the King!

My first read horror writer and will always be my no. 1. I have just found Matheson so it's a real treat to be reading his work now.

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.

This guy revolutionized the history and craft of writing horror stories.

Through his literary works, he even opened up doors for philosophy and psychology.

The Master. Second place pfaaah

yep

Poe could scare people and bring people into the mind of a psychotic killer, it is what makes the best horror stories, read everything else besides the raven, you'll see that he put a lot of thought into what is really scary, and puts you in the mind of the most deranged psycho killers.

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.

He's the original, gotta say it. He did write in a way no other author did, and he always kept the reader interested with deep deep emotion

the-rate-it-guy

dean koontz stomps all over stephen king! I also like john saul and he's better than king also!

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

Even though I love stephen king, I have to say dean koontz is better!

luvtoread

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.

The took a twist to vapires all together! Too bad he wrote before the whole "twilight" time

Cirque Du Freak was and is amazing and terrifying and lord loss is even better!

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

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. )

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

“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.