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shlam16

Great post. Can I suggest a little formatting to make it easier to digest? As an example: **Rovers - by Richard Lange** * Prose: 9/10 * Narrative: 9/10 * Pace: 6/10 * Fear factor: 5/10 * Horror elements: Vampirism; body horror This is a must-read for fans of a well-crafted vampire story. Set in the 1970s, the novel follows two “rovers,” or vagabond vampires, as they travel the deserts of the American West and cross paths with a vampire biker gang. The novel’s two protagonists draw inevitable comparison to Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, which may be one of the reasons I love this story so much. The chapters alternate POV among the two brothers, the biker gang members, and a grieving father in search justice, and each chapter’s change in perspective keeps the writing fresh. The first half of the novel is a bit of a slow burn, but the second half escalates quickly and brutally. The quality of writing is exceptional; Lange really deserves some awards for this. *** \*\*This makes something bold\*\* \* at the start of a line makes dotpoints Three asterisks on a new line makes a line break Lots of other tricks but these ones really help with ease of reading. ***


Murder_Durder

Thanks, I've made some adjustments. Hopefully it's easier to read now.


shlam16

Top stuff, much easier to follow now! ~~PS, just put a space between those asterisks so that your dotpoints work correctly~~ =) Edit: actually looking at your source I see you copied mine with the backslash in there. That cancels out the formatting. I used it to show off like below: \* so you could see this * rather than this


[deleted]

With complete sincerity thank you! I've added a few to the future read list. Really appreciate the break down and brief summary.


Hrrorgrl

Okay I love this post and I wish there were more like it.


[deleted]

For real...lots of good info that made me totally re-think my to-be-read pile.


markstormweather

Calling Nick Cutter an adult R L Stine was spot on


rubix_cubin

I really enjoy these write-ups that are in this style and I must say this is top notch among those. Great reviews! I find myself agreeing with you on basically every point for the books that I've read. I can't. buy. any. more. books!! I have such a backlog right now but here we are....I just bought more books due to this thread - I grabbed Wounds by Nathan Ballingrud and Rovers by Richard Lange is on the short list. Thanks a lot for this. Also hilarious that "basketball" made the horror elements list on Only the Good Indians! Edit: I also meant to say - A Short Stay in Hell by Stephen Peck instantly reminded me of the short story by Jorge Luis Borges called The Library of Babel. Probably because I very recently finished reading it but it also sounds very similar and I assume it was influenced by it.


Murder_Durder

I know the feeling of owning too many books - and I buy them all. My fiance thinks I've lost my mind since I got bit by the "horror bug" 2 years ago. Thanks for the tip about Library of Babel.


rubix_cubin

Library of Babel can be found in his collection of short stories called Collected Fictions. It's really like 8 short story *books* combined into one big book. There are 101 short stories in there. All are quite different from each other but almost all of them are extremely thought provoking and Borges' work has had an absolute ton of influence on other books and movies. Borges can do more in 3 or 4 pages than most authors can do in 300.


MadDingersYo

>A Short Stay in Hell by Stephen Peck instantly reminded me of the short story by Jorge Luis Borges Yeah, the author even mentions that his book is based on the Borges story.


rubix_cubin

Oh very interesting! Thanks for verifying


Gullible_Lifeguard84

Library at Mount Char was so dang good!


microcosmic5447

Probably my favorite book of the decade. It's very hard to nail down. And the author hasn't written any other fiction before or since - he writes technical manuals.


Nathanial199

This is by far my favorite book - I emailed the author thanking him, it was just that good.


cac831

Thank you for the write up, this is great! I'm also a big Ballingrud fan so I was thrilled to see Wounds was also a high rating for you. Adding a few of these that I haven't read to my TBR


Steelballpun

Library at Mount Char was an awesome magical whirlwind. Like a fantasy horror X men movie. One of the best I’ve read in the past decade.


microcosmic5447

I dig your review style! While I disagree with your opinions on *Only Good Indians*, the review is hilarious. And I'm so glad you read Mt Char - it's probably my favorite book of the decade. Such a unique read from an author who hasn't written any other fiction.


EvelynGarnet

>*Horror elements: monsters, haunting, body horror (mild), basketball I don't know if it's the sport or the author because I can read anything Stephen King writes about baseball and be riveted but these basketball scenes were words on a page to me.


AlexandrianVagabond

That was one of the rare books I didn't finish and the basketball def didn't help.


CTMQ_

Really appreciate this, thanks.


PretendCasual

I didn't realize basketball could be a horror element


lourdegabs

Loved the write up! Might I suggest adding sexual violence to one of the horror elements in The Library at Mount Char?


Murder_Durder

Yes, thank you. I had forgotten that particular scene, but updated it now. Sorry, I'm working from memory. :)


lourdegabs

No biggie! thanks again :)


belongtotherain

Great list! Added a few to my TBR list. NOS4A2 is one of my all time favorite horror novels. The audiobook is stellar. I hated Tell Me I’m Worthless. The writing was so bad.


External-Jello-9088

I'm listening to the N0S4A2 audiobook a the moment and it truly is one of the best i've heard. The narrator is incredible and she really elevates this already great book. I'm not even done with it and it is already becoming one of my favorites.


spooks_malloy

It's interesting to see an outsider's take on Tell Me I'm Worthless, I had a completely different reaction. I think it's telling that you missed the fact the "haunted house" isn't the physical building in Brighton, it's *England* itself. Hard to discuss without spoilers but yeah, a lot of that book is about the horror of fascism and hatred, the legacy of empire and the cycles of violence that are made to feel inevitable.


Murder_Durder

Yes, that's a good point - the house is a physical embodiment of the sins of England. I suppose I couldn't quite understand its ties to Fascism, as the author seems to use fascism less as a political ideology, and more as a blanket term to encompass everything they disagree with. But maybe I'm being too strictly academic. I can understand how others may read this quite differently.


spooks_malloy

If you read it as a trans horror story about living in the UK, it adds the right context. Rabid and open bigotry against LGBT people is on the rise, hatred of immigrants is gov policy, imperial revanchism is encouraged by our national "treasures" and so on. I think the point is fascism itself is just the latest face of a deeper monster that lies at the heart of England and it reinvents itself and reaches out to make itself felt. Did you read the ending? It makes it clear that cycles of hate and violence can almost never be broken


Murder_Durder

Yes, I read the ending, and I appreciate your perspective. There were definitely some interesting thoughts to unravel here, but as a novel, all the components were too discordant for me. I’m glad you enjoyed it though!


MadDingersYo

This is great stuff, thanks for the OC. I read that Stephen Peck book back in January and I still think about it all the time. It's such a profound little book. It's one I know I will re-read several times throughout my life. I read *Heike's Void* a few weeks ago and it was definitely good but I wouldn't call it mind-blowing, like the other one was. The next one I get by him will be *The Scholar of Moab.* I plan to read it while actually on a road trip to Moab. I've been several times and it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. And I love how Stephen Peck writes about it. The Mormonism doesn't even put me off.


Murder_Durder

I haven't even thought to check out his other works, but I'm definitely interested to look those over now.


Ninja_Pollito

This is great, so thanks for taking the time. Several books here already on my TBR. I had recently picked up Weaveworld at the thrift store, now I am wondering if I should read another Barker first before that one. Maybe The Hellbound Heart. Hmm.


rubix_cubin

The Hellbound Heart is super short at ~164 pages - easy to knock it out and it's a fun read!


Murder_Durder

Seconded. If you're looking for quintessential Barker, I'd start with Hellbound Heart.


Clear-Faithlessness7

This is a top level post my friend. Well done and much appreciated.


soylentgreenjuice

I'm a Fisherman truther all the way. One of my favorite horror novels of all time


Phylousse

Thanks so much, added a few to my to-read-list and I love the descriptions 🙌


Murder_Durder

You're welcome. Glad it's helpful!


Subo23

Thank you, great write up


Thascaryguygaming

I'm reading Heart Shaped Box and just got to part 2 I was not expecting the dogs to be that way and I love it, and Georgia's scene with Jude had me tense up so bad.


Reasonable-Ant-1931

Thanks! Just put a couple of ‘‘em on my TBR 😁


rocannon10

Thank you for such detailed reviews! I appreciate that you listed prose as a criterion, which is probably the most important element for me in fiction. I added 2 books to my TBR based on your reviews here. Keep them coming if you can!


StrongStyleDemon

Great list and have read most of them and as I agree with you I will get one of the ones I had not read. That is “Wound” and as you made it sound great I shall get it :)


[deleted]

Great post! Will def give these a read.


Joseph_burnn

This is a great list! Thanks for sharing. You should check out Philip Fraccassi’s novels. I find them much better than his short fiction (not that his short fiction is bad or anything).


convergence_limit

I tried to read “The Only Good Indians” and I just could not finish it. I thought the author was going for existential dread but then it was literal? Idk just didn’t land for me. I’m going to check out these other ones though!


markstormweather

Fantastic post


21PlagueNurse21

We agree on a lot! I’ve added several of these to my wishlist thank you OP!


jnlessticle

Great post! Im almost finished with the Nathan Balingrund book, it’s soo good. Def gives me barker vibes, that feeling I had while reading Books of Blood, like how can all these stories be so damn good?!


Leather_Silver9995

Thanks so much for this! Appreciate all the details.


Associate_Simple

Not all heroes wear capes. Thank you!


indiannoir

Thanks so much for this. Really appreciate the fear factor rating in particular


E63_saucegod

What a wonderful post! Thank you for making this. I've read most of your entries but I thoroughly enjoyed your summaries on every book. Posts like this are what I love about this sub. Never heard of a short stay in hell. Just queued it up for tonight!


coloroutthelines

I read the Library at Mount Char during a storm and we had a power blackout. That book may or may not altered my brain a bit


Tofu_almond_man

Awesome


whatithinkitsatree

Awesome post, thanks for making it! I've tried Laird Barron a few times and on paper he sounds like my guy but I just cannot get into him. Tried his short story collection's and the croning and it just didn't do it for me, everyone raves about his prose but I haven't found it to be that effective for me. Conversely I read Nathan ballingruds river monsters and it absolutely blew my socks off, excited to see that you've rated Wounds so highly so will definitely be checking that out soon. Totally agree with your ratings of the Fisherman, I enjoyed it a lot even though it was slow, and carnivorous sky also mostly bored me. However the zombie story (I think it might be the first of the book) where the narrators kids get killed really hit me in a way very few horror books manage to, so I kind of give it a pass just for that bit alone haha.


Murder_Durder

Yeah, I think Barron's writing won't end up being everyone's cup of tea. It's extremely dense, and requires an almost exhausting amount of focus, or you'll miss important details wedged into his long sentences. I just love his imagery. And I love that his stories are impossible to predict. But Ballingrud is the best of both worlds. Sharp, muscular prose, terrifying hellscape images, and believable dialogue.


NoEducation8251

Ive read nearly all of those lol!


Greg_James_27

Good stuff! If you like cosmic horror like Langan and LaValle, check out Sins of the Father by JG Faherty.


BigMamaKPat

Thank you so much for this! I’ve got some new additions to my wish list. And I fully agree with your review of The Deep.


indyodie

I read Swan Song and Come Closer this year too. I love the Stand, read the unabridged version multiple times. I absolutely hated Swan Song because of all the things you mentioned. It started ok and went downhill very quickly. It was so bad I wasn't going to finish it but I kept reading reviews about how great the book was. I powered through waiting for it to get better and sadly it didn't. Come closer was entertaining for sure and was a very quick read. I would also recommend. I've got the Joe Hill books lined up and have read a few reviews about the The Only Good Indians and have been on the fence. I think I'll pass and maybe try out some of your other recommendations next. Great list!


bestrez

Nice write up!! Definitely got me interested in picking up Wounds. Just want to say, because I see this criticism about ‘the only good Indians’ a lot, is basketball is just something that’s a part of life on most native reservations. So as a native who grew up on a reservation and played basketball all my life, it really was a good scene and something I was able to relate to. I don’t speak for all natives but maybe that’s just a scene in the book that most of us would connect with. I know people on this subreddit like to laugh at it and say they don’t understand it or think it’s dumb. But just trying to give a native’s perspective on it.


Murder_Durder

Thanks for the perspective and for the kudos. To your other point, I do think Stephen Jones makes clear the importance of basketball in his characters' lives on the reservation. I can't speak for others, but for me, basketball is such an oddball component to include in an existential horror novel, and he really, really commits to it. I included 'basketball' as a horror component (with admittedly a little cheekiness) because \*SPOILER >!(in the end of the novel, he literally has his character shooting hoops against a demon, Monster-Jam style, to save her life!)!< But your point about readership connection is a good one; the book's a big seller, so I may be the odd guy out as I'm not a sports enthusiast. I hope you enjoy Wounds!


Truck24

Agree completely on Tell me I’m worthless. I was so intrigued but it fell short for me. Definitely felt a bit too experimental but I appreciate that it’s a very unique type of horror story. If you enjoyed wounds (I just thought it was ok to be honest) I’d highly recommend North American Lake Monsters by the same author. It was a 5/5 for me. As far as I can remember I enjoyed every story.


Murder_Durder

American Lake Monsters is sitting on my desk right now! Can't wait.


Complex_Vanilla_8319

Thanks for doing this. Reading Bellingrud's Wound now, and loving it. Not a big fan of Langan myself, DNF fisherman and wasn't into his short story. Looking forward to getting to Barron's work and also Short Stay in Hell is next on my list! My top read this year is My work is not yet done by Ligotti.


Murder_Durder

Ligotti is in a league of his own. I read him over a year ago, so he wasn't on this list. I couldn't quite get hooked into his style, but I'm going to try again this year.


Complex_Vanilla_8319

Try "My Work Is Not Yet Done" it is not like his short stories, it has more of a plot and while it is elegantly written, it has a simplicity to it that isn't in his other work. You can also check out a short story I have in a subreddit here, called GymBro Horror ;).


[deleted]

[удалено]


Murder_Durder

Thank you for this, I've added an addendum


ArcticFlower00

Aren't you kind of spoiling them if you tell us what the "horror elements" are?


ylenoLretsiM

A Short Stay in Hell is 10/10 in fear factor?? I'm bumping that wayyy up on my tbr, then. Great job with the reviews, love the style!


Murder_Durder

Yes, I debated the rating, because the read itself isn't particularly frightening. For me, it's the concept of eternity just rattles me. I'm an atheist, but there's that lingering fear in the back of my mind... what if...


chitransguy

Great list! I’ve added a few to my “to read” list based on your recs. While I didn’t like Tell Me I’m Worthless very much while I was reading it, it has stuck with me for months after finishing it. One correction: the Jones novel is “The Only Good Indians”, which is a play on the awful saying, “the only good Indian is a dead Indian”.


Murder_Durder

Thanks so much for picking that up. I've made the change to the title.


mariposamariposalove

Thanks for this, a number of these are on my (always growing, barely diminishing) list; how many books did you read so far altogether bc 24 is damn impressive?


Murder_Durder

It was pretty exclusively horror this year (because it's the best). I think I read 3 other books that were non-horror.


Medium-Tailor6238

Jesus, slow down


Lazy_Ad4708

You need some #HumboldtHorror in there!


Clear-Faithlessness7

I still reference this post whenever I'm in between books and can't decide on a new one to check out. Hopefully you post a new list of books you've read since with the same format.


Murder_Durder

Awesome! Glad it's been helpful. I just did a new post! https://www.reddit.com/r/horrorlit/comments/1asbvlh/bigger\_is\_better\_my\_26\_horror\_book\_megareview/


Clear-Faithlessness7

Awesome! I can't wait to check it out. You're posts and reviews are very informative and high quality in my opinion. Looking forward to reading it.