I learned to appreciate short stories and to develop a taste for them by reading horror. According to literary theorists like Poe, a story written to have a singular effect should be short enough to be consumed in one sitting. I'm not sure how fast Poe could read but the short story or novella are natural choices. Many practitioners in the horror field will tell you the most powerful horror stories are the shorts. Every now and then I'll share what I think are some of the best out there.
"Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper" by Robert Bloch. To say that there is one Robert Bloch story better than any other is as ludicrous as saying that autotune is an authentically organic trope in musicianship. He wrote a host of excellent stories but "Yours Truly" is his most famous and forever associated the Ripper with Bloch. It's an exciting story of detection, linking true crime with supernatural evil.
"There Shall Be No Darkness" by James Blish. A chilling novella of a group of people in a palatial estate with a werewolf in their midst. This has a great premise for a movie. . .oh wait, it was made into Amicus Film's godawful attempt at a horror blacksploitation film, The Beast Must Die. Forget the movie, read the story.
"N" or "1922" by Stephen King. I just can't decide. Both are authentically terrifying stories. One a tale of cosmic horror infused with OCD paranoia, the other a period piece of murder and supernatural revenge. King is typically a long-winded writer. That being said, the novella is a suitable compromise for him when it comes to him writing in short form and his novellas are usually good (leaving out most his collection If It Bleeds).
"They Bite" by Anthony Boucher. Boucher was an esteemed mystery fiction writer and critic, devoted Sherlockian, and wrote sci fi too. This gruesome little piece is reminiscent of The Hills Have Eyes that would be released several years later.
"It" by Theodore Sturgeon. Released in 1940, this piece by the great science fiction writer is one of the most memorable about an undead creature stalking the woods.
"The Great God Pan" and "The White People" by Arthur Machen. I'm torn on this guy too. If anyone reads my column regularly, then it's no secret that I'm a fan of Machen. "The Great God Pan" is about the birth of a demonic half human, half god who corrupts whoever she is in contact with. "The White People" is a disorienting account of a girl destroying herself after being initiated into witchcraft. Both are stunning tales of the forbidden.
These are a few examples of the best horror these writers have to offer. One of these days I'll tackle some different writers. In the meantime, if you haven't read these, give them a try.
Written by Nicholas Montelongo
"Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper" by Robert Bloch. To say that there is one Robert Bloch story better than any other is as ludicrous as saying that autotune is an authentically organic trope in musicianship. He wrote a host of excellent stories but "Yours Truly" is his most famous and forever associated the Ripper with Bloch. It's an exciting story of detection, linking true crime with supernatural evil.
"There Shall Be No Darkness" by James Blish. A chilling novella of a group of people in a palatial estate with a werewolf in their midst. This has a great premise for a movie. . .oh wait, it was made into Amicus Film's godawful attempt at a horror blacksploitation film, The Beast Must Die. Forget the movie, read the story.
"N" or "1922" by Stephen King. I just can't decide. Both are authentically terrifying stories. One a tale of cosmic horror infused with OCD paranoia, the other a period piece of murder and supernatural revenge. King is typically a long-winded writer. That being said, the novella is a suitable compromise for him when it comes to him writing in short form and his novellas are usually good (leaving out most his collection If It Bleeds). "They Bite" by Anthony Boucher. Boucher was an esteemed mystery fiction writer and critic, devoted Sherlockian, and wrote sci fi too. This gruesome little piece is reminiscent of The Hills Have Eyes that would be released several years later.
"It" by Theodore Sturgeon. Released in 1940, this piece by the great science fiction writer is one of the most memorable about an undead creature stalking the woods.
"The Great God Pan" and "The White People" by Arthur Machen. I'm torn on this guy too. If anyone reads my column regularly, then it's no secret that I'm a fan of Machen. "The Great God Pan" is about the birth of a demonic half human, half god who corrupts whoever she is in contact with. "The White People" is a disorienting account of a girl destroying herself after being initiated into witchcraft. Both are stunning tales of the forbidden.
These are a few examples of the best horror these writers have to offer. One of these days I'll tackle some different writers. In the meantime, if you haven't read these, give them a try.
Written by Nicholas Montelongo
The author does not allow comments to this entry
No comments