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Who's your favorite horror author? How do you feel about Stephen King?

Perhaps the King has been dethroned in his latest years as a writer. Stephen King's early novels, such as Danse Macabre, or IT, were frightening novels. Some of his works were questionable in quality; some were downright bad.

I liked a few of the books in his dark-tower series... but as of late, with their completion... it appears to me as though he's tapped.

Some Authors will write forever, and their writing will be great quality. Some begin with quality work, and fizzle out. Lastly, there are those who ride the name, whether their work is quality, or not. They milk their name to the last drop.

I have become embittered toward King's work as of lately, and after Bag of Bones, stopped reading.

These, my opinions, are based off experience in reading his work over the past sixteen years. I've seen a definite decline.

J. Edward Nolan

I think King is a very talented writer, and I have thoroughly enjoy the books of his I've read. I also like Clive Barker, H.P. Lovecraft as well. I think horror does not get the respect it deserves. To many people do not consider it to be literature. I think talent and good writing are the same across the genres.

Here's the thing. You may say that too many people do not recognize horror as a legitimate prose of writing, but I have to pose this question for you:

Would you really want a review for horror from a Romance Novelist? Or a Science Fiction Novelist? Horror has its own fans, and in that fan basis has gone on to create outstanding followings, and magazines like Fangoria--which devotes itself almost entirely to B-movie grade, and independant horror films, etc. All horror films stem from a horror writer of some type. So when I read that it is downgraded socially as a non legitimate prose, I have to strongly question the one who stated it.

As far as King goes, I stand by my opinion. The quality of his work has gone down hill. I can cite this particular statement to an episode of the Fox Television network comedy, Family-Guy. In the episode, they show a clip of Author Stephen King talking to his agent. His agent says:

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I rest my case on that.

J. Edward Nolan

PS: Lovecraft's style is a world apart from King's.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2_3QVLSAgc

a friend of mine owns a magazine called horror garage. the magazine is actually very good and has some very creative stories... from killer weiner dogs to ronald mcdonald consuming people's souls lol. check it out if you get the chance. http://www.horrorgarage.com/

That's what I mean. There are enough horror afficiandos in the world to suggest horror has a bad rap. From Stephen King, to Dean Koontz; Clive Barker, to Wes Craven; sometimes even Troma puts out a decent film. I love Troma.

No one had to teach me to love Horror; Good Horror, Bad Horror... from Freddy Krugar, to Jason Voorhees; Carrie, and Pennywise the Dancing Clown; Hellraiser; Tales from the Crypt; Creepshow; Creepshow II; Bram Stoker's Dracula--all versions--this includes graphic novels, comic books, fan films, and novels. Oh. And The Evil Dead Trilogy.

Somehow, I don't think horror has a problem with its legitimacy, or audience. I don't want some dreams-of-pink-clouds romance reader/writer, or some drama student telling ME what's good, and what's not. It's all good, and some of its so bad, that it's good.

If people could shut up with critical BS for a moment, and just try to actually enjoy the art of horror, they may learn that it is something to embrace, and enjoy at a campy level as much a serious level.

J. Edward Nolan

The majority of literary critics out there do not respect horror, or Sci-Fi authors as much as they deserve. At least not so far as I've noticed. I read fangoria so I know what it is, and I simply said I like H.P. Lovecraft as well as King. A statement, not a comparison. Maybe you should read a little slower to ensure you realy comprehend what your commenting on. The question was what do you think about horror and I answered with a pure and simple opinion. And I stand by that.

Franks and Beans,


Gunnbutt.

P.S. Try a little harder and you might find a way to be completely pretentious.

Look at this, a rivalry with some wit. Looks like I've stepped up to the right plate. I gather where you're coming from. At this time, to be honest, I don't have a fantastic comeback, or array of words. I'll come about with that all, later.

Thanks for the reply,

J. Edward Nolan

I feel compelled to point out that Danse Macabre was not a novel. It was a nonfiction work about writing in the horror genre. I do agree, however, that the quality of King's work has declined. I think that is just a natural thing that happens to many authors with long careers. To me, he is stil the master. I also like Lovecraft & Poe

I feel compelled to point out that Danse Macabre was not a novel. It was a nonfiction work about writing in the horror genre. I do agree, however, that the quality of King's work has declined. I think that is just a natural thing that happens to many authors with long careers. To me, he is stil the master. I also like Lovecraft & Poe

I have always read anything I could get by King, but I feel that his last few books do leave a little to be desired. I'm not saying he isn't still the King of Horror, but what happened?

I also really like Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, both the books and the movies made from them.

Both King and Rice have been influential in my writing, as I am sure they have for millions of others.

I LOVE horror, and I love Stephen King. I have loved most of his books, except maybe Bag of Bones and It. Rose Madder has a special place in my heart, difficult to explain why. But I haven't read the Dark Tower series. I plan to do it soon, as soon as I get money to buy it of course ( ), but I will definitely read the series one day. The last book of him I read was Cell, and I liked it too.

I really like Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft and Horacio Quiroga(Uruguayan author). Quiroga has a fantastic collection of short stories called Cuentos de Amor, de Locura y de Muerte (Tales of love, of madness and death) that I recomend to all horror lovers to read.

Dean Koontz's old books, before 1992, had impressive characterization, intensity, and plot. For some reason, his newer books lack that. As an author myself, I try to strive to write like Koontz's older books read.
Dean

Has anyone here read any Gothic horrors? A friend of mine loves them.