Pick up this novel written by stephen kings oldest son before the movie comes out, and you can only picture daniel radcliffe as the newly horned. The reason this was made into one of the scariest movies of all time is because it was one of the scariest novels of all time. The sandkings by george rr martin, which can be read here. The scariest book ive ever read is the haunting of hill house by shirley jackson. This list will introduce you to the dark side of novels the disturbing, macabre, and downright sick. This list will introduce you to the darker side of novels. Here is a list of 12 novels that, for various reasons, have been considered some of the greatest works of literature ever written. Dec, 2019 space is so absolutely petrifying, its surprising that more scifi novels dont dig deep into the possibilities it presents for a good horror yarnbut those that do exist are truly scary, including these seven books, which stand with the most terrifying scifi novels ever written. Novels so horrifying that, even though they can make you physically ill, you just cant put them down. Aug 16, 2018 100 best horror novels and stories in honor of frankensteins 200th. The countless film adaptations and reimaginings have rendered those classics impotent in our amygdalas. Theres a very rare and hard to find book, although there are a few p.
For those who have seen it, season 4 ends in a cataclysmic doomandgloom explosion of life kicking the crap out of all the characters weve spent 4 seasons growing to care about. For some readers, the edgiest thing theyll cozy up to is a murder mystery solved by a cat. Is it a novel with beautiful, captivating figurative language. And then you start thinking about it on the laundry detergent aisle. This 1959 gothic novel, which was the inspiration for the terrifying netflix series of the same name, is considered by many to be the best hauntedhouse story ever written. The most terrifying books of all time, according to. Its a short story, not a novel, but chuck palahniuks guts is the single most disturbing thing i have ever read. David hires a detective to look into the case, but he isnt much help. If that is not a mark of honor for a disturbing book, i dont know what is.
There are many incredible stephen king novels, but carrie was his first and. Space is so absolutely petrifying, its surprising that more scifi novels dont dig deep into the possibilities it presents for a good horror yarnbut those that do exist are truly scary, including these seven books, which stand with the most terrifying scifi novels ever written. While many think of world war z as a hollywood zombie film starring brad pitt, its actually one of the best written novels in the genre. Any story that can be considered the best ever written on the most horrifying time the world has ever seen deserves a spot on this list. Not sure that ill read all of these but some might be interesting. This is probably the most frightening novel stephen king has ever written. Featuring a seemingly sole survivor against a race of blood drinkers, i am legend is one of the most influential genre novels ever written. There were eight bunks arranged over two cells and approximately 20plus other blokes. The narrative seems to wrap itself up, to end with conviction.
Whats the most physically repellant book youve ever read. One rifer says of the novel, its descriptions of the world postapocalypse take ones. Imagine, if you would, catcher in the rye, if holden caulfield was really, truly, batshit insane and completely detached from reality. What is the most disturbing book youve ever read and why.
Mar 30, 2020 so, without further ado, and with a little fanfare, we present to you our pick of scariest books ever written, the best horror books no matter what kind of horror you are into. What is the most terrifying book you have ever read. Its the woeful tale of robert neville, the doomed last man on earth, who lives in his barricaded home as an understandably paranoid alcoholic, spending his evenings in fear for his life since the rest. Stephen king has called richard mathesons novel hell house the scariest haunted house novel ever written. Put simply, house of leaves is one of the most frightening books ever written. And were not talking about bseries zombies, shockforshockvalue cheap literature. The 100 scariest horror novels of all time horror novel. Jun 06, 2018 the western story, in its most usual forms, represents the american version of the ever appealing oldest of mans legends about himself, that of the sungod hero, the allconquering valiant who strides through dangers undaunted, righting wrongs, defeating villains, rescuing the fair and the weak and the helpless and the western story does this.
If your summer months are more for scary stories around the campfire than breezy first love, happily ever after tales, this list of 10 of the creepiest books of all time will fulfill all your warm. Then here are some of the scariest books ever written. You may have heard of ritual which is arguably nevills most popular novel, but the prolific british writer has written many books of the supernatural. Must be nice album must be nice is the debut studio album by american rapper geazy. If you think you can stomach some disturbing shit, here are a few books that will make you feel absolutely filthy. Cold and flu season is the perfect time to read this postapocalyptic scenario. Featured image by zacarias pereira da matashutterstock. Oct 21, 2015 as its cover implies, beukess horror novel has a true detectivelike air about it season one, to be clear r. Top 10 angriest auditions ever on idols and x factor. The story of a 12yearold girl, regan, being possessed by the devil certainly gets a spot on the list of most disturbing books. The novel focuses on the town of jerusalems lot, otherwise known as salems lot, where a writer discovers the town is slowly but surely being taken over by a powerful vampire master.
Isolating the 10 scariest novels of all time is essentially impossible. The brutal killings portrayed in this novel certainly make it one of the most disturbing books ever written. Horror novels dont always get the respect they deserve. With this in mind, we decided to run a post on books that expose the darker side of humanity a roundup of the most disturbing novels and short stories through time, if. Nothing you have ever read will prepare you for the insanity in this book. October 2, 2014 in featured articles the 100 scariest horror novels of all time june 26, 2019 in authors mz joe mynhardt, shallow waters vol. Common knowledge book awards the top 100 mystery novels of all time mystery writers of america. I suggest house of leaves house of leaves without spoiling the plot, there are three nested stories, of which the core is about the finding of a set of documents and videos about a house that becomes slightly longer on the inside than the outs. Regardless of ones interests, one can find a book he or she finds engaging.
Its one of the most unsettling books ive ever read, partly because of how benign and reasonable the aliens seem as they gently manipulate. Ill never forget the line about a victims head making a hissing sound. Barnes and noble 25 most terrifying horror books ever. Here, for your horrifying pleasure, are 50 of the scariest books ever written in the english language, whether horror, nonfiction, or speculative futures you never want to see. The best horror books of all time penguin random house. Known to the reader only as the kid, he continues to. What are the most frightening books youve ever read. Best scariest horror books of all time cosmopolitan. Please read at your own risk, there is some majorly upsetting and disturbing content contained within this answer. Top 10 modern horror novels more terrifying than a stephen. Do not read if you are averse to this kind of thing. Danielewski put simply, house of leaves is one of the most frightening books ever written. Also bad ronald is one of the most heinous books ever written.
The novel follows a reporter named kyle who is sent to investigate a creepy cult. If weve missed the book that kept you up for a month, add your suggestions at the bottom. The devil in the white city by erik larson is a nonfiction book about the 1893 worlds fair in chicago and the serial killer who used it to find and kill more victims. Truly disturbing and dark books arent for everyone. Horror comes in many forms but when it is on the page it is truly the scariest. But this is the most graphic, the most violently precise book ive ever read. So herewith, the literary mans top ten scariest books of all time. Jul 18, 2019 with well over 50 novels, multiple novellas, short story collections, and works of nonfiction, plus a handful of other releases that defy easy categorization among them, a libretto for a southern gothic musical, stephen king is a literary madman and an insanelyquotable storyteller. Its one of the most unsettling books ive ever read, partly because of how benign and. When the author adapted his book to the screen two years later, it then became one of the most terrifying movies ever made. When the creeds move into a beautiful old house in rural maine, it all seems too good. If you relish catching a dose of the heebiejeebies while reading. Some authors really appeal to the gore lover, the thrillseeker, and the horror junky, such as cormac mccarthy, bret easton ellis, and stephen king. They quickly realize why no one has stepped foot in the house for decades and learn exactly why it has been.
It was fresh and new when it was written, and nobodys devil has. Guts by chuck palahniuk short story 2004 its a short story, not a novel, but chuck palahniuks guts is the single most disturbing thing i have ever read. And after all, the primary task of a scary novel is to scare. This was his first vampire novel, which he wrote before vampires became a thing. This novel is easily numbers among the scariest psychological horror novels ive ever read, despite its being published three hundred years ago. So, without further ado, and with a little fanfare, we present to you our pick of scariest books ever written, the best horror books no matter what kind of horror you are into.
Just the letter he wrote to the parents of one his victims and wait until you hear how he met up with that victim is the single most chilling and disturbing thing i have ever read. Nov 04, 2019 8 of the most genuinely terrifying novels ever written the following books exist as vessels of terror, and i present them to you unabashedly. This book is about a man who has to deal with the fact that his wife suddenly believes she is a child again. What most people miss, though, is the inconclusive cliffhanger plot ending. The story of a group of friends known as the losers club discovering the powerful and ancient entity known to the group of pennywise the clown emerges after the groups leader, bill, loses his young brother to the clown. And i gotta say the bible definitely belongs up there. Without a doubt the most popular, horrifying and chilling novel ever written by stephen king is none other than it. My boyfriend is watching the wire, and the poor guy just finished season 4. It was released independently on september all tracks written by 10 most disturbing books ever written. Not everyone has the stomach for disturbing literature, but there is such a large amount of writing in the genre that everyone should give it at least one try. If youre in the mood for a fright, here are some of the scariest books ever written. The following books exist as vessels of terror, and i present them to you unabashedly. Ive held palaver with veteran horror writers and ive asked.
Well, i have no mouth and i must scream has been talked to death and the humanoids is taken, so ill have to recommend. The history of thought from ancient times to today 1998 is a book of intellectual history written by martin seymoursmith 19281998, a british poet, critic, and biographer. The second most terrifying novel written by stephen king is the authors classic vampire novel, salems lot. And if they get to be a little too much, just do what i do. In the book, a detective stumbles upon a superunsettling scene a victims body seems to have been fused together with animal parts, making him part human, part woodland creature. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you a list of the most disturbing books ever written. Told in alternating chapters that depict a group of aspiring writers voluntarily secluded in an unusual writer s retreat and the stories theyre writing, haunted not only contains one of the most disturbing short stories ever published guts, which caused several people to faint when palahniuk read it in public its also a deep dive into madness as the realitytv obsessed characters start sabotaging their experiment in a quest for fame. If its meant purely to scare, then some of the heftier books on this list would have wracked up a body count, terrifying readers to death over 700 pages or more. When originally published in 1971, the exorcist became not only a bestselling literary phenomenon, but one of the most frightening and controversial novels ever written. The story of an abused childs relationship with a 51yearold, written by the child. His books have sold over 350 million copies since he first published carrie in 1974.
Oct 14, 20 there is nothing better than a good ghost story. I read it one night next to my sleeping wife and found myself unable to move, unable to go to bed, unable. Not that i give two shits what people say about the bible, there are some pretty awesome books that are extremely disturbing. Of all the books on the list, this is the one i have read most recently, even though it was released in 1984. Jul 31, 2016 novels so horrifying that, even though they can make you physically ill, you just cant put them down. Told mostly through interviews and vignettes, this story tracks a zombie takeover from various perspectives. Sep 22, 2017 21 scary books that are more terrifying than any horror movie. Its an anthologynovel hybrid where a group of aspiring authors isolate. Oct 30, 2017 of course, a story can be terrifying without necessarily being great art. From crumbling gothic mansions to ghost infested suburban homes, heres your ultimate reading list for all things that go bump in the night. The novel tells the story of three people who spend a night in the belasco house in maine, which has been sealed since 1949.
The scariest books horror authors have ever read bookish we asked nine horror aficionados including charlaine harris, jack ketchum, mira grant and fangoria magazine to choose the one book. Top 10 most disturbing novels 10 misery stephen king. Without a doubt, its the most unsettling thing ive ever read. Horror books have been part of the literary world for years, but it seems like horror in all. If your goal is to be so terrified of a book that you put it in the freezer and book a hotel room for a few days, here are twentyfive books that might not necessarily be the best horror novels, but are certainly the scariest. Its deeply unsettling how she justifies what happened, how the love she received from her abuser was the most love shed received in her life.
Has anyone here found a book so scary you almost had to stop reading it. More often than not, american psycho heads that list. The top 100 mystery novels of all time mystery writers of. Not only does it discuss the terrors of corrupt religion, but it also deals with a mans existential crisis, whether he is predestined for heaven, and whether his new friend with the bible written. But, as readers, we love the sensation of being scaredit is adrenalineinducing and addictive. I read the collector by john fowles whilst remanded for four days in an israeli police station. Most disturbing books ever written 10 most disturbing books ever written. The 1973 movie adaptation is considered one of the scariest films ever made, so as you can imagine, the book is not for the faint of heart. Hypnotic, shocking, and chillingly erotic, this is a novel of mesmerizing beauty and astonishing forcea story of danger and flight, of love and loss, of suspense and resolution, and of the extraordinary power of the senses. Jun 25, 2018 this terrifying psychological horror book is your basic demonic occult narrative, and as terrifying as they come.
The stories contained within are goth as hell and consist of pretty much every atrocity there istorture, selfmutilation, murder, bestiality, etc its most definitely the most disturbing book on this list except maybe one other. Dec 07, 2018 what are the scariest books ever written. The thorough storytelling makes this fantastical apocalypse feel like a very real account of history. Despite these controversies, the painted bird is considered to be one of the best, most terrifying holocaust stories ever written. Its one of the most unsettling books ive ever read, partly because of how benign and reasonable the aliens seem as they gently manipulate lilith. With well over 50 novels, multiple novellas, short story collections, and works of nonfiction, plus a handful of other releases that defy easy categorization among them, a libretto for a southern gothic musical, stephen king is a literary madman and an insanelyquotable storyteller. This 1959 gothic novel, which was the inspiration for the terrifying. I know scary books are possible and would be really good, but im yet to find anything thats had me wanting to. Ive got 21 terrifying books that are scarier than any horror movie ive seen, so people like me can enjoy bustle 21 scary books that are more terrifying than any horror movie. The end takes an abrupt shift for the brutal, but most of the book is chillingly haunting. I know scary books are possible and would be really good, but im yet to find anything thats had me wanting to hide under the covers. The 20 scariest books of all time do yourself a favor. The authors you suggested most often were john fowles, iain banks and stephen king.
From these writers and more, here are the ten most disturbing books ever written. Anna karenina greta garbo in anna karenina greta garbo in anna karenina 1935, directed by clarence brown. It might be tempting to pop in one of your scarier movies when you want to get into the halloween spirit, but there are plenty of novels sure to. The most terrifying books of all time, according to readers. If this sounds like you, you might prefer to check out these cozy mysteries by patricia wentworth. Horror most terrifying books of all time hewlettwoodmere.