31 Days of Horror: Day 4- The Pull of Horror's Past

Most of my work in helping you to assist horror readers focuses on living, currently publishing  authors so that you can keep up to speed on the current state of the genre and its trends, while understanding what you should be ordering to create a collection you can use to make suggestions and for your horror readers to browse on their own.

However, I do want to peek into the past a little bit today because one of the biggest trends in horror is the pull of the past and its influence on the present. Specifically as seen in 2 HUGE Trends.

The first, is the return of the classic paperback horror titles from the 70s and 80s. The trend entered the mainstream with the publication of the award winning Paperbacks from Hell by Grady Hendrix, with help from Will Errickson from Too Much Horror Fiction. You can see what I said about this amazing book in my ALA Annual Read 'N Rave back in 2017. And since it's publication, people cannot get enough of these paperback titles.

In response to the demand for more of these books to come back into print, Hendrix and Errickson have teamed up with Valancourt to produce the "Paperbacks From Hell" reissue line. Now in its second year, the line pairs some of the best gems from this era, titles that have been out of print of decades and many, lost to history, with brand new introductions by Errickson and Hendrix.

As Hendrix told me, Valancourt was prepared for these to sell well and even they were surprised by the demand. The books are priced well and you can buy the entire set at once. I would highly suggest adding these vetted titles to your collections.

Even academic libraries are getting in on the trend. University of Indiana Librarian Rebecca Baumann has long been an advocate for these classic paperback pulps, and in the current issue of Fine Books Magazine, she has a fascinating, academic article about collecting paperbacks from hell and why these titles "bewitch" collectors. This article also addresses the appeal of these titles to readers.

This trend is worth noting not only because you should be aware of the reissuing of older titles that you can add to your collections, but also because you should be aware of new authors who write in this style. Understand that readers are looking for a modern, 21st Century take on the pulp horror experience too. For libraries, the best place to find quality [both in writing and book construction] works to satisfy these readers is through Flame Tree Press. Click through to see their authors, books, and read reviews. Of their crop of new authors, the best one for libraries [if you can only get a few] would be Jonathan Janz. But all are a great and appropriate choices for all library collections.

The other trend, and it is one I have written and talked about for a while now but it is still growing and gaining in momentum, is the reemergence of Lovecraft in horror fiction. Click here for a book talk I did a few years ago on the topic.

Look, it needs to be said that Lovecraft was an awful human being. He was a racist, sexist, anti-gay, basically, he hated everyone. But, he created themes, images, characters, and an entire subgenre of horror fiction whose influence can no longer be ignored.

As a result, today's authors who are writing in that Lovecraftian style are very open about contending with his problematic legacy. And it is the people Lovecraft hated the most who are leading the charge-- women, LGBTQ, and authors of color.

As I describe one of the best piece of modern Lovecraftian fiction, The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle in that book talk linked above, it is as if LaValle is both giving Lovercraft the middle finger and honoring him all in one great story.

Speaking of LaValle, over on Goodreads, he has this piece about Lovecraft's long lasting influence. It also has a great book list and a shout out to the new annotated collection of Lovecraft stories to which LaValle wrote the introduction. Add the titles you don't have and use LaValle's annotations to book talk the others.

Debut author, Shaun Hamill, whose novel A Cosmology of Monsters [which I am currently reading] also deals directly with Lovecraft, both the author and his influence, wrote this article about contending with the Lovecraft legacy for Crime Reads. Even if you don't enjoy horror, this essay will introduce you to the current spate of Lovecraft retellings and allow you to understand this trend better.

These are not the only instances where the pull of horror's past is effecting the present, but they are the most obvious.

If you want to know more about the history of horror and specifically how it plays out in our present, maybe even preemptively get in on a few trends, I would highly suggest following horror author Brian Keene's fantastic History of Horror Fiction series hosted by Cemetery Dance.

Eventually, it will all be gathered into a book, but for now you can read it online. What I like about this series is that it not only considers the history of the genre in the context of today, but it is also very readable. The essays themselves are fun to read and they are not presented in a typical order. The series itself makes for a very useful tool at understanding the appeal of horror in general, so it is a great resource for all of you library workers who are too afraid to try a book on your own.

To wrap up today, know that I understand the past's pull on the genre, but my place here on this blog is to help you stay current. Use the past to help you help readers, but do not only suggest Dracula or Frankenstein or Lovecraft. Today's post should help you reconcile the past's pull on the present, and give you some fresh collection development, display, and suggestion ideas.

50 Best Horror Books of All Time via Esquire and Comments on Diversifying Your Lists

Click here to enter the list via Esquire's webiste

Normally, when main stream magazines do a list of Horror books, I roll my eyes before diving in and I predictably, end up disappointed. But this time, I had high hopes because friend of the blog and podcaster, Neil McRobert did his list of the 50 Best Horror Books of All Time for Esquire Magazine and it is awesome. 

Last October, I invited McRobert to participate in my 31 Days of Horror: Why I Love Horror series. McRobert has the top notch Talking Scared Podcast and holds a PhD in Gothic Literature. He has spent years studying Horror as a scholar, yes, but he is also a fan. Click here to see McRobert's appearance on my blog and learn more about him. 

Anytime someone posts a best list of any kind, there are going to be haters. In this case, I saw some criticism that this list has too much of a recency bias. But I loved that recency bias for a couple of reason and applaud McRobert for it.

First, and the most important part for libraries, the recently bias of this list means you can be assured that these are titles that will be enjoyed by today's readers. I loved that about this list. Yes there were a few old classics, but it is focused on what books a general Horror reader today would most connect with and enjoy. This is VERY important both because the venue is a mass market magazine, not a Horror specific publication, and because as a library worker, you can check your shelves for these titles [most of which you already have], add those you are missing, and most importantly, promote them to your general readers. This is a list you can use anytime of year, not just to target Horror readers. It is a list for everyone who wants to feel the fear, even if just a little. This is not for Horror fans; it is for readers [full stop]. 

This is also a list that you can build a display from today! And Add a QR code to access the list. Or post it on your website. Even better, if you have Esquire in your print or digital magazine collection, use this list to promote that holding and increase circulation on it as well.

Second, by giving his list a recency bias, McRobert's list is not only white men. This is a diverse list of excellent Horror. Many "best" list makers use the fact that the "classics" were from a time when only white males published in order to argue for why their lists are not diverse. This is not an  acceptable excuse any longer.. Making sure our best lists represent marginalized voices is more important than anything. As I say frequently, classics change. Not only do people not want to read many books that are 100 years old anymore, but they also need to see an established genre in a modern light where all voices are represented. Because of systemic oppression, we only have the voices of non-white males from a more recent time. That is a societal problem that people  who make these best lists can actively help  to fix.

In the introduction to the list, McRobert mentions that there are some big names missing and says straight up something I wanted to point out:

"Certain big names are missing ...because their books tread ground better travelled by others."

I think a great example of this on the list is including Victor LaValle's The Ballad of Black Tom over the Lovecraft original it is based upon. LaValle's excellent novella is a rewrite of Lovecraft's most racist story. "The Horror at Red Hook." As I said here, in this novella it is as if LaValle is giving Lovecraft a hug and the middle finger at the same time. It is brilliant classic for today's readers.

Kudos to McRobert for being willing to consider the contributions of systemically marginalized voices and judge them by the quality of their work, not the era in which they were published.

I also have two observations from my point of view. Not really criticisms but just points I wanted to make about the list.

1. Anyone who listens to McRobert's podcast knew that IT by Stephen King was going to hold the number 1 spot on his list. He is unapologetic about his love for this book and I applaud that. It would not be my number 1 but I do love consistency. Also, you have got to own your biases when you do these lists. I would have been disappointed if a list by McRobert did NOT have IT number one.
2. As much as I love the addition of more marginalized voices here, we also have to work to keep hateful humans and their books out of our lists. This is the other side of the anti-racist RA Service coin that must work in tandem with diversifying our lists on order for any progress to be made. It would be hard to argue that The Terror by Dan Simmons is NOT one of the best Horror books; however, he is a horrible human being. Click here for a sampling of reasons and examples. I have stopped supporting him in anyway. I left any mention of him out of my book, even choosing to not include him in my lists of important Horror authors of the late 20th Century-- which he most definitely was. This choice is a glaring omission, and that is 100% the point. By not including him, I make people think about why he was omitted. Clearly, if you read my book, it is clear I know my stuff, so his omission forces you to ask, why he isn't there. I would have replaced The Terror on principle with my favorite recent Horror book from that era, The Ruins by Scott Smith. 

But those are small quibbles. This is an excellent list, one that is especially useful for library workers. I hope you check it out and use it sometime soon for a display. Don't wait until October, these are excellent year round reads.

And finally, big props to McRobert. Going out on a limb to make a list of the best of anything is a brave activity. I know, I have done it many times. He did a great job.

This is Horror 2016 Award Winners

The winners were announced today. Click through to read all of the winners, but I have posted the novel and novella of the year winners with the author reactions below.

In general, the This is Horror Awards, both winners and long lists, make for a great collection development tool for libraries. These are all titles, especially the winners and runners up each year, that you should own and promote in a public library collection. See for yourself with this link that brings up all of the awards info in reverse chronological order.

This Is Horror Awards 2016: The Winners

March 20, 2017

Novel of the Year

Winner: The Fisherman by John LanganRunner-up: Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones

“I’m thrilled and humbled that the voters have selected The Fisherman as Novel of the Year. To have been nominated alongside the other novels in this category was already an honor, and the ballot as a whole is a reminder of the talent flourishing in the horror field. I’m grateful to everyone who sat down with my book and gave it a chance, and I’m thankful to everyone who cast a vote for it. The Fisherman owes its publication to Ross Lockhart, for which, many, many thanks. It owes its composition to my lovely wife, Fiona, for which all, all of my love.”

—John Langan, author of The Fisherman
THIS IS HORROR NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2016

Novella of the Year

Winner: The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValleRunner-up: X’s For Eyes by Laird Barron

“Holy shit! I’m honored to get this news and to get such love from the This Is Horror community. I knew The Ballad of Black Tom was a bit of a risky proposition—throwing shots at an icon like Lovecraft could make a lot of people defensive. Instead this book has been warmly received by the horror community and as a lifelong horror head I can’t tell you how grateful I am for that.”

—Victor LaValle, author of The Ballad of Black Tom
THIS IS HORROR NOVELLA OF THE YEAR 2016

Becky's Top 20 Horror for Libraries of the 2010s

As part of the updated edition to my book, on which I am currently working, I have created a top 20 list of horror for libraries published from 2010-2019.

I want to be clear about the "for libraries" part. Those of you out there reading this from the general horror fiction world may have some disagreement with my choices, and I would say to you, you are absolutely correct.

This is NOT a list of the very best horror written by any person in these last 10 years, rather, it is a list of titles that are important to libraries for a variety of reasons, reasons I will expand upon in the book [I mean I have to give you a reason to buy it].

As the library world's horror expert, consider this a "must have" collection development list. If you have neglected your horror sections over the last decade, this list can help you get back in horror shape.

I will give a little bit of commentary on some of the titles and have comments about the overall state of horror over the last decade afterwards. Links go to my review where possible on Goodreads.

Finally, please note, I have no Stephen King listed here. He did have some great novels in the last decade, but you don't need me to tell you to buy his books. For the most part, they come into your collections automatically. I am here to help you improve and learn, not to tell you what you already know.

Here, from 20 to 1, is Becky's Top 20 Horror for Libraries of the 2010s

20. In the Valley of the Sun by Andy Davidson
19. Rust Maidens by Gwendolyn Kiste

• These are 2 important debuts from the last 2 years and it is why I put them at the start of the list. Davidson and Kiste are names that will continue to reverberate in the next decade. Get their books in your collections now. Davidson's second novel is out early 2020.

18. Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

• Yes a YA title, but for libraries, this is the perfect entry zombie novel for adults who are curious about the trope but are also a little nervous about it being "too much." Also, this novel has one of the most beautiful endings to any book I have ever read. Seriously. 

17. The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes

• When writing the second edition of my book, I argued with one of my editors that horror was moving to include science fiction, and not just fantasy, as the speculative origin of the horror. I stood my ground on that change and I think it is safe to say, I have been proven right many times over the last 10 years. The Shining Girls is an excellent example. This is a terrifying serial killer novel, but the fear is increased and amplified by the time travel. 

16. Children of the Dark by Jonathan Janz

• The title that got him into library collections. This decade Janz established himself as the new "King of Pulps," and libraries should carry every title he puts out to serve this readership.

15. The Hunger by Alma Katsu

• Historical horror of the previous decade was dominated by Dan Simmons, but Katsu is now the leader in this subgenre, one that also happens to have a wide cross over appeal with those who do not consider themselves horror readers.

14. The Troop by Nick Cutter

• A brilliant pulp horror modern classic, also with a SF origin to the monster. But also here because it is an example of well respected literary authors who feel the need to use a pseudonym in order to write horror. This is a trend that is still going strong. Cutter is actually Craig Davidson. Another title I loved this decade, The Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell is the pseudonym for Joshua Gaylord. And in early 2020 a new title The Chill will come out by Scott Carson who is really Michael Koryta. In this article, Koryta shares why he thought he needed a pseudonym for a supernatural story. It's a sad state that I hope the next decade fixes. I hope people are loud and proud about the horror they are writing. But that doesn't take away the fact that The Troop is awesome pseudonyms or not.

13. Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin

• A short novel [technically a novella?] that reads exactly like the title says it will. You will read it in one or two sittings because you won't be able to stop. And it will never leave you.... Another title that pairs well with Fever Dream is The Grip of It by Jac Jemc

12. Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

• Dutch horror master whose first novel in English was a huge hit. It came out of nowhere to claim the top spot on the 2017 RUSA CODES READING LIST for Horror. It used techniques from classic horror of the past and incorporated new technology very well. Also, looking back, it was one of the first examples of the reemergence of the popularity of the witch trope. And it is scary as heck.

11. Bird Box by Josh Malerman

• If you work in a library you know this book needs to be on the list somewhere. It was a phenomenon both when it came out and then a few years later when it was a movie. Malerman is now one of the best known authors in the genre.

10. The Passage by Justin Cronin

• Another example of the growing use of science fiction in horror during the decade. The first in a trilogy and, in my opinion, the best in the trilogy. When The Passage came out it was so different than anything that came before it. And it has since inspired many more like it, most recently, Wanderers. This is the big horror novel that began the decade and it is still having reverberations.

9. The Beautiful Thing That Awaits Us All by Laird Barron

• Barron's stories are technically brilliant and immersive for the reader. He is also one of the most influential writers for today's new voices. This is one a few story collection he released in the decade, but it is also his most accessible.

8. My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

• Hendrix has to be on this list somewhere. Not only have his books been ubiquitous throughout the decade but he has also become on the the genre's spokespeople to the wider world. From his award winning Paperbacks from Hell to his essays on Tor.com, on NPR, and all over social media, Hendrix proudly beats the drum for horror and its importance to all. I have chosen this title, his second because I feel like it proved that HorrorStor wasn't a one-hit-wonder. 

7. The Drowning Girl by Caitlin Kiernan

• Kiernan is a horror master. One of the genre's greatest living writers. She is also one of its best practitioner of Lovercraftian and weird fiction. She has many novels, novellas, and story collections over the course of this decade but The Drowning Girl, is one of her best novels, period. It also is a great example of how she writes, both technically and the themes she explores.

6. Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones

•  It's a werewolf tale yes, but it is also a coming of age story and about the underclass in America. This is the novel that brought Jones into libraries. 2020 will be his breakout year, but Mongrels foreshadowed this.

5. The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

• The best horror novella Tor.com has put out in the last decade, and they have put out a lot of them [Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones is a close second]. LaValle is becoming one of the biggest and most critically acclaimed horror novelists of our time, but this novella is also an example of the trend of the reclaiming of Lovecraft by people of color and women. In this case, LaValle is retelling an actual Lovecraft story from the POV of a black man. As I like to say about this novella [you can hear me say it here too], it is as if LaValle is giving Lovecraft the middle finger while at the same time acknowledging his importance and influence.

4. NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

• Hill has to be on this list somewhere, and NOS4A2 was what he called, his "horror thesis." I know this book is divisive. Personally I love it, but that is not why it is so high on the list. It's here because it is THE epic horror novel of the decade and Hill is one of the decades biggest names. 

3. The Fisherman by John Langan

• A near perfect example of cosmic horror. Universally proclaimed the best horror novel of the year when it came out. A great introduction to modern cosmic/Lovercraftian horror for both readers and writers.

2. Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

• I mean it was a finalist for the National Book Award and it 100% horror stories. Do I need to say more? This book was dark, weird, sexy, thought provoking, scary, and imaginative. 

1. A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

• While this novel came out right in the middle of the decade, I feel like it marks a HUGE turning point for the genre. It is a story that harkens back to the genre's classics [most obviously We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Exorcist, but also many other titles are referenced here] and yet is also completely new. The way Tremblay crafts a horror story is gut wrenching. He breaks you, the reader throughout the course of the story and yet, you are glad you read it. You also never know if what you read was 100% real or if there was supernatural elements, and that is on purpose. I charged myself with picking THE NOVEL of the decade by creating this list and I honestly didn't argue with myself on this one.

Some general commentary about the make up of the list and what is says about the genre as a whole; again most of these topics will be explored in much greater detail in the new book:

• It is 30% women and 30% own voices. However, one of the biggest trends in horror that I am seeing is the rise of women and diverse voices producing some of the best work in the genre today. I predict that in 10 more years, these numbers will inch toward 50%.
• There are 2 works in translation on this list [Hex and Fever Dream] and one foreign author who writes in English [Beukes]. American audiences are going to start seeing a lot more horror from all over the world.
• Stories are still important in horror. As are novellas.
• Lovecraftian/Weird fiction got its foothold in this decade and has only continuing to grow. It is the most common trope right now.
• I will not use the term "literary horror" because it is a term that demeans all horror in its assumption that only select titles within the genre have literary merit, when in fact every single horror book has literary merit. Instead, I think it is important to note that the "literary" world is finally noticing horror as worthy of their esteem. This list contains multiple titles that have been nominated for or won national literary awards.

I will have much more about this list and the current state of horror in the new book. It will be done by the end of 2020 and out for libraries to purchase in mid 2021. But this is a lot of useful information for you to use right now.

Finally, I would also like to thank librarian and horror author Corey Farrenkopf, for giving this list the once over and giving me invaluable feedback that improved this list.

New Book Bonus Annotations: Chapter 8- Monsters and Ancient Evil

 When I was writing the Third Edition of the Readers' Advisory Guide to Horror, I originally had over 20 annotated choices per subgenre appearing in chapter 4-13. However, for word count sake, I had to reduce each lists to a well packaged dozen. Obviously making the cuts was hard, but I was able to include the tittles of those deleted annotations in an appendix at the end of the book with a promise that the annotations would run here on the blog.

And that promise begins today. Each list will be posted on the blog over a series of 10 weeks, every Tuesday, beginning June 1, 2021 and running through August 3, 2021. This weekly series will serve to promote the book's upcoming release in August of 2021, but I have also created an archive of all of the lists that will live here. That page is the official index of this bonus content.

In the book, my top three choices in each list are marked to denote Becky's Picks. I will also do that in these lists to give you a place to begin as you suggest. Just like the titles in the print book, every title appearing here is a great options for all public libraries. You can use these lists for collection development, displays, lists, and suggestions. Each subgenre has an essay discussing its history and appeal in the book which you can order here. 

Bonus Annotations

Chapter 8: Monsters and Ancient Evil

[+] Denotes Becky’s Picks

Ahlborn, Ania. The Devil Crept In. 2017

Jude disappears, leaving his cousin and best friend, ten year old Stevie distraught and searching for him. Told from two perspectives, that of the very perceptive and sympathetic Stevie and Rosie, an old woman who lives in the woods, this is an atmospheric and creepy tale, with a tension that builds steadily as Stevie’s encounters bring him into contact with unfriendly townspeople, oddly behaving cats, and what is a very real monster in the woods. A coming of age horror tale that is a perfect suggestion for fans of early Stephen King.

+Beukes, Lauren. Broken Monsters. 2014

A terrifying twist on the monster story, a serial killer is fusing the bodies of his victims with animals and leaving the grotesque creations in abandoned buildings across Detroit. What follows is a fast paced, gruesome mystery, told through multiple perspectives of a city on the brink of ruin and its broken residents as they both come to terms with the horrible monster in their midst and their connection to the horror. A nice bridge title that can draw serial killer readers to horror, this tale of real life monsters has all of the markings of a monster tale with enough of a hint at a possible unnatural force driving the horrors to satisfy genre readers. Broken Monsters was nominated for just about every horror and thriller award the year it came out.

Brogden, James. Heckla’s Children. 2017

With a prologue introducing a monster stalking the land and terrorizing the people who lived there centuries ago, readers are then thrust forward to modern times when four teens disappear while on a survival skills field trip in a British park on that same land. Only one returns, but with no memory of what happened. Nine years later an archeologist is called back to that park to identify some bones, but these are not the bones of modern teens, they are from the Bronze age. With an engrossing plot that establishes the intense unease from page one and steadily increases it from there, an interesting and diverse cast of characters, shifting points of view, and excellent world building, this is a stellar choice for fans of ancient evil. Bone Harvest is another good choice in the subgenre.

Campbell, Ramsey. Grin of the Dark. 2007

Clowns are a classic horror novel monster and British genre master Campbell has one of the best entries into this trope. Simon is doing research into the forgotten silent film star, Tubby Thackeray, a contemporary of Chaplin’s whose entire oeuvre has been lost. Simon’s research takes a strange and dark turn very quickly, and the deeper he digs, the more terrifying it all becomes. Evil clowns are just the start, there may be a much larger ancient evil at work. This inventive, suspenseful, and chilling tale with a found footage frame will appeal to a wide swath of readers and even a few fans of classic cinema.

Cutter, Nick. Little Heaven. 2017

In 1980 a monster lures a girl away from her home, kidnapping her. But this is no random monster, it wants to settle a score with the girl’s father and his two closest friends, a score that goes back to 1965 and the isolated religious community of Little Heaven. The story, told in alternating time frames, a technique which adds suspense, is gruesome and oozes fear from its very first lines. Readers are drawn to the obviously flawed, but sympathetic protagonists and are horrified as they are besieged by terrifying and violent monsters. However, this is also a story that makes time for contemplation of the meaning of family and community in between its most disturbing moments.

Deady, Tom. Haven. 2016

In 1961 the town of Haven, MA experienced a spate of child murders. Now 17 years later, Paul, the man who was sentenced for those murders has served his time and returns home, reaching out to those who still believe in his innocence namely a local priest, his  a young boy named Denny, and his best friend Billy. When the killings begin happening again, Paul is accused, but it is becoming clear that the culprit of it all is a monster in the woods. With compelling characters, both good and evil, a shifting narration that keeps this epic story moving, and breathless action sequences, this is a horror novel that harkens back to classic Stephen King while still asserting its own original identity. Haven won the 2016 Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel.

Hamil, Shaun. A Cosmology of Monsters. 2019

In this grotesque and foreboding debut, a family is haunted by a monster for generations. It all begins with Noah’s Lovecraft loving parents and their comic book shop and well known Haunted House attraction, but fairly quickly tragedy befalls the family, tragedy that may very well be linked to a monster, one that befriends young Noah, following him into adulthood. But monsters, no matter how friendly they appear, are still monsters. A leisurely paced story of family, coming of age, and of course, horror, with an obvious nod to Lovecraft, Hamil’s novel leaves the reader in a prolonged state of unease long after completion.

+Keene, Brian. Castaways. 2009

A television crew and contestants in a Survivor-esque reality show are literally caught in a fight for their lives—the island they have been left on is populated by an indigenous tribe of bloodthirsty monsters and there is a giant storm bearing down on them! This novel, written as a tribute to the late Richard Laymon, is a grisly, disturbing and compelling page turner but Keene adds humor and builds characters readers actively want to root for and against to help buffer the gore and sexual violence. Also try Ghoul, a more traditional coming of age, ancient evil resurfaces, monster tale.

+LaValle, Victor. Victor LaValle’s Destroyer. 2018

Using Frankenstein as the frame, LaValle tells a very modern story of revenge, race, and science in a graphic novel format. It’s 2017 and the monster is angry. Forced to wander the earth for decades, it is now bent on destroying all of humanity. Enter Dr. Baker, a descendent of the Frankenstein family whose anger at humanity may rival the monster's own. In many ways this reimagined classic is much scarier for today's readers as it keeps the themes of the original but strips the historic feeling of it, both because there is no denying it is about our current situation and because of the detailed superhero comic inspired art. 

Little, Bentley. The Bank. 2020

Little has made a career writing small town, pulp horror that pits ordinary people, living mundane lives, up against a monster. Here he ups the ante, mixing in the real life horrors of identity theft, economic downturn, and aggressive marketers as a new bank opens in town, claiming to want to help everyone, but actually run of a supernatural evil. Following the points of view of various community members, including tension at every turn, that ratchets up to violent terror, this is a fast paced, fun roller coaster ride of horror with a monster at its core. Most Little titles fit into this subgenre and are worth exploring for monster fans.

Partridge, Norman.  Dark Harvest.  2006

It’s Halloween in 1963 and the local boys are taking part in their town’s traditional hunt to find the “October Boy.”  This is no ordinary hunt however.  The boys must be locked away without food for five days before being let out for the hunt, and he who manages to kill the monster, gets a big reward.  Readers follow Pete on this particular hunt and together we find out the horrifying truth behind the ritual.  Dark Harvest is a critically acclaimed, original, and shocking story that monster fans should not miss. It regularly makes horror readers’ overall best lists.

SanGiovanni, Mary. The Hollower. 2007

The Hollower is a monster that stalks the residents of Lakehaven, NJ but this monster cannot see its prey. It cannot see them or even touch them, but it is able to destroy them from the inside out, tormenting them from inside their heads. A small group of residents who can see the Hollower band together to try to stop it. Pedal to the metal action and unrelenting terror that doesn’t let up from page one until the conclusion, and ending that wraps up the story but leaves just enough of the terror alive for the sequel, this is a crowd-pleasing pulp horror novel featuring an intriguing edition to the monster trope. The Hollower series continues with Found You and The Triumvirate

Shea, Hunter. Creature. 2018

Kate lives with a host of illnesses that rob her of a normal life, but her husband Andrew takes great and loving care of her. As a treat, he surprises her with her dream trip to a lake cabin in Maine. The first half of the story works to build up Kate and Andrew as characters and to get the reader emotionally connected to their story in order to make everything that happens in Maine that much more terrifying. This is a rare treat, a creature feature with characters as  strong as the menacing monster. Shea is a popular and skilled pulp author and this is only one of his excellent offerings in the subgenre.

Shelley, Mary.  Frankenstein.  1818/ 2017 Annotated Edition.

Often cited as the first horror novel ever written, Frankenstein is the story of a scientist’s effort to create life. Shelley uses her Gothic novel to describe the horrors humankind can expect to confront when it foolishly tries to conquer nature. While many modern readers will no longer find Frankenstein “scary,” its place in the history of the genre cannot be denied.  It will also be a title with which most of your patrons will be familiar, even if they have never actually read it themselves. Libraries should seek out the 2017 annotated edition, edited by Leslie Klinger for their collections.

Southard, Wesley. One for the Road. 2019

In this fast paced story filled with a menagerie of terrifying and creative monsters, readers are introduced to Spencer, the guitarist for a heavy metal band, as they are all on their way home from a long tour. Spencer cannot wait to quit  as soon as they get home, except instead of making it home they are abandoned outside a town where monsters attack the band members. This is a short, compelling, visceral, and extremely creative story filled with creatures who wreak havoc in original ways. It is the story about a band at the end of its life who are stuck in a kind of hell; or are they? Spencer’s strong narration carries this story, but also leaves the truth up for grabs, meaning the unease stays with the readers beyond the final page. One for the Road won the 2020 Splatterpunk Award for Best Novella

Strand, Jeff. Dweller.  

Toby is an outcast who finds peace in the deep woods behind his home. He also finds a monster living there-- a monster named Owen, who becomes Toby’s best friend for over 50 years. But when your best friend is an actual monster, he can inflict horrible things on your enemies. This is a can’t miss, original, heart-breaking and chilling story that was recently reissued by the author.

Wood, Bari. The Tribe.

First published in 1981 and recently brought back as part of best selling author Grady Hendrix’s Paperbacks from Hell reissue series, The Tribe is an example of the Golem trope, a monster from the Eastern European Jewish tradition. In the prologue, an American soldier liberating a concentration camp finds a group of Polish Jews thriving, but how? Flash forward to the novel’s present and eight of those survivors, “the tribe” still protect their own in Brooklyn, but they may also have the help of a giant monster. Violent, disturbing and gruesome, this novel includes an introduction by Hendrix which adds important context for today’s reader.

StokerCon 2018 Report

Horror legend Ramsey Campbell
and editor Don D'Auria
in the hotel lobby

I spent 2/28-3/4 in Providence at StokerCon 2018 in the Biltmore Hotel. I was the organizer of Librarians’ Day on 3/1, so that took most of my time. In this post I will report in detail about that day and then I have a few other comments about the rest of my time.

However, before I begin, I would like to make an overall comment about StokerCon. This is now my second time attending, but my first as one of the organizers. I have both attended and organized a wide variety of library conferences in my time and I have to say, even though StokerCon is fairly new, they do a wonderful job. The Con is extremely well run but more importantly, the attendees were all happy to be there and excited to be networking and learning with and from each other. For example, I saw huge names like Ramsey Campbell, Victor LaValle, or F Paul Wilson on a panel with new writers and the established authors were not only kind to the newbies, but they also learned from them.

I loved every minute I was at StokerCon and I have these men in the photo to thank. From left to right: Kevin Wetmore, Brad Hodson, Brian Matthews, and Jim Chambers. They were the ones doing the bulk of the organizing of SotkerCon. They did a wonderful job.

On Thursday 3/1 though, I was in charge, and after months of planning, Librarians’ Day went off without a hitch.  I would like to once again thank Kristi Chadwick for all her help coordinating this event with me. Her work with the publishers, doing local promotion [we had an amazing turn out with over 60 people in the room at one point!], and handling any logistical questions from the attendees before the event was invaluable.

Below is a brief overview [with pictures] of what was discussed that day and over the entire weekend.

The day began with Dacre Stoker [pic- right] talking about how his great-granduncle’s masterpiece, Dracula, has remained revelent in pop culture. It was a fascinating and broad look at the influence of the text over time.

He also talked about the October release of the first Stroker estate sanctioned prequel to Dracula entitled Dracul written by Dacre Stoker with J.D. Barker. From Goodreads:

It is 1868, and a 22-year-old Bram Stoker has locked himself inside an abbey's tower to face off against a vile and ungodly beast. He is armed with mirrors and crucifixes and holy water and a gun - and is kept company by a bottle of plum brandy. His fervent prayer is that he will survive this one night - a night that will prove to be the longest of his life. Desperate to leave a record of what he has witnessed, the young man scribbles out the events that brought him to this point - a childhood illness, a mysterious nanny, and stories once thought to be fables now proven true.  

A riveting novel of Gothic suspense, Dracul reveals not only the true origins of Dracula himself, but also of his creator, Bram Stoker . . . and of the elusive, enigmatic woman who connects them.

Place your orders now. Besides the Dracula connection Barker, the co-author here is becoming a big name in thriller, suspense, and horror himself.

The next panel was moderated by me and was entitled, “Why Horror Matters: A Conversation with Experts on the Genre and Its Practitioners.” It featured Christopher Geissler [the head archivist from the John Hay Library which holds the papers of H.P. Lovecraft among other horror legends], Andy Davidson, Me, Grady Hendrix, Les Klinger and Eric Guignard. A few interning points that came up in our conversation:

• I talked about how in times of difficulty some people gravitate toward horror to feel better. When things are bad, they look for something worse to help them feel better.
• Someone mentioned that everyone is scared of something.
• Grady talked at length about what a large part women have played in horror and its history.
• Eric talked about his series of printers on writing by short dark fiction, by living authors. Click here for more detail on that.
• Les talked about what he has learned annotating great works like those by Lovecraft and Shelley.
• Andy talked about how he mixes genre and why he gravitates to horror as the anchor to his work.
• Christopher talked about the archive, what they are preserving there, who uses it, and why it is important.

It was a great way to get the real conversation about horror going for the day. Dacre got us excited and then this panel made us focus on purpose.

L to R: Morgan, Stephen, Mary, Nadia

The final morning panel was moderated by Bram Stoker Nominated author Mary SanGiovanni. Entitled, “A Panel of Fresh Voices for Your Collections. This panel gathered newer authors who many library workers may not have heard of before, including Nadia Bulkin, Stephen Kozeniewski, and Morgan Sylvia.

Mary talked to them about their writing, what the publishing landscape is like today, how they get the word out about their books, and what they are working on next. I should note, I have featured all of these authors here on the blog [or in Nadia's case I will soon]. These are authors you should know about and add to your collections.

This panel was fascinating  because rarely do we library workers get to hear from the smaller authors, those who are just starting to break in with work that is being noticed. These authors are on small presses now, but they will all be working with larger publishers soon. For example, in the bottom right corner of that picture, feverishly taking notes, is Rick Chillot a senior editor from Quirk Books.

Speaking of Rick...

After a fun lunch where panelists, authors, and attendees all got to mingle and chat with one and other, we had the panel everyone was most excited about-- “Horror Programming at Your Library,” moderated by J.G. Faherty, the Library and Literacy Coordinator for HWA and featuring 2 pairs of people who have worked to do just what the title says. Liz Rieur, librarian from Haverhill [MA] Public Library who organizes the extremely popular Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival with best selling and Bram Stoker Award winning author Christopher Golden, who appeared with her on the panel as well as Grady Hendrix and his editor Rick Chillot from Quirk Books.

As you can imagine, there were many questions from the library workers in the audience, especially for Liz, on how to do programming around horror. Faherty also talked about how the HWA can help connect us with local authors to start planning our own programming.

On a side note, on Saturday I spoke on this same topic to the authors in a program entitled, "Promoting Your Book To Bookstores and Libraries." On the left you can see a picture of our panel featuring [L to R] Jeff Strand, Me, J.H. Moncrieff, and Grady Hendrix. This was also moderated by Faherty. I was very popular. The authors want to know how libraries work and are often surprised when I begin by saying, "The first thing you need to know is that libraries are giant bureaucracies, even the little ones." I am always happy to share how libraries work with authors.

Finally we ended the day with Book Buzzes from publihsers and my Mass Library System book talk on Lovecraft inspired titles from 2016 [when in Rome]. The details and links to the slides were originally posted here on 3/1/18.

That evening, Les Klinger took me on a little a trip up the hill to go to Brown University to visit Christopher Geissler at the Hay where Paul La Farge, author of The Night Ocean, gave a lecture about Lovecraft's friend, the enigmatic [to say the least] Robert Barlow. It was fascinating. Also, in a bit of irony, I read La Farge's novel on my trip to StokerCon 2017.

L to R: Chambers, LaValle, Addison, Weller

That was Thursday. I was still around for 2 more full days, but they went by in a whirlwind. I attended panels, had fun at all three late night events-- A dramatic reading of Lovecraft's only play, the Final Frame Film Festival, and a hilarious battle of monsters, pictured here on the right. There were two teams. The team you see featured Victor LaValle, Linda Addison, and Sam Weller. The teams would each pull a monster out of the pumpkin and then Jim would have someone from the audience pull a location. The authors had to then tell a story of how their monster would beat the other monster in that place. There were judges to the side to comment on their stories, but we the audience had the final say. Some of the monsters who battled were the Blob, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Valdemort, Medusa, Godzilla and more.

Me and Linda

Over the weekend I made new friends with the people behind Raw Dog Screaming Press, Flame Tree Press, and Eraserhead Press. I book talked some of the titles for sale by the Con bookseller so that they got a few extra sales. I got to catch up with many old friends, like Linda Addison who received the Lifetime Achievement Award [an honor I am proud to have played a part in] and meet a whole slew of new and interesting writers, many of whom I have already been in touch with since.

And finally, the Con ended for me with the Stoker Awards Banquet where I got to sit next to horror legend, Ramsey Campbell and his wife during dinner and the ceremony. I am happy to report he is one of the nicest people I have ever met. I could chat with him and his wife all day.

Official program for the
awards ceremony

For the second year in a row, I had the honor of presenting the award for Superior Achievement in Nonfiction wit Les Klinger, and we got to give that award to Grady Hendrix for Paperbacks from Hell. It was so great to give the award to a friend and be there when he received it.

Here is the link to my post with all of the nominees and winners.

That's the summary of what happened. I can't wait t start planning Librarians' Day for StokerCon 2019 in Grand Rapids.