If you are looking for a different kind of entertainment this coming Halloween, grabbing some horror novels to read is a good idea. Unlike movies and TV shows, where you can see those scary monsters on screen, you let your imagination run based on the author’s words. Here are some of the best horror stories to read for those Halloween chills.
Horror novel no. 1: It by Stephen King
You have probably watched the 90’s miniseries and the recent remake movie. But reading the original Stephen King novel will give you a better appreciation of the work. King’s vivid prose makes the town of Derry feel alive in the reader’s minds.
There is also the way he uses Pennywise the Clown in the narrative. While Pennywise is already terrifying in the author’s descriptions, King effectively relates how the monster clown manipulates the characters’ greatest fears. What makes this even more terrifying is that these fears are tied to their domestic issues. Readers will quickly feel for the members of the Losers Club as they gradually lose their innocence at a young age.
It’s a fairly hefty read, consisting of 23 chapters and several interludes. The novels also cover a long time within its narrative, from the Loser Club members’ childhood to their lives as adults. Another thing you will find interesting is the various things in the novel that are different from the films and miniseries. Some of these differences include:
- Maturin the turtle god is not present in the movie. He is the ancient deity that teaches the club how to defeat Pennywise.
- The scene where the Losers Club gets high on drugs to understand Pennywise is omitted in the movie.
- The Losers Club’s sex scene near the end is removed in the movie.
Many of these scenes were reportedly removed for being too disturbing on-screen. As such, they give the book an even darker tone and will both frighten and pique the interest of readers.
Horror novel no. 2: At The Mountain of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft
American writer Howard Phillips Lovecraft is considered to be the father of the cosmic horror story. In this genre of horror fiction, the characters come face to face with cosmic entities that are beyond human comprehension. Often, the characters are eventually driven into madness with the realization that they are insignificant in the presence of these gods.
Lovecraft’s short novel At the Mountain of Madness is a prime example of the premise. The story revolves around William Dyer, a professor at the fictional Miskatonic University. Dyer joins an expedition to Antarctica where they discover the ruins of an ancient city. He and his team eventually encounter the Elder Things, an alien race that arrived on earth billions of years ago and built the city.
The author showcases his imagination in the vivid descriptions of the icy Antarctic landscape. This makes the reader feel like they are part of the expedition. Lovecraft also effectively conveys the otherworldly appearance of the Elder Things and their servants, the shoggoths. Readers get to experience Dyer’s futile attempts at saving his crew from these alien creatures.
At the Mountain of Madness is just a portion of Lovecraft’s collection of stories known as the Cthulhu mythos. These interconnected stories introduce a whole pantheon of alien gods, including the octopus-headed Cthulhu. There are also a plethora of alien civilizations that venerate these gods, making his stories very immersive. Lovecraft influenced many later horror writers like Stephen King with his themes.
Horror novel no. 3: The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
For those looking for a good modern psychological horror, Paul Tremblay’s The Cabin At The End Of The World is a must-read. While the novel is initially about a case of home invasion, it soon morphs into a more mental narrative as the characters start to grapple with their predicament.
The story opens with a couple, Andrew and Eric, are enjoying their summer vacation with their adopted daughter. Four strangers soon attempt to break into their cabin, claiming that one of them needs to die to save the world. While the family was initially skeptic, a series of strange events soon has them thinking that their captors might not be as crazed as they first thought.
Cabin’s story is fast-paced, with the events happening within one day. Another interesting bit is that it does not reveal whether the seemingly supernatural events truly are. This gets the reader themselves questioning what exactly is happening. It can also be seen as a commentary on the power of fake news and misinformation.
Read these horror stories and get a scare this Halloween
These three novels are not the only great horror stories out there. Check out the online book lists and you will find more tales you line up for a marathon reading session. Get started with these titles and you will be flipping pages well into the night.