18 Horror Greats You Should Be Reading

February 8, 2023February 8, 2023 G S MeredithHorror Greats, Horror Writing

If you want to be a great horror writer, you need to read the best in the business. From Stephen King and H P Lovecraft to Ann Rice and Shirley Jackson, dipping into the classics should give you a whole new perspective on your writing. These horror greats are well worth a read, even if you aren’t a writer and simply love the genre.

How We Chose Our Horror Greats

When you’re putting together a list of the horror greats, chances are you’re going to miss a few people off. You’ll have your chance to add your nominations in the comments sectin and, if we like what we see and agree, we’ll add them to the main list.

Stephen King

Often considered the king of horror, Stephen King’s novels and short stories have been scaring readers for decades. Our top 5 are:

The Shining: A novel about a man who becomes the caretaker of an isolated hotel, only to be possessed by the evil spirits that reside there.
It: The classic story of a group of childhood friends who must confront a shape-shifting monster that preys on the children of their small town.
Salem’s Lot: The quintessential fanged tooth tale next to Dracula, this one is about a small town that is overrun by vampires.
Carrie: The novel that announced him literally as the King of modern horror, a story about a high school girl who discovers she has telekinetic powers and how she uses them to seek revenge on her classmates.
The Stand: A novel about a group of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world who must choose between good and evil in the aftermath of a deadly virus. Say hello to Captain Trips.

H.P. Lovecraft

Known for his cosmic horror, horror greats don’t come bigger than H.P. Lovecraft’s whose stories often deal with ancient deities and otherworldly beings.

“The Call of Cthulhu” – This short story introduces the titular cosmic titan and the cult that worships it. The story highlights the insignificance of humanity in the face of the unknown and incomprehensible.
“The Dunwich Horror” – Another short horror story about a monstrous creature born from an unholy union. It’s a tale about the dangers of forbidden knowledge and the consequences of playing with forces beyond human understanding.
“The Shadow over Innsmouth” – A novella in which the narrator investigates a strange, decaying Massachusetts seaport town of Innsmouth and discovers that its inhabitants are half-human, half-Deep One hybrid.
“At the Mountains of Madness” – Another novella that follows an expedition to Antarctica, and the discovery of the remains of an ancient, alien civilization. The story highlights the theme of ancient and alien influences on humanity.
“The Whisperer in Darkness” – In this story, the protagonist investigates reports of strange, humanoid creatures in Vermont and discovers that they are aliens from the planet Yuggoth.

Shirley Jackson

Shirley Jackson’s novels and short stories are known for their subtle horror and psychological scares. If you want to know how to build tension, this is one of the horror greats you should have on your list.

“The Haunting of Hill House” – A novel about a group of scientists and psychics who are invited to participate in a study of the supernatural at a haunted mansion called Hill House. The famous opening: “Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone” still sends a chill.
“We Have Always Lived in the Castle” – A novel about two sisters living in isolation in a castle after the rest of their family is killed in a murder.
“The Lottery” – A short story about a small town’s annual lottery, which ends with the stoning of the “winner.”
“The Summer People” – The tale of a woman who is terrorized by a group of summer visitors to her isolated home.
“The Bird’s Nest” – Jackson’s story about a young woman who starts experiencing symptoms of multiple personality disorder with strong themes of psychological horror and the dissolution of identity.

Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe is considered one of the fathers of the modern horror story and one of the all-time horror greats. His works often deal with death, insanity, and the macabre.

“The Tell-Tale Heart” – A short story about someone who becomes obsessed with the idea that an old man’s eye is evil to the point that it ultimately kills him.
“The Raven” – A narrative poem about a man who is visited by a talking raven, which speaks the word “Nevermore.”
“The Fall of the House of Usher” – One of Poe’s most famous short stories about a man who visits his childhood friend in a mysterious, decaying mansion.
“The Cask of Amontillado” – This short story follows a man who seeks revenge on a friend who has insulted him and focuses on the themes of revenge, insanity, and the macabre.
“The Masque of the Red Death” – A short story about a prince who locks himself and his courtiers in a castle to escape a deadly plague.

Anne Rice

Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles have made her one of the most popular horror writers of all time.

“Interview with the Vampire” – A novel about a vampire named Louis, who recounts his life to a reporter. It is the first book of The Vampire Chronicles series. The novel highlight’s themes of immortality, the loss of humanity, and the uncertain lines between good and evil.
“The Vampire Lestat” – A novel that continues the story of the vampire Lestat, delving deeper into his life and psyche, this is the second book of The Vampire Chronicles series.
“Queen of the Damned” – A novel that tells the story of the vampire Akasha, the mother of all vampires. It’s the third book of The Vampire Chronicles series.
“The Mummy” – Rice doesn’t always write about vampires, of course. This novel tells the story of Ramses the Damned, an ancient Egyptian prince who is brought back to life and follows similar themes of immortality and the blurred lines between good and evil.
“The Witching Hour” – A novel that tells the story of the Mayfair witches, a powerful New Orleans family with a dark history.

Clive Barker

Clive Barker’s if often overlooked as one of the true horror greats of the last 40 years. His works often deal with extreme violence, sexuality, and the grotesque. Later in his career he moved to more fantasy-orientated novels but all have that familiar underlying darkness.

“The Hellbound Heart” – This novel tells the story of a man who discovers a mysterious puzzle box that opens a portal to a realm of sadomasochistic monsters. If you think you recognise it, it’s the basis for the Hellraiser movie franchise.
“Cabal” – The tale of a group of outsiders who find themselves in a small town where a group of monsters resides. The book was later made into the movie Nightbreed.
“Weaveworld” – This novel tells the story of a magical world hidden within a rug and the people who are trying to protect it. It marked Barker’s move to more fantastical worlds but still has a good few horror influences to draw on.
“Imajica” – The story of a man who discovers that the world is not what it seems, and that there are five interconnected realms beyond our own.
“The Great and Secret Show” – The story of a small town where a great and secret show is about to begin, and only a select few are aware of it. Sorcery and magic abound in a story that is reminiscent of Bradbury at his best.

Richard Matheson

Richard Matheson’s novels and short stories often deal with science fiction and horror. He is considered one of the fathers of modern horror and many of his books and stories have been made into films.

“I Am Legend” – A novel about a man who is the last survivor of a plague that turns people into vampires. The story has been made into a film several times most notably with Charlton Heston in the 70s and later Will Smith.
“The Shrinking Man” – A novel about a man who is exposed to a radioactive mist and starts shrinking.
“A Stir of Echoes” – A disturbing tale about a man who starts experiencing psychic abilities after being hypnotized. It was made into a film with Kevin Bacon in 1999.
“What Dreams May Come” – The tale of a man who dies and finds himself in an afterlife that is both beautiful and terrifying. The novel highlights themes of death, afterlife, and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy.
“Hell House” – A novel about a group of people who investigate a haunted mansion it was once considered in the same breath as Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House.

Joe Hill

Joe Hill, the son of Stephen King, has become a successful horror writer in his own right. He’s fast becoming the newest edition to the horror greats pantheon.

“Heart-Shaped Box” – A novel about an aging rock star who purchases a ghost on the internet, only to find out that the ghost is not what he expected. The novel highlights themes of death, obsession, and the thin veil between life and death.
“NOS4A2” – A novel that tells the story of a man who can take people to a place called Christmasland which is not quite as cheerful as it sounds. The novel explores themes of power, obsession and the fight between good and evil.
“Horns” – A man wakes up one day to find that he has horns growing out of his head, and he begins to use them to get the truth out of people. The novel highlights themes of guilt and redemption.
“The Fireman” – A novel about a woman who is pregnant and must survive a world where a deadly spore is turning people into raging flame. The novel focuses themes of motherhood and survival.
“The Cape” – A graphic novel that tells the story of a boy who discovers a cape that gives him amazing powers.

Ramsey Campbell

Ramsey Campbell is considered one of the greatest living horror writers and has won numerous awards for his novels and short stories. While he may not be as well known by the generally public, he’s certainly earned his place on our list of the horror greats.

“The Face That Must Die” – A novel about a man who begins to experience terrifying nightmares and becomes convinced that they are real and that he must do something to stop them. The novel explores themes of psychological horror, obsession, and the thin line between reality and fantasy.
“The Nameless” – A novel about a man who begins to suspect that there is something evil hiding in his city and that it is connected to a series of gruesome murders.
“The Darkest Part of the Woods” – A family moves to a small village only to discover that it has a dark past and is still hiding terrible secrets. The novel explores ancient evil, tradition, and the battle between good and evil.
“The Influence” – A novel about a man who begins to suspect that his wife is under the control of an ancient evil force.
“The Overnight” – A novel about a group of friends who spend the night in an abandoned hotel, only to discover that it is haunted by something far more sinister than they ever could have imagined.

Brian Keene

Brian Keene is known for his fast-paced, action-packed horror novels and has become a favourite among horror fans.

“The Rising” – A novel about a world overrun by zombies, and the survivors who must band together to fight the hungry hordes. It explores themes of survival, community, and the challenges of remaining good when everything around you is falling apart.
“The Conqueror Worms” – The tale of a small town that is terrorized by giant worms, and the survivors who must band together to survive.
“Dead Sea” – A story about a group of people who are trapped in a hotel by a zombie outbreak, and the survivors who must band together to survive.
“Ghoul” – In a small, isolated town that is terrorized by a ghoul, survivors must band together to survive.
“The Last Zombie: Inferno” – A novel about a world overrun by zombies, and the survivors who must band together to forge a new life.

Bram Stoker

Bram Stoker’s novel, “Dracula,” is considered a classic of the horror genre, and it helped establish many of the conventions of vampire fiction. In fact, it’s probably the one and only reason that Stoker is considered one of the horror greats.

“Dracula” – The iconic story of a vampire named Count Dracula who moves from Transylvania to England and the efforts of a small group of people to stop him. The novel focuses on the themes of vampirism, the battle between good and evil, and the conflict between growing science and knowledge and the supernatural.
“The Lair of the White Worm” – The tale of an ancient, malevolent creature that terrorizes a small English village. It was made into a kitsch, low budget film in the late 80s that has since gained cult status.
“The Jewel of Seven Stars” – An archaeologist discovers the tomb of an ancient Egyptian queen and the story follows the efforts of a small group of people to stop the awakening of the queen’s mummy.
“The Mystery of the Sea” – A novel about a young woman who is haunted by a mysterious figure, and the efforts of her friends to stop an evil curse from being realised.
“Dracula’s Guest” – A short story that was published posthumously and is a companion piece to “Dracula”, this tells the story of an Englishman who visits Transylvania.

Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” is considered one of the first science fiction novels, but it also contains many elements of horror.

“Frankenstein” – A novel about a scientist who creates a monster from dead body parts and the consequences of playing God. Like Stoker, this is the single novel that plants Shelley firmly in the list of horror greats.
“Mathilda” – A young woman who falls in love with her father’s friend discovers the tragic consequences of their forbidden love. The novel explores themes of taboo, obsession, and the conflict between love and hate.
“The Last Man” – Set in the 21st century, this tells the story of a group of people who are the last survivors of a global pandemic. Considering when it was written, some might say it’s eerily predictive.
“Rambles in Germany and Italy” – A travelogue that includes descriptions of some of the landscapes and buildings that inspired her novels, it also includes letters and journal entries that provide a glimpse of her thoughts and feelings during her travels. Not exactly horror but if you want to understand the background to Frankenstein, it’s well worth a read.
“Lodore” – A novel about a young woman who is married to a man she does not love and is forced to confront the consequences of her actions.

Robert R. McCammon

Robert R. McCammon’s novels are known for blending horror and suspense with historical fiction. His books may have fallen out of fashion but at one point he was rivalling Stephen King as one of the horror greats.

“Swan Song” – A group of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world must confront a sinister force that is hunting them. The novel is epic in scale and one of McCammon’s best works.
“Stinger” – A group stranded in a small town and must confront a giant, deadly wasp that has come from outer space.
“They Thirst” – A vampire invasion in Los Angeles leaves a small group of people fighting for survival. Like Salem’s Lot this is a traditional fanged tooth tale that ticks all the right boxes.
“Baal” – One of McCammon’s earlier novels, this is the story of a child born out of rape who unleashes unspeakable evil on the world.
“The Wolf’s Hour” – A werewolf who is a British secret agent during World War II joins with resistance fighters to stop a supernatural threat.

Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman’s novels and short stories often blend fantasy, gothic horror, and science fiction which makes him perfect for this list of horror greats.

“Coraline” – A young girl discovers a parallel world that is similar to her own, but has a dark and sinister side..
“The Graveyard Book” – A novel about a boy who is raised by ghosts in a graveyard and must confront a mysterious killer. The novel focuses on themes of identity, community, and the precarious balance between life and death.
“American Gods” – The tale of a man who discovers that the gods of myth and legend are real, and are living among us. Recently made into an Amazon TV series, it follows the battle of the gods and their impact on the human world.
“The Ocean at the End of the Lane” – The story of a man who returns to his hometown and is reminded of a traumatic event from his childhood involving a mysterious girl and a dark supernatural force.
“The Sandman” – A graphic novel series that tells the tale of the lord of dreams and his siblings, and their interactions with the mortal world. Recently made into a series for Netflix, The Sandman is currently getting a whole new readership.

James Herbert

James Herbert’s burst onto the scene in the 70s and was once the most prolific writer of gore-fest horror. He makes the list of horror greats for his sheer audacity.

The Rats” – A man who discovers that London is being overrun by giant, intelligent rats and the efforts of a small group of people to stop them. This is the novel that made Herbert a star of modern horror.
“The Fog” – A small town is being plagued by a mysterious fog that seems to be alive and the story follows the efforts of a small group of people to stop the evil it contains.
“The Dark” – A man who discovers a mysterious underground place called “The Dark” that begins to take over a street. This was written when Herbert was at the height of his powers.
“The Survivor” – A novel about a man who is the only survivor of a plane crash and begins to experience strange and terrifying things. It was later made into a film starring Robert Powell.
“The Spear” – The tale of a man who discovers an ancient spear that has the power to bring the dead back to life, and the efforts of a small group of people to stop the evil that it unleashes.

David Mitchell

David Mitchell’s novels often blend horror, science fiction, and fantasy. He generally shies away from gore and blood fests but his stories are imaginative and brilliantly written.

“The Bone Clocks” – The story of a young woman who becomes embroiled in a secret war between rival factions of immortals, and the blurred lines between good and evil.
“Slade House” – A novel that tells the story of a mysterious house and the people who have been drawn to it over the years.
“Black Swan Green” – The tale of a thirteen-year-old boy growing up in a small English village and the strange events that happen there.
“Number9Dream” – A novel that tells the story of a young man who is searching for his father and the mysterious woman he loves and takes place in a world where the lines between reality and fantasy are blurred.
“Cloud Atlas” – A novel that tells the story of six interconnected stories that spans centuries and genres, it highlights themes of destiny, power, and the battle between good and evil. It was made into a film starring Tom Hanks in 2012.

Caitlin R. Kiernan

Caitlin R. Kiernan’s novels and short stories often blend horror and science fiction. Probably less well-known than many of the others on this list, as a woman writer in the horror genre she stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Anne Rice and Mary Shelley.

“The Drowning Girl: A Memoir” – The tale of a woman who is haunted by a mysterious woman from her past.
“Threshold” – A novel about a group of scientists who discover a mysterious underground complex.
“The Red Tree” – The story of a woman who discovers a mysterious red tree in the woods and is characterised by it’s unreliable narrator so you are never quite sure what is truth and what is fiction.
“The Dry Salvages” – A novel about a woman who is haunted by a mysterious woman from her past. The story explores their relationship over two timelines and is probably more sci-fi than horror but still well worth a read.
“The Ammonite Violin & Others” – A collection of short stories that deals with various supernatural and horror themes, this is a great introduction to Kiernan’s work.

Tananarive Due

Tananarive Due’s novels and short stories often blend horror and science fiction with elements of African American culture. If you’re looking for something different and a new take on horror, then Due’s books are a good place to start.

“The Between” – A novel about a woman who discovers that she has the ability to see ghosts and the blurred lines between good and evil.
“My Soul to Keep” – The tale of a woman who marries an immortal man, exploring the concepts of loss and growing old.
“The Good House” – A story about a woman who inherits a house with a dark past, this looks at our traditions and how things that have happened in the past can have an impact in the present day.
“Blood Colony” – This novel about a community of people with supernatural abilities who must confront a sinister force that threatens to destroy them.
“The Living Blood” – A woman discovers that she has the ability to heal people with her blood.

Got your favourite and it’s not on our list? Add them in the comments section below.