What's the scariest book you ever read?

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I need a really, really good list of scary books. I'm not easily scared, at all, but am looking for books that you stay away from after dark.

General horror/dark fantasy is great, but I'm really in the mood to get scared. (Aren't you? It IS getting close to Halloween, after all >)

So! What's your favorite scary story?
  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    The Exorcist...Book was even more scary than the movie. But, it's been copied so much over time, it may have lost something. But when I read it originally, it haunted me for months.

    I wouldn't call it out and out scary, but I read a book called "Just Killing Time" and it was absolutely chilling. It came out about the same time as Silence of the Lambs, but I found Just Killing Time to be even better. It was written by an ex cia profiler and he had real insight into serial killers. Can't believe that book was never made into a movie.
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  • Profile picture of the author ghyphena
    Would you laugh if I said Lord of the Flies?

    "Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt and kill?" *Brrhaagh* *Shudder*

    That is one creepy book. And that's before you even start the social commentary interpretations. Probably not the type of scary you're looking for, but still...

    Gil-Ad
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    • Profile picture of the author LynnM
      Remember being creeped out years ago by a chapter in Gerald Durrell's book, "The Picnic and Suchlike Pandemonium". He was a naturalist, and his books were mainly about animals, but for some reason this book had a tale from France involving something evil lurking in a mirror. Read it in the evening, and couldn't look at a mirror until it was daylight again.



      Lynn
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Ramsey Campbell comes to mind. I'm also fond of Arthur Machen and J. Sheridan LeFanu, if you like the classics. I'm sure you've read H.P. Lovecraft.
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    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I did my term paper in a College lit class on horror fiction so I've read a lot of the stuff - not slasher, but para-normal type horror and mind benders.

    Two really left an impression -
    The Stand, by Stephen King. The first part is the part that scared me, not all the supernatural stuff that followed. I couldn't sneeze for a year after reading that thing without getting a shudder of dread.
    and
    Ghost Story, by Peter Straub. This was made into a movie, and it was a decent movie, but for some reason that book was really different. It was just your average ghost story on the surface, but it chilled me silly. Straub is an awesome writer. I turned out my light to go to sleep after reading some of it and about 10 minutes later looked up and swore I saw someone/thing standing at the foot of my bed - I took a fast dive for the light switch and spent the rest of the night reading as I was too darned spooked to go back to sleep. I've never had that reaction to any other book.
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    Sal
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    • Profile picture of the author GT
      Hi, Emily:

      I'm not typically a fan of the horror genre, but I am a committed reader, so I do end up reading all kinds of stories.

      I recommend the book, The Bone Parade, by Mark Nykanen, published by Hyperion.

      Not only is the story line professionally crafted and captivating ... but the treatment the villain gives to the people he imprisons and the method by which he slowly tortures and eventually dispatches them - while family members are forced to watch - is psychologically terrifying and horrifying. You don't even want to consider it happening to you!

      Read The Bone Parade. It's not for everybody, but you may enjoy the terror.

      GT
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  • Profile picture of the author John M Kane
    The Book of Revelation
    Can't beat that for scarin the sh*t out of you
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    • Profile picture of the author GT
      Originally Posted by John M Kane View Post

      The Book of Revelation
      Can't beat that for scarin the sh*t out of you
      Hey, John:

      It's supposed to scare the H*ll out of you!

      GT
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        Books don't frighten me (though movies make me close my eyes) but I love scary ones.

        Peter Straub - Ghost Story - not a book you forget

        Steven King - a short story called "the fog"

        Two favorites - by Straub and King together

        "Talisman" - amazing story and one of the few books I've read more than once

        "Black House" - which continues the story of Talisman


        One of the most refreshing series I've read is the series about "Odd Thomas" by Koontz. Not a fright night book but such a quirky sense of looking at the world and everyday people that I thoroughly enjoyed them.

        Other faves are Greg Iles and Jeffrey Deaver.

        Also recently reread Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand - it has been many years since I read it and that is one scary book.

        kay
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by John M Kane View Post

      The Book of Revelation
      Can't beat that for scarin the sh*t out of you
      Yep, pretty scary stuff and from what I've been hearing...it very well may be just around the corner! Be ye Prepared!
      MissTerraK
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        If I want "disturbing" that sticks in my mind I go back to Edgar Allen Poe.
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        • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          If I want "disturbing" that sticks in my mind I go back to Edgar Allen Poe.
          Yes! Like the Pit and the Pendulum!

          MissTerraK
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason_V
    I used to not be a very big Stephen King fan. Mainly because he would always build up a great story then I felt like he just got sick of writing the story and the endings always just felt contrived or tacked on.

    With that being said, I am so happy that I decided to give his short stories a chance. I, personally, think he is much more talented at writing short stories because the tacked on endings aren't there.

    I read two of his short story compilation books within 5 days. I couldn't put them down. I've listed the scariest ones and which book they're in. A couple of them, literally gave me chills and I actually had nightmares after reading them when I went to sleep.

    Here is a list of the stories and the books they were in. Of course feel free to read all of the stories in the books if you want.

    I ranked them in order of scariness to me.

    N. from the book Just After Sunset (This has got to be one of the truly most creepiest stories ever. It gave me chills and nightmares.)

    The Monkey from the book Skeleton Crew (This story also gave me nightmares. In fact, I read this one right before going to bed one night and I swear the way the light from outside was shining in the window made it look just like the toy monkey with cymbals on the ceiling. Try going to sleep after reading this story and having that on your ceiling and I guess you're going to have nightmares)

    The Mist from the book Skeleton Crew (The movie was based on this story. However, I have to tell you that reading this story is a lot more scary than the movie could ever be. Much better ending in the book than the movie, IMO.)

    The Raft from the book Skeleton Crew (you'll never look at going swimming in a lake the same way ever again.)

    The Jaunt from the book Skeleton Crew (It's more of a science fiction story but it kept me on the edge of my seat, with a very freaky ending.)

    Uncle Otto's Truck from the book Skeleton Crew (If you ever see an old rusted out car or truck sitting in someone's yard or in the woods somewhere, you may never be able to look at it the same way again. This one also gave me nightmares.)

    Gingerbread Girl from the book Just After Sunset (Again, this one had me on the edge of my seat as I was reading it. It's pretty scary and very suspenseful. What makes this one so scary is the realism. Most other scary stories or books rely on some sort of suspension of belief. This story is something that could very realistically happen to anyone, especially women.)

    A Very Tight Place from the book Just After Sunset (If you're claustrophobic, this story will freak you out terribly. I'm not claustrophobic but while reading it I found myself feeling like the room I was in wasn't big enough.)

    Anyway, I can't wait to get his other collections of short stories. I know you asked for books and I gave you stories out of books, but they are all very freaky. Very well written. Best of all, they're short stories so you won't have to put a lot of time into them to get to the end of them.

    As I said, the other stories in them are great, just not as scary or not scary at all. For example, What they Left Behind in Just After Sunset was a very unique story about 9/11.

    If you check these stories out I hope you enjoy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    The Howling

    The movie(s) were a big disappointment compared to the book. It was one of those few that I couldn't put down until I finished it...
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Patrician View Post

      The Howling
      Ooh, that reminds me: Whitley Strieber's The Wolfen.

      The movie was crap. But the book? Awesome.

      Another great one I recall only dimly was Jack Younger's Claw. It's like a buck plus shipping used on Amazon. I may order a copy.
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      • Profile picture of the author eshera
        I read a TON of books...my ma used to just drop me off on Saturday mornings in North St. Paul at the library...better than any baby sitter because she knew I would never leave!

        Anyway, I got a copy of Stephen King's "Cujo" (the one that the dog is rabid) from a garage sale for like 50 cents, please keep in mind I was only 14 at the time...

        Scared the "you know what" out of me...I love my dogs, but it was the writing and what my little brain filled in that still sticks with me today....
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        • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
          Originally Posted by eshera View Post

          I read a TON of books...my ma used to just drop me off on Saturday mornings in North St. Paul at the library...better than any baby sitter because she knew I would never leave!

          Anyway, I got a copy of Stephen King's "Cujo" (the one that the dog is rabid) from a garage sale for like 50 cents, please keep in mind I was only 14 at the time...

          Scared the "you know what" out of me...I love my dogs, but it was the writing and what my little brain filled in that still sticks with me today....
          I agree, and I was in my late teens when I read it! The scary thing about it is that it really could happen! That's scary to me!

          MissTerraK
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Ooh, that reminds me: Whitley Strieber's The Wolfen.
    Uh....she said scary. That book has a section of pages that I think were the funniest thing I have ever read in my life - it had me gaffawing out loud so hard that my abs hurt the next day. It's that scene where the husband turns into the warewolf - bites the neighbor who comes to call on his wife and he ends up in the dog pound.... LMAO.
    I'm almost in tears just remembering it........now that was good writing.......but it wasn't horror.....hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah a.
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    Sal
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    • Profile picture of the author Emily Meeks
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Uh....she said scary. That book has a section of pages that I think were the funniest thing I have ever read in my life - it had me gaffawing out loud so hard that my abs hurt the next day. It's that scene where the husband turns into the warewolf - bites the neighbor who comes to call on his wife and he ends up in the dog pound.... LMAO.
      I'm almost in tears just remembering it........now that was good writing.......but it wasn't horror.....hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah a.
      Hahaha... I do want scary, but that book sounds pretty badass

      Anything paranormal/psychologically disturbing (or both) is really great right now... if a book can get inside your head, provoke your fears and leave you lying awake with chills, that's f***in amazing. HeySal, you said you read a lot of mind-benders in college - do any more titles come to mind?

      This is a fantastic list so far - keep 'em coming!
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Gee Emily - I've read so many that I can't even remember...but I've watched movies, too - I love that genre. I still read em, it's just that I had a thesis to do so I chose that genre because it's the most misunderstood, I think.

    Someone said Stephen King's endings were a letdown - and it's true that you can tell when he was producing because he really had a story or if he was just trying to fulfill a contract. I liked "It" pretty well - had a clown in it and they give me the creeps anyway. His earlier stuff like "Salem's Lot" and "The Shining" were the best for a long time, but some of his later stuff gets better after a real droop.

    Dean Koontz had one called Phantoms that was pretty good. He's got a few good ones here and again but he can get pretty strong on the "mommy really warped me real bad" type of stuff and it gets old if you read too much of it.

    Clive Barker "Books of Blood" and "Damnation Game" are worth checking out. Barker's is a nut case. Any of his stuff is good

    I'm not sure if you saw "The Others" but that's a mind twist and pretty good.
    Same with "HellRaiser" series - the movies are extreme in gore but the mind game behind it is really good - and it's got a very heavy supernatural bent, so it's not just slasher weirdness -- trouble is, I don't know if that comes in books - the movies are wild as anything I've seen so the books would probably be killer...uh..scuze the expression.

    House Without Doors - can't remember who it's by - Straub - doesn't seem right but maybe - wild book.

    The Reincarnation of Peter Proud was pretty awesome, too. Again - can't remember the author.
    Rosemary's Baby is an oldy but a goodie.
    The sixth Messiah is too -- can't remember the authors of those either, big help, eh?

    Frank Herbert - The Dark, now that I think of it I'm thinking he's the author of "Others", too.

    John Saul is really luke warm - don't bother.
    Charles L. Grant - luke warm read, too.

    F. Paul Wilson is pretty good - "the Keep" "the Tomb", "Conspiracies" - he wrote a bunch and I haven't read more that 4, I think.

    That aught to keep you busy for awhile. If there's any one type of chiller you like better than others, if you tell us we might have a more specific list for ya.
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    Sal
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Dean Koontz had one called Phantoms that was pretty good.
      Darkfall was another good one.

      Same with "HellRaiser" series
      Hellraiser is not a movie. It is a religion.

      Frank Herbert - The Dark
      Man, how could I forget that one? It was great.

      Here's one for you: T.E.D. Klein, The Ceremonies. Fantastic book. His short story collection Dark Gods was great, too.

      I'm rather a fan of Bentley Little, specifically The Collection. You must read his story "Skin" in there.
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      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Originally Posted by robbie foster View Post

    I have gone through many scary books,but i didn't found anything scary there,because i am a strong man and i don't believe to be sacred.
    Yeah Right. Guess you've never been face to face with one of the Warrior women, eh?
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    This Present Darkness - Frank E. Peretti,

    I had an overnight security job at an old abandoned factory here in town when I read this book. I can imagine that I probably looked like a nervous Barney Fife on some of my rounds while reading this book.
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by garyv View Post

      This Present Darkness - Frank E. Peretti,

      I had an overnight security job at an old abandoned factory here in town when I read this book. I can imagine that I probably looked like a nervous Barney Fife on some of my rounds while reading this book.
      I quite agree! Hmmm, Barney Fife, that's something I would love to see! LOL

      Back to this Present Darkness! Very scary in the terms that this stuff is real!
      MissTerraK
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I'm rather a fan of Bentley Little, specifically The Collection. You must read his story "Skin" in there.
    I didn't even think of Little - he had a good one that was called "The House". It was just different and that can be hard to get in this genre. He has a lot of "the" books. He's generally a good read.
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    Sal
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  • Profile picture of the author lloydh
    Actually it was my Divorce papers from my first wife. That was truly scary. In fact I still have nightmares over it and that was over 20 years ago. urrgh!! :-))
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    • Profile picture of the author jobresume
      I don't like to read books. Whenever i need some thing, i just go for internet. I think we can get anything from internet. I love to read online books.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    Not "scary", but fits in well with Halloween, IMHO. I think it has plenty of psychological overtones...

    Anthony Burgess, A Clocwork Orange.

    Very quick read, gripping, and the use of language transports you to a world where a "bit of the old ultraviolence" will have you and your droogs rarin' to go.

    For truly scary? Um...just about any work of fiction on the best-seller list, romance novels, and other assorted pablum - makes me shiver every time.

    All the best,
    Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author senatl
    I'm a big fan of HP Lovecraft and Kafka. They both creep me out.
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    • Profile picture of the author Johneng
      Darkness at the Stroke of Noon by Dennis Richard Murphy

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