Best Horror Authors

In the true spirit of Halloween, we want to examine the authors responsible for the creepiest, hair-raising, skin-crawling stories of our time. We have picked our top five favorites in the hopes that you will enjoy them as much as we have!

Stephen King made his first professional sale in 1967 with the short story The Glass Floor. For several years he continued to sell short stories to men's magazines. These were later gathered into the Nightshift Collection. In 1973, Carrie was accepted for publication and started King's illustrious career as a horror writer. Some of his most thrilling works were published early in his career and include: Pet Cemetary, Christine, and Cujo.

Peter Straub has recieved numerous literary honors, such as the Braham Stoker award, the World Fantasy award and the International Horror Guild award. Ghost story, Straub's fifth novel, brought him into the public eye. The novel was later loosely adapted into a film starring Fred Astaire. Several horror novels followed, with growing success. Some of his titles include: If You Could See Me Now, The General's Wife, and Lost Boy, Lost Girl. Straub also has two novels, The Talisman and Black House, that he co-authored with long time friend and fellow author, Stephen King.

Graham Masterton is a british author who first earned critical acclaim in 1979 with Charnal House. Masterton has been honored with a Special Edgar award and a Silver Medal by the West Coast Review of Books. He is also the only non-french recipient of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger award. Masterton's novels often contain visceral sex and horror. Some of his works to date are: Prey, Flesh and Blood, and Family Portrait (based on the Picture of Dorian Grey).

Clive Barker came to prominence in the mid 1980s with a string of short stories. Barker's distinctive style is characterized by hidden worlds co-existing with our own and the construction of complex universes. The unique mix produces thrilling stories that blur the lines between typical opposites. Barker also has a keen interest in movie production. Many of his novels have been adapted for film, most notably the Hell Raiser series. Some of his most notable works are: The Hellbound Heart, Cold Heart Canyon and Arabet.

Richard Matheson is best known as the author of I Am Legend, Bid Time Return, What Dreams May Come, and Duel, all of which have been adapted into major motion pictures. His first short story, Born of Man and Woman, appeared in the 1950s. Over the next twenty years, Matheson produced dozens of stories that blended sci-fi, horror and fantasy genres, making him an important contributor to the modern horror genre.

Browse our catalog for a more complete list of titles by these amazing authors. If we do not own a particular title, please inquire about our inter-library loan services at your local branch.