Classic Ghost & Horror Literature's topics - tribe.net

The Lovely House

Katie — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 22:01:59 GMT

I don't know why it took me so long to read this story, but I just read The Lovely House by Shirely Jackson and I must say it is one of the most fantastically done gothic stories I've ever read. It not only fills you with an eerie, spooky feeling, but its mystery, which remains unexplained, definitely adds another feeling... I'm not sure how to describe it other than it leaves you feeling "...not...quite...right." If you haven't read this story, I would definitely suggest finding it and reading it. You won't regret it.

posted in Classic Ghost & Horror Literature - 3 replies

Which classic horror writers have enriched your life...

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 07:08:57 GMT

...and which ones have simply left you cold after you read them?
The authors whose stories I couldn't live without are Lovecraft, Poe, William Hope Hodgson, Oliver Onions, Fritz Leiber, and Shirley Jackson. On the other hand, I just feel empty no matter how many times I read Henry James's "The Turn of the Screw"; it does absolutely nothing for me. I'm not overly impressed by Algernon Blackwood, either :(

posted in Classic Ghost & Horror Literature - 10 replies

Classic horror/ghost writers

Russet66 — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 19:26:38 GMT

I'd like to submit to more names to the list of writers who represent classic horror:

Sheridan le Fanu and Wilkie Collins

I just finished reading Dorothy Sayers' GOUDY NIGHT, and in it, Harriet Vane (paramour of Lord Peter Wimsey) spends her idle time researching le Fanu.

That's all for now!

posted in Classic Ghost & Horror Literature - 14 replies

Favorite Xmas-themed ghost story?

Mikal — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 06:30:37 GMT

Yule-themed ghost stories have been a tradition at least as far back as Dicken's A CHRISTMAS CAROL. There must be something about the darkening of the days, the barren trees and fields, and the chilling assault of winter weather, that make tales of the uncanny especially potent during December. Several anthologies have been published of supernatural stories that take place during the Christmas season, ranging from Victorian classics to modern-day stuff.

Right off the top of my head, one of my favorite Christmas ghost stories is A.M. Burrage's "Smee." You may never want to attend a holiday party at a big house, or play hide-and-seek again, after reading this one!

So what's YOUR favorite Yuletide chiller?

posted in Classic Ghost & Horror Literature - 1 reply

"Fishhead" by Irvin S. Cobb

Sun, 25 Sep 2005 00:25:37 GMT

I found this tale in an old Alfred Hitchcock short story collection and it amazed me. Cobb has largely been forgotten, it seems--and I'm not sure how often he dabbled in the horror genre("Fishhead", written in 1913, might have been the only instance)--but it's difficult to read this story and believe that Cobb did not have some influence on Lovecraft.
Does anyone else know of any other horror stories written by Cobb?

posted in Classic Ghost & Horror Literature - 7 replies

Robert W. Chambers's "The Repairer of Reputations"...

Mon, 05 Sep 2005 02:23:13 GMT

Will someone PLEASE explain to me what this monstrosity is about, and precisely how it's supposed to relate to the evolution of the horror story? *Laughs...I'm lost, I admit it.

posted in Classic Ghost & Horror Literature - 3 replies

Edith Wharton's ghost stories...

Thu, 23 Jun 2005 03:32:41 GMT

Is anyone else a fan? I read "Afterward" yesterday and it impressed me very much. I think she wrote an entire volume of ghostly tales...

posted in Classic Ghost & Horror Literature - 5 replies

Sheridan Le Fanu

Wintershadow — Wed, 20 Apr 2005 02:18:45 GMT

Has anyone ever read anything by the above author? He's quite good. He wrote 'Uncle Silas' which is the basis for the A&E Mysteries movie "The Dark Angel". Both the book and the movie are quite good.

posted in Classic Ghost & Horror Literature - 4 replies

I don't know if it's old enough to be considered "classic"...

Sun, 13 Feb 2005 06:46:42 GMT

...but has anyone ever read Tom Reamy's novella "San Diego Lightfoot Sue"? I read it last night and was very taken with it. Oddly enough, I found it in an old sci-fi anthology, but it wasn't sci-fi at all--more of a dark fantasy bordering on horror. At any rate, I recommend it to everybody.

posted in Classic Ghost & Horror Literature - 0 replies

Lovecraft

Russet66 — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 19:30:10 GMT

A while ago I bought the movie "Dagon" (cheap on VHS) which is based on a couple of H.P. Lovecraft stories. I didn't really expect to much, but boy I was pleasantly surprised! I watched the movie a couple of times through, and that inspired me to pick up my Lovecraft anthology that I've had for 20-odd years. I'd just never gotten into his stuff, but I read the source story contained therein, and again, wow! He really was a t-riffic writer, and just spooky as all get out.

Just thought I'd share.

posted in Classic Ghost & Horror Literature - 8 replies