Reviews for last weekend's release of "It," Stephen King's doorstop of a movie about kids, a clown and killings, have been mostly positive, including a few raves.
Some say it's unnervingly scary, with subtle horror, armrest-gripping intensity and jump scares. Many highlight character development that makes you care about the kids, enriching and deepening the horror. I haven't seen it yet, but will this week.
Having read all of King's books, I'm one of those folks who thinks he's a genius, but has written some lousy books. "From a Buick 8" or "Cell" or "The Tommyknockers" or "Dreamcatcher" anyone? But having written more than 50 novels and almost 200 short stories, clunkers are inevitable.
"It" is one of his best, although too long, a common problem with King. Also excellent are "The Shining," The Dark Tower series (the movie is a letdown) and "The Green Mile" (the movie was fabulous). I even liked lesser-knowns such as "Lisey's Story," "Rose Madder" and "The Talisman," which he wrote with Peter Straub.
Shawn RyanBut having read about 100 horror novels, I can say that there are other horror novels that stand toe-to-toe with King's work and, others that are just good reads. Here are a few:
* "Dracula" by Bram Stoker. Read it. Just read it.
* "Swan Song" by Robert R. McCammon. King's "The Stand" doesn't really impress me. Why do a group of survivors from a global epidemic walk three-quarters of the way across the U.S., then do nothing when they get there? McCammon's apocalyptic "Swan Song" is far better. It's scarier, the action scenes have far more energy and things actually happen.
* "The Silence of the Lambs" by Thomas Harris. Nothing supernatural here, but depraved, demented and frightening.
* "Carrion Comfort" by Dan Simmons. Evil people using evil powers to do evil things.
* "Floating Dragon" by Peter Straub. He's better known for "Ghost Story," but its horror is somewhat subtle. "Floating Dragon" releases the hounds, teeth and all.
* "Imajica" by Clive Barker. More fantasy than horror, it's still the best book by Barker who, in his early days, too often went for over-the-top gross-out than depth of story.
* H.P. Lovecraft short stories. "The Colour Out of Space" tore me out of frame when I first read it as a young teen. Many of his other stories creeped me out, too. "Lovecraft" is hit or miss; but when he hits, he hits hard.
* "Deep in the Darkness" by Michael Laimo. Not at all what I thought it was going to be, but eerie and odd. When you're surprised by a book, that's a good thing.
Got any horror novels you love and think I should read? Please tell me.
Contact Shawn Ryan at mshawnryan@gmail.com.