Absolute Horror Book Forum

Hhmmmm. Psychological build up of characters over plot. Toughie. Most Horror stories rely heavily on the plot and pace, leaving the characters make-up as, usually, one of normality that allows the reader to empathise with them. They're kinda like the car on the roller-coaster ride.

You could try reading S P Somtow - Valentine & Vampire Junction, these are psychologically based Vampire stories and they blew my socks off (so keep your boots on and tightly laced when reading)

Then, of course, there's Anne Rice's "Vampire Chronicles" - of which I think volume 4 "Tale of the Body Thief" and volume 5 "Memnoch the Devil" may meet your criteria best. To me Tale of the Body Thief is the best of the series, unfortunately her Vampires became Vamps and a little too artsy-fartsy for me - so the rest of the series from Merrick is boxed away - awaiting me building the shelving ( and probably my long-distant retirement )

Mostly anything by T M Wright (fantastic writer) - probably the one for you being "Manhattan Ghost Story" - you could also try "Nursery Tale"

And one that bogged me down for awhile "Ghost Story" by Peter Straub. It took me over a month to read - I found it heavy going, but it was worth it - The film ain't bad either.

Then you can step out of the genre and try Jonathon Carroll. His stories are magical & I would recommend "Bones of the Moon" as a MUST READ.

In the thriller section there's Thomas Harris the creator of the ultimate eating machine Hannibal Lector. Though it's the two earlier books that are the best "Red Dragon" (or Manhunter - the original and better Film tie-in book) and the good old "Silence of the Lambs" - I read these back to back (after watching the films) and they relighted my reading frenzy - that had started to wain a little. Forget Hannibal - I found it to be very pompous and inane - it felt as though his heart wasn't in it but he needed the film studios money (sad to say, I found myself laughing at places, closing the book and saying to the empty room, "oh no, no way") - so I still haven't read Hannibal Rising - since Hannibal is only a Cameo in the other novels I have to ask myself what came first Hannibal or the Movie deal?

Go into true life with Truddi Chase and "When Rabbit Howls". A harrowing tale of schizophrenia and multiple personality syndrome - A real-life horror story.

Well, those are a few of my favourite reads you may be interested in. Hope you - and anybody else out there find something you love - and let me know.

Come join me - We ALL float down here.

Pennywise.