Horror in the written word

I haven't seen much about written horror on this message board yet (other than the mention of Barker or King here and there). I'm fishing for good, intelligent, imaginative horror fiction. The last I encountered was Kathe Koja's THE CIPHER and BAD BRAINS, and Poppy Z. Brite's DRAWING BLOOD and SWAMP FOETUS, and those are all over 10 years old. Anyone out there know any great recent horror fiction? Do any of us card carrying horror freaks still read?

EOD

eh...., Thanks


EOD

Thanks for all the input. I'll be on the lookout for the authors and titles, except for the vampire stuff. I can't help but to think that genre has been played out. Well, Steve Niles did some killer graphic novel vampire stories very recently that are great, but overall the vampire thing just doesn't do it for me anymore.

I've read The Stand and Salem's Lot, liked 'em both (I read Salem's Lot my first time in the late 70's or early 80's). I've read Exquisite Corpse also. Except for her chapbooks, I think I've read all Poppy Z. Brite's published works. I've bought books from her on eBay and have corresponded with her several times. I'm also a daily reader of her live journal. I guess you could say I'm a big fan.

I look forward to reading the Midnight Fantastique columns. Thanks so much Joe for telling me about it.

About the criticism of Lovecraft, I feel it is valid as pertains to his minor work, but The Call of Cthulhu, The Dunwich Horror, The Colour out of Space, etc. etc. offer descriptions and are the most effective horror stories ever written, in my opinion. It's funny, because I read Robert E. Howard's PIGEONS FROM HELL years before I'd read Lovecraft or knew of his concept of supernatural horror in fiction and thought that Howard's horror tales were seriously great. They were dark in an indefinable way, bursting at the seams with shadow and unseen dread. I described it at the time as "it's like he's looked into the eyes of demons." Then I come to find out that Howard was a part of Lovecraft's circle and that what I was seeing was Lovecraft's influence. Suffice it to say that I proceeded to read all of Lovecraft's fiction (I hope to read his correspondence eventually also). His xenophobia and racial bias aside, Lovecraft is truly one of the great horror writers of all time in my opinion. If you think Lovecraft is hard to read, try Arthur Machen.

I can't say enough about Kathe Koja's early work. I recommend it to everyone. She is incredible. The horror of an artist's mind is her terrain.

Pardon the verbosity, too much caffiene.

EOD

"Not that I am defending his xenophobie or anything, but it was just a sign of the times he was living in and really shouldnt affect the fact that his work is brilliant." Quote from Fireflyfan


I tend to agree in a way. It doesn't touch his brilliance as a writer and I do believe it was not only symptomatic of his time but it seems he was growing away from the obvious prejudice toward the end of his career. Still, to have a story end with "she was a negress" as a 'that proves it!' declaration of evil is distracting to me. He was writing in his time, but I am reading in mine. Still, I think he was an incredible writer. Thanks for the recommendation of Shadows over Baker street. I had it in my hands at Dark Delicacies in Burbank but bought a 1st edition hardcover of Spider by Patrick McGrath instead that day. I do plan on getting it though.

EOD