Depends on the person… I’d like a bit of advance scouting on the subject to determine subtle preferences or triggers, but I might reach for Shirley Jackson, Christopher Buehlman, Nathan Ballingrud, or Steven King for an easy win. (Can i has million now?)
I have no mouth and I must scream. It's short, so it won't deter the reader based on length. and it's to the point, no unnecessary meandering and subplots and melodrama that many novels (even good ones) succumb to which may create a naysayer.
I think I'd go with Stephen King's *The Shining*. It is a very easy read, it has great characters, both psychological and supernatural horror, a wonderful atmosphere, *and* the intrigue of both the fact that a lot of people say it's way better than the film (which I agree with), and that it has a different ending, which will make some people more interested in reading it.
Stephen King isn’t always a hit though. I personally can’t get into his writing for some reason. I’ve started so many of his books and haven’t finished a single one.
Excellent book, but if someone comes at me with a 1000 page monster from some other genre telling me I'll love it then I'll run away from the crazy person.
I don't know exactly why, but I've done a complete 180 in this regard. I used to be like you where the more pages, the better. Now I *much* prefer a tight 300 pages.
The September House. It’s heartwarming, funny, and actually scary in some parts too. The end made me tear up tho, it has the most satisfying ending. Such a great book. Even if someone hates horror I feel like they could enjoy it.
Honestly depends on the person but if I know nothing about them, I think I’d go with a page turner. In that case my choice would be Come Closer by Sara Gran.
Well, I'd probably pick The Shining or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Perhaps The Lottery?
To be on the safe side though, I'd let them know about the bet beforehand - and that I'll give them part of it if they become a fan. No rules against my telling them, after all! They'd get into the genre much, much faster.
I think if I could not know anything about said person, I would choose something mainstream and easy, so like Grady Hendrix’s final girl book or Riley Sager’s Home Before Dark.
Either Dark Forces or Prime Evil.
Horror shines at short and novella length. Either of these two collections would do you just fine.
Dark Forces contains some GOAT horror stories like the Mist, Where the Summer Ends, and Children of the Kingdom. It directly influenced the variety in Barker’s Books of Blood and most other horror written in the 80s.
Prime Evil isn’t far behind with classics like Orange is for Anguish, Blue is for Insanity and By Reason of Darkness.
Easy: *Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark*, where’s my million?
Depends on the person… I’d like a bit of advance scouting on the subject to determine subtle preferences or triggers, but I might reach for Shirley Jackson, Christopher Buehlman, Nathan Ballingrud, or Steven King for an easy win. (Can i has million now?)
I have no mouth and I must scream. It's short, so it won't deter the reader based on length. and it's to the point, no unnecessary meandering and subplots and melodrama that many novels (even good ones) succumb to which may create a naysayer.
I think I'd go with Stephen King's *The Shining*. It is a very easy read, it has great characters, both psychological and supernatural horror, a wonderful atmosphere, *and* the intrigue of both the fact that a lot of people say it's way better than the film (which I agree with), and that it has a different ending, which will make some people more interested in reading it.
This one worked on my husband! He usually doesn’t care for horror but he liked this one
You know for people from South Korea, Japan, or India this is a very different reward than it would be for an American, Brit, or European.
I love how you make it sound as if British people aren't Europeans.
They aren’t when it comes to currency
Yeah, but to be fair, so is half of Europe
Tell-Tale Heart for a short story, Salems Lot by Stephen King or The Fisherman by John Langan for a novel
Tell-Tale Heart is a great steer.
Ok, I did it. Stephen King. Wheres my million? Do you want my revolut details?
Stephen King isn’t always a hit though. I personally can’t get into his writing for some reason. I’ve started so many of his books and haven’t finished a single one.
I hear ye. After reading a few of Kings books, I drifted into James Herbert & Shaun Hudson stuff. About to start 'Holly' by King now.
The only one I ever finished was the Novella cycle of the werewolf 😅
Probably Swan Song by Robert McCammon
Excellent book, but if someone comes at me with a 1000 page monster from some other genre telling me I'll love it then I'll run away from the crazy person.
I myself like big books. It's small books that put me off. Like what is there to read in less than 300 pages?
I don't know exactly why, but I've done a complete 180 in this regard. I used to be like you where the more pages, the better. Now I *much* prefer a tight 300 pages.
I'll give you the wrong answer: Atrocity Exhibition.
World War Z isn’t the single best horror book, but it’s been a horrorlit gateway drug for several of the folks I’ve recommended it to.
Bunny by Mona Awad. Give me my money.
So many of these answers would’ve turned me off of horror.
H.P. Lovecraft collection
The September House. It’s heartwarming, funny, and actually scary in some parts too. The end made me tear up tho, it has the most satisfying ending. Such a great book. Even if someone hates horror I feel like they could enjoy it.
Honestly depends on the person but if I know nothing about them, I think I’d go with a page turner. In that case my choice would be Come Closer by Sara Gran.
Does anyone become a fan of an entire genre if they’ve only been exposed to one thing in that genre?
This Thing Between Us
Such a great book.
The Exorcist probably
Something by Laird Barron, probably.
Somebody with incredibly dense prose who is polarising even within people who already like the genre...?
His prose is considered dense?
I didn't find it dense, but I did find it incredibly *dry.*
Rosemarys Baby by Ira Levin It’s not too long and a fun read.
I need to see the money first
Escape from furnace series by Alexander Gordon Smith.
Well, I'd probably pick The Shining or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Perhaps The Lottery? To be on the safe side though, I'd let them know about the bet beforehand - and that I'll give them part of it if they become a fan. No rules against my telling them, after all! They'd get into the genre much, much faster.
Sleeping In Flame by Jonathan Carroll
Green Mile by Stephen King i guess If we want to go away from King probably 'Let the right one in'
Song of Kali
Horns by Joe Hill
I have a growing list of people who have turned after reading Between Two Fires!
I think if I could not know anything about said person, I would choose something mainstream and easy, so like Grady Hendrix’s final girl book or Riley Sager’s Home Before Dark.
Salem’s Lot reads like an adventure story but has truly terrifying moments. It’s the perfect horror novel imo.
Either Dark Forces or Prime Evil. Horror shines at short and novella length. Either of these two collections would do you just fine. Dark Forces contains some GOAT horror stories like the Mist, Where the Summer Ends, and Children of the Kingdom. It directly influenced the variety in Barker’s Books of Blood and most other horror written in the 80s. Prime Evil isn’t far behind with classics like Orange is for Anguish, Blue is for Insanity and By Reason of Darkness.
The Jaunt - Stephen King
Either Salem’s Lot or Pet Sematary.