Horror fiction is an all-encompassing beast.
It’s a mirror to another world - a simulation that we prescribe ourselves, to slip into
another world - where the supernatural, the paranormal - the mythological and a place
where the mask of humanity slips.
Since Horace Walpole first penned the legendary Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto - considered
to be the birthplace of modern horror - our culture has been graced with some of the finest
writers, authors and novelists that humanity’s inner fear has to offer.
Well, let’s take a look at the best of the best.
Hello horror fans - and once again, welcome back to the scariest channel on YouTube - Top
5 Scary Videos.
As per usual, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch - as today, we curiously take a look
at the Top 5 Scariest Horror Fiction Writers.
Roll the clip.
For the curious amongst you, that clip was from Stanley Kubrick’s legendary adaptation
of Stephen King’s 1977 novel, The Shining - of course it was, you know that, I know
that - this is a horror fiction writer list.
But - it leads me to an important point.
This list was pretty much impossible for me to fully realise without first putting some
rules on myself - and so, I’ve deliberately left off horror fictions most celebrated writer,
Mr. Stephen King himself - because he tops the top of every list ever, so much so that
we’ve even got a series dedicated to his most terrifying horror characters.
Also, I’m keeping things fresh - and I’m staying with contemporary horror, so nothing
pre-1940 - Lovecraft, Chambers, Poe, Shelley, Stoker - they’re all titans of horror literature
- and they don’t need a list to highlight their impact on horror culture - after all,
there influence is all around us.
Kicking off at Number 5 - Lisa Tuttle
Who - her horror fiction aside - is such a damn badass that she just had to make this
list.
Although she’s perhaps more widely known for her science fiction and young adult works
- Lisa Tuttle’s incredibly original horror went a little bit under the radar throughout
the 80s and 90s - but fortunately for us, art is eternal.
For the most part.
Born in Houston, Texas in 1952 - Lisa Tuttle first came to light in 1981 with her debut
novel, Windhaven - which was written in collaboration with the one, the only - George R.R Martin
- but then, she shifted gears, carving her own path into the realms of horror fiction.
If you’re a frequent viewer of Top 5 Scary - you’ll know that I’ve got a bit of a
thing for 70s and 80s graphic aesthetics - and the majority of Lisa Tuttle’s paperback
covers are some of the best of the best.
Her first true horror novel, 1983’s Familiar Spirit - is a cautionary tale of mystical
sacrifice, and a warning to think very carefully about what you wish for.
Her 1987, Gabriel, is incredibly messed up - so I’d segway that one perhaps - but Tuttle’s
real horror genius lies in her many short story collections - 1986’s A Nest of Nightmares
being the tip-top of that horrifying pile.
For both horror AND science fiction, Lisa Tuttle is an incredibly worthy contender.
Swinging in at Number 4 - Clive Barker
And while his horror literature may not be the most synonymous theme with Barker’s
life, the painful fact is that despite his filmmaking career, first and foremost, Clive
Barker is an incredibly talented horror novelist.
Oftentimes Barker goes under appreciated - mainly due to his widely successful Hellraiser series
based on Barker’s 1986 novella, The Hellbound Heart.
Hellraiser and Clive Barker have walked together, hand in hand through the extra dimensional
rift, for the best part of three decades - but his blood-soaked list of horror novels, comic
books, novellas and short stories - have always been worth the pain-inducing look for any
fledgling or seasoned horror fan.
His first published work, 1985’s The Damnation Game - is a Faustian foray into the themes
that Barker has become so synonymous for - pain, desire - the true reflections of the human
soul, which have meandered their way through nearly 30 years of horror fiction.
In actual fact, no one has really ever came close to comparing to Barker, and his unique
perception of pleasure and pain - whilst admittedly isn’t for everyone - has become a household
name for horror fandom.
Coming in at Number 3 - Joe Hill
And while I rightly said Stephen King wouldn’t be making this list - it seems that his son
will be taking up the King of Horror’s mantle, because in recent years - Joe Hill has quickly
become one of my favourite modern horror writers, all the while breaking out of the daunting
shadow of his old dad.
Well, after first taking on the horror world in 2005 with his incredible short story collection,
20th Century Ghosts - it wasn’t until the release of his terrifying 2007 novel, Heart-Shaped
Box - that Joe Hill actually publicly announced that he was indeed the son of Stephen King.
In Hill’s own way - he wanted to carve a path based upon his own merit, rather than
riding the coattails of his legendary father.
And, really - we have to deride that accolade - because Hill definitely stands up as an
incredible horror writer in his own right.
His 2010 novel, Horns, which later went on to be adapted onto the silver screen starring
Daniel Radcliffe - is an incredibly original modern horror tale, that manages to blend
the familiarity of our world with that of the demonic and the supernatural.
Just like his dad though, Joe Hill seems to be pumping out gems of horror fiction on a
near monthly basis - and some of his short stories, as well as his comic book appearances,
are absolute mind-numbing terror.
He’s one for the ages.
Next up at Number 2 - Peter Straub
There is perhaps no other modern horror novelist as decorated as the legendary Peter Straub,
author of 1979’s Ghost Story - who has carved a career that has spanned decades, which has
- in my opinion - never at all had a low point.
The standard that Straub has maintained ever since his first novel, 1973’s Marriages
- is, in all fairness, a feat in and of itself - and thankfully for us, he’s showing no
sign of slowing down.
Throughout his career, Straub has picked up an insane amount of literary honors, including
the highly coveted Bram Stoker Award, the World Fantasy Award, the International Horror
Guild Award, as well as the August Derleth Award.
This man’s accolades are stacked - but that kind of contemporary clout doesn’t come
without having the penmanship to back it up - and Peter Straub has that in spades.
Seriously - if you’ve never read Ghost Story - read it now, because it’s perhaps one
of the finest examples of horror in the written form - but Straub also has a trick up his
sleeve, with 1984’s The Talisman - which was written in collaboration, alongside the
man himself, Stephen King.
Another notable entry into his arms-length list of novels is 1999’s Mr. X - which is
pretty much a love letter to Lovecraft’s bleak misery - Straub has created a legacy
as the horror writer that builds a world of such richly detailed beauty and majesty - and
then burns the whole thing to the ground by the end of the novel.
Peter Straub is awesome - and you should read his work.
And finally - coming in at our Number 1 spot - Shirley Jackson
Because, this list is personal - and in my opinion, Stephen King aside - Shirley Jackson
is the greatest horror writer of the 20th century.
Also, her literary accolades aside - she was a woman that just straight up lived and breathed
everything horror and horror fiction, with a deeply tragic personal life that would put
the likes of Lovecraft and Poe to shame.
Shirley Jackson understood horror at an intrinsic level - she understood the nuances of human
behaviour, she understand the slights of emotion that would resonate through the human brain
- the kind of stuff that would keep you awake at night, sweating - clawing at the walls.
Shirley Jackson penned the kind of horror that didn’t need ghosts to make it horrifying.
But - when she did do ghosts, it was some of the best damn horror fiction ever written.
Her 1959 novel, The Haunting of Hill House - is the best damn haunted house story in
literature.
Period.
Although her body of work wasn’t as extensive as some of the writers on this list - it was
in the quality of the literature that she produced where Jackson truly shined.
1954’s The Bird’s Nest is psychological horror at its peak - and 1962’s We Have
Always Lived in the Castle is the hallmark of existential isolation.
And of course, we have The Lottery - I don’t really have to say much about that one.
Shirley Jackson inspired some of horror fiction’s greatest writers, the legendary Neil Gaiman
and Stephen King included - but in her own right, she was a shining, terrifying diamond
of horror fiction - that definitely left her mark on this world.
Cheers Shirley.
Well - there we have it horror fans - our list for the Top 5 Scariest Horror Fiction
Writers - with certain self-imposed limitations, of course.
Why don’t you let us know your thoughts, as well as any choice picks in the comment
section down below.
Also, why don’t you throw out some horror based questions while you’re at it - and
I’ll try my best to answer them all in our next video.
Unfortunately folks, that’s all we’ve got time for in today’s video - cheers for
sticking around all the way until the end.
If you were a fan of this video, make sure to hit that thumbs up button - as well as
that subscribe bell - and we’ll be seeing you in the next one.
As per usual, I’ve been your horror host Jack Finch - you’ve been watching Top 5
Scary Videos - and until next time, you take it easy.