What's the scariest fictional book you've read?

a reply to: alldaylong

I loved the island of Dr Moreau. I wasn't scared by it I thought it was a fascinating concept.

a reply to: intrepid

That's because he had a Time Machine LOL.

a reply to: FyreByrd

The Birds which Hitchcock immortalized so very well.

a reply to: zazzafrazz

Thank you. Thank You. Thank You! I thought about Wolves earlier, but didn't list it. One of the best books I ever read...so gothically romantic from a kid's perspective.

originally posted by: eisegesis
I stopped reading fiction as I grew older, but when I was a little kid, these stories and especially the accompanying illustrations used to keep me up all night after putting the book down.

LOL awesome, I have this book still. I think there are a few others I have in this series (they look just like it), I could swear I have one witha different picture on the cover unless I am imagining things, but I haven't dug through my books for a while.

The stories are pretty scary for younger kids I agree. I remember reading at least 40 Goosebump books when I was young, but they were never scary to me, just imaginative and fun to read. But these stories actually do give you goosebumps.

a reply to: AlmostRosey

Though the book isn't "scary," it is apocalyptic similar to "The Stand" by King, but different of course. The book "Swan Song" by Robert Mccammon takes place after a nuclear holocaust, and follows several groups of people through the wasteland, filled with hoorors on mankind, transformations from good into evil, while Evil is actually manifested physically on Earth and is roaming around, and also includes other magical elements. Swan (young girl charachter) is the most special and the only person that can save mankind (she literally has a "green thumb", make plants grow again) Its a hefty book but it is a blast to read, could easily read 70-100 pages in a few hours. I remember I read it 5 years ago or so and at that moment It immediatley became on of my all time favorites. There are many riveting scenes that are quite scary when you think about being in the posistion of the charachters.

I loaned this book to my brother after I read it, it then became one of his favorites, he loaned it to his friend who never read it but didn't want to give it back to me. I spent an entire summer tracking him down and getting it back LOL, I was literally going to beat his arse. I wouldn't have cared but if you see how hard it is to find a copy that isn't Mass Market paperback you would understand. I was going to have to pay over 50 bucks to get the same copy I had. But if you haven't read it, I implore you to do so. Plus there is a charachter named Black Frankenstein, lol, he's badass.

originally posted by: CharlieSpeirs
a reply to: Thecakeisalie

Yeah Perlman was brilliant in that to be honest.

As a made for TV movie I thought it was pretty decent.
But Perlman made it worthy of more than one viewing.
imo.

My dad always used to tell me the books are always better than the films...
In any genre.


Haven't been able to prove him wrong yet.

The only movie I can think of that really gives the book a run for the money is Fight Club. The movie is a classic and it is almost directly the same as the book, only difference I could find that I remember is how the two met. I like Palahniuk and he is fun to read, so I'd hate to say that this book was the only one I can think of to not hold up to the movie.

originally posted by: TheLieWeLive
William R. Forstchen "One Second After".

It's scary because the events in it can actually happen and most likely would if an Electromagnetic Pulse attack on a electrically dependent country were to happen.

The aftermath that would ensue scares the bejesus out of me.

I read that one as well. It is a pretty good book I agree and yes it is very plausible. If you like these types of books read "Swan Song" it's like 900 pages but it is damn good. I posted on here about it. I read One Second After a few months after I read Swan Song so One Second After really didn't leave a huge affect on me, but it was pretty good and seemed accurate in how our society would react. The main qualmm I had was the lprotagonist dad, he seemed to have knowledge in everything and a solution for everything.

originally posted by: Thecakeisalie
a reply to: CharlieSpeirs

Haven't read Desperation either but if it's anything like the film I'm sure I'd enjoy it, maybe more so than the film.

The film has nothing on the book. The films only redeeming feature is Ron Perlman.

The same could be said about under the dome-the book is better. and personally I'd say that Under the Dome is one of Kings best works.

Can you think of a King book that doesn't have an alcoholic or recovering alcoholic in it? lol, Misery is the only one I've read that didn't.

originally posted by: Autorico
a reply to: Thecakeisalie

Shawshank imo is the best adaptation of a King book. It was very true to the book, they only left one thing out I can think of but I won't say what it is, spoilers and all.

Spot on mate! I thought Misery was a great adaptation as well. I actually really like that movie. I see Kathy Bates in a lot of old seclusive women, it's quite disturbing.

originally posted by: iDope
Can you think of a King book that doesn't have an alcoholic or recovering alcoholic in it? lol, Misery is the only one I've read that didn't.

I can think of a few: Lissey's Story, The Dark Tower, Duma Key, Insomnia, Bag of Bones. That's all I can think of for now. I see what you mean; though. Stephen King is a recovering alcoholic. From what I read in one of his books (I think it was On Writing) he hasn't drank in a long time. You write what you know, I guess.

a reply to: Skid Mark

I kind of assumed that was why he has a lot of alcoholics or writers as protagonists in his stories. I didn't know he was a recovering boozer though, I kind of figured he had relatives or close friends that were so he experienced them a lot. It really boggles my mind how many great and suspenseful stories he has crafted over the years. Knowing that every book you release will be a best-seller no matter what the hell is in it is pretty nuts to think about. Or at least be offered a TV movie or series based off it. But a master gets what master deserves.

a reply to: iDope

He did coke, too. Eventually his wife pulled out his wastebasket, which was full of beer cans and bloody toilet paper (nosebleeds from coke use), and put it in the middle of the living room. Family and friends were over and they confronted him about it and told him that he had a problem. Thankfully, he straightened up his act.
I remember when he was really active he'd be on the best seller list almost every month it seemed. It's sad that he's more or less retired. He still has a few coming out soon; though, so that's something to look forward to.

originally posted by: greencmp
a reply to: AlmostRosey

1984

I LoLd & people at the bar around me all looked in my direction. Not what the OP meant, & the book itself isn't scary, the fact it's really happening is.

a reply to: Eunuchorn

If 1984 wasn't written I don't think TPTB would have based theiir NWO around it so accuratley. It's like they read it and were like, "I so want to be Big brother some day, this book even shows how to do it, and the results if done this way. I don't want people figuring out my plans so lets give them too many things to focus on. if they start to peek into our scheme, we will out them to their community as a joke then prescribe them drugs, welll hell, lets drug everyone through their food and water. Ahhh yes, Trickle down Control. The man at top can piss in the worlds water. Things are getting better Mr. Orwell, we are perfecting a plan you gave us, newspeak is now being created, we have total control over education,food, healthcare, transportation, hahahhah!"

I read a book called The Resurrection Machine when I was a kid and it scared the living c**** out of me.

Rats by James Herbert scared me when I was a teen and so did the 3rd book of the series Domain which combined a post nuclear world and mutant flesh eating rats, the end of Domain was really freaky

. a reply to: iDope
Oh I loved Swan Song. I read that one twice.
I actually keep a very old set of encyclopedias because of it. If we're ever thrown into a world pre technology I'll know how to make soap and candles from animal fat.

a reply to: iDope

There's drinking in IT but who's a recovering alcoholic? Who in The Stand? Rita who dies early on even though she survives the flu is a druggy.

a reply to: iDope

Misery worked because it wasn't one of his weighty tomes. They should make a movie about The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon and Geralds Game. Both would make excellent movies.
I've always been disappointed in movie adaptations of Kings work for the most part.
When I finished The Shining it was late late at night or early early if you like. I put the book on my night stand and turned off the light...ten seconds later I turned the light back on. LOL. But when they made the movie with Jack Nicholson I hated it. Plus they changed so much of the story and gave it a lame assed ending. The mini-series made years later stuck with the story better but only worked because it was six hours long. The mini series IT didn't impress me . Even with the length they still missed the mark though the actors did capture the characters very well.
I think with King the shorter stories translate to film a lot better. A LOT! ( fans will get that)