The Shroud Underground

What 5 lesser-known authors (e.g. not Stephen King) are your favorites in the horror genre?

Of those, which books do you recommend a reader start with?

I know a few of these are big names.
In no particular order:
Joe Lansdale
Tom Piccirilli
Jack Ketchum
Bentley Little
John Skipp
Graham Masterton

I completely agree with Nathaniel on his choices, but I'd also have to add Edward Lee and Richard Laymon.

Also, Rue-Morgue had a write-up in their last issue about a book called,
"The Language of Fear" by Del James. Supposed to be real good. It sold out in its initial print back in 1995 and now has been reprinted after all this time.

Once I get back home I'll read it.

Gary Braunbeck - you can start with any of his three available novels, or the fourth COFFIN COUNTY due out in a month or so.

Thomas Tessier - often writes with a bizarre kind of crime base. His novels RAPTURE and SECRET STRANGERS are both wonky crime tales, but FINISHING TOUCHES is just about as freaky and trippy as you can get.

T.M. Wright - once a major seller for TOR books, Terry Wright is a master of the funky ghost story. Try A MANHATTAN GHOST STORY or HOUSE ON ORCHID STREET or, well, anything you can find.

Michael McDowell - known nowadays primarily for his Hollywood work like Beetlejuice, McDowell wrote the highly influential sixnovel series BLACKWATER as well as some of the hardest hitting horror out there. THE ELEMENTALS is one of the few novels that actually gave me the real creeps as an adult.

Graham Masterton - most famous nowadays probably for his first novel THE MANITOU, which remains one of the sleakest, fastest, slickest horror reads, he's a true professional and produces at least a couple of highly readable novels a year. His latest THE 5th WITCH just hit.

Kealan Patrick Burke - Start with THE TURTLE BOY (if you can find it), or his upcoming collection of short stories, THE NUMBER 121 TO PENNSYLVANIA.

Tom Piccirilli- Start with A CHOIR OF ILL CHILDREN. Then read everything else.

Gary Braunbeck - MR. HANDS or either of the Cedar Hill collections.

Steve Vernon - HARD ROADS

Joe Lansdale - Not unknown, but I'm always surprised at the number of people who haven't read his stuff. Start with...anything. It's all good.

Blu

Robert E. Howard-most people don't realize he wrote other stuff that isn't Conan related, and for the most part people don't realize he even wrote Conan into existance. *still need to visit his grave*

Robert Bloch-His short stories are phenomenal, especially "The man who collected Poe"

Nate Kenyon-Bloodstone is a great read, and his short story in issue 2 of Shroud had a great "masters of horror" feel to it. It would look great on film basically, and could be done really well without a crazy budget.

Ramsey Campbell-just about any of this guys stories are without a doubt worth your time

Richard Matheson-I'm STILL explaining to people that "I Am Legend" is based on a book.

And I could go on and on, but those are the first 5 that come to mind as "you should check this out" type guys.

If by lesser known you mean to the average public, here it is!

1. Jack Ketchum

2. Richard Laymon

3. Joe Hill (his short stories are a treasure)

4. Brian Smith

5. Dark Delicacy anthologies. I know it's not an "author" but there are one of the best collections of shorts I have ever read.

Keene
Piccirilli
Ketchum
Gagliani
McCoy

Ok, just kidding on the last one, but I ran out of names.

Anything from the Oprah's Book Club.

Only if she brings the author on the show to yell at them about the story, then it's worth a read.

Richard Laymon - "Night In the Lonesome October"
Joe Schreiber - "Chasing the Dead"
Bentley Little - "The Walking"
Richard Matheson - "What Dreams May Come"
Bentley Little - "The Resort"

(What?..., I like Little).

Barry Napier wrote:Richard Laymon - "Night In the Lonesome October"
Joe Schreiber - "Chasing the Dead"
Bentley Little - "The Walking"
Richard Matheson - "What Dreams May Come"
Bentley Little - "The Resort"

(What?..., I like Little).

I absolutely adore Bentley Little! I've read almost all his stuff.
And oddly enough, I'm re-reading Night In the Lonesome October right now, it's such an awesome book.

Joe Lansdale, for sure. The worst thing I can say about Joe's writing is he's great.

I find Piccirilli a little hit and miss. Some of his earlier work is a little too esoteric. Still, when he's on the money he's freaking awesome. Hunt up a copy of CORPSE BLOSSOMS and check out his yarn in there. Hard boiled? You bet.

Laymon is kind of hit and miss for me as well. I enjoyed the hell out of his latest - the uncut WOODS ARE DARK, and I loved THE CELLAR, but some of his stuff seems a little flabby.

Robert E. Howard. Pleased to see somebody here reads his work. If you dig Howard, you ought to hunt up some Manly Wade Wellman.

Karl Wagner rocked as well. His Kane series is the ultimate in dark sword and sorcery.

Ketchum is a killer. The man has snipers for eyes.

Bentley Little's short stuff is wa-ay better than his long work.

Keene is rock-solid as well. I'm a big Keene fan, have enjoyed most of his long work. Haven't read enough of his short work to venture an opinion.

I'm sorry...was I supposed to stop at five?

Howard is one of my all time favorites. I live like 30 miles from his home and grave too and I'm planning a trip up eventually when I'm feeling decent to pay homage to the original Texas Horror Writer.

I've always enjoyed Howard's work myself - particularly his El Borak stories and his Breckenridge Elkins tall tales.

I sold off a lot of those books twenty years ago in a divorce and I have slowly been restocking my collection. I picked up that big trade paperback Solomon Kane collection a couple of years and read it cover-to-cover.