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Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 545
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 10:14 am: | 
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Reading and discussing Due's book made me consider the field of books as a whole. It seems that at one time the bestseller lists had several horror writers at one time--King, Koontz, Clive Barker would be on there.
It seems that there has been a long time since that has been the case. Several writers, such as Poppy Z. Brite, have moved on. Tananarive Due has written two non horror books herself.
There are cycles in the popularity of horror in film and literature--as there are in anything else. They are often and usually influenced by what is going on in society.
For instance horror was not very popular in America until after WWI--and it did not take off until the 30's after the Great Depression. During WWII and after it got less popular. Then it picked up again in the 50's with the Cold War. And again in the 70's after Watergate, the 60's etc (so many movies and books featured demon possessed children)
Is it possible that, with 9/11 and the War on Terror people don't want to deal with anything horrifying? |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 1030
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 12:28 pm: |
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Stephen King's latest is currently on the bestseller list, and Dean Koontz's just came off. They both have big followings and their fans seem to stick with them. Horror is a very difficult genre to master. John Saul has done a couple of books that give me a tingle or two. Would say that Bram Stoker's "Dracula" set the standard for this genre? |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 548
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 02:02 pm: |
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Cynique:
The big three are Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Dracula.
Poe, Ambrose Bierce, Washington Irving and Lovecraft contributed in the short story realm |
Crystal
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Crystal
Post Number: 111
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 12:20 pm: |
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Chris: I read some of H.P. Lovecraft's stories. He is a little dry and sometimes longwinded but I enjoyed them so far. The Dunwich Horror, The Colour Out of Space, I even struggled through At The Mountain Of Madness and have just started The Rats In The Wall. I think the Dunwich Horror would make a good movie. Do you know if any of his stories have been made into movies?
Since you got me started I picked up John Saul's newest, Black Creek Crossing, at the library. Pretty good - witchcraft and evil isn't vanquished at the end. Looking forward to your contribution.
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Tee
Veteran Poster
Username: Tee
Post Number: 62
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 01:06 pm: |
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Crystal, I love John Saul!! Prior to getting more into African-American Authors, he was one of my favorite authors. I have all of his books, up until about 4 years ago when I focused my purchases on mostly AA titles.
I may have to try to pick up his new one...just don't know when I'll be able to read it.
-Tee
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Crystal
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Crystal
Post Number: 117
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 11:57 am: |
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Hey, by coincidence I had my question answered over the weekend. First I was at someone’s house and they had a rented copy of a movie called Re-Animator that was based on a Lovecraft story. Said it’s a very sick movie with lots of blood. Then yesterday the sci-fi channel played a move whose name I don’t recall but it was a compilation of 3 Lovecraft stories. Very bloody. I stopped watching it.
Hey Tee, I've only read a few of Saul's before. I always like them and don't know why I don't read more. I guess it's a time thing with me too.
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 1414
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 01:00 pm: |
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The 2 movies "The Others" and "The Ring" are certainly notable examples of the horror genre as interpreted in the media of film, mostly because of the eeriness of their settings. As I mentioned in a previous post, I've always liked John Saul even though he's always been overshadowed by Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Now Stephen King can still bring it, but Dean Koontz hasn't written anything I've enjoyed in the past 3 or 4 years. He's gotten too preachy. |
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