Horror Upon Horror
Horror is not a self-contained genre. It can, for example, include ghost stories in which the ghost is malevolent or odious, and the classic Gothic Horror where horror can work alongside romance. Also these are vampire novels, others based on supernatural elements of folklore, and another group generally referred to as novels of the mind (psychological stories in which the main character often descends into madness) and many others.
What holds all these together under the umbrella term horror is that their writers aim to create an irrational fear of the unnatural or the supernatural.
The genre has been around a long time: we all know the work of 19th century Edgar Allan Poe but you can trace its history further back than that to include Horace Walpole’s 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto.
Suzanne Ruthven argues that there are common principles that run through each of the sub-genres, and these are explored and explained in her book which focuses on the art and craft of writing horror.
Recent Bookshop
The Secret Diary of a Naughty Cat by Daniel Riding
Ever wonder why cats can be so naughty? Well why not check out ‘The Secret Diary of a Naughty Cat’ from debut ...
Edwin and the Climbing Boys, by Benita Cullingford
Will you tell me a story? little Pete whispered. Edwin gazed across the rooftops. Once upon a time, he began, ...
Here Casts No Shadow by Bronwen Griffiths
Fifteen year old Mira lives a quiet life in the small town of Zazour. Her country of Lyrian is under the grip ...
Reincarnation: An Historical Novel Spanning 4,000 Years by Michael J. Lowis
Have you ever thought that you have had a previous existence? What if you woke up one day and discovered that ...
Other Bookshop in this category
The Secret Diary of a Naughty Cat by Daniel Riding
Ever wonder why cats can be so naughty? Well why not check out ‘The Secret Diary of a Naughty Cat’ from debut ...
Edwin and the Climbing Boys, by Benita Cullingford
Will you tell me a story? little Pete whispered. Edwin gazed across the rooftops. Once upon a time, he began, ...
Here Casts No Shadow by Bronwen Griffiths
Fifteen year old Mira lives a quiet life in the small town of Zazour. Her country of Lyrian is under the grip ...
Reincarnation: An Historical Novel Spanning 4,000 Years by Michael J. Lowis
Have you ever thought that you have had a previous existence? What if you woke up one day and discovered that ...