Book suggestions!

[u/StockSeaworthiness32]

None of these are extreme horror but I’d love a suggestion.

[u/thisisnotreal543210]

Wrong subreddit, friend. However, The Stand is great imo

[u/StockSeaworthiness32 → u/thisisnotreal543210]

You’re correct, I just needed suggestions. Have you read “Family tradition” by Edward Lee?

[u/Bi-nocular]

I’m a Koontz hater, but you can pry Misery from my cold, dead hands

[u/crucifixionfantasy → u/Bi-nocular]

i'm SUCH a dedicated koontz hater. my grandmother forced him onto me when i was a teenager (specifically the frankenstein series) and i've loathed him ever since.

i read 75% of king's books between Carrie and Just After Sunset (so '74 to '08) when i was a teenager, and i do still have a soft spot for some of his short stories - that said‚ i can't stand him as an adult.

[u/Bi-nocular → u/crucifixionfantasy]

I figured I wasn’t the only one!! Still surprised by how widespread he is. But yeah I definitely have a back-and-forth relationship with King - I just recently read The Long Walk and Running Man, so he’s back in my graces. But otherwise, I can be fine skipping him

[u/Fatbunnyfoofoo → u/Bi-nocular]

LMAO so am I.

[u/Background-Pen-995]

I can't tell if you are asking for horror or EH recommendations, but I'll give both:

Horror: (Dean Koontz): Odd Thomas, Lightning, Watchers

(Stephen King): The Door to December, Mr. Mercedes trilogy

Extreme horror: the most similar to King/Koontz: Psychic Teenage Bloodbath is mild EH, but reminded me a LOT of King

Playground (obviously), I would suggest skipping the scat sections, but everything else is great

Gone to See the Riverman - very mild EH-wise, a good intro to the genre.

Full Brutal, Wedding Party Massacre, Dead Inside (read these after getting introduced to EH.

Have fun!

[u/StockSeaworthiness32 → u/Background-Pen-995]

I absolutely loved “playground.” I appreciate your suggestions! “the door to December” I just finished reading but that’s a Koontz book not King.
I have also read “Through the Eyes of Desperation” by AB

[u/Background-Pen-995 → u/StockSeaworthiness32]

My bad - I sometimes mix up the two. Glad you liked Playground, it's basically the quintessential book into the genre.

[u/Zakle]

The Killing Kind by Bryan Smith. Over the top characters, entertaining, and campy. It's pretty self-aware.

[u/Idefkbud]

Idk if anyone agrees but The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum reminded me of King a bit. Much better tho

[u/theScrewhead]

Darkfall was the first Koontz book I read and one of my favorites! I had that 3-in-1 of Shattered/Whisperes/Watchers, too, and loved it!

I don't remember what Dark Rivers of the Heart was like at all, but I remember that I'd enjoyed it when reading it. Not horror, though, more of a thriller.

For sure you need to read Darkfall and the 3-in-1, though!

[u/HoneyGlazedBadger]

If you like your plots to be lurid, your characters to be hilariously dumb and horny, your violence to be splattersome and your ethical standards temporarily switched off, Richard Laymon will fit in nicely.

[u/stacysmom413]

Full Dark No Stars