Rating of the best books in the horror genre (horror) 2020

One of the strongest human emotions is fear, which makes all processes of the body activate. Under the influence of these feelings, both the physical body performs actions unexplained by science, and the brain begins to work with a vengeance. Perhaps for this reason, the emotions caused by the feeling of fear settle in the memory for a long time. And thanks to such a strong impact, horror stories may not be of interest.

The fascination with the horror genre stretches from mythology, and the first published horror dates back to the Middle Ages. The desire to tickle one's nerves does not leave modern mankind, therefore good and fascinating literature of this genre is relevant today. She will be discussed in this article, and below will be presented a rating of the best works, which will include both novelties and classics, recommended for all fans of the genre.

Criterias of choice

Throughout their history, books of this genre have been transformed from dark chivalrous novels, exorcism and the fight against the other world to works with deep psychologism, making you wonder if a person is not a real and terrible monster and what is the inner world of each individual person.

Today, the popularity of books in this area does not depend on a specific topic. The authors offer the reader a large and varied selection of horrors for every taste.

The modern line of books written in this style includes gothic horror films about ghosts and vampires, all kinds of monsters, mentally ill murderers, and for a greater immersion in the gloomy atmosphere, popular books offer their readers to plunge into exciting stories with elements of thriller, fantasy or detective story.

So where do you start choosing a horror movie? It is precisely to determine what can cause the greatest feelings of fear. Maybe it will be detailed bloody scenes, or maybe it will be exciting literature with elements of fantasy, or maybe unexpected turns of the human psyche.

In any case, when deciding which book is better to buy, you should look at the reviews and read the reviews on this work, and then you will definitely not make mistakes when choosing.

Rating of quality publications in the horror genre

This collection includes books that readers believe should be read by all horror lovers. They are read in one breath and the impressions of the read remain in the memory for a long time.

"Stranger"

By Stephen King

Publication year: 2018

Year of the Russian publishing house: 2020

The author of the book, Stephen King, does not need to be introduced to anyone. The Horror King releases a new exciting story every year and this year was no exception. The Chuzhak appeared on the Russian market in February 2020.

Recently, the writer tends to investigate, and this work can also be called a detective story, but with elements of mysticism.

The Novella describes the story of the murder of an eleven-year-old boy. The mutilated body of a child causes panic in a small town, and police detective Ralph Anderson, in order to calm the agitated people, quickly arrests Terry Maitland, the school teacher and coach of the school baseball team, especially since all the evidence points to him. But the teacher's firm alibi forces us to seriously start an investigation that will lead the reader to a mystical being.

The first half of the book does not have any hint of mysticism, the images of the heroes are mainly revealed, and in the second half, realism ends and the author smoothly convinces the readers and the detective himself into the reality of the existence of something inexplicable.

As in most of the author's stories, an interesting intrigue is built here with memorable characters and the topic of public opinion is touched upon, instantly angry at a person whose guilt has not yet been proven.

The plot is a little tightened, but reads easily and quickly, perfect for reading in transport. The twelve parts into which the story is broken have a logical beginning and ending.

Stephen King falls into the category: Best Horror Writers. No one will dispute the popularity of his books. A large number of his works are sold in huge numbers, but which book is better, everyone decides for himself.

Volume cost: 500 rubles

• storyline development;
• disclosure of the personalities of the characters;
• fame of the author.

• slightly stretched plot.

"Fireman"

By Joe Hill

Year of publication: 2017

Since we were talking about Stephen King, it is worth paying attention to his son, Joe Hill, with his horror novel Firefighter.

The focus of this work is the world apocalypse, which arose due to an unusual virus, or rather due to fungal spores. On the skin of people, golden-black spots appeared, resembling dragon scales, which at any moment could spontaneously ignite and turn a person into ash. Naturally, the huge loss of life causes massive psychosis, as a result of which someone goes crazy, and someone rushes to help. And in this panic there are people who have contracted this disease, but have learned to control fire.

The voluminous 608-page book intrigues its readers to the last. The mass death of people is horror in itself, and here it also has elements of thriller, fantasy and psychological analysis of heroes.

All the characters are well written, even the lines of the minor characters. The book captures and deepens the reader into his world for a long time, forcing him to experience the fate of the heroes.

Joe Hill's books, like his father's, are filled with American culture and, if the foreign public understands everything in the everyday life described by the author, then Russian copies are filled with footnotes with explanations.

Also, the author often mentions the heroes of different books or American celebrities, even killed several. For some readers, it may not be clear who he is talking about, or it simply shifts attention to other topics.

Average price: 734 rubles.

• a serious approach to detail;
• maintaining intrigue throughout the story;
• disclosure of characters.

• highly Americanized.

Himmelstrand. First place "

Author: Jun Ayvide Lindqvist

Year of publication: 2020

The Swedish writer, former magician and artist, Jun Aivide Lindqvist, has won an army of fans since the distant 2004 with his horror works.

His horror book series brought him great popularity and his latest work, Himmelstrand, was eagerly awaited by everyone.

The 576-page story tells the story of four families traveling in trailers and, as it turned out later, for natural reasons, found themselves in a different world. And in this trap something strange and terrible is moving towards them.This world presents many unexpected surprises, releasing all the deepest fears out, but this is not the worst thing that awaits these people.

Himmelstrand is the first volume in a trilogy planned by the author.

The work contains both terrifying moments and no less terrible mysteries of the human psyche.

The book appeared on sale quite recently and so far only on book24.com. Its cost is 492 rubles.

• a book from a famous author;
• voluminous book with further continuation;
• the description of the book is intriguing and prompts to read this bestseller.

• not identified.

"Human Harbor"

Author: Jun Ayvide Lindqvist

Year of publication: 2011

We can immediately mention another hit from this author - "Human Harbor".

The plot plunges the reader into the mystical atmosphere of a stone cliff with a lighthouse. The mysterious sea, the invisible glances of ghosts, the mystery of the disappearance of the protagonist's daughter - all this in full measure and with all the colors and illustrations will appear before the image of the reader. Mystical plots are intertwined with the suffering of the loss of a child and deep guilt for this.

The author creates just a brilliant immersion atmosphere. Reading this work, you can feel not only all the horror of what is happening, but also the smell of the sea, the sound of the wind. Moreover, the book is absolutely easy to read.

Has a lot of positive reviews and is recommended for reading.

Since the book is not a novelty, the prices for it are quite budgetary. In general, the work has long been in electronic form, and you can read it absolutely free.

• solid content with well-written characters;
• unusual idea;
• the possibility of a free interpretation of the plot.

• at the beginning, a little tight.

"Ritual"

By Adam Neville

Year of publication: 2011

This piece is not new, but it should be included in this top book. It contains several parts and provides an opportunity to plunge into a psychological thriller and mystical horror.

The main characters - four teenagers, deciding to relax in the bosom of Swedish nature, go to the forest. After some time and pretty tired, the guys decide to go back, cutting off the road. Lost, they find themselves in an ominous, gloomy place, where no human has stepped, but where cruel rituals with sacrifices once took place. Crucified animals and mountains of human bones quickly made them forget about hunger and fatigue, and what was invisibly watching them turned out to be worse than death.

The gloomy atmosphere completely immerses the reader in itself. You can even feel the density of the air in the forest. The author managed to convey in all colors all the danger that lies in wait for adolescents and their emotions in this nightmare. The book, as if with pictures or photographs, gives a clear idea of ​​what is happening. When reading it, for the average person, the normal reaction is hair movement and goosebumps.

What to pay attention to is that the book keeps in suspense not only with the horror of the mystical plot, but also describes in detail how the human psyche reacts in a situation bordering on madness. Will he fight or surrender and what he is ready for, being on the verge between life and death.

It is read in one breath and is recommended for reading by many fans of the genre.

The average price for this horror is 400 rubles.

• the images of the heroes are well revealed;
• full immersion in the atmosphere;
• interesting and exciting.

• absent.

“Press the button. Storybook"

By Richard Matheson

Year of publication: 2018

It is impossible not to mention the collection of short stories by Richard Matheson. The author of many bestsellers, the famous "I Am Legend" and many others, whose work played a large role in the work of Stephen King.

This collection includes stories about terrifying monsters, dolls that come to life, apocalypses, but there is nothing more terrible than ordinary people, for whom the question: how much happiness is worth, has a specific answer leading to tragedy.

The writer is known for his mystical stories that immerse the reader in a dark atmosphere and realistic psychological games that leave indelible impressions.

This edition reflects all the versatility of the author's imagination. Science fiction, mysticism, deep psychologism, everyone will find something interesting here. Plus a subtle disclosure of human personalities and original verbal forms.

Many famous films have been filmed based on the works of Richard Meteson, but this does not at all implore the dignity of this publication. The book is addictive and read in one breath.

In different stores, copies of this edition are quite inexpensive and the average price is 350 rubles.

• intriguing plots;
• tackles difficult questions about moral norms;
• short and emotional.

• not identified.

"The most terrible book of 2020 (collection)"

Year of publication: 2018

Another collection will draw the reader into a whirlpool of horror and mysticism. This includes the most anticipated and already well-known writers from the previous collection, as well as the book was supplemented by new authors. Thanks to this, it has significantly increased in size, allowing you to delve into the stories described for a long time.

The cover hides gothic mysticism, the urban horror of our time, the other world and human madness. The book contains the best horrors that will not leave anyone indifferent. Whatever horror theme a person is fond of, the versatility of the horror genre, in all its versatility, is presented in the book, will allow everyone to choose something interesting in this edition. For some, all the horror stories presented will turn out to be terrifying, and someone will single out several impressive stories for themselves, in any case, 597 pages grab the reader's attention for a long time.

This publication is also noteworthy in that all the works were written by domestic authors and readers are invited to familiarize themselves with the stage of development of this genre in Russia.

Average cost of a book: 345 rubles.

• domestic authors;
• a diverse selection of stories;
• large volume.

• not all stories are scary.

"The exorcist"

By William Peter Blatty

First foreign publication: 1973

Naturally, one cannot fail to mention the terrible story that entered the Guinness Book of Records as the most terrible work. This, of course, is a story about the expulsion of the devil, who, having taken possession of the body of a sweet girl, torments her innocent soul and performs terrible deeds. None of the doctors can help the poor girl and her mother until the priest appears. In addition to the very horror of what is happening: the devil entering the human body, the contrast between these two creatures is frightening.

Such a transformation from a cute angel into a terrible demon is terrifying throughout the book and leaves an indelible impression long after reading. As the story progresses, the reader will determine who is tormenting the poor child, investigate the murder and uncover the secrets of the Swiss family. All these lines are tightly intertwined.

All the main and minor roles are well written, all the characters are "alive", thanks to which the plot is very realistic and it is impossible not to completely immerse yourself in this tense atmosphere.

A well-known film was shot based on this work, which, like the book, became a classic of the genre.

Average price for one copy of this work: 360 rubles.

• "Living heroes";
• realistic plot;
• a classic of the horror genre.

• not identified.

Outcome

The list of scary horror films is endless, and the versatility of the genre does not allow one piece to satisfy everyone's preferences. No one disputes the kings of horror with their already classics: Stephen King and his many stories, Bram Stoker, the discoverer of Dracula, the Gothic tale of Frankenstein from Mary Shelley, but the world does not stand still and no less fascinating horror and frightening stories appear on the horizon.

Strong emotions have always attracted people and who, if not flying saucers, vampires, walking dead, monsters and murderers, can cause them. But the main thing is that all these terrible creatures remain only on the sheets of book publications and do not appear in real life.