Extra! Extra! Bleed all about it!

I'm a man who likes to keep his promises. I mentioned in my  that I'd be back to talk about my favorite holiday some more and here I am. The topic of discussion today, however, is shifting from the silver scream to the printed page.

Being an English major in college, I was exposed to a lot of different works – a good amount of which could be described as being in the Gothic or horror genre. My two senior projects were on Southern Gothic fiction and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I claim to have at least rudimentary knowledge of what makes a good horror novel. And I've read some really bad ones. Today, I'd like to share a list of some of the good ones.

Now, it's no secret that I'm enjoying a healthy relationship with the Bensalem branch of the Bucks County Public Library system. They've saved me hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars over the past summer alone. So I figured I'd save my readers some cash and look on the library's online catalog. All of my favorites appear on the catalog, which means they can be checked out from the library if not checked out by someone else. At the time of writing all of these works are available for check-out.

The Stand by Stephen King – The longest novel I've ever read. The uncut, expanded edition easily clocks in at over 1,000 pages – and this is no large print book. However, the story and characters are so well-developed and the work is paced just so that I couldn't put the book down. A classic tale of good vs. evil, the work starts off with a plague killing off millions upon millions of Americans with only a few survivors spaced out around the country. After being mysteriously drawn to one another, the survivors form two camps: one in Colorado, the other in Nevada and thus sets the climax of the story in action. A must-read yarn for anyone who claims to be either a fan of horror literature or King.

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson – Forget the Will Smith film of the same name, the best vampire novel I have ever read is I Am Legend. Another post-apocalyptic tale, this work inspired writers like King to craft their stories the way they do. Matheson has an uncanny ability to make you keep turning pages regardless of what's going on around you. Out of all the books on this list, I've read I am Legend the most.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – Written when she was only a teenager, this horror novel has the most heart. Everyone knows the basic story, but I want to clarify something about the text. There are two versions floating around: the 1818 version and the 1831 revised edition. If you can, go with the 1818. It's a lot darker and has a better storyline than the revised release.

'Salem's Lot by Stephen King – My second favorite vampire novel. Along with I am Legend, this work depicts vampires the way I like them: charming, cunning, persuasive, and bloodthirsty. Don't invite these creatures into your home in any other form than this book! (or the 1979 miniseries, which I highly recommend)

Dracula by Bram Stoker – Awesome. This is the book that started it all, even if it is a far cry from what typical moviegoers expect when they envision the dapper Count Dracula. Yes, it's old. Yes, it's long. And yes, it can be boring. But it's a classic and critical to the horror genre. Like The Stand, you simply have to read it.

The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks – Unlike most guys my age, I'm not that big into zombies. Yes I follow The Walking Dead religiously and have seen the well-received zombie films (Night of the Living Dead, Zombieland, Shaun of the Dead) but I just don't see myself as a fan of zombies. That being said, this book (written by the son of Mel Brooks) is one that's worth checking out for its popularity in the horror community. To sum up the book in one sentence? Imagine if the U.S. Army came out with a field manual for how to survive a zombie apocalypse.

Edgar Allan Poe – If you want straight-up gothic horror, go with the classic master. Not all of his work is Gothic – just his best work. Check out “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Black Cat,” or “The Pit and the Pendulum.”

That's all for now -- but like any good horror villain, I'll be back!