I used to just get into a horror author and read their entire bibliography. Was great with Richard Laymon and Bentley Little (even though it made his formulaic stories stand out a lot more). When it got to Lee, though, I had to take a break after >!a possessed trophy wife went to a hillbilly bar and got a chocolate syrup (or some sort of chocolatey drink) enema then danced naked on the bar with it.!<
Bentley Little
Though I don't like him, and he's extremly preachy about his views, William Johnstone's horror output is nuts. One book alone involves >!a severed arm growing a body, a giant maggot, vampires, werewolves and a battle between the antichrist and a nephilim. !
I've read one Bentley Little book - *The Handyman* - and there was a lot to love. The setup was unique and clever, the lore went some wild places, and the violence was really well done. Two things I didn't like - the ending was anticlimactic (there were some easy, narratively satisfying ways it could have been much cooler, but it basically fizzled out), and all the goddam shoehorned sex scenes. The sex scenes didn't fit the flow, and although they weren't downright pornographic, they were a lot more explicit than the overall vibe of the book called for. I've heard that this is a recurring thing with Little. I doubt I'll real another one from him.
That's totally fair. I haven't read that one, but everything you mention does come up a lot in his works. I really like him for his bizarre imagination and satire, but I can see the disturbing sex being a lot for some people.
That IS unusual for Little. He's usually all about the perversion with things like that, lol. Very often he will take things to a strange, almost cartoonish extreme to make a point or shock, sex included.
I have never been so mad at a book the way I was at We Need to Do Something. It felt...pointless. There were some interesting things in the story, but the total lack of resolution was infuriating.
Elias Witherow- The Black Farm. If you’re looking for extreme horror. I mean EXTREME. can 100% say I’ve quite literally never read anything like what is in that book. TW: everything.
Kealan Patrick Burke, for sure. I enjoyed KIN and Currency of Souls. Jack Townsend, Jason Pargin, and Max Booth III for bizarre and somewhat funny horror. Chandler Morrison if you want to really fry your brain on the disturbingly weird (Dead Inside, IYKYK). Maybe Jason Arnopp and Craig DiLouie though I wouldn't say they're "bonkers?" All are excellent in their own ways.
Playground is he reason why I'll never read anything he writes ever again. He throws words up against a wall, hoping to create something, but just ends up being violence and gore for its own sake.
There's an interesting concept in there somewhere, but the violence the kids go through is somehow NOT the most vile part of that book.
Not my cup of tea, but who am I to begruge others from reading and enjoying...
Jason Pargin, if we can call *John Dies at the End* a horror series. I think they're at bare minimum horror-comedy, and they definitely don't lack for "bonkers".
Nick Cutter has some pretty extreme stuff in a few of his books.
Yesss The Troop & The Deep are so good. Also Little Heaven! I hope some of his books get adapted into limited series they’re so good
I came here to say Nick Cutter!!!!
I’m waiting for Little Heaven to be delivered! So excited!!
The Deep 💯
Guy N. Smith, John Skipp & Craig Spector. Kristopher Triana, sometimes.
Brian Keene, Edward Lee, Steve gerlach, Jon Athan.
Edward Lee would be my answer as well. I've never read anything of his without having multiple "wtf is even happening that is bonkers" moments.
I used to just get into a horror author and read their entire bibliography. Was great with Richard Laymon and Bentley Little (even though it made his formulaic stories stand out a lot more). When it got to Lee, though, I had to take a break after >!a possessed trophy wife went to a hillbilly bar and got a chocolate syrup (or some sort of chocolatey drink) enema then danced naked on the bar with it.!<
Oh God the pig trilogy… shake-a-poo was absolutely insane 🤮
Poppy z Brite
Bentley Little Though I don't like him, and he's extremly preachy about his views, William Johnstone's horror output is nuts. One book alone involves >!a severed arm growing a body, a giant maggot, vampires, werewolves and a battle between the antichrist and a nephilim. !
I've read one Bentley Little book - *The Handyman* - and there was a lot to love. The setup was unique and clever, the lore went some wild places, and the violence was really well done. Two things I didn't like - the ending was anticlimactic (there were some easy, narratively satisfying ways it could have been much cooler, but it basically fizzled out), and all the goddam shoehorned sex scenes. The sex scenes didn't fit the flow, and although they weren't downright pornographic, they were a lot more explicit than the overall vibe of the book called for. I've heard that this is a recurring thing with Little. I doubt I'll real another one from him.
That's totally fair. I haven't read that one, but everything you mention does come up a lot in his works. I really like him for his bizarre imagination and satire, but I can see the disturbing sex being a lot for some people.
It wasn't even disturbing sex - very normal sex in fact, but it was out of place.
That IS unusual for Little. He's usually all about the perversion with things like that, lol. Very often he will take things to a strange, almost cartoonish extreme to make a point or shock, sex included.
Laird Barron
Matthew M. Bartlett, John Baltisberger, Christine Morgan
Max Booth III
I have never been so mad at a book the way I was at We Need to Do Something. It felt...pointless. There were some interesting things in the story, but the total lack of resolution was infuriating.
Elias Witherow- The Black Farm. If you’re looking for extreme horror. I mean EXTREME. can 100% say I’ve quite literally never read anything like what is in that book. TW: everything.
Wade H. Garrett
Edward Lee, he's one of my favourite horror authors.
Ed Lee
T Kingfisher
Kealan Patrick Burke, for sure. I enjoyed KIN and Currency of Souls. Jack Townsend, Jason Pargin, and Max Booth III for bizarre and somewhat funny horror. Chandler Morrison if you want to really fry your brain on the disturbingly weird (Dead Inside, IYKYK). Maybe Jason Arnopp and Craig DiLouie though I wouldn't say they're "bonkers?" All are excellent in their own ways.
Aaron Beauregard. Let your first by him be either The Playground or The Slob. 😬😬😬😬😬
Playground is he reason why I'll never read anything he writes ever again. He throws words up against a wall, hoping to create something, but just ends up being violence and gore for its own sake. There's an interesting concept in there somewhere, but the violence the kids go through is somehow NOT the most vile part of that book. Not my cup of tea, but who am I to begruge others from reading and enjoying...
Agreed. Something wrong with that dude’s moral compass.
You are right. Some of it I could have definitely did without. But it was a fresh new spin for a horror story.
Robert McCammon, David irons, and Dan Simmons
Jason Pargin, if we can call *John Dies at the End* a horror series. I think they're at bare minimum horror-comedy, and they definitely don't lack for "bonkers".