Books
12 Horror Books to Sink Your Teeth into This Summer
Whether nestled inside in the cool air conditioning or stretched out under the blazing sun, this summer belongs to great horror books for all tastes and preferences.
Brand new novels, suspenseful page-turners themed around Summer, nonfiction reads about our favorite subject, and even a graphic novel from a beloved Final Girl are heading our way. A warning in advance: prepare for August 8 to take a massive dent out of your wallet.
Here are twelve brand new 2023 horror books to keep you busy in the scorching summer months that pave the way to the Halloween season.
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Whereas Mexican Gothic delivered a Gothic romance, and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau retooled a sci-fi horror classic, Moreno-Garcia’s latest takes on Nazi occultism and cursed films set in the film industry in ’90s Mexico City. It follows a sound editor and her crush as their world gets turned upside down when they meet a legendary cult horror director. A slow, atmospheric burn that brings rich worldbuilding and insight into the realm of Mexican horror films, complete with Easter eggs and references. If you want to get even more immersed in Silver Nitrate, the author offers a fantastic book club kit complete with a horror film festival lineup to pair with the novel.
The Unofficial Horror Movie Coloring Book by Vernieda Vergara and illustrated by Andy Price
Not much of a reader? That’s okay; here’s a horror book for you, packed with stunning illustrations inspired by scenes from your favorite horror movies.
From The Exorcist and Halloween to Get Out and Child’s Play, this unofficial horror movie coloring book offers 30 Screams and Scenes to Slay.
Haunted Reels: Stories from the Minds of Professional Filmmakers edited by David Lawson Jr. (July 25)
This anthology is curated by Indie Spirit Award Nominated film producer David Lawson Jr. It features brand-new stories written by some of the biggest names in film, TV, and video games, including C. Robert Cargill (Sinister, Dr. Strange, The Black Phone), Aaron Moorhead & Justin Benson (Something in the Dirt, Moon Knight, Loki), and Janina Gavankar (The Morning Show, God of War: Ragnarök, Horizon Zero Dawn, Tales of the Jedi). If you love reading horror in short story format, this one’s packed with notable talent from the horror world.
Her Little Flowers by Shannon Morgan (July 25)
Fifty-five-year-old Francine lives alone in her rambling manor in England’s Lake District. Well, almost alone; the sprawling estate is also home to ghosts. That includes a mischievous child spirit with whom Francine has been friends since childhood. When Francine’s estranged sister arrives, old wounds reopen, and dark secrets unravel.
Her Little Flowers brings a spellbinding gothic ghost story that calls to mind The Changeling, at least regarding historic estates, ghostly children, and an atypical protagonist.
101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered by Sadie Hartmann (August 8)
The editor-in-chief of publisher Dark Hart Books has curated an extensive guide to horror literature over the past twenty-three years. In other words, this pick is for the bookworm eager to find more authors and books to add to their reading pile. In his review, Alex DiVincenzo called Hartmann’s book a “reverently crafted reference guide that proves useful for horror readers from newcomers to veterans and everyone in between. The purposeful omission of staples like Mary Shelley, Shirley Jackson, Clive Barker, Anne Rice, and Stephen King leaves more room for contemporary, up-and-coming voices, and Hartmann’s conversational tone makes for breezy reading.”
Bridge by Lauren Beukes (August 8)
The author of The Shining Girls brings another mind-bending thriller. Beukes asks what if dreams are memories in a tale centered around Bridge, a young woman who discovers her mother’s hidden “dreamworm.” The device allows Bridge to enter other realities, opening up a universe of power, promise, and danger.
More than a mind-bending thriller, expect Beukes to shatter reality here.
Mister Magic by Kiersten White (August 8)
Described as “Perfect for fans of Stephen King’s IT,” White’s novel follows a group of surviving cast members three decades after an unspeakable accident on the set of their children’s show stopped production permanently. Unimagined horrors, a creepy kids’ show host, and a hefty dose of ’90s pop culture nostalgia sounds like a perfect recipe for summertime frights.
Mother Nature by Jamie Lee Curtis & Russell Goldman, illustrated by Karl Steves (August 8)
Horror stalwart and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis penned an eco-horror graphic novel with filmmaker Russell Goldman, and Karl Stevens illustrates the story. It’s based on Curtis’s screenplay for an upcoming Blumhouse horror movie, which Curtis will also direct.
Mother Nature follows a woman determined to sabotage the corporation responsible for her father’s death, only to discover a horrifying truth about the nature behind it all.
The Handyman Method by Andrew F. Sullivan & Nick Cutter (August 8)
The author of The Troop teams up with the author of The Marigold for a new take on the haunted house. That’s the only hook we need to sign up for this horror story immediately, but for those that need a bit more of a sell: a new home turns into a DIY repair nightmare compounded by the horrors of technology.
With these authors behind it, expect a far more violent and brutal depiction of a domestic horror story than usual. So take this as a warning for those squeamish about graphic, drawn-out violence.
The Last One by Will Dean (August 8)
Summer reading often means pulpy page-turners and the latest by Will Dean teases a compulsive read with an intriguing premise. Caz embarks on a romantic cruise getaway with her new boyfriend, Pete. But romance quickly descends into terror when she wakes to find the ship empty; the crew and passengers have vanished. While it may not veer into overt horror territory, a psychological, suspense-filled thriller set at sea sounds adjacent enough to bring the summer chills.
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus (August 8)
If waking up to find you’re all alone on a cruise ship isn’t terrifying, what about getting swallowed whole by an eighty-foot, sixty-ton sperm whale while on a dive? And what if oxygen runs out after an hour? Author Daniel Kraus examines this terrifying scenario with scientific accuracy, all but ensuring a breathless page-turner. As if we needed another reason to be afraid to go into the water this summer, Kraus finds a new angle to induce thalassophobia.
A Life with Ghosts: True, Terrifying, and Insightful Tales from My Favorite Haunts by Steve Gonsalves with Michael Aloisi (August 22)
The lead investigator of the hit TV series “Ghost Hunters” as well as “Ghost Hunters Academy” and Travel Channel’s “Ghost Nation” provides personal insights and anecdotes about his life as a ghost hunter. For paranormal enthusiasts, horror fans, and history buffs alike, the ghost hunter shares his paranormal experiences with historical locations, including the history behind each.
Books
‘Halloween: Illustrated’ Review: Original Novelization of John Carpenter’s Classic Gets an Upgrade
Film novelizations have existed for over 100 years, dating back to the silent era, but they peaked in popularity in the ’70s and ’80s, following the advent of the modern blockbuster but prior to the rise of home video. Despite many beloved properties receiving novelizations upon release, a perceived lack of interest have left a majority of them out of print for decades, with desirable titles attracting three figures on the secondary market.
Once such highly sought-after novelization is that of Halloween by Richard Curtis (under the pen name Curtis Richards), based on the screenplay by John Carpenter and Debra Hill. Originally published in 1979 by Bantam Books, the mass market paperback was reissued in the early ’80s but has been out of print for over 40 years.
But even in book form, you can’t kill the boogeyman. While a simple reprint would have satisfied the fanbase, boutique publisher Printed in Blood has gone above and beyond by turning the Halloween novelization into a coffee table book. Curtis’ unabridged original text is accompanied by nearly 100 new pieces of artwork by Orlando Arocena to create Halloween: Illustrated.
One of the reasons that The Shape is so scary is because he is, as Dr. Loomis eloquently puts it, “purely and simply evil.” Like the film sequels that would follow, the novelization attempts to give reason to the malevolence. More ambiguous than his sister or a cult, Curtis’ prologue ties Michael’s preternatural abilities to an ancient Celtic curse.
Jumping to 1963, the first few chapters delve into Michael’s childhood. Curtis hints at a familial history of evil by introducing a dogmatic grandmother, a concerned mother, and a 6-year-old boy plagued by violent nightmares and voices. The author also provides glimpses at Michael’s trial and his time at Smith’s Grove Sanitarium, which not only strengthens Loomis’ motivation for keeping him institutionalized but also provides a more concrete theory on how Michael learned to drive.
Aside from a handful of minor discrepancies, including Laurie stabbing Michael in his manhood, the rest of the book essentially follows the film’s depiction of that fateful Halloween night in 1978 beat for beat. Some of the writing is dated — like a smutty fixation on every female character’s breasts and a casual use of the R-word — but it otherwise possesses a timelessness similar to its film counterpart. The written version benefits from expanded detail and enriched characters.
The addition of Arocena’s stunning illustrations, some of which are integrated into the text, creates a unique reading experience. The artwork has a painterly quality to it but is made digitally using vectors. He faithfully reproduces many of Halloween‘s most memorable moments, down to actor likeness, but his more expressionistic pieces are particularly striking.
The 224-page hardcover tome also includes an introduction by Curtis — who details the challenges of translating a script into a novel and explains the reasoning behind his decisions to occasionally subvert the source material — and a brief afterword from Arocena.
Novelizations allow readers to revisit worlds they love from a different perspective. It’s impossible to divorce Halloween from the film’s iconography — Carpenter’s atmospheric direction and score, Dean Cundey’s anamorphic cinematography, Michael’s expressionless mask, Jamie Lee Curtis’ star-making performance — but Halloween: Illustrated paints a vivid picture in the mind’s eye through Curtis’ writing and Arocena’s artwork.
Halloween: Illustrated is available now.
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