Horror novels are a very popular genre of novel, but the *genuine* freaky novels within that category are usually far and few. As a teen I read a ton of Steven King, and though I adored a lot about his work I rarely found myself feeling actually terrified when reading. I could stay comforted in the fact that this was simply a horror novel. That was until I read Pet Sematary. Before going into this book I was unaware of its reputation of being one of King’s scariest, I only knew that it was one of his most popular. But…. jesus. I could feel my heart racing at certain points within this novel and even, on occasion, found it difficult to sleep after reading. One of King’s gems, truly. What’s a book that gave you genuine chills? A book that’s truly a master of the horror genre? Or maybe it’s not even within the horror genre, and was capable of scaring you regardless?
by According_Bat_8150
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I have a fear of heights so the Dan Simmons novel *The Abominable* scared me in a lot of ways his more overtly horror works didn’t.
Ordinary Men – about a German police battalion, and its responsibility for the Holocaust.
Red Hunger – about the Holodomor in Ukraine.
Bloodlands – about the Holocaust on the Eastern Front.
Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism – about, well, thought reform in individuals in Maoist China.
Possibly quite a few more but those 4 popped immediately up.
Johnny Got His Gun. It’s fear beyond fiction.
Salems Lor was the scariest Stephen King novel in my opinion.