The following is a short list, featuring four significant authors from the formative years of horror fiction, plus twenty prolific authors, whom you would commonly find on any list of Horror Fiction “classics” or “essentials.” A list of the “best” authors in any category has to be considered subjective under the best of circumstances. However, based on the criteria of which authors’ works have continued to stand the “test of time,” and whose works have remained relevant to contemporary readers, the authors listed here are a good place to start. Fans and/or students of Horror Fiction are also encouraged to check in with any of our librarians for additional
classic. Among the best of a class, of the highest quality in a group…a work that endures. — Harper Handbook to Literature
The author links in this booklist are to the complete listings of all materials in the Lincoln City Libraries’ collections by these authors. The links connect directly to our library catalog, so that you may check on the current availability of titles. Covers shown below are relative samples of some of these authors’ best-known works.
Authors with one or two significant works early in the formative years of the horror genre.
[1814-1973] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ]
[1797-1851] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ]
[1850-1894] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ]
[1847-1912] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ]
Authors with bodies of work significant to the ongoing horror genre.
[1952- ] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ official web site for this author ]
[1842-1913] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ]
[1869-1951] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ]
[1917-1994] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ]
[1946- ] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ official web site for this author ]
[1916-1965] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ]
[1947- ] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ official web site for this author ]
[1945- ] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ official web site for this author ]
[1947-2001] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ]
[1890-1937] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ]
[1937- ] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ official web site for this author ]
[1946- ] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ official web site for this author ]
[1926-2013] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ]
[1952- ] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ official web site for this author ]
[1809-1849] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ]
[1941- ] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ official web site for this author ]
[1942- ] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ official web site for this author ]
[1948- ] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ official web site for this author (http://www.dansimmons.com/ is currently not available) ]
[1943- ] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ official web site for this author ]
[1946- ] [ Wikipedia entry for this author ] [ official web site for this author ]
Compiled and expanded for the Web March 2012 sdc | Last updated September 2020 sdc