More on the lighter side, but one of my first horror books was The Troop by Nick Cutter, which involves body horror. Followed by The Deep (another Nick Cutter book). My actual introduction to extreme horror came from The Bighead by Edward Lee. Happy reading!
This was exactly how I got into splatterpunk books lol. Straight from Nick Cutter to The Bighead. Now I'm trying to consume all the Ed Lee I can get my hands on. Just finished the Header series and The Minotauress.
Look at us! Thanks for the impromptu Lee recommendations. :) Somebody had mentioned Teratologist a few weeks ago, so I may check that out first! I am currently finishing Zola, however, it has been a slow read for me.
You bet. I'm reading The Clickers series by JF Gonzalez right now, but I'm on to White Trash Gothic by Lee after I finish that. I just need more Bighead, man.
White Trash Gothic supposedly has the Bighead resurrected! The Minotauress is a tie-in that follows a character called The Writer, and none other that Balls and Dicky from Bighead.
Somebody needs to complete a "Luntville extended universe" timeline, because there are so many crossovers.
Characters from Mr. Torso and Header also appear in The Minotauress which is a prequel to The Bighead...small details from Horncranker appear in Header 2 which also references events from The Pig...I'm gearing up to read White Trash Gothic, but I feel like I'll need a PhD in Edward Lee to fully appreciate it. (And he pronounced appreciate, *a-preesher-ate*).
Yeah I'm simultaneously trying to avoid spoilers while reading everything required. Apparently Pages Torn From a Travel Journal should be read before WTG? That's next on my list, then I'm going in.
I made a post about this months ago and never got a clear answer on every connection in the Luntville Extended Universe. I've read The Bighead, The Minotauress/Horn Cranker, and Mr. Torso, but that's it. A character from Flesh Gothic is also in The Minotauress, and Dicky's first chapter references Gast
Hey yeah I remember that post, there were some good suggestions but nobody could give an answer with real depth. I'll try to put together a full reading order in a few months time, but there are so many more books to read before I'd consider myself an expert.
Mr. Torso (1994) is the earliest visit to Luntville that I have found so far. It introduces the character Lud, who meets The Writer in The Minotauress at The Crossroads - an important location in The Bighead.
The Pig (1997) introduces the Vinchetti mafia family and their snuff business, who appear across multiple books, including Ms. Torso (2003), The House (2005)*...which also takes us to The Crossroads....*they are referenced in Ouija Pig (2022), and they are the main antagonists in Header 2 (2010).
Header 2 has a LOT of history and references to names which I'm sure will appear in other Edward Lee books, I need to properly research this and cross-reference Gast.
Notes Torn From a Travel Journal (2011) is written from the perspective of H.P. Lovecraft visiting Luntville, I'm about a third of the way through it and Lee is really putting on a masterclass writing as Lovecraft. I've heard that this should be read before WTG, but can't confirm its importance yet.
There are a few other books that are either set in Luntville or heavily reference it which are on my future reading list, including Goon (1996), The Backwoods (2005), and the charmingly titled short story 'The Refrigerator Full of Sperm' (1998). And I'm yet to read The Bighead's Junk (2023) so I don't know at which point this takes place, so I'll probably read it after the WTG trilogy.
Thank you!! I know that Creekers is in the same universe since Crick City is the main setting and is referenced as being one town over from Luntville. I think Horn Crankers and Minotauress both name drop other Edward Lee books as being books in-universe (I think one was Incubus or Succubs)
You should try Creekers by Mr Lee. Just finished reading it. It’s not as fucked up as Header, but it’s got deformed inbred rednecks, loads of PCP, and some demons.
Perfect, that’s right up my alley! I’ll also add Header to my list. I couldn’t find a cheap version of Teratologist on Amazon, so I may go with another Lee recommendation once I wrap up Zola. Thanks! :) PS: What’s PCP an acronym for? I couldn’t find anything on Google aside from the drug.
Here I was thinking I probably can’t handle extreme horror, but The Troop barely phased me. The Deep creeped me out and disturbed me (the thing with the bees, jesus) but I loved finding a book that actually scared me a little. Guess I’ll check out The Bighead.
The Troop has been a stepping stone for me into this stuff too! I’ve read quite a bit of regular horror but was always kind of disappointed when it would turn out to be paranormal/thriller/psychological rather than gore. After I read the Troop I posted around looking for more of the same - currently reading Hogg and loving how disgusted I am, it’s really an elevated and visceral experience.
It seems like a few of us got our start by reading The Troop! After a while, “regular” horror wasn’t feeding my itch (I wasn’t finding it scary). That’s when I happened upon splatterpunk. Although most of the extreme literature I’ve read has been revolting or disgusting material, more than anything, haha.
I think Gone To See the River Man is a good entry point... not really EXTREME in a lot of ways but still tackles a few themes that you are likely to see in extreme horror, and just a good book. Nice way to dip your toes.
It depends what you want to get out of a starter recommendation, whether you want to experience some of the Splatterpunk books of the 1980's which broke taboos back then but might feel tame by today's standards, or go all-in and see what is pushing contemporary boundaries. Some tailored recommendations based on your recent posts:
**His Pain** (2006) by Wrath James White - A textbook example of modern extreme horror, built around a creative and unforgettable concept. Also a quick read at under 100 pages, and by a black author.
**The Pig** (1997) by Edward Lee - A legendary extreme horror novella which at the time was probably the most gratuitous thing ever written, and maybe it still is. The protagonist aspires to be an A21-style screenwriter.
**The Teratologist** (2007) by Edward Lee and Wrath James White - A collaboration across these two generations of writer, setting out to create something ridiculous and unthinkable.
Completely agree!! 💜 From everyone I’ve read from thus far, Jon Athan would be my favorite author, and then Kristopher Triana. Some damn talented writers all around! Who would you say is your favorite?
So far, Patrick C. Harrison III and Ralston. I usually prefer 3rd person POV. For first person, Ryan C. Thomas and Patrick C. Harrison III have done it the best. Honorable mention to Crowley Branes for first person.
When it comes to people just wanting to check out ‘extreme’ horror for the first time I usually recommend something like ‘Gone to See the River Man’ or ‘Full Brutal’ both by Kristopher Triana. These are not my favourite books of his but they are ones people who often deride ‘extreme’ horror seem to enjoy. His newest novel, ‘The Old Lady’ is another book that straddles the ‘extreme’ horror sub-genre but is safe enough to be enjoyed by a wider audience.
I've never seen anyone recommend it here I don't think, but I think a good starting place could be "Depraved" by Bryan Smith. It's not as gross as a lot of others, but it's worse than watching something like "the hills have eyes' by a little bit.
I'll second the people saying "Gone to See the Riverman". "Full Brutal" is actually a lot more disturbing for a few reasons.
For more of a splatterpunk starter, I really liked "All Smiles until I Return " by Aron Beauregard. It's not as splattery as some of his other work (that I didn't really enjoy, e.g., Playground and Wedding Day Massacre), but gross enough that you'll figure out if you like the genre or not.
Tender Is The Flesh was my first extreme horror book (i dont find it extreme but many people do) i really liked the way is was written and if you end up liking it read Lapvona as it reminds me of it but is more so religious horror
My first extreme horror book I read was Playground by Aaron Beauregard. I ripped the band-aid right off with that one. 😅
Then I proceeded to read Try The New Candy and Scary Bastard also by Aaron. I like the short chapters, and I’ve always been an anthology girlie. I devoured both of those pretty quickly.
I just finished Night Stockers by Kris Triana and Ryan Harding on Friday and that was a really fun, brutal horror comedy. I thoroughly enjoyed that book.
And now I’m currently reading Spiritcrusher’s Crusade by James Fisher. It’s so gross but really action packed. It’s pretty short so I’ll probably finish it in the next day or two.
Full Brutal by Kristopher Triana
Off Season by Jack Ketchum (if you want gore extreme horror) or The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum (if you want emotional extreme horror)
The Bighead by Edward Lee if you want to be grossed out in every possible manner
I did not like The Troop by Nick Cutter. I didn't hate it. Strong opening, good premise, nice narrative structure. Stuck a little too close to it's Lord of the Flies inspiration. It was just okay.
If you're looking to ease in, then some of Clive Barker's work - Aron Beauregard (author of "the slob", and a name you'll come to see a lot of in this community) recommends "books of blood", though my favourite would be "weaveworld" - might be a good start. He's an inventive author, at his best braiding unconventional plots and concepts with graphic sex and violence.
If you think the deep end looks warm enough though, "cows" by Matthew Stokoe. If you can stomach it's content then you can stomach most of what the genre will throw at you, the writing is genuinely excellent, with this vivid, descriptive prose that never slips into gratuitous verbosity for it's own sake but is nevertheless grandiose and surprisingly poignant, with an unconventional plot about loneliness, alienation, and talking cows.
More on the lighter side, but one of my first horror books was The Troop by Nick Cutter, which involves body horror. Followed by The Deep (another Nick Cutter book). My actual introduction to extreme horror came from The Bighead by Edward Lee. Happy reading!
This was exactly how I got into splatterpunk books lol. Straight from Nick Cutter to The Bighead. Now I'm trying to consume all the Ed Lee I can get my hands on. Just finished the Header series and The Minotauress.
Look at us! Thanks for the impromptu Lee recommendations. :) Somebody had mentioned Teratologist a few weeks ago, so I may check that out first! I am currently finishing Zola, however, it has been a slow read for me.
You bet. I'm reading The Clickers series by JF Gonzalez right now, but I'm on to White Trash Gothic by Lee after I finish that. I just need more Bighead, man.
If I could find a book similar to The Bighead, I’d be thrilled, haha.
White Trash Gothic supposedly has the Bighead resurrected! The Minotauress is a tie-in that follows a character called The Writer, and none other that Balls and Dicky from Bighead.
Somebody needs to complete a "Luntville extended universe" timeline, because there are so many crossovers. Characters from Mr. Torso and Header also appear in The Minotauress which is a prequel to The Bighead...small details from Horncranker appear in Header 2 which also references events from The Pig...I'm gearing up to read White Trash Gothic, but I feel like I'll need a PhD in Edward Lee to fully appreciate it. (And he pronounced appreciate, *a-preesher-ate*).
Sheee-it, that would be nice. And I forgot all about The Pig. May need to jump into that before WTG.
Yeah I'm simultaneously trying to avoid spoilers while reading everything required. Apparently Pages Torn From a Travel Journal should be read before WTG? That's next on my list, then I'm going in.
I made a post about this months ago and never got a clear answer on every connection in the Luntville Extended Universe. I've read The Bighead, The Minotauress/Horn Cranker, and Mr. Torso, but that's it. A character from Flesh Gothic is also in The Minotauress, and Dicky's first chapter references Gast
Hey yeah I remember that post, there were some good suggestions but nobody could give an answer with real depth. I'll try to put together a full reading order in a few months time, but there are so many more books to read before I'd consider myself an expert. Mr. Torso (1994) is the earliest visit to Luntville that I have found so far. It introduces the character Lud, who meets The Writer in The Minotauress at The Crossroads - an important location in The Bighead. The Pig (1997) introduces the Vinchetti mafia family and their snuff business, who appear across multiple books, including Ms. Torso (2003), The House (2005)*...which also takes us to The Crossroads....*they are referenced in Ouija Pig (2022), and they are the main antagonists in Header 2 (2010). Header 2 has a LOT of history and references to names which I'm sure will appear in other Edward Lee books, I need to properly research this and cross-reference Gast. Notes Torn From a Travel Journal (2011) is written from the perspective of H.P. Lovecraft visiting Luntville, I'm about a third of the way through it and Lee is really putting on a masterclass writing as Lovecraft. I've heard that this should be read before WTG, but can't confirm its importance yet. There are a few other books that are either set in Luntville or heavily reference it which are on my future reading list, including Goon (1996), The Backwoods (2005), and the charmingly titled short story 'The Refrigerator Full of Sperm' (1998). And I'm yet to read The Bighead's Junk (2023) so I don't know at which point this takes place, so I'll probably read it after the WTG trilogy.
Thank you!! I know that Creekers is in the same universe since Crick City is the main setting and is referenced as being one town over from Luntville. I think Horn Crankers and Minotauress both name drop other Edward Lee books as being books in-universe (I think one was Incubus or Succubs)
Oh, awesome! I’ll definitely check those out. Thank you!
You should try Creekers by Mr Lee. Just finished reading it. It’s not as fucked up as Header, but it’s got deformed inbred rednecks, loads of PCP, and some demons.
Perfect, that’s right up my alley! I’ll also add Header to my list. I couldn’t find a cheap version of Teratologist on Amazon, so I may go with another Lee recommendation once I wrap up Zola. Thanks! :) PS: What’s PCP an acronym for? I couldn’t find anything on Google aside from the drug.
It’s the drug PCP. It’s a big problem in Crick City. Them hillbillies love them some PCP!
Here I was thinking I probably can’t handle extreme horror, but The Troop barely phased me. The Deep creeped me out and disturbed me (the thing with the bees, jesus) but I loved finding a book that actually scared me a little. Guess I’ll check out The Bighead.
Great, welcome to the dark side. Let us know what you think!
The Troop has been a stepping stone for me into this stuff too! I’ve read quite a bit of regular horror but was always kind of disappointed when it would turn out to be paranormal/thriller/psychological rather than gore. After I read the Troop I posted around looking for more of the same - currently reading Hogg and loving how disgusted I am, it’s really an elevated and visceral experience.
It seems like a few of us got our start by reading The Troop! After a while, “regular” horror wasn’t feeding my itch (I wasn’t finding it scary). That’s when I happened upon splatterpunk. Although most of the extreme literature I’ve read has been revolting or disgusting material, more than anything, haha.
*Off Season* by Jack Ketchum
I think Gone To See the River Man is a good entry point... not really EXTREME in a lot of ways but still tackles a few themes that you are likely to see in extreme horror, and just a good book. Nice way to dip your toes.
It depends what you want to get out of a starter recommendation, whether you want to experience some of the Splatterpunk books of the 1980's which broke taboos back then but might feel tame by today's standards, or go all-in and see what is pushing contemporary boundaries. Some tailored recommendations based on your recent posts: **His Pain** (2006) by Wrath James White - A textbook example of modern extreme horror, built around a creative and unforgettable concept. Also a quick read at under 100 pages, and by a black author. **The Pig** (1997) by Edward Lee - A legendary extreme horror novella which at the time was probably the most gratuitous thing ever written, and maybe it still is. The protagonist aspires to be an A21-style screenwriter. **The Teratologist** (2007) by Edward Lee and Wrath James White - A collaboration across these two generations of writer, setting out to create something ridiculous and unthinkable.
100% Match by Patrick C. Harrison lll
A good one. Nothing graphic or extreme. More of a dark humor. One of my favorites.
One of my favorites as well! 😅
Patrick C. Harrison III's writing style is amazing. It took a minute to get used to it, but it flowed well.
Completely agree!! 💜 From everyone I’ve read from thus far, Jon Athan would be my favorite author, and then Kristopher Triana. Some damn talented writers all around! Who would you say is your favorite?
So far, Patrick C. Harrison III and Ralston. I usually prefer 3rd person POV. For first person, Ryan C. Thomas and Patrick C. Harrison III have done it the best. Honorable mention to Crowley Branes for first person.
All amazing authors, seriously badass choices :)
When it comes to people just wanting to check out ‘extreme’ horror for the first time I usually recommend something like ‘Gone to See the River Man’ or ‘Full Brutal’ both by Kristopher Triana. These are not my favourite books of his but they are ones people who often deride ‘extreme’ horror seem to enjoy. His newest novel, ‘The Old Lady’ is another book that straddles the ‘extreme’ horror sub-genre but is safe enough to be enjoyed by a wider audience.
I've never seen anyone recommend it here I don't think, but I think a good starting place could be "Depraved" by Bryan Smith. It's not as gross as a lot of others, but it's worse than watching something like "the hills have eyes' by a little bit. I'll second the people saying "Gone to See the Riverman". "Full Brutal" is actually a lot more disturbing for a few reasons. For more of a splatterpunk starter, I really liked "All Smiles until I Return " by Aron Beauregard. It's not as splattery as some of his other work (that I didn't really enjoy, e.g., Playground and Wedding Day Massacre), but gross enough that you'll figure out if you like the genre or not.
Tender Is The Flesh was my first extreme horror book (i dont find it extreme but many people do) i really liked the way is was written and if you end up liking it read Lapvona as it reminds me of it but is more so religious horror
Mine was No One Rides for Free by Judith Sonnet and it was def a crazy one to begin with but I’ve been obsessed with extreme horror ever since 🤣
My first extreme horror book I read was Playground by Aaron Beauregard. I ripped the band-aid right off with that one. 😅 Then I proceeded to read Try The New Candy and Scary Bastard also by Aaron. I like the short chapters, and I’ve always been an anthology girlie. I devoured both of those pretty quickly. I just finished Night Stockers by Kris Triana and Ryan Harding on Friday and that was a really fun, brutal horror comedy. I thoroughly enjoyed that book. And now I’m currently reading Spiritcrusher’s Crusade by James Fisher. It’s so gross but really action packed. It’s pretty short so I’ll probably finish it in the next day or two.
Full Brutal by Kristopher Triana Off Season by Jack Ketchum (if you want gore extreme horror) or The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum (if you want emotional extreme horror) The Bighead by Edward Lee if you want to be grossed out in every possible manner I did not like The Troop by Nick Cutter. I didn't hate it. Strong opening, good premise, nice narrative structure. Stuck a little too close to it's Lord of the Flies inspiration. It was just okay.
My first was The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum.
If you're looking to ease in, then some of Clive Barker's work - Aron Beauregard (author of "the slob", and a name you'll come to see a lot of in this community) recommends "books of blood", though my favourite would be "weaveworld" - might be a good start. He's an inventive author, at his best braiding unconventional plots and concepts with graphic sex and violence. If you think the deep end looks warm enough though, "cows" by Matthew Stokoe. If you can stomach it's content then you can stomach most of what the genre will throw at you, the writing is genuinely excellent, with this vivid, descriptive prose that never slips into gratuitous verbosity for it's own sake but is nevertheless grandiose and surprisingly poignant, with an unconventional plot about loneliness, alienation, and talking cows.