Raven Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 You'll be relieved to know neither of them is really horror; they're gothic novels (the Romantic ancestor of horror novels) and, while they both contain supernatural elements and nail-biting moments, they are mainly concerned with emotions and ethics. "Dracula" could be considered the first vampire romance of all time, and "Frankenstein" is more about the dangers of playing God and hate crime as a vicious circle than anything else. Thanks for that! I know the basic story of both, and have heard/seen several adaptations of both on radio and/or film, but I would like to read the original texts one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArthurDent Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 The very first horror books I ever read were those from the Goosebumps series ( I can't remember their author) when I was... 13 or 14 perhaps. They scared the heck out of me. :eek2: My son is reading these now (9 year old). He reads a page and then hides under the blanket. He comes to the living room saying he's too scared to go to sleep and I tell him to get a book, and that will calm him down. Then I see what book he takes. LoL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexiepiper Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Aw that's so cute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobgoblin Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 My first Horror was Cujo by Stephen King... Rabies meets St Bernard dog. My first Fantasy was Magician by Raymond Feist My first Sci Fi was probably A Brave New World by Adolus Huxley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreader Posted April 11, 2009 Author Share Posted April 11, 2009 really You'll be relieved to know neither of them is horror; they're gothic novels (the Romantic ancestor of horror novels) and, while they both contain supernatural elements and nail-biting moments, they are mainly concerned with emotions and ethics. "Dracula" could be considered the first vampire romance of all time, and "Frankenstein" is more about the dangers of playing God and hate crime as a vicious circle than anything else. That's why I enjoyed them. They both had sad bits and I consider Dracula to be a sad love story. R.L. Stine. I used to buy his books by the truckload, YA genius he was. the "Night of the Living Dummy" miniseries and "Say Cheese and Die" were easily his best. I remember that when my first tentative novel (age: 11) was compared to his work I thought it the best compliment ever! I have my nephew's "Say Cheese and Die" on my shelf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNunes Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Hi I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leah86 Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 The very first horror books I ever read were those from the Goosebumps series ( I can't remember their author) when I was... 13 or 14 perhaps. They scared the heck out of me. Me too!! I used to love Goosebumps series and also Point Horror series. Brings back so many memories,got really excited there! I recall really scaring myself with the Point Horror stories when i was about 9 years old! I think the first fantasy was probably an Enid Blyton book, although I don't realy recall the name of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leah86 Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 I have my nephew's "Say Cheese and Die" on my shelf. I remember this one, I think that book is still in my mam and dad's somewhere in the attic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissWhitlock Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 I think the first ever Fantasy book I read was Lord of the Rings. Fell in love with it completely. I can't really remember though. ANd I don't really read much Sci-fi and horror. I'm trying though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookJumper Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 I haven't read any horror books yet but i'm really open to suggestions. If any of you could suggest me any good ones i'd apreciate it. For an introduction to horror I'd try an old-school Stephen King (like "Carrie", "Miser", "The Dark Half" or "Christine" - my personal favourites), Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire" (swiftly followed by "The Vampire Lestat" - easily the best in the series - and "Queen of the Damned"; the three original and best "Vampire Chronicles", the later ones aren't as good), or Clive Barker's "Nightbreed" (I haven't actually read this one but the film, which is awesome, was scripted by the author so I'm guessing the book needs be awesome also). Point Horror OMG I loved Point Horror so bad! Borrowed from my nan's local library so much they were nearly mine... that series sported some of the best teen vampire romance EVER! They don't write them that good no more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leah86 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 OMG I loved Point Horror so bad! Borrowed from my nan's local library so much they were nearly mine... that series sported some of the best teen vampire romance EVER! They don't write them that good no more. Absolutely agree..I used to do that too,in the library and when ever my nan would bring me in to town, I would slyly hint at her maybe buying me a Point Horror book! Which she always did, because she spoiled me, bless her.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atticjnr Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I cant remember the first one but the one that really sparked my passion for reading was when I was about 10 and we were read the first chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. After school I got my mum to buy it for me and read it within a day or two and I dont think I've stopped reading since. I still love reading the Harry Potter series now. I do also recall spending many nights reading Goosebumps books too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pablo Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 ...Clive Barker's "Nightbreed" (I haven't actually read this one but the film, which is awesome, was scripted by the author so I'm guessing the book needs be awesome also). The book format of Nightbreed is called Cabal and, to be fair, it's not one of Clive's best. Anyway, the first book I read was Spider-World - The Tower by Colin Wilson around age 12. As you'd suspect from the title it's a fantasy book. I recently tracked it down and re-read it - It is every bit as enjoyable as I remember it being. The first horror book was The Hell-bound Heart by Clive Barker. Sci-fi didn't appear on my radar until much later. Only recent years in fact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie1113 Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Interesting question. Now I'm not sure I can remember and I wish I could. Contenders: Madeline L'Engle, Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising. Probable first: The Witch Next Door or Gus Was a Friendly Ghost. Kids books, yes. But subject matter was what we're going for, and they fit. Definite first for horror: Night Shift by Stephen King. I was 8, and my parents had gone to visit the next door neighbor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimmy619 Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 The Hobbit - I love that book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanna Addison Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 My first fantasy was probably the Worst Witch series (a private school for witches only - the hapless heroine was Mildred Hubble who couldn't cast a successful spell and when she tries the results are extremely hilarious.) You could say though The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was the first true fantasy I ever read. I only read LOTR because I was such a huge Lewis fan so when I found out he was best friends with the author of LOTR I read them too. Also the films came out and we went to see them all as a family. Not really into sci-fi which is why I love the mickey take of Hitchhikers and that was my first sci fi. Dean Koontz is the first Horror author I truly fell in love with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimmy619 Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 My first fantasy was probably the Worst Witch series (a private school for witches only - the hapless heroine was Mildred Hubble who couldn't cast a successful spell and when she tries the results are extremely hilarious.) I used to really love those books! Ahhh, memories! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanna Addison Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Memories indeed Kimmy ... loved those as a girl... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexiepiper Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Didn't they have a tv show about the worst witch? I remember something like that and I really liked it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanna Addison Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 They did and it wasn't so bad. I'll always prefer the books - got to find them again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 The Elvenbane by Mercedes Lackey & Andre Norton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaraM Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Like a few others on here, I first read Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree. I am now in the process of reading it to my 4 year old son who loves it as much as I did. The first horror book I ever remember reading was The Deathwalkers. I can't remember who wrote it, but it really scared me (I was only 12 at the time) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Never read the Deathwalker stories by David Gemmell they look good must have a look out for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 I'm fairly certain it was Terry Brooks' Sword Of Shannara,fantasy-wise,and I'm still reading him 30+ yrs later(I sound ancient!). I've got the latest trilogy starting with Armageddon's Children waiting impatiently on my bookcase! Horror was James Herbert's Rats. I had nightmares as kid reading that and the two sequels! I can't honestly remember my first sci-fi! Def getting old! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Readwine Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 My first sci-fi book was The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury. My first fantasy book was by Ursula Le Guin but cannot remember the title ( maybe one of the Earthsea books). My first horror book was The Omen by D. Deltzer. I read The Omen when I was about 12 and sick in bed for a fortnight. It began a binge during my sickness: The Exorcist, Rosemary's Baby, something about a Rose, etc. You get the pattern. Either I was going to die of fright and horror or I was going to get well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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