LITERARY DARKNESS is a book discussion group on Goodreads with well over two thousand members, many of them teachers, librarians, writers – passionate readers all. Now in our fifth year, our knowledgeable and enthusiastic members continue to analyze and appreciate dark literature. This annual list of notable books is in no way intended as an award, nor is it meant to imply exclusivity. Many wonderful books are out there, and we hope to read them all. Our goal is to help others discover them as well.

Some books become lights in the eternal darkness. What follows is a list of recommendations and commendations… combined with heartfelt thanks to the many fine writers who keep readers awake at night.

Fresh Blood:
These are new titles recognized by the group for having made a considerable impact during the past year.
THE BEAUTIFUL THING THAT AWAITS US ALL by Laird Barron
DREAM OF THE SERPENT by Alan Ryker
FALLING OVER by James Everington
HOUSE OF RAIN by Greg F. Gifune
LESSER CREATURES by Peter Giglio
LURKER by Gary Fry
THE NEW FLESH by Keith Deininger
THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE MEDICATION by Lauren James
WE ARE WORMWOOD by Autumn Christian
WHITSABLE by Stephen Volk

Contemporary Titles:
These may be collections of short fiction or literary essays, anthologies or novels. All are from the recent past and all are extraordinary.
EVERY HOUSE IS HAUNTED by Ian Rogers
FRISK by Dennis Cooper
THE GARGOYLE by Andrew Davidson
THE KNIFE AND THE WOUND IT DEALS by B. E. Scully
THE MILL by Mark West
HEAD INJURIES by Conrad Williams
SONGS OF A DEAD DREAMER by Thomas Ligotti
STAY AWAKE by Dan Chaon
TALES OF THE WEAK & WOUNDED by Gary McMahon
UNDER THE SKIN by Michel Faber

Vintage Works:
Calling a book a Classic can be like entombing it. Many readers would sooner pry open the lid of a coffin than peer between those musty pages. Often this represents a sort of tragedy. Some books seethe with life and emotion… and cry out to be read. These are among our favorites.
ANCIENT IMAGES by Ramsey Campbell
THE BLOODY CHAMBER by Angela Carter
THE DWARF by Par Lagerkvist
LES FLEURS DU MAL by Charles Baudelaire
GREEN THOUGHTS by John Collier
THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND by William Hope Hodgson
LÀ-BAS by Joris-Karl Huysman
MY SECRET HISTORY by Paul Theroux
THE TURN OF THE SCREW by Henry James
WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE by Shirley Jackson

Buried Treasures:
This is a list of titles, some celebrated, some obscure, that in so many ways evoke the finest qualities of literary darkness.
DHALGREN by Samuel R. Delany
ISLINGTON CROCODILES by Paul Meloy
LIGHTFALL by Paul Monette
LILITH’S BROOD by Octavia Butler
THE LIVING ONE by Lewis Gannett
MILK by Darcie Steinke
THE NIGHT CLASS by Tom Piccirilli
THE NIGHT LISTENER by Armistead Maupin
THE SCHOOL by T. M. Wright
WIRE MESH MOTHERS by Elizabeth Massie

LITERARY DARKNESS is dedicated to an appreciation of important works of literature, both classic and contemporary, that happen to fall into the category of Dark Fiction. We tend to avoid the big, banal blockbusters (and the more lurid fare) in favor of beautifully written explorations of the unknown, many obscure, all extraordinary.

In addition to maintaining ongoing conversations in hundreds of threads – covering topics as diverse as favorite classics and a variety of cutting-edge subgenres and literary styles – LITERARY DARKNESS features a popular group reading series.

We are currently reading TOURS OF THE BLACK CLOCK by Steve Erickson.

Join us at:


The actual blog posting is here:

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http://www.UninvitedBooks.com

What? No Harry Potter?

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"There's no law, no law anymore - I wanna steal from the rich and give to the poor."
~The Ramones~

The School by T. M. Wright? Gotta look that one up.

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http://www.UninvitedBooks.com

You guys should check out North American Lake Monsters.

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Mike Styczen: As far as I can tell, all of Toronto is on the lookout for some sort of demented leprechaun. If Toronto didn't exist, we'd have to invent it

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Scattershot Writing:

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http://www.UninvitedBooks.com

That looks a great list! More to go on my TBR pile (along with NA Lake Monsters). And Rob, my apologies for not visiting the LD group recently, I've been horribly busy but I'll try and get back as soon as I can.

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http://www.UninvitedBooks.com

I was expecting HorrorDude to say that.

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http://www.UninvitedBooks.com

Listen to nothing that Lord Dunbar might mumble.

This guy bogarts the joint when it's passed to him.

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"There's no law, no law anymore - I wanna steal from the rich and give to the poor."
~The Ramones~