Here are a few cosmic horror recommendations from diverse perspectives that reclaim and reimagine the Lovecraftian mythos and are excellent places to start if you want to get into the genre.
Reading Queer Fear
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it a thousand times more: nobody writes horror like the queer community. All across the genre, LGBTQIA+ authors are redefining the monster that emerges from the closet, reclaiming familiar horror tropes—hidden identities, bodily transformations, possession, the casting out of "evil", dark curses, the endangerment of children, fear of…
I’m Not Myself Today: Possession Horror
Last September, my husband and I visited the Museum of Shadows in Omaha, NE. Voted the most haunted museum in the world, this destination is home to over 3,000 verified haunted artifacts sent from all over the globe. It was deliciously creepy and the museum staff made things extra nerve-wracking by handing us flashlights (the…
Bone Chilling Cold Weather Reads
Chilly weather always puts me in the mood for chilling reads - books that have characters fighting for survival in the wintery wilderness or taking shelter in isolated cabins/manors/inns while winter rages outdoors and a killer is lying in wait indoors amongst unsuspecting victims. Books like these send shivers down my spine and I love…
Fiction for the Fright Flick Fan
We are in the depths of Spooky Season. By now you've probably hunted the pumpkin patch for perfect carving pumpkins. You've surely hung up your frightful decorations, stocked up on Halloween candy for trick-or-treaters, and of course your October evening schedules are probably filled with Halloween movie marathons. But what about your reading lists? Are…
Summer is for Chills: Japan’s Spooky Season
In Japan, summer vacation begins right around the time ours is coming to an end – in August. But did you know that in the land of sushi, Shinto shrines and anime, summer in Japan is also traditionally the season for ghost stories? That’s right! For centuries, the Japanese have honored their ancestors with a…
Terror in Translation
Over the years I’ve been deep diving into horror fiction written by authors outside of our American borders. What I love and what’s important about reading horror fiction from other countries and cultures is the opportunity to experience fear outside of our usual expectations for horror. Horror as a genre is birthed from our surroundings…
I’m Dreaming of a Fright Christmas
You don’t have to say what I’m sure you’re all thinking. What business does the Spooky Librarian have with the holiday season? Why does she keep popping up on the Lawrence Public Library homepage to share scary stories instead of warm, cozy, feel-good reads? Well, believe it or not, Christmas Horror and holiday ghost stories…
‘Tis the Spooky Season
Deck the halls with bats and cobwebs, Spooky Season is in full swing! Have you dusted off your witch's hat, coaxed your skeleton from its closet, and saluted your neighborly black cat? Good! Have you chosen your pumpkins for carving, checked your basement for ghosts, and stocked your cupboards with candy? Excellent! Looking for some…
Septembers Are for Scary Short Stories
There is honestly something comforting and cathartic about adding a short story to your daily routine. And if you’re a macabre reader like I am, a scary short story makes it all the better! Whether I make time early in the morning for a quick slasher or curl up in bed, fluff my pillows and…
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