I just moved to Texas and I’m attempting to find some good horror/thriller novels that take place in or are inspired by Texas. I am inching through Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian and can safely say that it’s not for me. I don’t mind the gnarly gore and violence, but that combined with the ominous undertone of racism is just a little too close to home with what’s happening in this country right now. (Fucked.)
I do more research and pick up The Essential Horror by Joe Lansdale- his short story collection. I’m noticing that the writing style is… disconnected? Like there’s no regard to the reader. Sometimes that’s the nature of short stories, sure. I’ve read all of Stephen King’s short story collections and all of Clive Barker’s books of blood (I’m a huge fan of both) so I’m used to being jerked around and shocked, but I’m really struggling with this guy. I just finished Bizarre Hands and I’m not sure I want to read further. Please commiserate with me if you’ve also been offended by this story.
Ideally I’d like to find an author that is either from Texas, or someone’s fiction that is heavily inspired by the surroundings. And let me be clear- some of my favorite stories involve murder, incest, pedophilia, and all the bad things. FICTION PEOPLE. Those fictional tropes are fine by me as long as there’s a storyline and it’s well-written. Give me all of the Flowers in the Attic/American Psycho/Lolita type shit. Blood Meridian is where I draw the line, apparently.
Please help me, I need to escape reality!
Thanks for reading!
by fagbunny