Jump scares are nearly impossible to accomplish in reading, at least not in comparison to any form of it on screen. The lack of sound effects and visual stimulus makes a truly startling jump scare what I would consider to be a literary feat of monumental proportions.
For the purpose of this post, graphic novels are excluded. This one has to be text only. It doesn't have to be in the horror genre either, though obviously it's likely that most answers will come from that direction.
Hopefully it goes without saying to avoid spoilers for the scare itself, but I'll keep it here just in case haha. If you have to say anything, please use the spoiler marks accordingly.
by PsyferRL
1 Comment
I’ll get the ball rolling and say my answer is *Authority* by Jeff VanderMeer. It’s funny because this book in comparison to the first in the series is overall pretty mundane. But that one scene man… if you’ve also read it, you probably know exactly what scene I’m talking about (even if it didn’t get you the way it got me).