LITERARY DARKNESS is a book discussion group on Goodreads with over 3,500 members, many of them teachers, librarians, writers – passionate readers all. As the group progresses through its eighth year, our knowledgeable and enthusiastic membership continues 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. It is a reading list, pure and simple. Many wonderful books are out there, and we hope to experience them all. Our goal is to help others discover them as well.

Come. Explore with us.

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

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Fresh Blood:
These are new titles recognized by the group as having made a considerable impact during the past year.

Nona's Room by Cristina Fernández Cubas
Switchblade by Sandy DeLuca
Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enríquez
A Winter Sleep by Greg F. Gifune
Everything Under by Daisy Johnson
Things You Need by Kevin Lucia
Bone White by Ronald Malfi
The Anomaly by Michael Rutger
Darkest Hours by Mike Thorn
Little Eve by Catriona Ward

Contemporary:
These may be collections of short fiction or literary essays, anthologies or novels. All are from the recent past and all are extraordinary.

Sacrificial Nights by Bruce Boston and Alessandro Manzetti
Speaking to Skull Kings and Other Stories by Emily B. Cataneo
The Bone Mother by David Demchuk
The Lost Daughter Collective by Lindsey Drager
Paupers’ Graves by James Everington
The Witch Elm by Tana French
And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe by Gwendolyn Kiste
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin
Things to Do When You're Goth in the Country: and Other Stories by Chavisa Woods

Vintage:
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.

The October Country by Ray Bradbury
The Werewolf of Paris by Guy Endore
The Shadow Year: A Novel by Jeffrey Ford
The Cormorant by Stephen Gregory
The Snowman's Children by Glen Hirshberg
The Red Tree by Caitlin R. Kiernan
Feesters in the Lake & Other Stories by Bob Leman
The Night Country by Stewart O’Nan
Holiday by M. Ricker
Night Has a Thousand Eyes by Cornell Woolrich

Buried Treasures:
This is a list of titles, some celebrated, some obscure, that in so many ways evoke the finest qualities of literary darkness.

The Burning Court by John Dickson Carr
The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares
The Chimes by Charles Dickens
The Invisible Eye: Tales of Terror by Emile Erckmann and Louis Alexandre Chatrian
The Ministry of Fear by Graham Greene
Checkmate by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Thus Were Their Faces: Selected Short Stories by Silvina Ocampo
Denis Bracknel by Forrest Reid
The Hole of the Pit by Adrian Ross
Randalls Round by Eleanor Scott

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 more lurid fare) in favor of beautifully written explorations of the unknown, many obscure, all extraordinary. In addition to maintaining hundreds of ongoing conversations – on topics ranging from favorite classics to cutting-edge subgenres – LITERARY DARKNESS features a popular group reading series.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Come. Savor the darkness with us.