LITERARY DARKNESS is a lively book discussion group on Goodreads with over 2700 members, many of them teachers, librarians, writers – passionate readers all. Now in our sixth 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 heartfelt gratitude to the many fine writers who keep readers awake at night.


Fresh Blood:
These are new titles recognized by the group as having made a considerable impact during the past year.
THE WATER KNIFE by Paolo Bacigalupi
BROKEN MONSTERS by Lauren Beukes
THE CORPSE EXHIBITION by Hassan Blasim
BITTER WATERS by Chaz Brenchley
THE SHAPE OF EVERY MONSTER YET TO COME by Brian Allen Carr
THE QUARANTINED CITY by James Everington
ORPHANS OF WONDERLAND by Greg F. Gifune
AFTER THE PEOPLE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF by Stephen Graham Jones
PRAYING DRUNK by Kyle Minor
BURNT BLACK SUNS by Simon Strantzas


Contemporary:
These may be collections of short fiction or literary essays, anthologies or novels. All are from the recent past and all are extraordinary.
NORTH AMERICAN LAKE MONSTERS by Nathan Ballingrud
IN THE HOUSE UPON THE DIRT BETWEEN THE LAKE AND THE WOODS by Matt Bell
MOTHER BOX AND OTHER TALES by Sarah Blackman
THE NATURAL DISSOLUTION OF FLEETING-IMPROVISED MEN by Gabriel Blackwell
THE ROAD TO LONDON by Adriano Bulla
THE DAZZLING DARKNESS by Paula Cappa
BOTTLED ABYSS by Benjamin Kane Ethridge
MIRA CORPORA by Jeff Jackson
VAMPIRES IN THE LEMON GROVE by Karen Russell
THE CRIMSON THREAD OF ABANDON by Shuji Terayama


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.
FICCIONES by Jorge Luis Borges
DRAWING BLOOD by Poppy Z. Brite
NAOMI by Douglas Clegg
LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding
THE KINGDOM OF EVIL by Ben Hecht
THE CEREMONIES by T.E.D. Klein
THE MONK by Matthew Gregory Lewis
MELMOTH THE WANDERER by Charles Maturin
THE ELEMENTALS by Michael McDowell
THE OTHER by Thomas Tryon


Buried Treasures:
This is a list of titles, some celebrated, some obscure, that in so many ways evoke the finest qualities of literary darkness.
EMPIRE OF THE SENSELESS by Kathy Acker
GODS AND MONSTERS by Christopher Bram
THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE NEST OF SPIDERS by Samuel R. Delany
THE OBSCENE BIRD OF NIGHT by José Donoso
STABS AT HAPPINESS by Todd Grimson
HOUSE OF WINDOWS by John Langan
THE FIFTH CHILD by Doris Lessing
A SEASON IN HELL by Arthur Rimbaud
THE MOON WILL LOOK STRANGE by Lynda E. Rucker
THE ROOM by Hubert Selby Jr.




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.

We are currently reading In Cold Blood by Truman Capote






and Narrow Rooms by James Purdy.






We have also recently begun a successful series of short story readings. Discussions have included fiction by Robert Aickman, Jorge Luis Borges, William Faulkner, and Edith Wharton. Join us.

GROUP READING:
Over the years, we have discussed hundreds of titles and authors. In the past year, the following books were selected by the membership to be read within the group, and the links provided should help clarify some of the criteria involved.



STRANGERS ON A TRAIN by Patricia Highsmith
http://literarycornercafe.blogspot.co...



NO NIGHT IS TOO LONG by Barbara Vine
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ent...



BEST GHOST STORIES of Algernon Blackwood
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2007...



THE GOLEM by Gustav Meyrink
http://www.theguardian.com/books/book...





BLOOD MERIDIAN by Cormac McCarthy
http://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/28/boo...



THE GREEN MAN by Kingsley Amis
http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/20...



TOURS OF THE BLACK CLOCK by Steve Erickson
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/05/boo...



ANCIENT IMAGES by Ramsey Campbell
http://shroudmagazinebookreviews.blog...




THE LITTLE STRANGER by Sarah Waters
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/boo...



BOY’S LIFE by Robert R. McCammon
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...



SAVAGE NIGHT by Jim Thompson
http://www.mulhollandbooks.com/2012/0...



THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE by Shirley Jackson
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/boo...



Previous group readings have included:
THE SECRET HISTORY by Donna Tarrt
REBECCA by Daphne du Maurier
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde
THE GRAVEDIGGER’S DAUGHTER by Joyce Carol Oates
THE WINE-DARK SEA by Robert Aickman
GHOST STORY by Peter Straub
THE COLLECTED STORIES of Elizabeth Bowen
WILLY by Robert Dunbar
HOUSE OF LEAVES by Mark Z. Danielewski
CONJURE WIFE by Fritz Leiber
HOUDINI HEART by Ki Longfellow
THE NIGHT STRANGERS by Chris Bohjalian
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES by Ray Bradbury
GARDENS OF NIGHT by Greg F. Gifune
VERLAND: THE TRANSFORMATION by B. E. Scully

For more information, visit the LITERARY DARKNESS group here:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...


Savor the darkness.