The Goodreads Dark and Fantastic Readers Group discussion

My opinion is that the more realistic the book feels, especially in violent circumstances, the darker it gets. There are other ways of making fiction dark, atmosphere, subject matter, play on morals, but everyone seems to have an opinion.

What do you think makes dark fiction dark?

My personal opinion is that dark fiction doesn't necessarily have to be hopeless. It just doesn't tiptoe around dark subject matter. It shows the aspects of human nature, society, whatever in a very realistic or even atmospherically murky manner. You can have a dark-themed book that does have an optimistic ending.

I like optimistic endings, too. But I also like endings where everything is bad at the end and the future beyond the book looks bleak, too.

There's a find line when doing a sad/bad ending though. Some books I've read with sad endings felt like the author made it a sad ending just for the sake of it.

I find it amusing how a lot of people assume that dark fiction has to be hopeless. I've had a few "discussions" with some people here at Goodreads on this topic. I agree with you, Lady D. A good dark fiction book does not have to be completely bleak. There can be hope and optimism.

It gets to be a feeling of pointlessness to the journey when I read a book that is utterly bleak. I feel like it works better for me to see a character go to dark places and come out of it with some kind of light at the end of the tunnel.

That's my favorite, too, even though I sometimes like reading really dark endings as well. But like you, I like it when the character comes out of that dark place stronger, if not also somewhat damaged.

I just finished reading Dead Sea and what both Lady D. and Jason described above I found in this book. So, I would consider it dark fiction. It had a little bit of everything from hopeless, survival and optimism in it. Yes, and a few other things that were very creepy.

When you read a book that ends very hopelessly, what impresses you most about the story, Jason? The writing, the lessons learned, the manner in which the story culminates?

I have read some stories that don't have uplifting endings, but I still liked, because of the power of the writing, or they were well-done overall.

Eileen, I have a friend who loved Dead Sea. I might give it a read one day.

I'm reading that next, Eileen. I keep hearing how good it is.

Lady D. I'd have to say that it's a combination of the writing and the manner in which the story culminates.

A great example of this is Horns by Joe Hill. It has a pretty dark and terribly sad ending. But the beauty of Hill's writing along with the culmination of the story created a massive emotional relief I've never truly experienced before. It's ending was beautiful, sad, and dark.

I have heard good things about Joe Hill. I have Heart Shaped Box and 20th Century Ghosts. I'll start there and work my way up to Horns.

i really enjoyed Dead Sea.

Dark fiction is something I really can't define; I just know it when I experience it. When I think of dark fiction I think of this fantastic book that you all MUST read: When Darkness Loves Us. I have never read such an original story in my life. I don't even know where the author pulled it from.

What do you know? My brain is working full steam tonight and I just thought of these books I read decades ago and loved:

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
The Godsend
Crawlspace
Harriet Said...

I just added "When Darkness Loves Us" sounds great, thanks. So excited, there is also a audio version!

The story blew my mind, but not in a big twist kind of way, just because someone came up with such a story.

I'm intrigued, can't wait to read this one.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. It's more of a novella, and there's an additional novella available in one edition that's as good and as unique.