Many consider people like Dean Koontz and Stephen King the premiere horror fiction writers in the world. But all that money couldnt stop a car from running King over. Anyway no one has won as many awards for horror fiction as Ramsey Campbell. Clive Barker has called him a "master of dark fantasy plus his books still scare the shit out of me.
Since the late 1950s Campbell has been publishing short stories and novels that have made many a strong man tinkle his Underoos like a little girl. In...
Ramsey Campbell is to the Horror Novel what John LeCarre' is to Spy Fiction-- So far above the top of the field that the writing should not be compared to the respective Genres, but judged as Simply Great Goddamn Writiting.
If you have never read him, and if you appreciate writing that is closer to the level of Thomas Pynchon than it is to Stephen King, I strongly recommend you find any book Ramsey Campbell has written, and see if you don't enjoy it. Supernatural horror, or hyper-rational crime, you are guaranteed sleepless nights, the occasional desire to back away into a corner of your mind for safety, and some of the most eloquent, razor-lovely writing you will find.
4
impboy
Los Angeles, CA
September 2003
FEB 21, 2004 11:55 AM
Ramsey's also pretty much the KING of psycho-sexual horror, too - it's no surprise to see him on SG. also an amazing full circle for me, too. back when i was a huge rod serling/TZ geek as a kid, there used to be an amazing magazing called rod serling's twilight zone magazine, which is where i first found out about ramsey. first found out about a lot of great horror/fantasy/sci-fi peeps, actually.
also, i never knew he was a psychedelics fan. my heart is indeed warmed.
Campbell is up on that Peter Straub level. Better than Barker, for sure; and Barker is so much better than King, it's not even funny. I like Campbell's short fiction better than his novels, though.
SockPuppet said:
I like Campbell's short fiction better than his novels, though.
I could not agree more. His short stories are the BEST horror tales PERIOD. His novels, IMO, are terrible. If you've not read any of his work, read his short stories, skip the novels.
Missy
SUICIDEGIRL
California, USA
FEB 20, 2004 06:00 AM