We have some very spooky stops planned for our trip around the world this week. So buckle up because our destinations are not for the faint of heart. We have a long journey ahead, and some of the best horror authors in North America are on the itinerary.
Stephen King, USA
Who better to kick off our road trip than the king of horror himself, Stephen King? If we are truly celebrating the best horror authors from North America, then King needs to be on the list. His novels are a deliciously spooky blend of psychological and supernatural horror. For the best of both worlds, try The Shining or It — you will not want to leave your house at night again.
Nick Cutter / Craig Davidson, Canada
Our next stop is Canada’s celebrated horror author, Nick Cutter. For those looking for slow-burn horror novels, this might not be your destination. Cutter’s novels are known for their relentless pacing, body horror, and elaborate settings. To give you a little taste, his novel The Troop is set on a deserted island. Save for a scout troop; there is nothing and no one but pure wilderness. But a stranger finds the camp and exposes them to something worse than they could’ve ever trained for a bioengineered, parasitic infection.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Mexico
Fans of gothic horror, look no further. Moreno-Garcia is a Mexican author whose blend of horror and Mexican folklore creates scary masterpieces. Drawing from history allows her to include complex themes such as colonialism and patriarchy in her horror novels. My personal favorites: Mexican Gothic and Certain Dark Things. The latter is a delicious neo-noir vampire novel set in Mexico City.
Daína Chaviano, Cuba
For those of us who like their horror novels with a sprinkling of myths and magic, Chaviano has what you are looking for. Her writing mixes folklore, history, and supernatural horror. The Island of Eternal Love is a paranormal family saga. A journalist decides to investigate a phantom house that is seen one minute and disappears the next.
Rodrigo Rey Rosa, Guatemala
Rosa uses the horror genre to explore different aspects of our society, especially the violence in Latin America. His understated horror deals with physical and psychological terror. By basing his novels in everyday settings, Rosa draws out the horrors we might experience ourselves. The Good Cripple is an especially bone-chilling novella. It is set in Guatemala City and focuses on a young man whose violent kidnapping not only changes his life but that of his perpetrators, too.
Rita Indiana, Dominican Republic
Describing Indiana’s writing style is not as easy as reading her fiction. Transcending and combining genres, her novels prove as scary as they are entertaining. Dystopian fiction meets horror meets Caribbean history. Her novel Tentacle adds a little bit of punk energy to the mix. It splits itself between three different time periods of Dominican history. It tackles themes such as colonialism and racism in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s fun, queer, and addictive.
Marlon James, Jamaica
Black Leopard, Red Wolf is a dark trilogy that combines Jamaican history with fantasy and brutal horror. The novel has hunters, shape-shifters and a never-ending power struggle that is segmented by violent fights. Incorporating historical facts and myths creates a blend of the fantastical and the real. James illustrates that the scariest stories of all might have already been told one way or another.
Have you decided where to get off on this scary ride? Luckily, there is no hurry to decide. Thanks to these celebrated horror authors, we have all the time in the world to indulge in spooky stories.
Want to keep traveling around the world to meet some exciting authors? Click here.
For more horror recommendations, check out our bookshop bookshelf here.
