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MELMOTH THE WANDERER
Charles Robert Maturin
Perhaps my favourite novel of all-time, Charles Maturin's 1820 masterpiece of gothic fiction is a Faustian tale in which the novel's central character John Melmoth sells his soul to the devil in exchange for an additional 150 years of life. Spending those extra years searching for someone to take his pact from him, lest be be damned for his decision, the story, while taking place in the present, takes us through several periods of time, told in a myriad of ways, though mostly through the tried and true archaic formula of old manuscripts. It's often considered the last "great" work of gothic fiction, and though that distinguishment is arguable, its difficult to argue that at the very least this piece deserves its title as one of the finer works within the genre.
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PARADISE LOST
John Milton
Certainly this needs no introduction; published originally in 1667 in ten volumes, John Milton's Paradise Lost is often considered one of the greatest works in the western canon. Beginning with what I consider to be one of the finest openings of all-time, we're immediately cast into the story with Satan and his rebel angels lying upon the lake of fire, which Satan promptly claims as his own dominion amidst a rousing speech delivered to the fallen. From this we're taken through a narrative that coils its way through Heaven, Hell and Eden, with each gaining a considerable moment in the spotlight. Though not a true work of "horror," I find it impossible to argue that Milton's epic poem is not a true masterwork of fantasy best read during the waning hours of those cold, crisp nights.
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LES CHANTS de MALDOROR
Comte de Lautreamont
An oft forgotten gem that I'm certain horror enthusiasts would be salivating over en masse had they ever been made privy to it, this 1868 long prose poem is the most noteworthy piece in Comte de Lautreamont's all too short career (he died at the age of 24). Written in six cantos, this is something I'd consider a surrealist's dream; absent of any sort of traditional pacing or linear plotting, it centers around Maldoror, a figurehead of evil at its most absolute and in opposition to any and all degree of good charity. The stream of conscious text takes us through imagery which is wholly nihilistic and generally macabre in its nature. If you can wrap your head around how it is written, this is an extremely rewarding, albeit curious, work of horror in its purest form.
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CARRION COMFORT
Dan Simmons
This award winning 1989 Dan Simmons novel is what I consider to be the best "vampire" novel ever written; I write it as such due to the affectionate term of "mind vampire," given to many of the book's lead characters. A heavy handed work to be sure, Dan Simmons leads us into several narrative territories; horror, mystery, thriller, science fiction and even romance are covered, all written with an adept and able hand. Centered around the pursuit of Sal Laski, a Holocaust and concentration camp survivor, in hunting down von Borchert, a Nazi "vampire," we are given a wonderful piece of alternate history, epic in scope, yet never one to drag or give one a sense of nonfulfillment. Mandatory reading for the modern horror enthusiast.
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MISTER B. GONE
Clive Barker
The most recently released entry on this list, Clive Barker's October 2008 release is nonetheless worthy of inclusion, at least as far as I'm concerned. Though a very quick read by the standards set by others presented here, the impression left by this work is no less a lasting one. Given to us through the unique perspective of one Jakabok Botch, a lowly ranked, two tailed demon, I don't recall having read anything that was this simultaneously grotesque and humorous all in one stroke, something which has become a trademark of Clive Barker's works. One would think it impossible that a badly burned and disfigured demon without any semblance of goodwill could be a sympathetic character, but one would be wrong. The reader is lead through a quirky tale of fourth wall breaking debauchery and antics, and though constantly implored to "burn this book" by Jakabok himself, it's best left away from the flames until after having read it.
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THE MONK
Matthew Gregory Lewis
Published in 1796, and one of the most controversial works of its time, this strange, provocative tale was written by Matthew Gregory Lewis in the span of two months just prior to his twentieth birthday. The Spanish monk Ambrosio serves as our main protagonist (if he can be seen as such); his lust getting the better of him, it's from there that Lewis documents his downfall, every turn and twist becoming all the more absurd and cause for pause. Harshly criticized during its time for its unrepentant depictions of rape, incest, murder and all around deviltry (a very literal depiction of Satan even grants an appearance), one of the book's greatest claims to fame comes from the fact that even the eternally controversial Marquis de Sade himself endorsed it. That alone should give you at least a small semblance and idea of what you're in store for with this one.
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THE BOOKS OF SHADOWS
James Reese
The first in James Reese's Herculine trilogy, 2002's The Book of Shadows casts us into the ever supple and anfractuous world of Herculine, a tragic heroine with a few very remarkable traits that set her far apart from any number of other leads from books in the same vein. Set in nineteenth century France, a novel of this breadth needs to cover a lot of varying territory in order to avoid the trappings of redundancy, a task that Reese accomplishes with a panache not often seen in first time novelists. We discover the roots of Herculine's curious heritage, all the while being taken by the hand and lead through any number of historic backstories that help us to better understand the current plight of Herculine and company, and that help further enforce the urgency she faces throughout. Though some would argue the plot devices on display here meander and give the book unnecessary length, I would firmly set myself away from that crowd, for I believe we're given an expertly researched and written work that provides an excellent backdrop for the two installments that follow.
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MURCHESTON: THE WOLF'S TALE
David Holland
Here we have a 2001 entry by David Holland that hardly garnered any press upon release, much less causing even the smallest of blips on most literary radars, even in the most niche horror circles, or at least, to the very best of my knowledge. The story of noble youth Edgar Lenoir, the thirteenth Duke of Darnley, an ill fated hunting excursion in the Carpathian Mountains leaves him having to learn to live with the onset of lycanthropy, in which he soon accepts his affliction to the point that his own human legacy is thrown into jeopardy. Very Victorian in scope and style, the chronicling of Lenoir's descent somewhat echoes the narrative used by Bram Stoker in Dracula. Easily the best werewolf book I've ever read, this is the perfect solution for readers who tire of the generic depiction of the lycan condition we've come to see in popular film and literature over the past several years.
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THE MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN SARAGOSSA
Jan Potocki
Polish author Jan Potocki's frame-tale work, written in the early 1800s, is a rich, complex tapestry of sixty-six compiled stories that Walloon officer Alphonse van Worden is being recounted over the span of sixty-six days. These stories feature an ever widening, often amusing, cast of characters that consist of, but are certainly not limited to, the likes of thieves, gypsies, inquisitors and the like. Alphonse van Worden's own narrative is forced to take a back seat at several junctures, due to the ever sinuous offerings, many of which depict Avadoro, a Gypsy chief, himself becoming something of a lead at several points in the novel. Eventually working its way back to van Worden's own plight en route to Spain, this is surely a work that never suffers from redundancy, as we're presented with ever more colourful figures in which to focus upon. A reader's dream for anyone who is into the fantastical and occasionally horrifying.
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GOD'S DEMON
Wayne Barlowe
Our final inclusion of this list is a 2007 novel written by someone who doesn't even fancy himself an author at all, Wayne Barlowe, best known for his exquisite science fiction and fantasy paintings (to give an idea of Barlowe's work to the unfamiliar, the book's cover is done by him also). Very much inspired by Milton's Paradise Lost, we're introduced to the demon Sargatanas, a denizen of Hell and one of the fallen angels cast out with Lucifer during his legendary revolt. With eons passed, Sargatanas yearns to be reunited with God, and in hopes of capturing an audience with God and eventual redemption, he sets out to overthrow Beelzebub, gathering the aid of other members of the fallen class, and eventually, human souls themselves. The impending battle is nothing if not chaotic, violent and fantastical. With his debut, Barlowe proves that he's easily as adept with a pen as he is a brush, and I firmly believe this will soon be considered a modern day classic in the realm of fantasy/horror fiction.
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There we have it; I have given you ten pieces of literature, diverse in classification and scope, yet all of which would serve you, the reader, well in your desire for authentic, quality seasonal material.
Pose any questions and feedback either here with a comment directly, or to my e-mail: ChristopherAllenGarrett@gmail.com
