The Official HDC Top 100 Horror Writers [Archive] - Horror.com Forums

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08-05-2012, 03:49 AM

Almost 7 months in the making, and here we are. Finally.

Thanks to everyone who contributed with their lists and their inputs. Blurbs are appreciated and welcome, and can be sent to my PM box.

Remember, this is a ranked list. Some of you might not agree with the rankings, but overall, this is a pretty solid 100 we have hammered out.

Without further ado...

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08-05-2012, 03:54 AM

100 - Ralph Adams Cram

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/100Cram.jpg

99 - William H. Hallahan

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/099hallahan.jpg

98 - R. Chetwynd Hayes

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/098Chetwynd-Hayes.jpg

97 - Mary SanGiovanni

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/097SanGiovanni.jpg

96 - Thomas Tryon

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/096Tryon.jpg

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08-05-2012, 03:59 AM

95 - Oliver Onions

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/095Onions.jpg

94 - John (Wyndham Parkes Lucas) Beynon Harris

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/094Harris.jpg

93 - Tim Lebbon

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/093Lebbon.jpg

92 - Dorothy Baker

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/092Baker.jpg

91 - Scott Smith

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/091Smith.jpg

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08-05-2012, 04:04 AM

90 - Richard (Barham) Middleton

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/090Middleton.jpg

89 - André Maurois

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/089Maurois.jpg

88 - Jacob Howell

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/088Howell.jpg

87 - Philip M. Fisher

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/087Fisher.jpg

86 - Robert Ford

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/086Ford.jpg

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08-05-2012, 04:19 AM

85 - Lord Dunsany (Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/085Dunsany.jpg

84 - Darren Shan

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/084Shan.jpg

83 - H. Russell Wakefield

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/083Wakefield.jpg

82 - John Shirley

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/082Shirley.jpg

81 - Whitley Strieber

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/081Streiber.jpg

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08-05-2012, 04:25 AM

80 - Sax Rohmer (Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/080Rohmer.jpg

79 - Max Brand (Frederick Schiller Faust)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/079Brand.jpg

78 - Fritz (Reuter) Leiber

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/078Leiber.jpg

77 - John R. Little

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/077Little.jpg

76 - W. C. (William Chambers) Morrow

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/076Morrow.jpg

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08-05-2012, 04:31 AM

75 - Dennis (Yates) Wheatley

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/075Wheatley.jpg

74 - Kelli Owen

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/074Owen.jpg

73 - Brian Lumley

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/073Lumley.jpg

72 - Henry Kuttner

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/072Kuttner.jpg

71 - T.E.D. (Theodore "Eibon" Donald) Klein

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/071Klein.jpg

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08-05-2012, 04:36 AM

70 - Ray Garton

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/070Garton.jpg

69 - John Saul

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/069Saul.jpg

68 - David Seltzer

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/068Seltzer.jpg

67 - (Rodman Edward) Rod Serling

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/067Serling.jpg

66 - Walter (John) de la Mare

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/066Mare.jpg

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08-05-2012, 04:40 AM

65 - Daphne du Maurier

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/065Maurier.jpg

64 - Graham Masterson

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/064Masterson.jpg

63 - Kōbō (Kimifusa) Abe

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/063Abe.jpg

62 - (Johann Wolfgang von) Goethe

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/062Goethe.jpg

61 - Edward Lee

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/061Lee.jpg

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08-05-2012, 04:44 AM

60 - Theodore Sturgeon

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/060Sturgeon.jpg

59 - F. (Francis) Paul Wilson

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/059Wilson.jpg

58 - R. L. (Robert Louis Balfour) Stevenson

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/058Stevenson.jpg

57 - Harlan (Jay) Ellison

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/057Ellison.jpg

56 - (Donatien Alphonse François) The Marquis de Sade

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/056Sade.jpg

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08-05-2012, 04:50 AM

55 - Jonathan Maberry

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/055Maberry.jpg

54 - William Hope Hodgson

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/054Hodgson.jpg

53 - Mark Z. Danielewski

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/053Danielewski.jpg

52 - (Robert J.) Bob Leman

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/052Leman.jpg

51 - Leslie H. (Hunter) Whitten

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/051Whitten.jpg

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08-05-2012, 04:54 AM

50 - Robert W. (William) Chambers

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/050Chambers.jpg

49 - (Patrick) Lafcadio Hearn -aka- Koizumi Yakumo

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/049Hearn.jpg

48 - Frank Belknap Long

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/048Long.jpg

47 - Saki (Hector Hugh Munro)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/047Saki.jpg

46 - Henry James

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/046James.jpg

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08-05-2012, 04:57 AM

45 - Guillermo del Toro

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/045DelToro.jpg

44 - Thomas Ligotti

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/044Ligotti.jpg

43 - Ira Levin

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/043Levin.jpg

42 - Bentley Little

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/042Little.jpg

41 - Ambrose (Gwinnett) Bierce

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/041Bierce.jpg

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08-05-2012, 05:02 AM

40 - John Skipp

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/040Skipp.jpg

39 - (Joseph Thomas) Sheridan le Fanu

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/039LeFanu.jpg

38 - John Advije Lindqvist

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/038Lindqvist.jpg

37 - Robert E. (Ervin) Howard

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/037Howard.jpg

36 - Gord Rollo

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/036Rollo.jpg

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08-05-2012, 05:06 AM

35 - Sir Arthur (Ignatius) Conan Doyle

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/035Doyle.jpg

34 - Clark Ashton Smith

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/034Smith.jpg

33 - Joe Hill (Joseph Hillstrom King)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/033Hill.jpg

32 - Bret Easton Ellis

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/032Ellis.jpg

31 - Alex Scarrow

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/031Scarrow.jpg

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08-05-2012, 05:09 AM

30 - Joe R. Lansdale

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/030Lansdale.jpg

29 - Joyce Carol Oates

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/029Oates.jpg

28 - William Peter Blatty

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/028Blatty.jpg

27 - Arthur Machen

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/027Machen.jpg

26 - Anne Rice (Howard Allen Frances O'Brien)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/026Rice.jpg

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08-05-2012, 05:13 AM

25 - (Durante degli) Dante Alighieri

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/025Dante.jpg

24 - Shirley (Hardie) Jackson

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/024Jackson.jpg

23 - Robert (Rick) McCammon

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/023McCammon.jpg

22 - James Herbert

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/022Herbert.jpg

21 - Roald Dahl

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/021Dahl.jpg

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08-05-2012, 05:16 AM

20 - William S. (Seward) Burroughs

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/020Burroughs.jpg

19 - (John) Ramsey Campbell

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/019Campbell.jpg

18 - Richard (Carl) Laymon

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/018Laymon.jpg

17 - Jack Ketchum (Dallas Mayr)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/017Ketchum.jpg

16 - Robert (Albert) Bloch

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/016Bloch.jpg

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08-05-2012, 05:19 AM

15 - Dan Simmons

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/015Simmons.jpg

14 - Franz Kafka

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/014Kafka.jpg

13 - Algernon (Henry) Blackwood

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/013Blackwood.jpg

12 - Dean (Ray) Koontz

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/012Koontz.jpg

11 - Brian Keene

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/011Keene.jpg

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08-05-2012, 05:22 AM

10 - Peter (Francis) Straub

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/010Straub.jpg

9 - M. R. (Montague Rhodes) James

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/009James.jpg

8 - Ray (Douglas) Bradbury

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/008Bradbury.jpg

7 - Richard (Burton) Matheson

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/007Matheson.jpg

6 - (Abraham) Bram Stoker

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/006Stoker.jpg

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08-05-2012, 05:26 AM

5 - Mary (Wollstonecraft Godwin) Shelley

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/005Shelley.jpg

4 - Clive Barker

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/004Barker.jpg

3 - Edgar Allan Poe

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/003Poe.jpg

2 - Stephen (Edwin) King

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/002King.jpg

1 - H. P. (Howard Phillips) Lovecraft

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/Top%20100/001Lovecraft.jpg

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08-05-2012, 05:26 AM

(Reserved for 10 Honorable Mentions)

roshiq

08-05-2012, 06:36 AM

Needless to say another brilliant accomplishment of HDC. Kudos to V, fortunato, NE & others who gave their time & effort to make it possible. It's a great shame for me that I haven't read much of stories of most of the writers here mentioned & even haven't heard of many of them before. :o But anyway, a huge heads up for amateur readers like me. Thanks a lot, HDC.

hammerfan

08-05-2012, 08:52 AM

Great job to everyone involved! Now I have a list of authors to read. :D

neverending

08-05-2012, 10:11 AM

I am duly impressed. What a task it must have been to track down photos of all the writers. Some of them, it's my first time seeing them. I willl try and come up with some blurbs in between writing my Lovecraftian horror tale "Under the Shanghai Tunnels." :P

Great job, V.

The Villain

08-05-2012, 11:46 AM

Great list. Definitely agree on the top ten. Good job V.

Weapon X

08-06-2012, 08:53 PM

That is one hell of a list. Great work, V!

MichaelMyers

09-05-2012, 03:08 PM

Do you think King will surpass Lovecraft when his work is done?

sfear

11-23-2012, 10:30 PM

A stunning photo gallery, the crown jewels of HDC and worthy of a Stoker Award.

Gord Rollo

12-06-2012, 07:53 PM

Hi folks,

Just wanted to pop by and thank everyone who voted or worked hard to put this list together. To be chosen as #36 on this list of incredible writers is truly an honor for me. The Leisure Books fiasco of a few years ago kind of knocked me on my ass for a while, took a lot of fun out of things, but I'm back on my feet and writing again. I don't want to spam anyone here but if you have any interest in my books, please come visit me at my new website www.gordrollo.com when you get a chance, or pop over to facebook, twitter or amazon and do a search for me. I've been working with a really great new small press called Enemy One to get all my backlist of books re-released in not only ebook versions but print ones as well. I have about a dozen things for sale over there, including novels, novellas, and short story collections with more books coming soon. And this time, I'm actually getting paid for them! Anyway, thank you again for the honor of being included in your list. It means a lot to me and I really appreciate it. Hope we can chat soon!

If anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to answer anything you might want to know. We can do it here, or feel free to start a new thread so we don't hog this one.

Cheers!

Gord

neverending

12-06-2012, 09:26 PM

Good to see you here, Mr. Rollo. I'm glad you approve of our list!

Gord Rollo

12-07-2012, 05:19 AM

Thanks Lee. Nice to be here. Looking forward to chatting with you guys.

Cheers!

Gord

grolfe

12-07-2012, 05:24 AM

Okay,
Clive Barker at #4? I appreciate Barker's novels and film work, but he is not top 5, let alone top 10. Richard Laymon is top 10-not 18.:mad: Brian Keene is one of my favorites of the last decade or so, but not #11-that's insane. Joe Hill top 40? Maybe someday. His two novels are great, and I love his shorts stories and Locke and Key, but let's let the guy contribute a little more before ranking him so kindly. I have no doubt he has the ability to rise up on the list, I'm just sayin'. Also, del Toro above Edward Lee? I don't think so-it's not even close. I only glanced at the list, but I didn't notice Sarah Langan or Ronald Malfi on there, either. It's a pretty fucked up list, but to be fair, i didn't vote so I guess I should be quiet. It was nice to see Lovecraft get the nod over King, along with there being a lot of respect paid to some other older greats.:)

The Horror fan

01-15-2013, 01:43 PM

Good List but My favorite author not even in top 100 :eek: :(
No Fans of Shaun Hutson then.

Clad to see James Herbert high on the list!

horror2night

04-30-2013, 11:58 AM

Wow I haven't even heard of the 10 best. Nowadays you only see the newer ones. Nice, thank you and great work :D

BawonSamedi

04-30-2013, 02:29 PM

I've eaten dinner with one of these guys, seen three of them read in person, share an editor with two of them, appeared in an anthology with one, soon to be three. I'm a luckier man than I tend to think I am. Lookking at this was a nice reminder. Great list, guys. Remember that many of these authors are living and working and their work is not always on the shelves at Barnes and Noble because they've fallen in with smaller presses that grant them more freedom. So supporting their work, while tougher than it used to be, is just as important, if not more. Horror publishing went through a huge catastrophe a few years ago with the fall of Leisure and a lot of good, hardworking people have been picking up the pieces.