# What is the scariest book you ever read? (Title already used almost 15 years ago) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [October 13, 2021, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447 "2021-10-13T20:48:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447/102 "2021-10-16T14:56:01Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I don’t remember Gramma even after reading the synopsis. “Hastur says! Hastur . . .” Gramma also has bad spells where she cries out. “Gyaagin! Graagin! Hastur degryon Yog-soth-oth!” ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447/103 "2021-10-16T15:01:12Z")
Animal Farm. George Orwell. Possibly because we read it in class so young. Fantasy evil is scary but real world evil is scarier. (Arguably “real world” because it was showing how humans subjugate other humans with fear and indoctrination). ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447/104 "2021-10-16T15:14:32Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > For all of you who read SK’s “Salem’s Lot” (or other works of his), a question. How many of you have read his short story “[Jerusalem’s Lot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem%27s_Lot)”, and what did you think of it? I’ve read both. Neither made much of an impression on me, so I guess I didn’t find them particularly scary, unlike It, The Stand, and The Shining. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447/105 "2021-10-16T20:47:55Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > I remembered the name of the side dish that that the killer bought: “Num-numo”, and googling it brought up the author and title, Lord Dunsany and “The Two Bottles of Relish”. Yes, that’s the one. Thank you. One I just thought of. I was rereading _World War Z_ and had to stop. It was disturbing because of too many aspects that have parallels to the present pandemic - like the false treatment “Phalanx” and the discussion of the people who cannot handle life or death situations (so they became Quislings…) (I’m surprised that no one has stated a thread about this book vs. pandemic.) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447/106 "2021-10-16T22:04:03Z")
Doo eeeet! > [What is the scariest book you ever read? (Title already used almost 15 years ago) - #105 by Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447/105#:~:text=One%20I%20just,book%20vs.%20pandemic.)) ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2021, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447/107 "2021-10-17T11:11:53Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Doo eeeet! Please explain. You have used a colloquialism I am not familiar with. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447/108 "2021-10-17T17:14:39Z")
Do it. Except in an egging you on tone of voice. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447/109 "2021-10-17T17:25:01Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I also read this book largely debunking those stories, although it was also quite a few years ago and I don’t remember much about it. Well then, with all due respect to these other books, I think this wins me the thread for having the only book that had another book written about it to reassure people that it can’t possibly be true! ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447/110 "2021-10-20T13:27:51Z")
Honestly, anything by Dean Koontz. ---
**Author:** ![bleach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bleach/32/3106_2.png) [@bleach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleach)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447/111 "2021-10-20T20:53:07Z")
I liked _ **Heart-Shaped Box** _ and _ **NOS4A2** _, both by Joe Hill. Evidently _ **NOS4A2** _ has a television series but I haven’t seen it. _ **Nameless** _ is a cosmic horror graphic novel by Grant Morrison that’s good, in my opinion. For non-SK and mainstream recommendations, it’s definitely worth your time to check out **/r/horrorlit** on reddit. It’s a great source for discovering new horror of every flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447/112 "2021-10-20T23:14:24Z")
_Communion_ was the one I came here to mention. I read tons of horror, mostly Stephen King and Graham Masterton, both of whom write some pretty horrific stuff. I love it. _Communion_ freaked me right the hell out, to the point where I remember it preying on my mind for days after I finally stopped reading (couldn’t finish it). Creepy as hell. No, thanks. I’ll take guts and gore over creepy aliens any day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447.md?page=5)