Those who love the horror genre know thatStephen Kingis one of the best authors around when it comes to scary stories, yet there are other outstanding horror writers andbooks just like King’sthat are also worth reading. Since 1974, King has been a notable name in the horror genre, writing stories that have captured the public’s attention for literal decades. FromCarrieandThe ShiningtoMiseryandCujo,King’s tales are not only unique, but genuinely horrifying. It isn’t always easy for readers to be truly frightened by words on a page, but King manages it every time.
King has a vast catalog of booksto choose from that could take a horror lover years to get through, yet some may be searching for other horror authors that can reproduce the same magic as King. Fortunately,there are lots of writers in the horror scene who are publishing incredible books that are just as creepy as any standard King book. On top of that, some of these authors are King collaborators, giving them an even greater connection to the horror legend. All in all, these authors are worth checking out for those readers who love being scared.
10Grady Hendrix
The Southern Book Club’s Guide To Slaying Vampires
A horror author that should definitely be on readers' radar is Grady Hendrix. Since the 2010s, Hendrix has consistently put out quirky and terrifying novels that have topped the charts of the horror genre.Some of his most popular books includeHorrorstör, My Best Friend’s Exorcism, The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires,andThe Final Girl Support Group. All in all, Hendrix mixes classic horror tropes with vivid storytelling to create some truly evocative books.
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Hendrix is a great alternative for King fansbecause his books are equally horrifying and distinct. Part of what makes King so successful is that his horror stories often have a kernel of truth within them. Readers can see themselves and their lives within King’s novels. Hendrix is the same way. After reading one of his books, audiences will feel as though they have been on a journey that was both chilling and undeniably human.
9Robert McCammon
Swan Song
Another author who is part of King’s generation of horror novelists is Robert McCammon. McCammon has written a number of books since the 1980s which vary in genre from historical fiction to tried and true horror.One of McCammon’s most notable horror novels is his 1987 book,Swan Song,which tells the story of a postapocalyptic world that is struggling after a nuclear war. McCammon has also writtenThe Wolf’s Hour, They Thirst,andBoy’s Life.
The biggest connection between King and McCammon is the fact that the authors were tied for the Bram Stoker award in 1987.
The biggest connection between King and McCammon is the fact that the authors were tied for the Bram Stoker award in 1987. McCammon had submittedSwan SongandKing had submittedMisery.McCammon is an ideal stand-in for King because both writers rose to fame during the boom of horror novels in the 1980s and 1990s.McCammon may not have the same reputation as King, but he has plenty of thrilling booksthat are worth the read.
8Alma Katsu
The Hunger
One horror author who came to prominence more recently is Alma Katsu. After pursuing a career with the NSA and CIA, Katsu transitioned into a prolific writing career, publishing novels such asThe Taker, Red Widow,andThe Hunger.One of Katsu’s best known novels at the moment isThe Hunger,which is a supernaturalhorror about the true storyof the Donner Party, who were travelers on the Oregon Trail that ultimately cannibalized each other for survival.
Katsu has been praised over the years for her realistic landscapes, and this is a huge reason why she is perfect for fans of King. Although King is a master at coming up with supernatural scenarios, he is also notable for his detailed settings and his thorough worlds, i.e. Derry, Maineor Castle Rock. In some ways, Katsu is similar. Her ability to merge history with horror is impressive and is definitely reminiscent of some of King’s novels.
7Richard Matheson
I Am Legend
An iconic horror novelist that may be as accomplished as King, though perhaps not as well-known, is Richard Matheson. From 1950 to 2013, Matheson was the author of several popular horror andscience fiction books, includingI Am Legend, Hell House,andThe Shrinking Man.AlthoughMatheson has a bit more of a sci-fi lean than King, the authors have one major theme in common: both of them have had their stories adapted into widely popular movies.
I Am Legendhas a well-known movie adaptation starring Will Smith from 2007.
Matheson is an author that is undoubtedly similar to King. His long bibliography and his unique stories are incredibly reminiscent of King, even if they aren’t as widely recognized. For those doubting Matheson,it is also important to note that the author worked on the sci-fi horror series,The Twilight Zone,as well. Readers who enjoy classic sci-fi tales by an older author, Matheson is definitely the way to go.
6Edgar Cantero
Meddling Kids
Despite having a much smaller resume, horror writer Edgar Cantero definitely has commonalities with King. The Spanish author has written three novels in English:The Supernatural Enhancements, Meddling Kids,andThis Body’s Not Big Enough for Both of Us.On their own,these books could easily draw similarities to King’s work because of their traditional horror tropesand their themes of friendship, generational trauma, and lingering supernatural phenomena.
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In particular,Meddling Kidsis a great example.The 2017 novel follows a group of young detectives who successfully solved a mystery together, but a decade later, have drifted apartand gotten into bad habits. However, they must reconnect all these years later because their last case may not have been as cut and dry as they thought.Meddling Kidsis reminiscent of King’sItorStand By Me,which makes Cantero a strong candidate to follow-up King.
5Shirley Jackson
The Haunting Of Hill House
King may be a horror great, but there are writers who came before him that are just as wonderful. One example is Shirley Jackson. The writer behindThe Haunting of Hill HouseandWe Have Always Lived in the Castle,Jackson is well-known for her eerie atmospheres and chilling tales of family.The Haunting of Hill Househas gotten quite a bit of attention recently followingMike Flanagan’s Netflix adaptation, and for good reason. The story is absolutely haunting.
Horror lovers should most definitely read up on Jackson if they want a full education of the history of horror.Another amazing entry of hers is her short storyThe Lottery,which centers on a society where a lottery chooses one person to be sacrificed for the greater good of the community. All in all, there is a good chance that King has been inspired by Jackson over the years, which means her stories are just as worthy of praise as King’s.
4Stephen Graham Jones
The Only Good Indians
Another horror novelist who has penned an impressive number of books is Stephen Graham Jones. The Native American author has been writing horror books since 2000, and recently, has risen to international fame for books likeThe Only Good Indians, My Heart Is A Chainsaw,andI Was A Teenage Slasher.The Only Good Indiansis a particularly harrowing story which follows four childhood friends who are stalked by an entityfrom their shared traumatic past.
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The best part of Jones' writing is how raw and realistic it is. King has written countless characters over the years, but the ones that stick are those who feel like genuine people. Jones has the same gift.While reading Jones' books, readers may feel truly sucked into the dark world Jones is creating, and will become invested in the grim stories of Jones' main characters. Overall, he has plenty of books that will give readers a serious fright.
3Lauren Beukes
The Shining Girls
An author that definitely deserves more attention is Lauren Beukes. A writer from South Africa, Beukes has writtennovels such asThe Shining Girls, Broken Monsters,andBridge.The Shining Girlsfollows a time-traveling serial killerwho is shown a room full of objects and goes on a quest to find the owner of each object and kill her later in life. With such a daring premise, it is no surprise that Beukes has gained international attention for her writing.
The Shining Girlswas adapted into a 2022 TV show starring Elisabeth Moss on Apple TV+.
What connects Beukes most to King is her bold concepts. The horror genre can often be bogged down by the same old concepts redone in a million ways, but King has managed to keep his stories fresh for decades.The Shining Girlsproves that Beukes may have the same skill.Beukes is not just a horror writer, but a person who has novel ideasthat can be perfectly executed.The Shining Girlsand Beukes other works are certainly worth reading.
2Peter Straub
The Talisman
Another literary icon that can easily be compared to King is Peter Straub. This novelist and poet wrote a number of horror, supernatural, and fantasy novels in his time, includingJulia, Ghost Story,andThe Talisman.Notably,Straub co-wroteThe Talismanalongside King, and the book became a nominee at the 1985 World and Locus Fantasy Awards. In fact, this isn’t the only collaboration Straub and King did, which only proves their connection.
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King has done many different things throughout his career from writing under an alias to switching genres, but co-writing books is quite a special endeavor. It means thatKing trusted Straub enough and admired his work enough to write something with him. The same cannot be said for every author. In this way, if King respected Straub’s work so highly, then King fans probably should as well.
1Joe Hill
Heart-Shaped Box
Finally, there is King’s son, Joe Hill. It is more than likely that Hill is the closest readers will get to reading King without actually reading King.Hill has written four popular books over the years, which includeHeart-Shaped Box, Horns, NOS4A2,andThe Fireman.Just like his father, Hill has seen notable critical success for his books, and it’s no wonder why. He has the same talents as his father in that he can write distinct horror stories that will stick with readers for a long time.
Of course,Hill isn’t a carbon copy of King and that is a good thing. If anything, Hill is a strong counterpart to King in that they have similar writing styles but completely different minds. Hill can definitely pull on the ideas of his father, but at the end of the day, his writing is his own. So, for those readers who want to find more authors, who are likeStephen King, Joe Hill and the previous writers are all good options.
