Opinions on Ramsey Campbell...

[TheDarkestHorse]

I've always heard really good things about him, so I picked up 'Scared Stiff' when I saw it really cheap. I found it really predictable and kind of dull. No offense if you liked it, it just wasn't my thing. So, what I'm wondering is if this particular book is considered a low point for him, or if it's fairly representative of his body of work? If his other stuff is widely regarded as better, I'll give it a second try, but if this is pretty much what I should expect from him, I'll pass on the rest. what do you all think?

[Karl J Barnes]

I've always heard really good things about him, so I picked up 'Scared Stiff' when I saw it really cheap. I found it really predictable and kind of dull. No offense if you liked it, it just wasn't my thing. So, what I'm wondering is if this particular book is considered a low point for him, or if it's fairly representative of his body of work? If his other stuff is widely regarded as better, I'll give it a second try, but if this is pretty much what I should expect from him, I'll pass on the rest. what do you all think?

Here's what Wiki has to say:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsey_Campbell#Novels

Personally, I've never read anything by him, but I'm not really into horror.

[BcAugust]

Ah. Hmm, let me ask you a question back. What kind of horror do you like? Campbell tends to be very British and Lovecraftian. And his writing tends to be in response to the 60's trend to shock horror, which sometimes feels dated.

I honestly like his short story collections the best. His book long ones tend to get too, hmm... buried.

[JeffreyWKramer]

Like BC, I like some of Campbell's short stories, but am not very fond of his longer works.

[TheDarkestHorse]

Ah. Hmm, let me ask you a question back. What kind of horror do you like? Campbell tends to be very British and Lovecraftian. And his writing tends to be in response to the 60's trend to shock horror, which sometimes feels dated.

I honestly like his short story collections the best. His book long ones tend to get too, hmm... buried.

well, I do like Lovecraft a lot, although some of his stories are very predictable as well (so those mythical monsters we've been talking about for ten pages are real?! GASP!), but when they're good, they're great, and of course it probably wasn't as obvious to readers back then. As far as short horror stories go, I've read a lot of anthologies, but I really only remember the 'big guys' by name...Poe, Barker, King, Straub, and early Poppy Z Brite are all good. Gaiman's done some really good horror stories. as a whole, a lot of my favorite writers are british, so I don't think that's what put me off.

[BcAugust]

well, I do like Lovecraft a lot, although some of his stories are very predictable as well (so those mythical monsters we've been talking about for ten pages are real?! GASP!), but when they're good, they're great, and of course it probably wasn't as obvious to readers back then. As far as short horror stories go, I've read a lot of anthologies, but I really only remember the 'big guys' by name...Poe, Barker, King, Straub, and early Poppy Z Brite are all good. Gaiman's done some really good horror stories. as a whole, a lot of my favorite writers are british, so I don't think that's what put me off.

I suggest picking up Demons by Daylight then. It's his first collection, and should give you a better idea about wheither to keep trying. I'm not really a fan of Brite, but I like the others. Have you tried M.R. James? He's very old fashioned, but shivery still, and is considered one of Britain's best.