List of horror fiction writers

This is a list of some (not all) notable writers in the horror fiction genre.

Note that some writers listed below have also written in other genres, especially fantasy and science fiction.

A

• Linda Addison (born 1952)
• Robert Aickman (1914–1981)
• V.C. Andrews (1923–1986, also Cleo Virginia Andrews)
• Leonid Andreyev (1871–1919)
• Michael Arnzen (born 1967)
• Lady Cynthia Asquith (1887–1960)
• Joe Augustyn
• Jonathan Aycliffe (born 1949)

B

• J. G. Ballard (1930–2009)
• Nathan Ballingrud (born 1970)
• L. A. Banks (1959–2011)
• René Barjavel (1911–1985)
• Clive Barker (born 1952)
• J. D. Barker (born 1971)
• Laird Barron (born 1970)
• Jeremy Bates (born 1978)
• Charles Beaumont (1929–1967)
• William Thomas Beckford (1760–1844)
• Edo van Belkom (born 1962)
• John Bellairs (1938–1991)
• E.F. Benson (1867–1940)
• Ambrose Bierce (1842 – c. 1914)
• Charles Birkin (1907–1986)
• Jerome Bixby (1923–1998)
• John Blackburn (1923–1993)
• Leigh Blackmore (born 1959)
• Algernon Blackwood (1869–1951)
• Korban Blake
• William Peter Blatty (1928–2017)
• Robert Bloch (1917–1994)
• Roy C. Booth (born 1965)
• Guy Boothby (1867–1905)
• Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986)
• Bruce Boston (born 1943)
• Marjorie Bowen (1885–1952)
• Ray Bradbury (1920–2012)
• Walter Brandorff (1943–1996)
• Gary Brandner (1933–2013)
• Gary A. Braunbeck (born 1960)
• Joseph Payne Brennan (1918–1990)
• Poppy Z. Brite (born 1967)
• Jason V Brock (born 1970)
• Kealan Patrick Burke (born 1976)
• A. M. Burrage (1889–1956)

C

• P. D. Cacek (born 1951)
• Ramsey Campbell (born 1946)
• Peter Cannon (born 1951)
• C. J. Carter-Stephenson (born 1977)
• Abelardo Castillo (1935–2017)
• Mort Castle (born 1946)
• Hugh B. Cave (1910–2004)
• Robert W. Chambers (1865–1933)
• Fred Chappell (born 1936 )
• Erckmann-Chatrian (Émile Erckmann (1822–1899) and Alexandre Chatrian (1826–1890))
• Lincoln Child (born 1957)
• Autumn Christian
• M. Christian
• Richard Chizmar (born 1965)
• Michael Cisco (born 1970)
• Joseph A. Citro
• Alan M. Clark (born 1957)
• Simon Clark (born 1958)
• Douglas Clegg (born 1958)
• Nancy A. Collins (born 1959)
• Brendan Connell
• David Conyers (born 1971)
• Caroline B. Cooney (born 1947)
• Basil Copper (1924–2013)
• Julio Cortázar (1914–1984)
• Francis Marion Crawford (1854–1909)
• Linda Crockett (born 1943)
• Bithia Mary Croker (c. 1848/1849–1920)
• Chris Curry (born 1957)

D

• Roald Dahl (1916–1990)
• Les Daniels (1943–2011)
• L. P. Davies (1914–1988)
• Stephen Dedman
• Ted Dekker
• Marcelo Del Debbio (born 1974)
• Guy Anthony De Marco (born 1963)
• Arinn Dembo (born 1970)
• August Derleth (1909–1971)
• Narayan Dharap (1925–2008)
• Philip K. Dick (1928–1982)
• Keith Donohue (born 1959)
• Tananarive Due (born 1966)
• Lord Dunsany (1878–1957)

E

• Harlan Ellison (1934–2018)
• Guy Endore (1901–1970)
• A. M. Esmonde (born 1977)
• Dennis Etchison (born 1943)
• Benjamin Kane Ethridge (born 1977)
• C. M. Eddy, Jr. (1896–1967)
• Elizabeth Engstrom (born 1951)
• Brian Evenson (born 1966)
• John Everson (born 1966)
• Hanns Heinz Ewers (1871–1943)

F

• JG Faherty (born 1961)
• Amber Fallon (born 1983)
• Henry Farrell (1920–2006)
• John Farris (born 1936)
• Robert Faulcon (1948–2009)
• Julian Osgood Field (1852–1925)
• Gemma Files (born 1968)
• Paul Finch
• Hart D. Fisher
• Robert Fleming
• Jeffrey Ford (born 1955)
• Christopher Fowler (born 1953)
• Andrew Fox
• Gary Frank
• Brian James Freeman (born 1979)
• Patrick Freivald (born 1976)
• Fran Friel
• Gayleen Froese (born 1972)
• Polly Frost

G

• Neil Gaiman (born 1960)
• Stephen Gallagher (born 1954)
• Mick Garris (born 1951)
• Ray Garton (born 1962)
• Elizabeth Gaskell (1810–1865)
• Stephen R. George (born 1959)
• Greg F. Gifune (born 1963)
• Robert Murray Gilchrist (1867–1917)
• Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Owl Goingback (born 1959)
• Christie Golden (born 1963)
• Christopher Golden (born 1967)
• Ed Gorman (born 1941)
• Stefan Grabiński (1887–1936)
• Nicholas Grabowsky (born 1966)
• Charles Gramlich (born 1958)
• Charles L. Grant (1942–2006)
• Mira Grant (born 1978)
• Rain Graves
• Eric J. Guignard (born 1975)
• George Guthridge (born 1948)

H

• Mary Downing Hahn
• Laurell K. Hamilton (born 1963)
• Thomas Harris
• Kim Harrison
• L. P. Hartley (1895–1972)
• David G. Hartwell (born 1941)
• W. F. Harvey (1885–1937)
• Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864)
• Ronald Chetwynd-Hayes (1919–2001)
• Lafcadio Hearn (1850–1904)
• Victor Heck (born 1967)
• James Herbert (1943–2013)
• Joe Hill (born 1972)
• Glen Hirshberg (born 1966)
• Brian Hodge (born 1960)
• William Hope Hodgson (1877–1918)
• E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776–1825)
• Diane Hoh
• Nancy Holder (born 1953)
• Brian A. Hopkins (born 1960)
• Nalo Hopkinson
• Anthony Horowitz (born 1955)
• Gerard Daniel Houarner (born 1955)
• Robert E. Howard (1906–1936)
• Del Howison (born 1953)
• Tanya Huff (born 1957)
• Charlie Huston
• Shaun Hutson (born 1958)

I

• Stephen M. Irwin (born 1966)

J

• Shirley Jackson (1916–1965)
• Charlee Jacob (born 1952)
• W. W. Jacobs (1863–1943)
• Carl Jacobi (1908–1997)
• Henry James (1843–1916)
• L. Dean James (born 1947)
• M. R. James (1862–1936)
• Trent Jamieson
• Ruby Jean Jensen (1927–2010)
• K. W. Jeter (born 1950)
• Robert Barbour Johnson (1907–1987)
• Stephen Graham Jones (born 1972)
• Stephen Jones (born 1953)

K

• Franz Kafka (1883–1924)
• James Kahn (born 1947)
• Jeanne Kalogridis (born 1954)
• Brian Keene (born 1967)
• Ronald Kelly (born 1959)
• Rick Kennett (born 1956)
• Jasper Kent (born 1968)
• Jack Ketchum (1946–2018)
• Caitlín R. Kiernan (born 1964)
• Stephen King (born 1947)
• Russell Kirk (1918–1994)
• T. E. D. Klein (born 1947)
• Kathe Koja (born 1960)
• Dean R. Koontz (born 1945)
• M. F. Korn
• Alfred Kubin (1877–1959)
• Henry Kuttner (1915–1958)

L

• Marc Laidlaw (born 1960)
• John Langan (born 1969)
• Sarah Langan (born 1974)
• Roberta Lannes (born 1948)
• Joe R. Lansdale (born 1951)
• Margery Lawrence (1889–1969)
• Richard Laymon (1947–2001)
• Deborah LeBlanc
• Tim Lebbon (born 1969)
• Edward Lee (born 1957)
• Tanith Lee (1947–2015)
• Vernon Lee (1856–1935)
• J. Sheridan Le Fanu (1814–1873)
• Fritz Leiber (1910–1992)
• Ira Levin (1929–2007)
• Edward Levy
• Matthew Lewis (1775–1818)
• Thomas Ligotti (born 1953)
• John Ajvide Lindqvist (born 1968)
• Bentley Little (born 1960)
• John R. Little (born 1955)
• Martin Livings (born 1970)
• Frank Belknap Long (1901–1994)
• H. P. Lovecraft (1890–1937)
• Tim Lucas (born 1956)
• Brian Lumley (born 1937)

M

• Jonathan Maberry (born 1958)
• Arthur Machen (1863–1947)
• Ronald Malfi (born 1977)
• Nick Mamatas (born 1972)
• H. A. Manhood (1904–1991)
• Walter de la Mare (1873–1956)
• Richard Marsh (1857–1915)
• George R. R. Martin (born 1948)
• Brandon Massey (born 1973)
• Elizabeth Massie (born 1953)
• Graham Masterton (born 1946)
• Richard Matheson (1926–2013)
• Richard Christian Matheson (born 1953)
• Charles Maturin (1782–1824)
• Daphne du Maurier (1907–1989)
• Brett McBean (born 1978)
• Robert McCammon (born 1952)
• Angel Leigh McCoy (born 1962)
• Michael McDowell (1950–1999)
• Carlton Mellick III (born 1977)
• A. Merritt (1884–1943)
• John Metcalfe (1891–1965)
• Gustav Meyrink (1868–1932)
• China Miéville (born 1972)
• Rex Miller (1939–2004)
• Susie Moloney (born 1962)
• David Moody (born 1970)
• James A. Moore (born 1965)
• Michael Moorcock (born 1939)
• David Morrell (born 1943)
• W. C. Morrow (1854–1923)
• Lisa Morton (born 1958)
• Gary Myers (born 1952)

N

• Joseph Nassise (born 1968)
• Yvonne Navarro (born 1957)
• Adam Nevill (born 1969)
• Kim Newman (born 1959)
• William F. Nolan (born 1928)

O

• Joyce Carol Oates (born 1938)
• Weston Ochse (born 1965)
• Elliott O'Donnell (1872–1965)
• Gene O'Neill (born 1938)
• Michael Oliveri
• Oliver Onions (1873–1961)
• Otsuichi (born 1978)

P

• Barry Pain (1864–1928)
• Chuck Palahniuk (born 1962)
• Eliza Parsons (1739–1811)
• Norman Partridge (born 1958)
• James Patterson (born 1947)
• Mervyn Peake (1911–1968)
• John Pelan (born 1957)
• Frank E. Peretti (born 1951)
• Thomas Piccirilli (1965–2015)
• Sarah Pinborough (born 1972)
• Christopher Pike (born 1955)
• Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849)
• Thomas Peckett Prest (1810–1859)
• Douglas Preston (born 1956)
• Cherie Priest (born 1975)
• W. H. Pugmire (1951–2019)

Q

• Horacio Quiroga (1878–1937)

R

• Ann Radcliffe (1764–1823)
• Gary Raisor
• Stephen Mark Rainey (born 1959)
• Jean Ray (1887–1964)
• Loren Rhoads (born 1963)
• Anne Rice (born 1941)
• Charlotte Riddell (1832–1906)
• Tod Robbins (1888–1949)
• Ormond Robbins (1910–1984)
• Wayne Robbins (1914–1958)
• Regina Maria Roche (1764–1845)
• Alan Rodgers (1959–2014)
• Don Roff (born 1966)
• Ian Rogers (born 1976)
• Ray Russell (1924–1999)
• Joanna Russ
• John Russo (born 1939)
• Alan Ryan (1943–2011)
• R. R. Ryan (1882–1950)
• James Malcolm Rymer (1814–1888)

S

• Saki (1870–1916, pseudonym of H. H. Munro)
• Al Sarrantonio (born 1952)
• John Saul (born 1942)
• William Schoell (born 1958)
• David J. Schow (born 1955)
• Bruno Schulz
• Darrell Schweitzer (born 1952)
• M. R. Sellars (born 1962)
• Darren Shan (born 1972)
• Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797–1851)
• Michael Shea (1946–2014)
• John Shirley (born 1953)
• Sigma (1849–1925)
• Dan Simmons (born 1948)
• John Skipp (born 1957)
• Michael Slade (born 1947)
• Clark Ashton Smith (1893–1961)
• Guy N. Smith (born 1939)
• Lucy A. Snyder (born 1971)
• S.P. Somtow (born 1952)
• William Browning Spencer (born 1946)
• Robin Spriggs (born 1974)
• Bryce J. Stevens (born 1957)
• Francis Stevens (1884–1948)
• R. L. Stine (born 1943)
• Bram Stoker (1847–1912)
• Sam Stone
• Simon Strantzas (born 1972)
• Peter Straub (born 1943)
• Whitley Strieber (born 1945)
• Joel A. Sutherland (born 1980)
• E. G. Swain (1861–1938)
• Robert Swindells
• Koji Suzuki (born 1957)
• Mitzi Szereto

T

• Karen E. Taylor
• Lucy Taylor (born 1950)
• Melanie Tem (1949–2015)
• Steve Rasnic Tem (born 1950)
• Thomas Tessier (born 1947)
• Rosemary Timperley (1920–1988)
• Jeffrey Thomas (born 1957)
• Richard Thomas (born 1967)
• Christine Campbell Thomson (1897–1985)
• Tamara Thorne (born 1957)
• Paul G. Tremblay (born 1971)
• Tom Tryon (1926–1991)
• Lisa Tuttle (born 1952)

V

• Jeff VanderMeer (born 1968)
• Peter Van Greenaway (1929–1988)

W

• Tim Waggoner (born 1964)
• Karl Edward Wagner (1945–1994)
• Kaaron Warren
• H. Russell Wakefield (1888–1964)
• Horace Walpole (1717–1797)
• Robert Weinberg (born 1946)
• David Wellington (born 1971)
• Manly Wade Wellman (1903–1986)
• Edith Wharton (1862–1937)
• Dennis Wheatley (1897–1977)
• Henry S. Whitehead (1882–1932)
• Don Webb (born 1960)
• Dan Wells (born 1977)
• H.G. Wells (1866–1946)
• Sidney Williams (born 1962)
• Chet Williamson (born 1948)
• J. N. Williamson (1932–2005, also Julian Shock)
• Colin Wilson (1931–2013)
• David Niall Wilson (born 1959)
• F. Paul Wilson (born 1946)
• Gahan Wilson (born 1930)
• Douglas E. Winter (born 1950)
• Donald A. Wollheim (1914–1990)
• Bari Wood (born 1935)
• Rocky Wood (born 1959)
• Douglas E. Wright (born 1955)
• T.M. Wright (1947–2015)

Y

• Chelsea Quinn Yarbro (born 1942)

Z

• Alexander Zelenyj

See also

Subgenres:

• Body horror
• Cthulhu Mythos
• Dark fantasy
• Erotic horror
• Fantastique
• Ghost story
• Lovecraftian horror
• Psychological horror
• Splatterpunk
• Vampire fiction
• Werewolf fiction
• Weird fiction

Author lists:

• List of fantasy authors
• List of Clarion South Writers Workshop Instructors
• List of Clarion West Writers Workshop Alumni
• List of Clarion West Writers Workshop Instructors
• List of Clarion Writers Workshop Alumni
• List of Clarion Writers Workshop Instructors
• List of notable 20th-century writers
• List of science fiction authors
• Lists of writers

External links

• Horror Authors at Curlie
• Horror Writers Association