There is also 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley which is among the first dark fiction stories. It delves into complex themes such as the consequences of playing God, the isolation of the created being, and the horror of the unknown. The monster in the story is a symbol of the dark side of human creation and the fear of the Other. It's a story that has influenced countless works in the dark fiction genre ever since.
The first dark fiction stories usually had a setting that contributed to the dark mood. In 'The Fall of the House of Usher', the decaying mansion with its dank interiors and shadowy corridors was more than just a backdrop. It was a character in itself, heightening the sense of dread and isolation. The characters in these early stories were often in some sort of psychological or physical distress, which added to the overall dark atmosphere. They might be haunted by their pasts or dealing with some form of mental instability, like Roderick Usher in Poe's story.
One such example could be 'The Martian' by Andy Weir. It's based on real scientific knowledge and the idea of a stranded astronaut on Mars, which has elements of real - life space exploration concepts (true story aspect) but also delves into the science fiction of surviving in a harsh alien environment.
One is 'American Psycho' by Bret Easton Ellis. It's a disturbing look into the mind of a wealthy, deranged serial killer in the 1980s.
I'm not sure of a specific one off the top of my head. But some older works of literature from different cultures might have such themes. You could try looking into some classic literature collections and searching for keywords like 'cousin' and 'first love' to find relevant fictions.
Sure. 'The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires' is a recent dark fiction. It combines the horror of vampires with the charm of a southern book club. Another one is 'My Heart Is a Chainsaw' which has a dark and gritty story set against a slasher - movie - like backdrop.
Sure. 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien can be considered as related. It has elements of a fictional world that seems to have a touch of the 'dark age' in some aspects, like the dark forces of Sauron and the overall sense of danger and gloom. Another one is 'Game of Thrones' by George R.R. Martin. The series is full of political intrigue, violence and a rather dark medieval - like world setting which gives it a dark age feel.
Another good one for beginners is 'Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger. Although it has darker elements, Holden Caulfield's observations and his somewhat cynical view of the world are presented in a way that has a certain dark humor to it. It's a coming - of - age story with a twist.
One great dark humor fiction book is 'Catch - 22' by Joseph Heller. It's set during World War II and uses dark humor to expose the absurdity of war and military bureaucracy. Another is 'Fight Club' by Chuck Palahniuk. It has a unique take on modern consumer culture and masculinity with a lot of darkly humorous elements. And 'A Confederacy of Dunces' by John Kennedy Toole is also a classic. The main character, Ignatius J. Reilly, is a larger - than - life and extremely comical yet also tragic figure in a darkly humorous New Orleans setting.
Sure. 'The Shining' by Stephen King is a great horror fiction dark book. It tells the story of a family in an isolated hotel with terrifying events. Another one is 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker, which introduced the classic vampire figure. 'American Psycho' by Bret Easton Ellis also fits, exploring the dark psyche of a serial killer in a disturbing way.
There's 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs. It tells the story of a family who comes into possession of a mummified monkey's paw that has the power to grant three wishes, but each wish comes with a dark and unforeseen consequence. Dark fiction short stories often play with themes like the unknown, human nature's dark side, and the fragility of sanity.