One popular horror short story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a disturbing tale of a man's descent into madness as he is haunted by the sound of his victim's beating heart. Another is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, which has a shockingly cruel ending that makes you question the nature of society. And 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs, where a family's wishes on a cursed paw lead to tragic consequences.
H.P. Lovecraft's 'The Call of Cthulhu' is also a classic. It tells of an ancient and powerful being that lies dormant but is capable of driving those who discover it to madness. Lovecraft's use of cosmic horror and the unknown makes this a truly terrifying short story.
Edgar Allan Poe is a well - known author of classic horror short stories. His works, like 'The Fall of the House of Usher', are full of psychological horror and a sense of impending doom. His use of vivid descriptions and unreliable narrators adds to the horror element.
For beginners, I'd recommend 'The Most Dangerous Game' by Richard Connell. While not strictly a horror story in the traditional sense, it has elements of suspense and danger that can ease you into the horror genre. 'The Canterville Ghost' by Oscar Wilde is also a great choice. It's a humorous yet spooky story about a ghost trying to haunt a family who doesn't believe in ghosts. And 'The Open Window' by Saki, which has a clever plot twist that gives it a bit of a horror - like feel.
One popular favorite horror novel is 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker. It introduced the iconic vampire character, Count Dracula. Another is 'The Shining' by Stephen King. It has a very creepy atmosphere in the haunted Overlook Hotel. And 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley is also a classic. It deals with the idea of creating life and the horror that follows.
Stephen King has written many short horror stories as well. For example, 'Children of the Corn' which is set in a small Nebraska town where the children have been influenced by a malevolent entity. His stories are known for their vivid descriptions and ability to create a sense of dread.
Favorite novels usually referred to novels with pets as the main characters, often involving pets 'adventures, growth, emotional stories, and so on. There were many types of pet novels, such as warm and cute pet stories, thrilling pet adventure novels, and funny pet novels. Short stories and medium-length stories were different types of favorite articles. Short and medium-length favorite novels usually have simple plots and short lengths, which are suitable for readers to read quickly. The short favorite novels usually paid more attention to the performance of the pet characters and the development of the plot. The length was relatively short, but it could also leave a deep impression on people.
One popular one is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who kills an old man because he's bothered by his 'evil eye' and then he's haunted by the sound of the dead man's heart.
The book 'Dark Tales' is popular. It has a variety of short horror stories that range from the classic haunted house type to more psychological horror. The stories are crafted in a way that they can be read quickly but still leave a lasting impression of unease.
One popular one is 'The Monkey's Paw' from that era. It's a really spooky story about a magical monkey's paw that grants wishes but with a horrible twist. Every wish comes with a great and often tragic cost.