'Desperation' by Stephen King can also be considered in this category. Although not strictly about hiking, there are elements of being in a desolate, small - town environment that gives a similar sense of dread as one might experience while hiking in an unknown and dangerous place. The strange and malevolent forces at work in the town add to the horror factor.
A lesser - known but great hiking horror novel is 'Dark Matter' by Michelle Paver. It's set in the Arctic, where the main character is on a sort of hiking exploration. The sense of the vast, unforgiving wilderness and the supernatural elements that start to appear as the story progresses create a truly terrifying experience.
The unknown is also a key factor. In many hiking horror novels, the characters stumble upon something they don't understand, like in 'Annihilation' by Jeff VanderMeer. The area they are hiking in, 'Area X', has strange and unexplainable phenomena. The mystery of what could be out there in the uncharted hiking territory creates fear.
I know of a group of hikers who decided to hike in an area known for its haunted reputation. They camped near a stream at night. One of the hikers woke up in the middle of the night to see a figure standing by the water. It was translucent and seemed to be looking right at them. The whole group was terrified. They quickly packed up their things and left the area as soon as possible, abandoning their planned route.
One great hiking novel is 'Wild' by Cheryl Strayed. It's based on her real - life journey of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail alone. It's a story of self - discovery and survival in the wild.
Sure. 'Wild' is an excellent hiking novel. Cheryl Strayed's journey on the Pacific Crest Trail is a story of courage and self - renewal. 'A Walk in the Woods' is also very popular. Bill Bryson's adventures on the Appalachian Trail are filled with humor and interesting observations. Another one is 'The Longest Walk' by Peter Jenkins. His cross - country walk in the United States offers insights into different cultures and landscapes along the way.
Sure. 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' is a great one. It combines the classic 'Pride and Prejudice' with a horror element of zombies. Another is 'John Dies at the End', which has a lot of dark humor and strange, horror - filled situations. And 'Anno Dracula' is also interesting. It reimagines Dracula in a different, more comical and yet still horror - based context.
Sure. 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker is a well - known epistolary horror novel. It uses letters, diary entries, etc. to tell the story of Dracula's arrival in England and the ensuing horror. Another one is 'The Turn of the Screw' by Henry James. The narrative through letters creates an eerie and ambiguous atmosphere, leaving readers to question what is real and what is not.
One great Russian horror novel is 'The Master and Margarita' by Mikhail Bulgakov. It weaves elements of the supernatural, satire, and horror together. Another is 'Dead Souls' by Nikolai Gogol, which has some dark and eerie undertones. And 'Heart of a Dog' by Bulgakov also contains disturbing and thought - provoking elements that can be considered horror - like.
Sure. 'The Shining' by Stephen King is a classic. It tells the story of a family in an isolated hotel, where supernatural horrors lurk. Another one is 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker. It introduced the world - famous vampire, Count Dracula, and is filled with Gothic horror elements. And 'Coraline' by Neil Gaiman is also great. It's about a girl who discovers a parallel world with a very dark and spooky side.
One great short horror novel is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It's a disturbing tale of a woman's descent into madness. Another is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. The narrator's obsession and guilt are palpable. Also, 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs is excellent. It shows how a simple wish - granting object can bring great horror.
I would suggest 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski. It's a very complex horror mystery novel with a unique layout that adds to the mystery. The horror comes from the strange house and the events that occur within it. 'The Haunting of Hill House' by Shirley Jackson is another good one. The mystery of what is really haunting Hill House and the psychological horror it creates for the characters is really well - done.