11 of The Best Splatterpunk Books for 90s Horror Fans
Dive into the macabre world of 90s splatterpunk books. A world where horror knows no bounds, and darkness lurks around every corner. These tales all have one thing in common, extreme blood, gore, and guts!
Journeying through the pages, prepare to confront the darkest aspects of human nature. See the horrors that lurk beneath the surface of everyday life! From deranged serial killers to cannibal clans, each story immerses you in a world where survival is paramount. Whether you’re a seasoned horror fan or horror noob – these classic 90s splatterpunk books promise to keep you on the edge of your seat. So buckle up reader, and prepare to embark on a journey into the heart of darkness.
The Shaft by David Schow (1990)
David J. Schow’s The Shaft (1990) plunges you into a gritty tale of survival and horror. Cruz, a low-level drug runner, is exiled from the sun-soaked streets of Miami to the icy grip of Chicago’s winter. Holed up in the dilapidated Kenilworth Arms, he crosses paths with Jonathan, a yuppie nursing a broken heart. He also meets Jamaica, a prostitute under the thumb of drug kingpin Bauhaus. When a police raid forces Cruz and Jamaica to stash two kilos of cocaine down a ventilation shaft, all hell breaks loose.
The Shaft masterfully blends supernatural horror, splatterpunk, and the gritty realities of drug-running. The Kenilworth Arms itself seems almost alive, harboring a monstrous presence in the depths of the ventilation shaft. As Cruz, Jonathan, and Jamaica face the wrath of Bauhaus and his goons, their terror is both palpable and immediate. This makes for an edge-of-your-seat read that’s impossible to put down.
Offspring by Jack Ketchum (1991)
This is the second story in the splatterpunk book trilogy, Dead River. Offspring (1991) takes place after the events at the beach town of Dead River in Off Season (1980). In Offspring, the local sheriff, who once believed he had eradicated the cannibalistic family, discovers to his horror that they have survived and continued to breed. This primal clan re-emerges to terrorize the Maine coast. They again prey on the residents who sought peace and solitude in Dead River.
The novel delves into themes of survival and the thin veneer of civilization. As the peaceful townsfolk are thrust into a desperate battle against these relentless, predatory savages.
Wetbones by John Shirley (1991)
In Los Angeles, every addiction is encouraged. Within this hovel of endless indulgence, struggling Hollywood screenwriter Tom Prentice is horrified to find his ex-wife’s mutilated body lying on a morgue slab. The nightmare intensifies when his roommate’s missing brother reappears in a hospital, having inexplicably butchered himself. Meanwhile, in Oakland, Reverend Garner, a recovering addict, abandons his ministry to search for his teenage daughter, last seen with a sinister kidnapper. As these personal tragedies unfold, the LAPD is baffled by the elusive “Wetbones” serial killer, who leaves only a damp, grisly pile of bones in his wake.
Tom, the reverend, and the LAPD each pursue their own quest for answers, unknowingly converging toward Hollywood’s darkest corners, where hedonism reigns supreme and pleasure becomes a drug that consumes flesh, blood, and sanity. Their paths reveal a horrifying source of addiction that defies earthly understanding. In John Shirley’s International Horror Guild Award-winning splatterpunk classic Wetbones, the macabre creativity of H. P. Lovecraft meets the visceral intensity of Clive Barker, crafting a modern horror masterpiece that is not for the faint of heart.
American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis (1991)
A book characterized by graphic violence (and as a result, being censored in multiple countries), American Psycho (1991) follows successful and narcissistic investment banker Patrick Bateman who supposedly leads a double life as a serial killer.
Set in Manhattan during the Wall Street boom of the late 1980s, Bateman narrates his daily activities, offering a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of New York’s Wall Street elite. By day, he’s immersed in the world of high finance and luxury, but by night, he descends into a dark world of violence and murder. This stark contrast between his polished exterior and gruesome secret life makes for a chilling and compelling read.
The Cipher by Kathe Koja (1991)
Kathe Koja’s award-winning splatterpunk book, The Cipher (1991), follows Nicholas, an aspiring poet, and his wild lover, Nakota. The two stumble upon a mysterious hole in the storage room floor down the hall. This “Funhole” is described as “black, pure black, with a sense of pulsation, especially when you look at it too closely, a sense of something not living but alive.”
What begins as curiosity and a joke quickly escalates into a series of experiments. Nicholas and Nakota soon lose control over their fascination with the mysterious hole. Their experiments spiral into obsession and violence, ultimately leading to profound transformations for anyone who gets too close to the Funhole. This gripping tale of dark discovery and its harrowing consequences makes for a chilling and unforgettable experience.
Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite (1996)
For serial killer Andrew Compton, murder is the ultimate art. After faking his death to escape prison, he moves to the U.S. to elevate his craft. Consumed by dark urges, Compton partners with Jay Byrne, a playboy who has taken this “art” to new extremes. Together, they target Tran, a young Vietnamese-American runaway, as their perfect victim.
From London’s Piccadilly Circus to New Orleans’ French Quarter, Exquisite Corpse weaves murder and twisted love. Radio host Lush Rimbaud, Tran’s ex-lover dying of AIDS, plans a final act of destruction. The story culminates in a bloody night that changes—or ends—the lives of all four characters. Splatterpunk author Poppy Z. Brite delves into the minds of killers, challenging readers to explore where the sacred and profane collide.
The Mirror of Night by Roberta Lannes (1997)
Roberta Lannes is known as a splatterpunk writer, publishing many short stories in anthologies and magazines. This short story collection includes 5 reprints from other publications. It also is home to 5 original short stories, including the titular The Mirror of Night.
Notably, the reprint Apostate in Denim, originally censored for its content, was featured in volume #2 of BEST NEW HORROR, edited by Stephen Jones which would have featured horror works from 1990.
This Symbiotic Fascination by Charlee Jacob (1997)
This is a splatterpunk vampire story! It tells of a solitary woman who becomes involved with a serial killer. While this brief description merely scratches the surface of the novel’s depth, it serves as a starting point. Jacob challenges conventions and explores the edges of splatterpunk. This will be a unique addition to anyone’s reading list.
Out by Natsuo Kirino (1997)
In Natsuo Kirino’s novel Out, set in the quiet Tokyo suburbs, a young mother working night shifts making boxed lunches commits a brutal act: she strangles her deadbeat husband and seeks help from her co-workers to dispose of the body. Masako Katori emerges as the mastermind of the cover-up, her character serving as the emotional linchpin of the narrative and one of recent fiction’s most astute creations. Her own quest for liberation from a stifling existence drives her to take equally drastic measures.
Kirino seamlessly blends a gritty exploration of Japan’s yakuza underworld with a penetrating examination of the psychology behind violent crime. As seasoned detectives play a tense game of cat-and-mouse with the novice criminals, the story is infused with a dark, Thelma and Louise-esque humor. This humor not only exposes the societal pressures that push these women to extreme actions but also underscores the resilience of their friendship and solidarity in the face of adversity.
In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami (1997)
In the Miso Soup (1997) follows Kenji, a young Japanese tour guide, whose routine tour through Tokyo’s red-light district takes a chilling turn when his client raises suspicions of being a serial killer. Murakami crafts his narrative with a slow-burning tension, typical of many Japanese horror novels, before delivering a climactic moment of shocking violence akin to the film adaptation, Audition (1999).
In contrast to Western splatterpunk norms, In the Miso Soup captivates with its deliberate pacing and intricate character development. Murakami’s talent for spinning complex tales and evoking a palpable sense of dread ensures readers are in for a chilling ride. Whether you’re intrigued by Japanese horror or seeking a departure from the mainstream, Murakami’s novel promises an enthralling journey through the shadowy streets of Tokyo.
Cows by Matthew Stokoe (1998)
In a dilapidated apartment resides a trio: a mother, her son Steven, and a paralyzed dog named Dog. Known ominously as The Hagbeast, the mother, grotesquely overweight and harboring murderous intentions, concocts sinister meals in her quest to kill her only child. Meanwhile, Steven languishes in his room, yearning for the idyllic lives he sees on TV, his sole solace being Dog, the faithful companion his mother maimed with a brick.
Upstairs, Lucy grapples with her own demons, obsessively seeking to purge the toxins festering within her body. When she enlists Steven’s help in manipulating medical equipment, he glimpses the possibility of a better life with her – one mirroring the wholesome families portrayed on television. However, achieving this dream requires surviving his mother’s nightly poisonings and confronting her formidable presence. Encouragement arrives in an unexpected form: Cripps, a deranged foreman at Steven’s new job in a slaughterhouse, advocates self-empowerment through violence. Emboldened, Steven plots his escape from his mother’s clutches, but unforeseen adversaries, including subterranean bovines, threaten to derail his plans.
