Masters of Macabre

With the release of a new Saw movie every Oct. 31 like clockwork, we know it is that time of year again. Halloween brings out our inner urge to sit through terrifying movies and experience those "jump-out-of-your-seat" thrills. But no film can beat the mind's ability to picture the worst, and a good horror writer knows just how to make thoughts of their disturbing tales linger in the imagination. Here are the book editor's picks for classic and modern masters of macabre.

Stephen King
You really cannot have a list of influential horror authors without including Stephen King. Love him or hate him, he has made a name for himself in the world of scary literature for 35 years, penning staples of the genre like The Shining, It and Pet Sematary. But his some of his most chilling works are hidden within the pages of his short story and novella collections. "Apt Pupil" and "The Body" from Different Seasons, "Survivor Type" from Skeleton Crew, "The Langoliers" from Four Past Midnight, and "Children of the Corn" from Night Shift are particularly memorable. Aside from the thrill factor, these stories confirm King's ability to find the creepy side of just about anything.

Edgar Allen Poe
Poe may be well-known for his verse, but both his poetry and prose bring out that desperate side of human nature better left concealed. His celebrated poems, "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee," tell of men driven to insanity over the loss of their lovers. His equally-acclaimed stories, "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," bring the feelings of guilt, fear and death to the forefront of readers' minds. It is impossible not to be engrossed in his sinister plots and haunting words.

Quality over Quantity
They may not have a body of work as impressive as King or Poe, but these renowned authors have earned praise from fans and critics alike. Check out:

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill (a.k.a. Stephen King's son)
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Dracula by Bram Stoker
House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski