Horror Literature through History

February 1, 2018

Cardin (English & religion, Ranger Coll., TX; editor, Ghosts, Spirits, and Psychics: The Paranormal from Alchemy to Zombies) has assembled fascinating, informative, jargon-free entries on horror literature from knowledgeable contributors (most are academics or authors or editors of the genre). Introductory material on the appeal of horror is followed by a time line. In Part 1, "Horror Through History," eight short essays each cover different eras, from ancient times to the 21st century. Part 2 features 23 articles on both obvious topics ("Ghost Stories") and more niche ones ("Eco-Horror," "Horror Literature in the Internet Age"). This dedication to breadth continues into the third section, which alphabetically lists authors, books, short stories, and occasionally subjects (body horror, the unreliable narrator). Articles are signed, with further reading suggestions, and brief but comprehensive--perfect for those delving into an area with which they are unfamiliar. VERDICT High school students, undergraduates, or general readers with an interest in the topic will find this a valuable resource.--Robert Mixner, Bartholomew Cty. P.L., Columbus, IN

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from January 1, 2018
The fan and the scholar alike will find much of use in this fun, well-organized two-volume reference set. Cardin (Mummies around the World, 2014) looks at horror literature with the broadest lens possible, considering not just its history but also its influence on new media, other genres, and more, organizing it all into three distinct and meticulously researched sections. Part 1 consists of eight essays chronologically addressing the history of horror. Part 2 is made up of 23 essays discussing larger issues and academic topics about the genre and how both the literature and the study of it have evolved over time. Part 3 is a traditional encyclopedia with almost 400 entries about authors, topics, and seminal works, listed alphabetically. Scattered throughout are interviews and sidebars from experts. Common Core State Standards were considered when Cardin constructed this book, seen most notably in his inclusion of excerpts from works of horror so that students can read them critically after encountering the corresponding entry. Extremely informative in its content, easy to use, engaging in its writing style, Cardin's comprehensive and inclusive reference work not only solidly makes the case for horror's enduring importance in our lives, as humans, throughout history but also presents it in a package that is a pleasure to read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)