30 review for Dark Dreamers: Conversations with the Masters of Horror

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Jack Tripper – Jan 22, 2016

   Here's a larger image of the 1990 Avon Books trade paperback. Features interviews with Ramsey Campbell, Skipp & Spector, Dennis Etchison, Richard Laymon, King & Straub together, John Farris, Anne Rice, Graham Masterton, Clive Barker, Joe Lansdale his ownself, Richard Matheson, Chet Williamson, Robert Bloch, Charles Grant, Gahan Wilson, Robert McCammon, James Herbert, and more. Full review to come. Here's a larger image of the 1990 Avon Books trade paperback. Features interviews with Ramsey Campbell, Skipp & Spector, Dennis Etchison, Richard Laymon, King & Straub together, John Farris, Anne Rice, Graham Masterton, Clive Barker, Joe Lansdale his ownself, Richard Matheson, Chet Williamson, Robert Bloch, Charles Grant, Gahan Wilson, Robert McCammon, James Herbert, and more. Full review to come.

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Graham P – Mar 27, 2013

   I'm not sure this collection of interviews lived up to my expectations. While practically every name from the 1980s Golden Age of Horror fiction is included within these pages, the interviews don't truly enlighten the process on what makes their novels and collections so horrible, so frightening, so memorable. Most of the writers do divulge their some of their writing methods and writing schedules, and at times, they enlighten the reader on what scares them. But after getting through the halfway I'm not sure this collection of interviews lived up to my expectations. While practically every name from the 1980s Golden Age of Horror fiction is included within these pages, the interviews don't truly enlighten the process on what makes their novels and collections so horrible, so frightening, so memorable. Most of the writers do divulge their some of their writing methods and writing schedules, and at times, they enlighten the reader on what scares them. But after getting through the halfway point, I felt like all the interviews blended into one. Really, I think a far more interesting way of getting to know the author (and most of them would probably agree) is to read their fiction and take it from there. Of course, some of the writers give wonderful insights to their genre, but unfortunately as a whole, not enough. I guess I wanted more of a precise approach to specific works, dreams, nightmares, that kind of thing. There are some interesting insights into the 'quiet horror' vs 'splatter-punk' arguments that were happening in that decade, and also some good advice for the aspiring horror novelist, especially from Joe Lansdale and Charles Grant. Whitley Strieber comes across a bit defensive in light of his writing the 'Communion' books, which in a way, distanced himself from the genre. J.N. Williamson keeps it light and airy and doesn't take himself too seriously, while Dennis Etchison waxes on the philosophical importance about the genre. King and Straub give some good banter, and Ramsey Campbell as always, enlightens. Solid, but not necessary.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Thomas Rohde – May 22, 2012

   I read the kindle version of this, so I don't know how greatly it differs from the print version (another reviewer mentioned pictures, which were not included in the kindle version). Wonderful interviews with dozens of writers of horror/ dark fantasy/ suspense at a very particular time in the genre's history. It was interesting to get a snapshot of the horror scene circa 1990 (with some interview content apparently collected earlier) right when everyone was talking about "splatterpunk" and the s I read the kindle version of this, so I don't know how greatly it differs from the print version (another reviewer mentioned pictures, which were not included in the kindle version). Wonderful interviews with dozens of writers of horror/ dark fantasy/ suspense at a very particular time in the genre's history. It was interesting to get a snapshot of the horror scene circa 1990 (with some interview content apparently collected earlier) right when everyone was talking about "splatterpunk" and the slasher film technique of writing versus the more classic sense of suspense and horror created through inference. Some lovely anecdotes and commentary from a wide assortment of writers (about half of whom I wasn't completely familiar with). It would be interesting to see a similar volume of interviews with writers of these topics now that we've had the zombie resurgence in pop culture and that we're post-torture porn. For the writers who are still working successfully, it would be interesting to hear how their opinions have changed, and for those who have only begun working in the last 20 years, it would be interesting to see where their viewpoints match and collide with the writers in this volume. One note on the kindle version: there are a lot of typos throughout, sometimes making the sentences difficult to read (some spots seem to have been spellchecked haphazardly with an autocorrect function).

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Jack – Oct 02, 2013

   This collection of interviews is a bit dated, coming from the horror boom of the mid-eighties. That being said, it's excellent and covers nearly every major horror writer from that era. You will recognize most of the biggies, such as Stephen King, Peter Straub, Clive Barker, Ramsey Campbell, and on and on. It's interesting to read about people like Barker, who at the time were much newer to the scene. The writers cover a wide range of styles from quiet horror to splatterpunk, from psychological t This collection of interviews is a bit dated, coming from the horror boom of the mid-eighties. That being said, it's excellent and covers nearly every major horror writer from that era. You will recognize most of the biggies, such as Stephen King, Peter Straub, Clive Barker, Ramsey Campbell, and on and on. It's interesting to read about people like Barker, who at the time were much newer to the scene. The writers cover a wide range of styles from quiet horror to splatterpunk, from psychological to paranormal. A lot of the questions are the same in each interview, and the effect is an understanding that there isn't correct way to write horror. There isn't a universal path to the bestseller list. All you can do is write and hope for the best.

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Geoff – Jan 05, 2017

   This was a fairly large collection of photography. The emphasis was on horror, being it novelists, actors, film directors or artists. One page was given to a black and white photograph taken by Beth Gwinn, along with an accompanying page of text written either by the subject (person), or completed by Stanley Wiater; the editor. Six recommendations were given for each person as to what books to read or what movies to see, for example. A pretty enjoyable book as it was different, and it was fun to This was a fairly large collection of photography. The emphasis was on horror, being it novelists, actors, film directors or artists. One page was given to a black and white photograph taken by Beth Gwinn, along with an accompanying page of text written either by the subject (person), or completed by Stanley Wiater; the editor. Six recommendations were given for each person as to what books to read or what movies to see, for example. A pretty enjoyable book as it was different, and it was fun to put faces to names. This is a large coffee table style of book which allows for the photography to shine. I learned a little bit about some of the lesser known artists or authors that are in the horror field, so I felt it was a good purchase.

6. 

   4 out of 5

   Steven Middaugh – Jan 07, 2020

   Old Days, Good times This is my second read since the book came out back in the '80s and early '90s. It's always great and interesting to "listen" to the writers talk about themselves and their craft long before most of their unfortunate passing. It's fun to still read them again. Old Days, Good times This is my second read since the book came out back in the '80s and early '90s. It's always great and interesting to "listen" to the writers talk about themselves and their craft long before most of their unfortunate passing. It's fun to still read them again.

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Lynn – Oct 20, 2013

   If you have a favorite author who writes horror and fantasy it's fun to go check out their photo and blurb. If you have a favorite author who writes horror and fantasy it's fun to go check out their photo and blurb.

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Charles – Oct 22, 2008

   Really good. Like a bunch of short bios on the biggest names in horror fiction. Wiater is a good interviewer.

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Duke Fuller – Apr 28, 2009

   Amazing photographic history of the best of the best in horror illustration and writing. A fly on the wall peek in their personal life... just for a brief moment....

10. 

    5 out of 5

    Theremin Poisoning – Oct 12, 2017

    Meh. 2001.

11. 

    4 out of 5

    David Agranoff – Oct 13, 2015

    This book and Dark vision but were the single biggest influence on me becoming a writer.

12. 

    5 out of 5

    James – Nov 12, 2013

    Meh.

13. 

    5 out of 5

    Shirley –

14. 

    5 out of 5

    John –

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Jonathan –

16. 

    4 out of 5

    Rolf –

17. 

    4 out of 5

    Aaron –

18. 

    4 out of 5

    Janeth –

19. 

    5 out of 5

    Spenser –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    Lisa of LaCreeperie –

21. 

    4 out of 5

    Predator –

22. 

    5 out of 5

    Steven Awalt –

23. 

    4 out of 5

    Kaci –

24. 

    5 out of 5

    Patrick Bruss (Crypticus) –

25. 

    4 out of 5

    Church –

26. 

    4 out of 5

    Ashok Banker –

27. 

    5 out of 5

    Ibe Okere –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Sounika –

29. 

    5 out of 5

    Andrew Shaffer –

30. 

    4 out of 5

    Francisco Mercado –