re: Better Horror Writer: King or Barker

I have read Gaiman and he's great. I lov AnaziBoys and the Graveyard Book. Not a huge fan of American Gods (I found it a bit incoherent and boring) and I started the Oceans At the End of the Lane but I didnt finish it. I just didn't find it interesting. I do have Stardust and Neverwhere on deck and am looking forward to those. But I don't really consider Gaiman To be a horror writer and his writing style varies too much from book to book.

Back to Lovecraft. Characterization and dialogue aren't the point. You're reading them with 21st century sensibilities it sounds like. I think the lack of characterization is actually beneficial. You seldom hear much from the speaker and that allows you to put yourself in the shoes of the speaker. I think most of the issues come from when he's doing hard sci fi and his ideas are so out there and behind the times it's a little hard to go back to. Some of the aliens are ridiculous. ,

But his stories about New England hill country are absolutely some of the best horror stories ever. In particular: The Whisper In Darkness and The Color Out of Space.

I don't like all the dream stuff though.