What makes the 10 terrifying 21st - century novels so terrifying?

One of the terrifying 21st - century novels could be 'The Girl with All the Gifts' by M. R. Carey. It presents a post - apocalyptic world where the zombies are not just mindless monsters but have an unexpected side. Another might be 'Bird Box' by Josh Malerman. The idea of not being able to see outside without going insane is really creepy.

It could be the fact that it was a real event. Knowing that people actually faced this plague, with all its consequences like the spread of disease, the breakdown of communities, and the helplessness in the face of it, makes it terrifying. It might also show the ineffectiveness of initial responses, which added to the horror.

In 'The Exorcist', the realistic portrayal of demonic possession makes it so terrifying. The struggle between good and evil within a young girl's body is really disturbing. In 'Pet Sematary', the violation of the natural order of life and death is what makes it scary. And in 'It', the idea of an evil entity that can take different forms and prey on children is truly nightmarish.

The stand horror novels are terrifying due to their exploration of the darkest aspects of human nature. It shows how people can turn on each other in extreme circumstances. The characters are complex and sometimes their actions are driven by fear and desperation, which is a very real and disturbing concept. This, combined with the eerie settings and the looming sense of doom throughout the novels, creates a truly terrifying reading experience.

The unpredictability of their behavior. Insects in horror novels often don't follow the rules we expect. They might suddenly attack, invade personal spaces like homes or bodies. Their small size also means they can get into places we consider safe. For instance, a story where insects start infesting a person's body, burrowing under the skin, is extremely horrifying as it violates our sense of bodily integrity.

Analog horror novels are terrifying because they break the normal rules of horror. They don't rely on typical jump scares. Instead, they build a slow - burning sense of dread. For instance, in 'Local58', the way the normalcy of a local broadcast is gradually subverted is what makes it so scary. They also use glitches and distortion as a narrative device, which gives a sense of something being wrong at a fundamental level, like in the case of 'The Backrooms' where the very space itself seems corrupted.

The unknown. The arctic is still a place full of mystery. Writers can play on this by introducing things like unknown species or ancient secrets in arctic horror novels. It gives the sense that there are things out there that we don't understand, and that's really frightening. Just like in stories where there are strange entities lurking beneath the arctic ice.

The strange and often unknowable creatures that could exist in the ocean. In many ocean horror novels, there are ancient or mutated beasts that are far beyond our understanding. Take 'The Terror' for instance, the monster that haunts the ships is something completely foreign and terrifying. Also, the isolation that the ocean can bring. Ships or rafts can be cut off from the rest of the world, making it hard for characters to get help when facing horror in the ocean.

The appearance of clowns is often very vivid and can be disturbing. Their bright colors and exaggerated features in horror novels can be used to create a sense of unease.

For '1984', it's the total lack of privacy. Big Brother is always watching, and the Thought Police can arrest you for your thoughts. In 'The Handmaid's Tale', it's the subjugation of women. They are stripped of their rights and used as vessels for reproduction. In 'Brave New World', it's the loss of true human nature as people are engineered and conditioned from birth.