One popular contemporary scary story is 'Bird Box'. In this story, people must avoid looking at a mysterious entity outside, as seeing it drives them to insanity and self - harm. Another is 'The Haunting of Hill House'. It tells about a family haunted by a malevolent force in an old mansion. And 'A Quiet Place' is also quite well - known. In this world, making any sound attracts deadly creatures.
Well, 'It' by Stephen King is a contemporary scary story that has been very popular. It features a shape - shifting evil entity that preys on children in the town of Derry, mainly in the form of Pennywise the clown. Then there's 'The Girl on the Train'. It has elements of mystery and horror as the protagonist tries to uncover the truth about a missing woman she saw from the train, with a lot of psychological twists.
Some great contemporary fiction stories include 'The Girl on the Train' by Paula Hawkins. It has an unreliable narrator and a mystery that keeps readers hooked. 'Big Little Lies' by Liane Moriarty is also popular. It delves into the lives of a group of women in a coastal town, with secrets and drama aplenty. And 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini is a powerful story about friendship, guilt, and redemption set against the backdrop of Afghanistan.
Well, 'The Dark Tower' series by Stephen King is a significant contemporary fantasy. It blends elements of Western, horror, and high fantasy. The story follows Roland, the last gunslinger, on his quest to reach the Dark Tower. 'His Dark Materials' by Philip Pullman is also a great one. It features parallel universes, daemons which are manifestations of one's soul, and a young girl named Lyra who embarks on a great adventure. And don't forget about 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry. It's set in a seemingly utopian society but has elements of a different kind of fantasy world where memories are controlled.
There's 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. Although it's an older work, it has had a huge influence on contemporary gothic short stories. It's about a man's descent into madness over an old man's 'vulture - like' eye. In more recent times, Kelly Link's 'Some Zombie Contingency Plans' has a contemporary gothic feel, with its strange, otherworldly events and dark undertones.
One popular contemporary romance short story is 'The Kiss Quotient' by Helen Hoang. It features an autistic woman who decides to hire an escort to teach her about sex and relationships, and of course, love blossoms between them.
Some popular scary stories include 'Annabelle'. It's based on a supposedly haunted doll that causes all sorts of spooky occurrences. 'The Conjuring' stories are also quite popular. These are about real - life paranormal investigators and their encounters with malevolent spirits. There's also the classic 'Dracula' story. The vampire Count Dracula preys on the living, and his powers and the fear he instills have made this story a staple in the horror genre.
One popular one could be 'The Haunted House Tale'. It's about a family that moves into an old, seemingly charming house, only to discover strange noises at night and apparitions in the hallways.
Another popular one is 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. It's a classic that explores themes of racism and justice. It's widely loved for its powerful message and well-developed characters.
A rather terrifying internet scary story is 'The Russian Sleep Experiment'. It tells of a group of people who were kept awake for an extended period in a Soviet experiment. As they became more sleep - deprived, they started to go insane and exhibit inhuman behavior. It plays on our fears of the unknown and the consequences of messing with basic human needs like sleep.
One popular horror scary story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is driven mad by the old man's 'evil eye' and eventually kills him, then is haunted by the sound of the old man's still - beating heart. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw' where a family gets a magical paw that grants wishes, but with horrible consequences for each wish they make.
One popular scary story fiction is 'The Shining' by Stephen King. It tells the story of a family in an isolated hotel with a dark and haunted past. The psychological horror in it is truly spine - chilling. Another is 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker. This classic features the iconic vampire, Count Dracula, and his terrifying actions against the living. Also, 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley is a great one. It explores the idea of creating life and the consequences that follow, which is both thought - provoking and scary.