10 Most Terrifying Books Horror Fans MUST Read

Thus far this list has made a point of avoiding the inclusion of texts which have been adapted into iconic horror movies where possible, as most readers already know that Frankenstein, Dracula, and their ilk are vital additions to any horror fiction fan's bookshelf.

That said, there was always going to be an entry reserved here for horror fiction icon Stephen King, and it seems fitting that this one collection of his from 1978 has resulted in numerous movie adaptations.

It wasn't easy to pick a single tome from the writer's long career (no hard feelings, Everything's Eventual and Skeleton Crew), but ultimately the one Stephen King book which undeniably belongs on a list of books horror fans need to read is his single iconic short story collection Night Shift.

Featuring many of the writer's earlier efforts, this collection not only sets up his post-apocalyptic epic The Stand via the tale Night Surf, it's also the single text which provided horror filmmakers with the premises for Graveyard Shift, Sometimes They Come Back, Cat’s Eye, Children of the Corn, The Mangler, and… er, Maximum Overdrive.

Look, they can't all be winners.