Overview

Many creatures lurk in the dark, weaving on top of one another, roiling together like waves on the night sea. The darkness forms in layers to encompass the land, fill the corners, and obscure angles. Untold mysteries lie just beyond reach told in many tongues, many inflections, many rhythms. The stories are many. Innumerable. Legion. The Horror Aesthetic: Essays from the Dark Corners of the Genre shares perspectives from the darkest corners of the horror genre, providing study and nuance to the mythos, antagonists, and storytelling we love. This is a book that celebrates the craft of writing horror, explores the oral traditions that gave life to the written words of the gothic and the tortured, shines a light on what has been left in the obscurity of the dark. From the classroom to the far corners that only shadows reach, The Horror Aesthetic: Essays from the Dark Corners of the Genre examines the horror genre in rich context, contemplative zest, and dark humor. It's the horror research you never knew you needed until now.

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9781962353151

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Reviews

Horror author and scholar Wood has collected dozens of her essays and lectures from the last decade into one volume centered around her thoughts on the genre from her perspective as an African American woman and professor. With essays on topics as broad as the genre as a whole to specifics about tropes, the use of African folklore in horror, the history of horror and its popularity across time, horror film, and more, Wood's collection stands out as more than a book. Rather, it could be seen as a course on horror, genre fans, and society as a whole...Whether readers turn to this book for a specific essay, to read the book in its entirety, or for something in between, this is a stellar entry point into the genre, told with a compelling mix of the authoritative voice of a well-known teacher and the grace of a critically acclaimed fiction author. It is suitable for die-hard horror fans and newcomers alike... -Becky Spratford, Booklist Horror Aesthetic is an insightful exploration of the shadows that lurk within the human mind and in the horror genre. With a keen eye, L. Marie Wood delves into the heart of darkness, revealing the tremendous contributions of Black writers in the field. Her essays are a stark, unflinching examination of why horror is a necessary, powerful imaginative and creative force and how it reflects and informs our society and our unpacked, unhealed traumas. Wood offers perspectives on familiar frights and speculates on possible futures. This is a book not only for casual fans of horror but for those who study it as well. Illuminating and revelatory, Wood has offered an important new volume in a growing area of exploration. -Sheree Renée Thomas, Three-time World Fantasy Award winner and author of Nine Bar Blues: Stories from an Ancient Future, Sleeping Under the Tree of Life, editor of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, and associate editor of Obsidian ""THE HORROR AESTHETIC is a brilliant, elegant and deeply insightful exploration of the many faces of horror. This will enchant both scholars and...well...everyone! Very highly recommended!"" -Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestselling author of NecroTek and editor of Weird Tales Magazine ""L. Marie Wood's The Horror Aesthetic: Essays from the Dark Corners of the Genre is a front-row seat to a masterclass in horror from one of the genre's most knowledgeable practitioners. Dissecting monsters and the monstrous with insight and verve, including topics such as intensity, romantic connections, and the horror of hair, Wood's essays are accessible and immersive, making them perfect reading for students and connoisseurs. A must-have text for your horror library."" -Lee Murray, five-time Bram Stoker Award(R)-winning author of Grotesque: Monster Stories

"Horror author and scholar Wood has collected dozens of her essays and lectures from the last decade into one volume centered around her thoughts on the genre from her perspective as an African American woman and professor. With essays on topics as broad as the genre as a whole to specifics about tropes, the use of African folklore in horror, the history of horror and its popularity across time, horror film, and more, Wood's collection stands out as more than a book. Rather, it could be seen as a course on horror, genre fans, and society as a whole...Whether readers turn to this book for a specific essay, to read the book in its entirety, or for something in between, this is a stellar entry point into the genre, told with a compelling mix of the authoritative voice of a well-known teacher and the grace of a critically acclaimed fiction author. It is suitable for die-hard horror fans and newcomers alike... -Becky Spratford, Booklist Horror Aesthetic is an insightful exploration of the shadows that lurk within the human mind and in the horror genre. With a keen eye, L. Marie Wood delves into the heart of darkness, revealing the tremendous contributions of Black writers in the field. Her essays are a stark, unflinching examination of why horror is a necessary, powerful imaginative and creative force and how it reflects and informs our society and our unpacked, unhealed traumas. Wood offers perspectives on familiar frights and speculates on possible futures. This is a book not only for casual fans of horror but for those who study it as well. Illuminating and revelatory, Wood has offered an important new volume in a growing area of exploration. -Sheree Ren�e Thomas, Three-time World Fantasy Award winner and author of Nine Bar Blues: Stories from an Ancient Future, Sleeping Under the Tree of Life, editor of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, and associate editor of Obsidian ""THE HORROR AESTHETIC is a brilliant, elegant and deeply insightful exploration of the many faces of horror. This will enchant both scholars and...well...everyone! Very highly recommended!"" -Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestselling author of NecroTek and editor of Weird Tales Magazine ""L. Marie Wood's The Horror Aesthetic: Essays from the Dark Corners of the Genre is a front-row seat to a masterclass in horror from one of the genre's most knowledgeable practitioners. Dissecting monsters and the monstrous with insight and verve, including topics such as intensity, romantic connections, and the horror of hair, Wood's essays are accessible and immersive, making them perfect reading for students and connoisseurs. A must-have text for your horror library."" -Lee Murray, five-time Bram Stoker Award(R)-winning author of Grotesque: Monster Stories"

Author Information

Dr. Lisa Wood is a Professor of English, a course creator, and lecturer. She has a Ph.D. in Creative Writing, an MFA in Speculative Fiction, and a BA in Communications/Film Production. Wood is the Vice President of the Horror Writers Association, the founder of the Speculative Fiction Academy, and a frequent contributor to the conversation around the evolution of genre fiction. As psychological horror author L. Marie Wood, she is a prolific creator with 15 published works, including novels, novellas, short stories, and poetry. Wood is a Golden Stake Award winner, a two-time Bookfest Award winning author, and a MICO Award-winning screenwriter. She is also a two-time Bram Stoker Award(R) Finalist, an Ignyte Award-nominated author, and a Rhysling nominated poet.

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