brokehorrorfan:

Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of ‘70s and ‘80s Horror Fiction chronicles the rise and fall of horror paperback novels. Much like the glory days of VHS tapes lining video store shelves, horror fiction often featured artwork more interesting than the contents within. Author Grady Hendrix (My Best Friend’s Exorcism) saves bibliophiles countless hours of tracking down and reading hundreds of obscure books to suss out the hidden gems by highlighting the best, worst, and weirdest selections from this oft-overlooked literary subset.

The book is more than a mere reference guide with a gallery of covers and accompanying synopses; it offers an analytical and comprehensive look at the works. An author himself, Hendrix is not afraid to voice his opinion. (He is decidedly not a fan of Jay Anson’s The Amityville Horror, for example.) He also profiles a handful of the artists responsible for some of the most eye-catching covers. It’s logical that Paperbacks from Hell is a paperback release (albeit a glossy, coffee table-sized one), but I’d love a hardcover companion filled with full-page artwork.

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