Quick—horror fans of the Lounge: what's a GREAT haunted house short story?

[BlueIris]

By way of explanation, a poster on another site keeps asking for one and I am all tapped out. Haunted house stories aren't really my favorite thing.

[triguy46]

1. Story? Don't know, but "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson ...

is a terrifying story about a haunted house. Stephen King has called it the scariest thing he has read. Not really a story though, if you're looking for a turn down the lights and scare the bejeezus out of the kids.

[BlueIris]

2. Darn, you posted before I could mention, "S/he's already read the Haunting of Hill House,"

and probably most of the other "great American classic" haunted house stories.

But feel free to post whatever you want, people.

[triguy46]

3. How old is the reader? House of Leaves is a very, very scary book...

but is a non-traditional style/modern novel. Also graphic sex.
Earlier this summer there was a Lounge thread about it in which it was presented as the scariest book of all time. That is arguable, but it is the kind that will make you turn on all the lights in the house.

Let me just mention that if the inside of your house measures 1/4 inch wider than the outside, you are in some deep, deep trouble.

[ghostsofgiants]

4. House of Leaves is amazing.

Far from a short story, but it's probably my favourite novel.

[BlueIris]

11. I once had a lit professor admit to me that it was so complex, she felt

she would "never understand it." (!) She thought the book was brilliant enough to say that about it.

[ghostsofgiants]

12. I'm not much of a literature person, alls I know is it's creepy and weird as fuck, haha.

[triguy46]

13. I've heard that but don't quite get it.

It's not like Thomas Pynchon. Once you figure out that there are 3 distinct narratives, it all seems straightforward. It is non-traditional in format, but its not Joycean by any means.

[BlueIris]

25-30ish. Pretty sure s/he's read "HoL." I may have ever rec'd it to him/her.

One of my favorites. The single most disturbing book I've ever read.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. AAAaarggghhh, I can't remember the title or author, but...

one of the best short stories was about a smartass kid at a Halloween party as they made their way through the "haunted house."

They get to the basement, with the lights out, and pieces of the witch are passed around.

"Yeah right. Those eyes are olives," thinks the kid. And the liver is some calves liver...

Last line of the story is, "and then some fool turned on the lights."

[BlueIris]

7. Oh, DAMN IT. I know the story, but am also blanking on the title!

Sounds like Robert Bloch, but I...don't...know!

[ghostsofgiants]

6. The Dionaea House is a good online one...

http://www.dionaea-house.com/

It takes you through links to blogs and stuff that all tie together around the story. It's really neat, and damn creepy.

[unsavedtrash]

8. that story freaked me out! n/t

[BlueIris]

9. Cool—thanks!

[ghostsofgiants]

10. No problem!

:D

[BlueIris]

14. Kick.

[Fire Walk With Me]

15. Short story? "The thing at the top of the stairs" by Ray Bradbury.

[BlueIris]

16. Kick.

[raccoon]

17. "The Judge's House," by Bram Stoker. You can find an etext online. nt

[Aristus]

18. "Jerusalem's Lot" by Stephen King. It's about a haunted house AND a haunted town.

The town of Jerusalem's Lot prefigures the town of the same name in King's novel "'Salem's Lot". But they have little to do with one another. They are both set in Maine, and that's about it. Jerusalem's Lot is haunted by the zombie-like un-Dead in a deserted Puritan township on the coast of Maine. The short story is a tribute both to Shirley Jackson and H.P. Lovecraft, and includes the haunted ancestral mansion of Chapelwaite. 'Salem's Lot is a modern town in inland Maine taken over by vampires.

"Jerusalem's Lot" can be VERY scary if you're in the right frame of mind. I think it would make a terrific movie if done right.