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No information on horror would be complete without a discussion of it’s origins. Horror is one of the oldest genres in existence. You can technically even cite material in the Bible as being horror and it would be accurate. As a matter of fact, the very first scene in the bible involves en evil entity invading a seemingly innocent garden. Tales of monsters, gods, devils, and mayhem have been in existence as long as there have been civilizations. The horror genre evolved as all other fictional genres from human suffering and achievement.

It is reasonable to assume that horror came out of necessity. With such blights on humanity as the Bubonic Plague, disease, incredibly short life spans, wars, famine, and all other struggles of mere existence, horror was bound to surface in the fictional sense. Today, we may even believe these were coping mechanisms to help those surviving these calamities. Existing papers, artwork, and public notices from the Bubonic Plague periods show characters resembling those in modern horror books and film even then.

Mankind has rare glimpses into early fictional horror by way of Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) who authored The Divine Comedy. This is perhaps the only truly “Medieval” book in history that is closest to horror. It was also created as the epidemics of Plague in Europe started.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a multi-genre writer and is known to have incorporated elements from nearly all contemporary fiction genres into his works. From witches and spirits, to murder and mystery, Shakespeare touched upon all general plot qualities that would evolve into the “genres” of today.

John Donne (1572-1631) was a member of the clergy, yet wrote several pieces about death and the natural process of dying, as with his works “Death be not Proud,” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls.”

William Blake (1757-1827) is perhaps the most popular graphic illustrator and poet. He created the illustrations for the book of Revelation in the bible. His work is continually inspiring authors today. His most famous painting, “The Great Red Dragon,” was nearly a character (and the title) of Thomas Harris’s novel by itself. Red Dragon was published in 1981 and has since became a major motion picture.

Ann Radcliffe (1764-1823) is a legend in her own right. She is the pioneer of the gothic novel. Her first venture into this seemingly new genre was The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne.

Springing ahead in time we come to the Nineteenth Century. Mary Shelley (1797-1851) is attributed to be the first female horror author. Her life saw much hardship and tragedy, and some believe this is most evident in her work. Frankenstein became a worldwide phenomena.

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) is commonly known as the father of the contemporary horror genre and the detective novel. Poe brought us such common works as “Annabel Lee,” and “The Raven.” But, his horror is best proven through his fiction in works such as “The Oval Portrait.” Poe even created the psychological story with such pieces as, “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Cask of Amontillado.”

Nathanial Hawthorne was one of the pioneers of the “Gothic” atmosphere and his works are highly worth reading for any horror fan, even if just to experience this quality in his work. His novel House of the Seven Gables, is rumored to be a form of apology for his grandfather's role in the infamous Salem Witch Trials and a means to end the curse that he believed was following his family.

Bram Stoker (1847-1912) authored the memorable and beloved novel Dracula. Stoker also authored a sequel, Dracula’s Guest, but it seldom received notice. He continued to write, but none of his works achieved the same acclaim as that of the bloodsucking icon.

Arthur Machen (1863-1947), was an actor in the theater. His short stories earned him a well respected place in the history of horror. Such stories as “The Great God Pan,” and “The White Powder,” are still being discovered and enjoyed.

Robert W. Chambers (1865-1933) is another early writer who frequented the horror genre. One of his greatest known works is a short story titled “The Messenger,” about a black priest who cursed a family.

H. P. Lovecraft (1890-1937), is Arthur Machen’s American counterpart. His work is continually celebrated and remains a source of inspiration for many contemporary works. Horror fans will most likely have heard the term Necronomican, mentioned somewhere in a book or film. Lovecraft coined this term and created the history behind it.

In the early Twentieth Century, film came about as a new and exciting medium for the horror genre. From “Nosferatu” and “The Cabinet of Dr. Calagari” to Bella Lugosi and Boris Karloff, horror was making excellent progress.

Such innovators was William Castle (1914-1977) took horror to the brink for their times. Shirley Jackson (1919-1965) brought us the ultimate haunted house in her novel, The Haunting of Hill House.

Today, horror is a viable and successful genre. It has suffered many blows to its professionalism, however its merit should never be judged solely on those producing material today.