In 2017 Quirk Books did the world a great service by releasing Grady Hendrix’s Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of 70’s and 80’s Horror Fiction. The book is over two hundred and fifty pages of glorious vintage art and information on older horror books that otherwise might have been lost to time. Not only has Paperbacks from Hell kept many wonderful horror novels from being forgotten, but it has caused a crazy increase in value for them as well.
Paperbacks from Hell details the rise and fall of horror in the mainstream marketplace from the early growth in the 70’s to the massive boom of the 80’s when novels with gory, disturbing covers were everywhere, to the collapse at the beginning of the 90’s. However, it’s more than just an overall history of the industry. Each chapter deals with a specific sub-genre ranging from animal attack books to science fiction horror to psychological horror. It covers authors from the like of Guy N. Smith and James Herbert to lesser known writers like Al Dempsey and David Anne.
I can’t recommend Paperbacks from Hell enough whether one is just a causal horror fan or a devoted fan seeking to dive deeper into the genre. Regardless of how much you know about horror, the book is sure to introduce to something new and exciting that
makes you want to go out and start reading more.
