do you like humour with your horror?
- Thread starter preyer
- Start date
- Status
Yes, I do.
As an example, Stephen King puts some humor in just about all of his books. It won't be a huge funny passage usually, just a witty line or two here and there throughout the book. He's had some great funny lines that have made me laugh out loud.
I like to laugh; I think its good if a book can make me do so, no matter what genre it is.
There's the concept of comic relief - making your audience loosen up from something humorous when things are getting tense in the book. Maybe that's why I like it, I haven't analyzed why, but like I said, I think its just because I like a good laugh. Who doesn't?
As an example, Stephen King puts some humor in just about all of his books. It won't be a huge funny passage usually, just a witty line or two here and there throughout the book. He's had some great funny lines that have made me laugh out loud.
I like to laugh; I think its good if a book can make me do so, no matter what genre it is.
There's the concept of comic relief - making your audience loosen up from something humorous when things are getting tense in the book. Maybe that's why I like it, I haven't analyzed why, but like I said, I think its just because I like a good laugh. Who doesn't?
I do, for some reason it makes the story it bit better. Maybe it's our need to laugh when everything is going to hell because we might just bust a gasket if we don't. Don't really know why, but I just like it. And not a lot either. Some witty one liners here and there will do the job.
Koontz is good at this, as well as King.
Koontz is good at this, as well as King.
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2005
- Messages
- 6,876
- Reaction score
- 663
I have mixed feelings. With humor in horror, timing is everything for me. King has a knack, but then, the guy comes across as a mischevious class clown, anyway. Koontz uses a slightly more literary style and his humorous moments sometimes seem contrived or forced. He had some seriously funny lines in The Face, though.
"Gallows humor" moments are a fact of life. When it's done well in storytelling, it adds to the tale.
"Gallows humor" moments are a fact of life. When it's done well in storytelling, it adds to the tale.
"The Face" did have some good lines in it but so did "Fear Nothing" and "Seize the Night". "Odd Thomas" wasn't to bad, it had it's moments. Koontz to me, Liam, is like you said, sometimes his humor does seem forced but a lot of the time he has some really good lines.
King, on the other hand, I see as a smart a$$, he could just come back and hit you with something when you least expect it. Class clown? He seems that way but I didn't catch that he was in "On Writing". His brother, Dave, was though.
Has anybody read King's son's book yet?
King, on the other hand, I see as a smart a$$, he could just come back and hit you with something when you least expect it. Class clown? He seems that way but I didn't catch that he was in "On Writing". His brother, Dave, was though.
Has anybody read King's son's book yet?
I don't like humor in my horror, and if its going to be there I would rather it not take place anywhere near the horrific climax. Horror for me is an experience of psychological immersion into an abyss. Humor, if too strong, as much as I like humor in other works, kind of kills that immersion for me. (aside: This is especially so if it is on the big screen and the audience breaks out laughing. It reminds me that I am in a theater watching a movie.)
I think humor in horror works well. F. Paul Wilson's "Repairman Jack" books have some bits of humor, interlaced with supernatural vigilante justice.
Also, JA Konrath's "Jack Daniels" mysteries are a blend of mystery, horror and comedy. Lots of fun.
Also, JA Konrath's "Jack Daniels" mysteries are a blend of mystery, horror and comedy. Lots of fun.
I enjoy a bit of humor while reading horror. King and Koontz have a charm all their own. Their humor is like sitting on the edge of the seat as you read, waiting for the character to be tortured, and slipping in a chuckle to take the edge off before you fall off the chair.
I didn't know his son had a book out. Hmmm.
Kevin Yarbrough said:
I didn't know his son had a book out. Hmmm.
I love dark humour, and there are so many instances where King has made me laugh-I love the guy! I read a lot of Koontz as well, but don't find him as humouress as King. I thrive on a little injection of humour here or there.
I knew Tabitha wrote, but had no idea his son was writing. Have to check that one out!
I knew Tabitha wrote, but had no idea his son was writing. Have to check that one out!
Yes. Sometimes comic relief is necessary after or during stressful scenes. Laurell K. Hamilton does this excellently in the Anita Blake series. But I prefer it to be sarcastic humor and the author has to be careful not to overdo it.
I agree that humor 'relaxes' the tension. I also think it can keep the reader offguard. I say "Yes", a little humor mix is good.
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2005
- Messages
- 19,001
- Reaction score
- 6,979
- Location
- At some altitude
- Website
- www.jamie-mason.com
I think it's because it's real. Life is funny. And we need those touchstones to keep our horror close.Kevin Yarbrough said:
Comedy swinging out there on its own is generally lost on me, but some of my best giggles have come from suspense and horror. It's practically a necessity.
- Status