For Your Reading Pleasure: Creature Feature Horror Novels

Creature feature films have captivated moviegoing audiences for generations, but what about creature feature horror novels? A creature feature is a work of horror in which the primary antagonist is a monster or monstrous creature of some sort. Think the eponymous vampire in Dracula or the giant shark in Jaws. Although the term is usually restricted to TV and film usage, it has plenty of applications in the literary realm as well. Creature feature horror novels are almost as old as horror novels themselves. Stories like Frankenstein, “The Vampyre,” and “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” feature monsters and monstrous creatures at their very hearts. In these tales, the horrors are externalized, even personified, in the shape of the villains. But you don’t need to read them for that reason. Creature features are, above all else, loads of fun. You don’t have to analyze the story to figure out what the creature represents—although you absolutely can, if you like that sort of thing. The important thing is to have a good time with the book, and boy, are these five titles a good time. Below, find five creature feature horror novels for your reading pleasure. The Fright Stuff Ready for some th...