Have you read anything by Ramsey Campbell? If so, what? And what did you think of it?

I’m trying to form a definite opinion on Ramsey Campell’s writing and I’m finding it really difficult.

Short stories are my favorite form of fiction, so I started out reading Scared Stiff: Tales of Sex and Death. This was a mistake on my part. I’m all for a bit of smut in my literature but when sex is the whole point instead of a decoration, I get bored, especially in horror. I probably would’ve just given up there but I have several of his books on my shelves so I figured I might as well give them a shot since they’re right here.

I picked up The Doll Who Ate His Mother next because it was the shortest of the three I had to choose from. I found it purple-prosey and in need of (further?) editing, but it was Campbell’s first novel so I had to cut it some slack. I had major doubts pretty far into it but I wound up at least not disliking it. I wasn’t wary about giving the author a third try.

So next I started The Darkest Part of the Woods. This is the one I’m currently reading. I’m nearly two thirds of the way through and I can’t say that I really like it. I can’t put it down though because it’s honestly scaring me, which is weird. Horror stories give me the creeps a little at times, but only in the sense that I’ll be mildly jumpy for twenty minutes after putting the book down, and it makes me laugh at myself. This one has me glancing nervously out the window at the trees and really feeling dread. It’s unpleasant, to say the least.

Nevertheless, I have one more Ramsey Campell book I plan on giving a chance—Silent Children. Have any of you read it? Does anyone have any predictions about what I might think of it, given what I’ve thought of Campbell’s other work so far? Do you have any recommendations for other Campbell books I should try (or deliberately avoid) if I really want to like him?

This is the 13th question I’ve asked. How fitting. ;)