The Readers' Advisory Guide to Horror

The Readers' Advisory Guide to Horror

Becky Siegel Spratford
$64.99
Publication Date: September 30th, 2021
Publisher:
ALA Editions
ISBN:
9780838948767
Pages:
200

Description

Like the zombies, ghouls, and vampires which inhabit many of its books, the popularity of horror fiction is unstoppable. Even if you don’t happen to be a fan yourself, you won’t be “scared” to advise readers on finding their next great fright thanks to the astute guidance provided by horror expert Spratford in her updated guide. This definitive resource for library workers at any level of experience or familiarity with horror fiction

  • details the state of the genre right now, including its appeal factors and key authors, assisting readers in getting up to speed quickly;
  • presents ten annotated lists of suggested titles, all published since 2000, each with a short introduction providing historical context;
  • delves into horror movies, TV shows, podcasts, and other formats; and
  • offers abundant marketing advice, programming options, and pointers on additional resources.

About the Author

Becky Siegel Spratford is a Readers' Advisory Specialist in Illinois specializing in serving patrons ages 13 and up. She trains library staff all over the world on how to match books with readers through the local public library. She runs the critically acclaimed RA training blog RA for All and its evil twin RA for All Horror. She is under contract to provide content for EBSCO’s NoveList database and writes reviews for Booklist and a horror review column for Library Journal. She is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association and currently serves as the Association’s Secretary and organizer of their annual Librarians’ Day. You can follow her on Twitter at @RAforAll. She received the prestigious Richard Laymon President's Award from the Horror Writers Association (HWA) in 2021.

Praise for The Readers' Advisory Guide to Horror

"In the decade since the second edition, Spratford (who blogs at RAforAll) has completely rewritten and updated this guide, with particular attention to diverse voices writing about fear, dread, and terror ... Also important to this new edition is its organization, which is structured around the reader’s level of comfort with the genre. VERDICT Librarians will appreciate the updated recommendations and accessible organization. Those interested in a more complete history of horror fiction will find within a thoughtful exploration of previously excluded authors and emerging talent."
— Library Journal

"While the audience would be mostly public librarians, academic librarians may find this useful for several reasons. For instance, horror has academic value, and librarians who have a basis for recommending titles or horror subgenres such as gothic horror will help enhance student and faculty experience in their university libraries ... I highly recommend this book for those who need an introduction to horror as well as those who are familiar with the genre and strive to advise on the growing number of diverse authors. Academic librarians who need genre related works for their students and faculty, selectors for fiction and popular reading collections, and crave a way to highlight unique collections in a university or college library would benefit greatly from [this guide]."
— College & Research Libraries

"Whether you are a fan of horror or are not interested in being scared, this book will have you recommending books that give your patrons a fright in no time ... I would recommend this guide to all library staff and anyone interested in horror. It has definitely helped me to have more knowledge about this genre in general and the specific sub genres. I feel more confident in helping horror readers find their next scary read with the resources mentioned in this book. I have even reserved some horror books to dip my toes into this genre as a reader – only to be read in daylight of course!"
— Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association