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A review by justinkhchen
Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction by Grady Hendrix
5.0
5 stars
An excellent overview of horror fiction's heyday; even just the collection of hi-res cover arts alone is well worth a 5-star rating. Grady Hendrix briefly expands on the sub genres of horror, as well as the social context that prompted the surging of these morbid visions. Admittedly, while I enjoy Grady Hendrix's personal voice and commentary, Paperbacks from Hell doesn't feel quite as comprehensive as it should've been: some sections are more in-depth than others (personal favorites, perhaps), and the curation could've been further refined (some contents barely make sense to be in the chapter they were placed).
Still, even though the overall selection and commentary leans more personal than authoritative, Paperbacks from Hell is a must-read for those interested in the art as well as the trailblazer that sets the tone of a genre we still devour today — already have a couple vintage horrors on my radar!
An excellent overview of horror fiction's heyday; even just the collection of hi-res cover arts alone is well worth a 5-star rating. Grady Hendrix briefly expands on the sub genres of horror, as well as the social context that prompted the surging of these morbid visions. Admittedly, while I enjoy Grady Hendrix's personal voice and commentary, Paperbacks from Hell doesn't feel quite as comprehensive as it should've been: some sections are more in-depth than others (personal favorites, perhaps), and the curation could've been further refined (some contents barely make sense to be in the chapter they were placed).
Still, even though the overall selection and commentary leans more personal than authoritative, Paperbacks from Hell is a must-read for those interested in the art as well as the trailblazer that sets the tone of a genre we still devour today — already have a couple vintage horrors on my radar!