Interviewee: Kono Hiroshi (Owner of Hitsujito Shobo)
A short story that leaves a bad aftertaste and leaves you feeling scared
I love the lingering feeling of discomfort that only short stories can give you. Because the story doesn't dedicate time to character descriptions, the unpleasant aftertaste is conveyed directly.
Of particular note are British horror stories. Horror stories became popular in the mid-19th century, but their roots lie in Gothic romance. While strange phenomena occur in castles and mansions, they also have romantic twists. Towards the end of the 19th century, works focusing more on horror began to increase, and the popularity of these stories reached its peak with the emergence of three major writers: Arthur Machen, Algernon Blackwood, and M.R. James. The coexistence of fantastical depictions and a desolate feel is what makes them so appealing.
From the 20th century onwards, ghost stories and paranormal phenomena were replaced by modern horror stories depicting the dark side of society and psychological horror stories with strong violent and brutal elements, and horror stories disappeared. However, the works of H.R. Wakefield, known as the last British horror writer, remain fresh and frightening to this day.
One of the scariest short stories in modern horror is "Needles" by Robert McCammon. It's a story about a man stabbing a needle into his eyeball, but as someone with a fear of sharp objects, it was a very unpleasant reading experience for me. For psychological horror, there's "Ghost Motel" by Clive Barker. It combines a splatter-style murder story with supernatural phenomena, leaving a particularly unpleasant aftertaste.
His science fiction short stories are also not to be missed. P.K. Dick, a 20th century figure, is known as the author of the original novel for the film "Total Recall," but his style was heavily influenced by the Cold War. The unique era in which the person next door could have hostile ideology is connected to the obsession that "the real world is all fiction" that runs through all of his works, leaving readers with a heavy feeling after reading.
Another contemporary author, J. G. Ballard, famous for his "catastrophe novels," also published a strangely frightening short story early in his career. In "Watchtower," an alien watches over humans, the aliens simply watch without doing anything, which is quite creepy.
Translated versions of foreign horror and mystery novels tend to sell out quickly. In another 20 years, 21st-century works may be harder to come by than 20th-century works. If you find a book that catches your eye, we recommend you go ahead and buy it and keep it on hand.
Hiroshi Kono recommends six foreign novels that will take you to another world
"Wendigo" by Algernon Blackwood
The mind is frighteningly transformed by the supernatural. / Based on a true legend, this story depicts how a hunting party that enters the Canadian forest encounters demons and gradually goes mad. "The reality of the supernatural, which is incompatible with humans, comes close." Included in "Blackwood Masterpieces" (Sougen Mystery Bunko).
Ghost Hunt by H.R. Wakefield
A modern, realistic story that's scary. A radio reporter visits a haunted house and encounters strange phenomena. "The reporter himself gradually becomes strange, and the story is presented with a realism that is close to that of a modern 'live commentary'." Included in "Ghost Hunt" (Sougen Mystery Bunko).
"The Golden Man" by Philip K. Dick
The reality of the sci-fi world is frightening. / A story of the interactions and conflicts between mutants born in a post-nuclear war world and humans. "Dick is truly skilled at convincingly expressing how supernatural beings transcend our understanding." Included in "Dick Masterpiece Collection 3" (Hayakawa Bunko SF).
"The Fisherman and the Draugr" by Jonas Lie
The story has a frightening indigenous folktale feel. / A Norwegian national author describes a fisherman's encounter with a ship of demonic draugrs at sea during a raging storm. "It's a story that seems like it could come from a Nordic folktale, but it has a violent feel that makes you feel like you're really encountering a demon." Included in "The Fisherman and the Draugr" (Kokusho Kankokai).
"The Silver Mask" by Hugh Walpole
The process of his life being undermined is frightening. A penniless, handsome young man suddenly appears before a lonely, middle-aged single woman. She invites him into her home with good intentions, but he gradually begins to encroach on the woman's life. "The entire work exudes malice." Included in "Silver Mask" (Sougen Mystery Library).
"The Tower" by Margarita Lasky
It's scary, even though it's just a journey down a pitch-black tower. / A female tourist visiting the outskirts of Florence climbs the stairs to the top of a tower, but the journey down is a completely different and terrifying one. "It's just a journey down the inside of a pitch-black tower, but it's a really horrifying reading experience." Included in "The Story of the Tower" (Kadokawa Horror Bunko).
