I want to read some stranger things

September 4, 2018 8:26 PM

It's autumn! It is SPOOK-WAVE SEASON. But I don't have new Stranger Things to watch. What if.. I could read some instead?

Specifically looking for: 1970s-to-future spooky conspiracies with sinister magic/science, and the protagonists that outwit/survive them. Doesn't have to be plucky kids. Ideally written by non-whiteguy authors. Novellas and short stories are GREAT. No comics.

posted by curious nu to Media & Arts (8 answers total)

A Colder War by Charles Stross. ‘80’s nuclear paranoia meets Lovecraft. Excellent.
posted by ejs at 8:53 PM on September 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer isn't really the same in terms of timeframe (much of it could take place in any decade, actually, without changing the plot), but it's a very engaging story about a protagonist and her colleagues exploring a mysterious thing at the hands of a cryptic government agency. It has a sense of paranoia, and a terrifying but intriguing world that just sucks you in.
posted by MuppetNavy at 10:05 PM on September 4, 2018 [3 favorites]

Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
posted by Violet Hour at 12:01 AM on September 5, 2018 [2 favorites]

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab might fit the bill.
posted by Hanuman1960 at 4:46 AM on September 5, 2018

Maybe try some Simon Stahlenag, either Tales From The Loop or the new one The Electric State, which is coming out this month (Yay!)
posted by Chairboy at 5:40 AM on September 5, 2018

Maybe some older Stephen King? Firestarter seems to fit your criteria (plus S1 of Stranger Things had a sneaky reference to it!).
posted by miltthetank at 7:11 AM on September 5, 2018

It, for sure.
posted by benbenson at 12:12 PM on September 5, 2018

Little Stranger by Sarah Waters?
posted by mermaidcafe at 7:35 PM on September 5, 2018