-16%

Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas — Horror Fiction

Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas — photo 1

Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas — photo 2

Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas — photo 3

📖 Have you read this book?

Your review can inspire others to read it

🩸 Horror Fiction −16%

Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas

Name: Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas
Price: 20.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock
ISBN: 9780593237823

✍️ Josh Malerman

Reader Score

4.2

(5 reviews)

$20.00 ~~$24.00~~ Save $4.00 (16%)

Temporarily out of stock

Currently unavailable

This book is sold out right now. Leave your email — we'll let you know if it comes back, and you'll get 10% off any book today.

In stock now — readers of this book also loved:

★★★★★

4.6

Josh Malerman

Pictures of You

$29.00

✨ New

★★★★★

4.6

Chuck Wendig

The Book of Accidents

$20.00

★★★★★

4.6

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Gods of Jade and Shadow

$20.00

✨ New

★★★★★

4.6

Ray Bradbury

The October Country: Stories

$20.00

Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre: The Best of H. P. Lovecraft

-20%

★★★★★

4.4

H. P. Lovecraft

Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre: The Best of H. P. Lovecraft

$20.00 $25.00

✨ New

★★★★★

4.6

Camilla Bruce

At the Bottom of the Garden

$19.00

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Six novellas reveal sinister secrets in a rain-soaked small town by Josh Malerman.

This volume examines how ordinary people in Goblin confront supernatural threats. Each story isolates a character dealing with personal demons or external horrors. The structure allows Malerman to explore various aspects of fear and desire. The town serves as a constant backdrop for these psychological struggles. Readers witness how the environment influences the characters' actions and outcomes.

Key Themes

supernatural horror small town secrets psychological fear

Literary Context

This work sits within American literature and horror traditions. It draws on gothic and supernatural fiction styles. The book was published by Del Rey Books in 2022. It follows earlier editions from Earthling Publications.

Josh Malerman

📚 all books by this author (49) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Gothic ghost story anthologies · Cosmic horror literature · Psychological thriller collections

🩸

Horror Fiction

🏛 Del Rey Books 📅 2022 📖 432 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780593237823

📝 Description: Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas

Josh Malerman, known for Bird Box and Malorie, presents Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas. This collection explores a mysterious small town where rain never stops and darkness lingers. The book reveals sinister secrets through six distinct stories. Each novella focuses on different characters confronting their fears in this unsettling setting. The first story, A Man in Slices, involves a man proving his love through a daring sacrifice. Kamp follows Walter, who traps ghosts to avoid being scared to death. Happy Birthday, Hunter! features a big-game hunter seeking the Great Owl in dark forests. Presto shows Peter learning that magic is real when Roman Emperor visits. A Mix-Up at the Zoo depicts a zookeeper freeing dark forces within himself. The Hedges concludes with a man building an elaborate maze after his wife dies, until a girl solves it. Readers who enjoy gothic fiction and supernatural tales will appreciate this work. It suits those interested in American literature and horror traditions. The book does not suit readers seeking light comfort or straightforward narratives. It is a chilling exploration of desire and fear. The collection was originally published by Earthling Publications before appearing with Del Rey Books.

💎 Our verdict on Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

This volume delivers a potent mix of supernatural threats and internal struggles, anchored by Josh Malerman’s established reputation for tension. While the rain-soaked town setting creates a compelling gothic mood, the book demands patience from its audience. It explicitly does not suit readers seeking light comfort or straightforward narratives. The complexity of six distinct novellas may alienate those preferring linear storytelling. However, fans of psychological horror and dark fantasy will appreciate the nuanced look at ordinary people confronting sinister secrets. The work stands as a serious contribution to modern horror traditions, rewarding attentive readers with atmospheric dread and thematic depth.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate the intricate weaving of psychological depth with supernatural elements will find significant value in this work. The book offers a unique structural experience through its novella format, allowing for diverse explorations of fear and desire within a unified setting. Those drawn to gothic fiction and dark fantasy will enjoy the rain-soaked atmosphere that serves as a constant backdrop for personal demons. It is particularly suitable for audiences interested in how environment influences character actions and outcomes. The collection provides a chilling exploration of the human condition under pressure, making it ideal for those seeking immersive, unsettling narratives rather than simple plots.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

Seekers of atmospheric dread and gothic horror will find their match here. If you crave straightforward plots or lighthearted escapism, look elsewhere. This collection demands patience for its lingering unease and complex emotional undercurrents.

Reader rating

4.2

Based on 5 reviews

Paul F.

June 12, 2026

A modern classic

This has been on my wishlist for months. A few scenes I will not forget, whether I want to or not. Slow burn, but the burn is the point. Already eyeing my next order.

Simon V.

December 23, 2025

Not my usual subgenre but wanted to branch out. It is the kind of horror that rewards reading with the lights on. Gorier than the description lets on, if that matters to you.

Ashley V.

December 11, 2025

Mixed feelings

Wanted something for October and it delivered. Good introduction if you have not read this author before. My only quibble is that the middle third sags a little. Good, with the caveats above.

Elena E.

April 20, 2025

Grabbed it for a long flight. Not a jump-scare book; it gets under the skin and stays there. The atmosphere builds slowly and then does not let go.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No. While written by the same author, Goblin stands entirely on its own as a collection of independent stories set in a different universe.

It leans more toward psychological unease and gothic dread than visceral gore. The horror stems from atmosphere and character desperation rather than jump scares.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

Malerman continues his masterful exploration of psychological terror, bridging the gap between classic gothic traditions and modern supernatural fiction. By fragmenting a singular nightmare into six distinct novellas, he echoes the episodic structure of early horror anthologies while maintaining a cohesive, suffocating atmosphere. This work solidifies his reputation for crafting environments where fear is not just an emotion, but a tangible, inescapable presence.