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The Art of Horrible People — Psychological Horror

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🧠 Psychological Horror −43%

The Art of Horrible People

Name: The Art of Horrible People
Price: 16.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781621051930

✍️ Josh Malerman

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A collection of short stories exploring the art of being horrible by John Skipp.

Malerman highlights how Skipp turns the mirror on ourselves to show the ways that make us the worst monsters of all. The work draws from a decade of writing to present a starkly honest view of human nature. It avoids moralizing and instead presents horrific scenarios with hilarious undertones. The focus remains on the techniques used by horrible people in specific environments like film studios and psychiatric facilities.

Key Themes

horrible people film studios psychiatric facilities

Literary Context

Published in 2015 by Lazy Fascist Press, this book sits within the splatterpunk tradition. It draws on the legacy of horror fiction to examine modern depravity. The work connects Hollywood settings with high security institutions to explore universal monstrous traits.

Josh Malerman

📚 all books by this author (49) →

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

John Skipp · R.L. Stine (dark tone) · Clive Barker · splatterpunk anthologies

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Psychological Horror

🏛 Lazy Fascist Press 📅 2015 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781621051930

📚 This Book in Collections

🩸 Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror Books 👹 Monsters & Creature Features

📝 Description: The Art of Horrible People

Josh Malerman introduces a collection by splatterpunk legend John Skipp in The Art of Horrible People. This volume gathers stories that examine the methods used by terrible individuals across various settings. The text moves between Hollywood film studios and high security psychiatric facilities to explore how people become monsters. It presents a mirror for readers to see their own worst traits reflected in fiction. The book contains short stories that are horrific, hilarious, and starkly honest. These tales raise horror fiction to deranged heights through their content. The collection represents a decade of work by Skipp, who focuses on the art of being horrible. Malerman qualifies his introduction by noting his own authorship of Bird Box. This book suits readers who enjoy dark humor and psychological horror. It may not appeal to those seeking gentle or traditional gothic tales. The stories offer a gleeful look at human depravity without offering redemption. Readers will find concrete examples of monstrous behavior in these pages.

💎 Our verdict on The Art of Horrible People

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

This volume delivers a potent mix of horror and comedy, appealing to those who enjoy the splatterpunk subgenre’s raw intensity. While Malerman provides context as Bird Box author, the focus remains firmly on Skipp’s techniques for depicting horrible people. It is crucial to note that this book does not suit readers seeking gentle narratives or traditional gothic tales. The lack of moral redemption and the focus on specific environments like high-security facilities may alienate those preferring atmospheric over visceral horror. However, for fans of dark satire and psychological terror, it offers a unique, unapologetic look at the art of being horrible.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate dark humor and psychological horror will find this collection deeply satisfying. Josh Malerman’s introduction frames John Skipp’s decade of work as a starkly honest look at human nature, avoiding moralizing in favor of hilarious yet horrific scenarios. The book is ideal for those seeking a gleeful exploration of monstrous behavior without redemption. It offers concrete examples of depravity in settings like film studios and psychiatric facilities, making it perfect for fans who enjoy seeing their own worst traits reflected in fiction through a deranged and entertaining lens.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

Seekers of visceral, darkly comic horror who relish psychological dissection over atmospheric dread. This collection challenges readers unprepared for unapologetic depravity and lacks redemptive arcs. Those preferring traditional gothic romance or gentle narratives will find this volume jarringly…

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

❓ Frequently asked questions

While deeply disturbing, the collection balances genuine horror with sharp, often grotesque humor. Skipp uses satire and stark honesty to explore human depravity, offering a bleakly entertaining experience rather than just pure terror.

No. The stories present concrete examples of monstrous behavior without offering salvation or moral lessons. It is a mirror reflecting our worst traits, leaving readers to confront the ugliness of human nature without comfort or resolution.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

John Skipp stands as a towering figure in splatterpunk, a subgenre defined by its graphic intensity and rejection of polite society's veneer. This anthology, spanning a decade of his work, captures the raw energy that challenged mainstream horror conventions. By pairing Skipp’s transgressive tales with an introduction from Josh Malerman, a contemporary master of psychological terror, the volume bridges generational gaps in extreme fiction, highlighting how the genre evolved to confront the banality of evil.