5.5 KiB
Any good rational horror stories?
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Author: u/Timewinders *
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URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/rational/comments/2hoef9/any_good_rational_horror_stories/
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Score: 7
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Created: 2014-09-28T05:41:37
Post:
A lot of horror stories rely on the characters doing stupid things due to not taking the threat seriously or not being logical in deciding how to confront it. For example, in the Goatman creepypasta the characters don't constantly count each other, don't keep each other within sight, and don't sleep in shifts in a coordinated way even though those are effective tactics for dealing with a shapeshifter partly because for most of the story half of the characters don't take the threat seriously. Which is realistic and adds to the horror, but is frustrating to read.
Comments:
u/Charlie___ [+5] *
Lovecraftian horror doesn't rely on stupid characters - have you read The Rats In The Walls, for example? Rational or irrational, if you're in lovecraftian horror you're f'ed.
u/Rhamni [+2] Aspiring author*
Nah, sometimes the solution is simply to be proud of your family heritage and accept who you are.
u/embrodski [+3] *
I consider Permutation City to be horror, but not everyone agrees with me.
u/Rhamni [+1] Aspiring author*
Horror? Nah. But I tried out the audiobook, and it was good.
u/DataPacRat [+2] Amateur Immortalist*
Bunny Love Has No Limits is certainly horror, and as close to HSF as any Orion's Arm story; I'm not sure whether or not enough actually happens therein for it to count as a rational fic. But it's the closest I can think of. Other than Charlie Stross's stories on Bob Howard, of course, with CASE NIGHTMARE GREEN and all that jazz; but that can pretty much be taken as a given, right? :)
u/recursiveAI [+7] *
My favourite short rationalist-horror from Stross is 'Colder War'.
u/Escapement [+3] Ankh-Morpork City Watch*
Other than Charlie Stross's stories on Bob Howard, of course, with CASE NIGHTMARE GREEN and all that jazz; but that can pretty much be taken as a given, right? :) Honestly, I never found the Laundry books to be particularly terrifying or anything. The horror aspect just doesn't really frighten me. I sort of view them as generic urban fantasy. The latest book, The Rhesus Chart, in particular inspired more laughter than anything else. That's not saying they're bad books - just maybe not what a horror reader is after. Or maybe you will find them scarier than I did.
u/alexanderwales [+3] Time flies like an arrow*
They definitely swing towards funny, though there were a few times throughout the series that I actually felt horror (like the maternity ward stuff from Apocalypse Codex). The series isn't intended to be straight horror though, not by a long shot.
u/eaglejarl [+3] *
Over in my market research thread /u/Nepene suggested that I look into doing commissions. I think this would be a blast, and I'd like to give it a shot. I will need to figure out a livable rate but let's start with a basic reality check: if I write you a rationalist horror story (potentially with a basic premise that you specify), will you pay money for it?
How long would you want it to be? Here are my definitions.
(Note that the "you" in this is really more of a "all y'all" -- one person is unlikely to be able to fund my time for a substantial writing project.)
u/None [+2] *
[deleted]
u/eaglejarl [+1] *
If I'm working quickly on 2YE (a world that I'm very familiar with and have much of the plotting done for), then it takes me about 7-9 hours to write and edit ~5000 words. For something new where I'm going to have to do more work on the planning, it would take longer...maybe about 12 hours? For that amount of time, I'd like to make $300, so if we can drum up a few more people, I'm onboard. PM me your idea so I can start chewing on it. As to payment -- I can look into setting up an Amazon payments account. Could you send it via Paypal or simple credit card if that fails? I can have a credit card link set up in about three minutes since I can work it off the GreenDogPress site.
u/thequizzicaleyebrow [+3] *
Blindsight, by Peter Watts. More horror in the makes you reconsider your life, your place in the universe, and humanity, but still the most scary thing I've ever read. And it's rational, no one makes stupid decisions or acts dumb. Great writing, would recommend. Here
u/Empiricist_or_not [+2] Aspiring polite Hegemonizing swarm*
The Optimalverse: Friendship is Optimal, and the follow-up by another author Callea est Carellum (sp?)
u/MugaSofer [+3] *
How about NoEnd House? I recall being faintly surprised when I reached the end without any real irrationality.
u/Drazelic [+2] Dai-Gurren Brigade*
house did in fact eventually end, 0/0 would not creepypaste
u/None [+1] *
You might be looking for real life, but the narrative is weak and it needs quite a lot of editing so you can get to the interesting parts faster.