Spooky and shocking, horror novels are designed to reveal the worst in the world and leave you with permanent goosebumps. While some of these horror novels have gone on to become classics sold in every bookstore, others find a different fate. Whether it’s due to the content inside, low selling numbers, or other reasons, some horror books go out-of-print. This is good for collectors looking for new horror novels to add to their collection, as it raises the value of the pages. Check out these six out-of-print horror novels that have become popular in the collecting community.
6. Rage by Stephen King
Starting off our list of out-of-print horror novels is Rage by Stephen King. Published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, the novel was removed from publication because it was linked to real-life school shootings. When one perpetrator had a copy of Rage in his locker, King decided to stop the publication to prevent causing further violence in school. Today it is sought-after by collectors.
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5. Feast by Graham Masterton
Fifth on our list of out-of-print horror novels is Feast by Graham Masterton. Also known as Ritual in the UK, the novel was published in 1988. There are a couple of reasons why Feast was placed in the out-of-print pile, including decreased demand and availability of rights. While the novel had a positive reputation amongst some readers, it didn’t generate enough to stay on the shelves.
4. The Cipher by Kathe Koja
Next on our list of out-of-print horror novels is The Cipher by Kathe Koja. A number of factors contributed to The Cipher being out-of-print after its original 1991 publication. The Dell’s Abyss imprint was short-lived, causing the book to be unavailable for many years. For a long time, the novel was only found in ebook format, but did get a re-release by Meerkat Press in 2020. However, collectors are always searching for some of the original 1991 copies.
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3. The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons
Rounding out the top three out-of-print horror novels is The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons. This novel didn’t struggle so much with the content inside as the availability of the book during its initial release. The publisher decided to bind a limited number of hardback copies due to high binding costs, and only bound 125 hardback copies. The remaining inventory was sold to Betts Bookstore, where they produced a limited trade paperback edition, but today, finding a hard copy of the novel is extremely hard to find.
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2. The Manitou by Graham Masterton
Second on our list of out-of-print horror novels is The Manitou by Graham Masterton. First published in 1976, the novel has slowly and partially gone out of print over the years. While it is unclear if the limited availability is due to sales figures or others factors, print copies of The Manitou are very hard to find. However, you may be able to read the novel in other formats, such as a Kindle eBook.
1. Werewolves by Elliott O’Donnell
Last but not least on our out-of-print horror novels list is Werwolves by Elliott O’Donnell. Originally published in 1912, the novel is considered out-of-print by the original publisher, Methuen and Co. Ltd. However, since Werwolves is so popular, you can buy other versions and modern reprints of the novel. The true value lies in the original copies, which are few and far between now, and a treasure for collectors.
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