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Damnable Tales
by Wells, Richard
Damnable Tales is a curated collection of folk horror that feels like wandering into a patch of woods you were told to avoid. Richard Wells gathers stories that lean into the unsettling, the ancient, and the distinctly rural, focusing on the friction between modern life and the dark, tangled folklore hiding just beneath the surface. The reading experience is cold and deliberate, prioritizing a slow, creeping dread over sudden jumps or cheap thrills. You will feel the isolation of these settings in your bones, as each entry explores the moral ambiguity of characters who stumble upon forces they cannot possibly understand or contain. It is for readers who prefer their horror to feel like a forgotten history lesson gone wrong—those who find more fear in a stagnant pond or a crumbling stone wall than in a haunted house.
10 Books similar to 'Damnable Tales'
If the unsettling folklore of Damnable Tales left you craving more, these selections expand on that specific brand of rural, atmospheric dread. We chose these books because they share that same preoccupation with the land as a vessel for ancient, indifferent malice. Whether through the lens of M.R. James or the modern grief found in Andrew Michael Hurley, these titles emphasize the thin, permeable barrier between our reality and the hidden, pagan world. They are perfect for readers who want to linger in that cold, lonely space where nature and the supernatural become indistinguishable.
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Like 'Damnable Tales', this collection mines the unsettling and the uncanny from diverse cultural landscapes, offering a curated experience of international folk horror and dark fiction. It shares the same commitment to atmospheric dread and the exploration of ancient, lingering fears.
by Adam Nevill
This novel captures the quintessential folk horror experience of being lost in the wilderness with an ancient, malevolent force. Fans of the rural, unsettling dread found in 'Damnable Tales' will appreciate the slow-building tension and the focus on the terrifying power of nature.
Set in the desolate Fens of England, this gothic tale perfectly mirrors the folk horror aesthetic of 'Damnable Tales' by blending historical setting with supernatural menace. It explores the darkness lurking in isolated communities and the corruption of the natural world.
As a foundational text of weird fiction, this novella is essential reading for anyone who enjoyed the folk horror roots of 'Damnable Tales'. It masterfully depicts the insignificance of humanity when confronted by indifferent, ancient forces in the wild.
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This haunting, folk-infused story about a 1970s acid-folk band recording in an ancient manor feels like a modern companion to the classic tales in Wells' anthology. It excels at capturing the slippery boundary between music, memory, and the supernatural.
Machen is a master of the weird and the pagan, themes that are central to the folk horror genre found in 'Damnable Tales'. This classic tale of forbidden knowledge and ancient entities will resonate with readers who enjoy the unsettling, archaic atmosphere of the anthology.
by Gemma Files
Blending film history with occult folklore, this novel offers a contemporary take on the 'folk horror' sensibility found in 'Damnable Tales'. It explores how the past—and the stories we tell about it—can physically manifest to haunt the present.
This collection serves as a cornerstone of the genre, providing the same eerie, rural, and uncanny sensations that define 'Damnable Tales'. Machen’s prose captures the terrifying beauty of the unknown, making it a perfect follow-up for enthusiasts of the style.
Hurley is a modern master of English folk horror, and this novel perfectly encapsulates the themes of grief, rural isolation, and pagan remnants found in 'Damnable Tales'. It is a deeply unsettling examination of how the land itself can be cursed.
by M.R. James
No collection of folk horror or classic weird fiction is complete without M.R. James, whose stories heavily influenced the selections in 'Damnable Tales'. His ability to turn everyday antiquarian pursuits into terrifying encounters with the past is unmatched.
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