Spurious Scholarship

Look out, it's another horror recommendation list!

You'll see some repeats from the past list, but that's just because I really want to push my lesser-known favorites.

As before, I've curated these works by theme. Each of these texts creates a meaningful conversation with its partner, and I'm very curious to see where people take them. If you end up using this list for your own media diet, please let me know what you got from it!

The monster does not stir from his stolen throne.

“Well, well,” he chuckles. “If it isn’t the human whelp who escaped my clutches once before.” His low, rumbling laugh echoes through the vaulted chamber. “Don’t you understand that you were lucky beyond measure, child? Why press your luck now, all these years later? What do you hope to gain?”

The question shakes you, but only for a moment. On your shoulder, you feel the reassuring hand of Elina, your first companion and best friend, whose healing magicks have sustained your valiant band of rebels over this long journey. She stands behind you, staff at the ready, along with all of your friends.

You see Ridric the rogue, Balon the dark mage, and Garf, the feral child you rescued from the forest that lay far off the charted path of your journey.

You also see the paladin Selen, who wears men’s clothes as part of her holy vow.

Beside her stand Zin and Zam, the mime twins, along with the lancer Jorg, your childhood rival, who fought for the demon empire before seeing the error of his ways.

You see Beppo the chef, whose many culinary trials prepared you to traverse the Moldy Mire. He smiles at you; it’s almost pizza time.

You see Ingrid the fencer, Eric the sky pirate, and the time wizard Marv.

You see the bard Yolan, who wears women’s clothes as part of his entertainer’s vow.

To the left, you see the shapeshifter Rex, reformed from his life of fraud and thievery. He stands side-by-side with Amelia, last summoner of the Church of Yun, and her magical familiar Pippo.

You see the dragon-maid Grenda, ready to enter her Transcendent Wings form.

You see the dark knight Shayd, whose cursed blade can be unsheathed only two more times before it devours his soul. Fortunately, he is preserved by Selfa, his daughter, an adept songstress and holy mage.

Behind them, taking up the rear guard, is the heavy knight Dolph, the philosopher Edderd, the archer Jayne, and Ugg the sauropod.

Together they stand, your companions true. You hold your head high and your sword firm.

“My friends are my power!" Your voice rings out, righteous and strong. "And we will reclaim that which is rightly ours. For we are the true inheritors of this kingdom—we, the people of Imbelice!”

The demon king rises, taking up his fearsome skull-headed axe. “If that is so, then you will see,” he snarls, “that a new dynasty has risen! En garde!”