Splatterpunk—a term coined in 1986 by David J. Schow at the Twelfth World Fantasy Convention in Providence, Rhode Island—refers to a movement within horror fiction distinguished by its graphic, often gory, depiction of violence and "hyperintensive horror with no limits."^[1][2] It is regarded as a revolt against the "traditional, meekly suggestive horror story".^[3]

Though the term gained some prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, and as a movement attracted a cult following, the term "splatterpunk" has since been replaced by other synonymous terms for the genre.^[4]

Writers known for writing in this genre include Clive Barker,^[5][2] Poppy Z. Brite,^[2] Jack Ketchum,^[2] Joe R. Lansdale,^[2] Richard Laymon,^[2] Richard Christian Matheson,^[2] Robert McCammon,^[2] David J. Schow,^[2] John Skipp,^[2] Craig Spector,^[2] and A. M. Homes.

[edit] Critical bibliography

• "Inside the New Horror" — Philip Nutman, The Twilight Zone, October 1988
• "The Splatterpunks: The Young Turks at Horror's Cutting Edge" — Lawrence Person, Nova Express, Summer 1988
• Splatterpunks: Extreme Horror — Paul M. Sammon, St. Martins, 1990 ISBN 0-312-04581-6
• Splatterpunks II: Over the Edge — Paul M. Sammon, Tor Books, 1995 ISBN 0-312-85786-1

[edit] References