Horror Genre -- John Dies at the End

John Dies at the End

by David Wong

Genre: Horror  (Novelist also lists this title as Humorous and Satirical)

Publication Date: 2009

Number of Pages: 375 pages

Geographical Setting: Throughout the book, the author refers to the main location as ‘Undisclosed’ – a ‘small city in the Midwest,’ also briefly in Las Vegas

Time Period:  Present day

Series:  John Dies at the End, book 1

Plot Summary: David and John attend a party where they are introduced to a strange new drug, called ‘Soy Sauce,’ which opens their eyes to sights typically invisible to the normal human.  While fighting the various monsters they discover while under the influence, they unearth a plot by a demon from an alternate time-line to take over their own time.  Thus, it falls into their hands to save the world, with the help of a rather intelligent dog named Molly, and a girl named Amy.

Subject Headings: Fiction, Horror, Monsters, Supernatural, Parapsychology, Drugs, Violent death

Appeal:  Gruesome, Violent, Fast Paced, Offbeat, Action Packed

Terms that best describe this book:

• First person perspective
• Non-Stop
• Crude humor / language
• Somewhat episodic
• Strange

Similar Authors and Works:

1.  Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff – (Novelist) Novelist lists this as a read-alike because it is ‘edgy, zany, and mind-trippingly surreal,’ all of which could easily be used to describe John Dies at the End as well.  Bad Monkeys also has non-stop action.


2. If Whispers Call by Don Bassingthwaite – (Novelist)  According to Novelist, this novel also shares the genres ‘Horror stories,’ ‘Science Fiction,’ and ‘Paranormal phenomena’


3. The House of Doors by Brian Lumley – (Novelist)  Similar to the featured title, the genres ‘Horror stories,’ ‘Science fiction,’ and ‘Monsters’ are used to describe this book as well.