Foo - Help me find a book!

I don't remember the name of the book, or the author. :(

It was from the late 70', early 80's of the horror/occult genere.

Setting is (as I remember it): This family moves in to this house and the wifes spirit gets stolen by a evil entity. In order to get her spirit back, the husband studies under a master of astral projection. The husband battles the entity on the astral planes and defeats it thus winning back his wifes spirit.

Key scene from the story is a battle between the husband and this possesed witch puppet that the daughter had. I remember this battle taking place on a staircace.

Any leads would be much appreciated, I've wanted to re-read it for years!

Sounds like something I read by Peter Straub, but I can't remember the title. Hope that helps!

I don't think it was Straub, but I'll check his bibliography to make sure. Thanks for the lead!

EDIT: Nope. :(

Maybe just looking through a list of authors would help?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_horror_fiction_authors

<---- Runs screaming! Ayeeeeeeeeeeee! My brain. :)

The Sharrock Family Journal?

Sounds the song "No Anchovies Please" by J. Giles! :D


Well, sorta...

Wasn't that a film, too, Stacey?

I am not a horror enthusiast. But the what comes to my mind is the The Amytiville Horror. Probably way off base. :rolleyes:

Soemthing by Dean Koontz?

http://www.deankoontz.com/books/list-of-books.php

It doesn't ring a bell to me....but it doesn't sound far off base from the only horror author I ever really got into, Graham Masterson. It kinda sounds like his style of story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Masterton

It sounds like something from Dion Fortune (http://www.jwmt.org/v1n0/dfortune.html).

Thanks for the suggestions all, but I'm coming up dry on everything. :(

VV: I don't think (know) if they made a movie or not. IIRC, the author never got well known (like Koontz, King or Straub) so I don't think it would have made it's way to film.

John Saul?

No... I have a feeling this guy was a one hit wonder. I'm going to have to spend some time scouring the used book stores. I'll know the book in a jif by it's cover. Funny thing is, I can't describe it.

I've had times like that.....

I even asked Crazylady, the Indiana Expert on obscure horror and she remembers the story, but can't place it!

I have a feeling that when it's time, I will find the book and it isn't time yet. I see being at a yard sale, looikg thru a stack of paperbacks, finding it and screaming like the idiot I am... "this sis the book, this is the farkin' book!" Everyone will stop and stare, and the seller will just ask me to just take the book and leave quietly. :lol:

Here it is Stacey. Glad I could help.

http://www.amazon.com/Culture-Warrior-Bill-OReilly/dp/0767920929
Thanks Lance you're tits! :D

Do you remember any lines from the book? If so, try searching here:

http://books.google.com/

I'm lucky to remember where I live! Too many buds & botts for my grey matter. IIRC it was around 1976-7 that I read it. I'm amazed I remember reading the book... Hummm, maybe it's just a psychoactive illusion. :lol:

Ok, Stacey...I did a WorldCat search for you, based on your criteria of "occult fiction" and "horror fiction" and limited the dates to between 1965-1979. There was something like ~200 hits. I looked at the first couple of pages, and the list that follows are just some suggestions, I didn't get around to looking at synopsi or abstracts or anything. I can do some more searching in that particular database if you can narrow down anything else for me :)

House on fire; a novel. / Arch Oboler

The sacrifice : a novel of the occult / Henry Sutton

Horror at Fontenay / Alan Hull Walton; Alexandre Dumas

The silver skull : a novel of sorcery / Les Daniels

The portals. / Edward Andrew Mann

Rachel, the possessed. / Katheryn Kimbrough

The djinn / Graham Masterton

The haunting of Alan Mais / Peter Saxon

The djinn / Graham Masterton
This was one of my first thoughts as I've read the book. But the whole fight on stairs didn't sound familiar, and IIRC the wife's spirit wasn't taken when she was alive, the guy's wife was already dead.

This was one of my first thoughts as I've read the book. But the whole fight on stairs didn't sound familiar, and IIRC the wife's spirit wasn't taken when she was alive, the guy's wife was already dead.

I just searched the database, crossed my fingers, and hoped that something from that list would sound familiar to her. I haven't actually read any of these books, nor any synopsis for them :) But w00t! Narrowed by one!

I just searched the database, crossed my fingers, and hoped that something from that list would sound familiar to her. I haven't actually read any of these books, nor any synopsis for them :) But w00t! Narrowed by one!
I know....I was just bragging that I'd read one of those books. ;)

Actually....as I mentioned earlier, Graham Masterson is the ONLY horror author I ever got into. I read about 4 or 5 of his books.

Ok, Stacey...I did a WorldCat search for you, based on your criteria of "occult fiction" and "horror fiction" and limited the dates to between 1965-1979. There was something like ~200 hits. I looked at the first couple of pages, and the list that follows are just some suggestions, I didn't get around to looking at synopsi or abstracts or anything. I can do some more searching in that particular database if you can narrow down anything else for me :)

House on fire; a novel. / Arch Oboler

The sacrifice : a novel of the occult / Henry Sutton

Horror at Fontenay / Alan Hull Walton; Alexandre Dumas

The silver skull : a novel of sorcery / Les Daniels

The portals. / Edward Andrew Mann

Rachel, the possessed. / Katheryn Kimbrough

The djinn / Graham Masterton

The haunting of Alan Mais / Peter Saxon


Thank hon, but I'm really at a loss to provide more. Arrrrggghhh! This hurts my brain. :cry:

Hmmm...none of those, huh? I'll keep looking :)

This is actually a great question for a listserv I'm on, called Stumpers. I'll submit it and see if any librarians across the States have a clue as to the title or author.

I am not a horror enthusiast. But the what comes to my mind is the The Amytiville Horror. Probably way off base. :rolleyes:
I loves that movie :)
I was just thinking about it.

Hmmm...none of those, huh? I'll keep looking :)

This is actually a great question for a listserv I'm on, called Stumpers. I'll submit it and see if any librarians across the States have a clue as to the title or author.
I appreciate it. You're the bestest! :D

Care for a Stella? :beer: