Peter Straub

Author:
Peter Straub

Date of birth: 02-Mar-1943
Place of birth: Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA

About the author:
Peter Straub (1943–2022) was an acclaimed American author known for his sophisticated and psychologically rich works of horror, supernatural fiction, and dark fantasy. Over a career spanning five decades, Straub earned a reputation for blending literary style with genre storytelling, producing novels that were both chilling and deeply introspective.

Born on March 2, 1943, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Straub studied English at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and later at Columbia University, before moving to Dublin to begin writing full-time. His early work was more literary in tone, but with Julia (1975) and If You Could See Me Now (1977), he began shifting toward supernatural fiction.

Straub achieved major success with Ghost Story (1979), widely regarded as one of the greatest horror novels of the 20th century. The book, which centers on a group of elderly men haunted by a terrifying secret from their past, was a bestseller and adapted into a feature film in 1981. Ghost Story showcased Straub’s hallmark qualities: elegant prose, complex characterizations, and a deep sense of psychological dread.

He is perhaps best known for his collaborations with Stephen King, especially the fantasy-horror epics The Talisman (1984) and its sequel, Black House (2001), which combined both authors’ imaginative worlds and narrative strengths. These novels introduced readers to the young protagonist Jack Sawyer and the mystical realm known as The Territories.

Other notable works by Straub include Shadowland (1980), Floating Dragon (1983), Koko (1988), Mystery (1990), and The Throat (1993)—the last three forming his loosely connected Blue Rose trilogy, which blends horror with crime and psychological suspense.

Straub received numerous awards throughout his career, including multiple Bram Stoker Awards, the World Fantasy Award, and the International Horror Guild Award. He was recognised not only for his storytelling but also for elevating horror fiction to new literary heights.

Peter Straub passed away on September 4, 2022, at the age of 79. He left behind a legacy of influential work that continues to inspire both readers and fellow writers, bridging the gap between genre and literary fiction with intelligence, imagination, and haunting beauty.