Revered horror writer, Peter Straub has died at 79

PETER Straub, the acclaimed author who wrote supernatural horrors and dark fantasies, has died after succumbing to illness, he was 79. His daughter, novelist Emma Straub, announced his death on Instagram: 

"Peter Francis Straub, the smartest and most fun person in every room he was ever in, 3/2/43 - 9/4/22. How lucky we were. There aren't enough words in the world." 

Throughout his more than 40-year-career, Straub authored numerous novels, short stories and novellas. His debut horror novel Julia in 1975 was adapted for the screen and released as The Haunting of Julia, starring Mia Farrow and Keir Dullea. Other famed works include The Throat, Mr X, The Hellfire Club, In The Night Room and A Dark Matter, all of which won the prestigious Bram Stoker Award during their year of publication.

In an interview with NPR, Straub said there was wisdom within scary stories, instead of just frightening people. "In America, we don't like darkness, really," he said, "but there is an immense quantity to be learned there, and we all experience it in our lives." 

A close collaborator of his, Stephen King, wrote on Twitter, "It's a sad day because my good friend and amazingly talented colleague and collaborator, Peter Straub, has passed away.”

The two co-wrote Black House, a sequel to The Talisman, published in 2001. “Working with him was one of the great joys of my creative life,” he added. 

Tributes by other authors are pouring in on social media. The Sandman author, Neil Gaiman tweeted, “One of the best writers I’ve read, one of the best friends I’ve known. Always kind, funny, irascible, brilliant. Once performed the Crow position in yoga, in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, men’s room, because he was fearless and proud of his yoga. I’ll miss you Peter.” 

“I’ll miss the books he would still have written, but more than that I’ll miss the conversations we’ll now never have,” Gaiman added in a second tweet. 

Born on March 2, 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Straub graduated with an MA from Columbia before teaching English at his former prep school for several years. He enrolled for a PhD at University College Dublin, but left the program and instead published two books of poetry in 1972, Ishmael and Open Air, and his first novel, Marriages in 1973. 

He turned to gothic fiction at the suggestion of his agent, first with Julia and then his breakout book, Ghost Story in 1979. Straub married Susan Bitker in 1966, and is survived by their two children, Ben and Emma. – The Vibes, September 7, 2022