User blog comment:RainingSlayerBlood/Friendly debate/@comment-25052433-20150212023315

On further reflection, I guess I'll take a more specific stance. Earlier, I kept my response more broad, focusing more on a style vs style concept.

Being a massive fan of Stephen King though, I would have to give him the win on this debate. Largely based on scope.

Poe was amazing at what he did, and he wrote some of the most enduring pieces of work within the horror/suspense genre. However, I find that King simply possesses a superior range.

King has proven mastery of short stories, novelas and novels. Film and television can also be claimed under the successes of Maine's finest.

King also has mastered genres outside of just horror.

Bag of Bones, for example, was more of a love story than a horror story.

Thinner was a psychological thriller, as was The Long Walk.

The Dark Tower series shows that King can triumph at fantasy/sci fi.

Desperation delved into King's more spiritual side, and 1408 demonstrated that he can still scare the crap out of the reader with just straight gritty horror.

In my opinion, this is a no-contest stomp.