''Throat Sprockets'' is an erotic horror novel by

Tim Lucas Tim Lucas (born May 30, 1956) is a film critic, biographer, novelist, screenwriter, blogger, and publisher and editor of the video review magazine ''Video Watchdog''. Biography and early career Lucas, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, was the only ...

, published in 1994. It concerns an unnamed protagonist's obsessive quest to learn all he can about a mysterious film called ''Throat Sprockets''. As fixation on the film consumes his personal life, he develops a sexual fetish for women's throats, an affinity which begins spreading to global and apocalyptic proportions, as the film's cult status and legend grows. Since its publication, ''Throat Sprockets'' has been singled out as one of the outstanding works of contemporary horror fiction by two important reference books, ''Dark Thoughts'' by

Stanley Wiater Stanley may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Stanley'' (1972 film), an American horror film * ''Stanley'' (1984 film), an Australian comedy * ''Stanley'' (1999 film), an animated short * ''Stanley'' (1956 TV series) ...

and ''Horror: Another 100 Best Books'' edited by Stephen Jones and

Kim Newman Kim James Newman (born 31 July 1959) is an English journalist, film critic and fiction writer. Recurring interests visible in his work include film history and horror fiction—both of which he attributes to seeing Tod Browning's ''Dracula'' at ...

. In October 2006, '' Rue Morgue'' magazine included ''Throat Sprockets'' on their list of 50 essential alternative horror novels.

Ellen Datlow Ellen Datlow (born December 31, 1949) is an American science fiction, fantasy, and horror editor and anthologist. She is a winner of the World Fantasy Award and the Bram Stoker Award (Horror Writers Association). Career Datlow began her career ...

selected it as the best first horror novel of 1994, describing ''Throat Sprockets'' as "an unnerving, sophisticated, and passionate novel. . . . Suspenseful and terrifying, with some beautiful writing.""Summation 1994: Horror," ''

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror ''Year's Best Fantasy and Horror'' was a reprint anthology published annually by St. Martin's Press from 1987 to 2008. In addition to the short stories, supplemented by a list of honorable mentions, each edition included a number of retrospective ...

: Eighth Annual Collection'', p.xl

''Throat Sprockets'' in ''Taboo''

''Throat Sprockets'' began life as a graphic novel, written by Lucas and illustrated by Mike Hoffman. Two chapters of the comics project appeared in Stephen R. Bissette's horror anthology comic ''Taboo'', issues #1 and #3. A third chapter, illustrated by David Lloyd was published in issue #8.

Editions

* November, 1994, Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc paperback, *1994, Fourth Estate Limited, hardcover *1997, as "Salles Obscures", Pocket "Collection Terreur" (France), paperback, French translation by Simon Lhopiteau

References

1994 American novels American horror novels American erotic novels Doubleday (publisher) books {{1990s-erotic-novel-stub