Arachnophobia, or the pathological fear of spiders, afflicts one in three people in the United States. It is one of the most prolific specific phobias across geographical and cultural boundaries, according to Psychology Today. With roughly 35,000 spider species world-wide, only about a dozen are potentially lethal to humans. The eight-legged creatures are often vilified in popular culture, but they serve useful purposes too. Arachnids and our relationship with them are complicated. Scurry into one of the books below and decide for yourself if spiders deserve their reputation.

The Girl in the Spider’s Web: A Lisbeth Salander Novel by David Lagercrantz is book four of the Millennium series. Stieg Larsson’s estate commissioned Lagercrantz to continue the series. Salander and Blomkvist cross paths again when Blomkvist, desperate to save Millennium, contacts Salander. She has her own agenda and “the secret they are both chasing is at the center of a tangled web of spies, cybercriminals and governments around the world, and someone is prepared to kill to protect it,” states the book summary.

The Black Spider by Jeremias Gotthelf is a morality novella written in 1842. The story, written with a complex, layered narrative structure, is set in a secluded Swiss village. Desperate for relief from tyranny, the midwife makes a deal with the devil that has devastating consequences for the entire valley for years. Still relevant today, this Gothic horror tale was adapted into several films; the most recent was in 2022.

This Book is Full of Spiders by David Wong is the second book in the John Dies at the End series. The plot builds on events in John Dies at the End, with Dave and John continuing to see and fight supernatural forces—mainly giant invisible spiders. The fantasy, comic horror story was a 2012 Goodreads nominee for Reader’s Favorite Horror.

Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin is a children’s picture book. It is Spider’s diary, who like many children records the ups and downs of school, friendships and navigating in a big world.

The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins is a thought-provoking Gothic historical fiction written in layers that span decades. Complicity, desire and corruption are all delicately bound in the magical threads of spider silk. The instant tranquility created by the noise dampening silk spun from rare and magical spiders, comes at mental and physical costs greater than the silk’s astronomical price tag.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White is a children’s classic about the piglet runt Wilbur, and the other animals who share his barnyard. Wilbur just wants a friend and the chance to grow up. Charlotte the wise spider looks out for Wilbur in the best way she can––by spelling out messages in her web.

Along Came a Spider by James Patterson is book one in the Alex Cross series. Alex, the brilliant homicide detective, teams up with Jezzie the Secret Service’s first female supervisor to defeat a psychopathic serial kidnapper and murderer, Gary.

Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling is book two in the Harry Potter series. Harry and his friends face new and bigger challenges and disruptions for their second year at Hogwarts. Ron faces his fear when he and Harry follow the little spiders to giant spider Aragog’s lair.

The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo is book one of The Magician Trilogy, a children’s fantasy novel based on traditional Welsh mythology. Gwyn’s grandmother gifts him five interesting tokens on his ninth birthday. She tells him he descends from magicians, and the gifts will lead him on a journey to determine if he inherited his Celtic ancestor’s magic and unravel the mystery of his sister’s disappearance.

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl is a children’s novel about an orphan boy and his adventure inside a magical giant peach. James finds several unusual insects in the peach’s pit. Together, this strange band of adventures travels from England to New York. This beloved book has been adapted to stage and film.

 

By Celeste McNeil; courtesy photos