Halloween Horrors: Alan Ryan, Editor

by Charles L. Grant and Robert R. McCammon

Book Overview

HALLOWE'EN - A TIME FOR PUMPKIN LANTERNS AND TRICK OR TREAT, FOR HOT SPICED DRINKS AND PARTY LAUGHTER. FOR SOME. BUT NOT FOR ALL. FOR THOSE LONELY SOULS HALLOWE'EN IS A NIGHT OF NECROMANCY AND... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0441316077
• ISBN13: 9780441316076
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: Jove Books
• Length: 245 Pages
• Weight: 0.32 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Classic Halloween Anthology

I don't remember what age I was when my Dad first borrowed HALLOWEEN HORRORS from the library - maybe 7? The cover image of a jack o'lantern weeping blood was pretty scary, so I picked it up to read. Some of the stories went over my head (the Nixon one, for instance), but on the whole they were very creepy. It seems easier to suspend disbelief on Halloween, and about Halloween, because we want to believe that the veil is thin at least once a year, and that there is something to see behind the veil. Anyway, my Dad borrowed it every Halloween for many years before the library dropped its copy. I just this year got mine from a library sale, but it's sad to think that someone out there might now be missing his Halloween ritual. Well, on to the reviews: This book has (lucky!) 13 stories by such big names as Robert Bloch, Ramsey Campbell, and Frank Belknap Long. A surprising number of these stories make Stefan Dziemianowicz's list of all-time Halloween tales in the OCTOBER DREAMS anthology. One, "Eyes" by Charles grant, is even reprinted therein. I think that given the big names in HALLOWEEN HORRORS and the influence that it has made on other writers and anthologies, it has been a pretty seminal work. These 13 stories run the gamut from Satan to faeries to witchcraft, ghosts, and even politics. The story by FBL isn't even scary, more poignant even. On the other hand, the editor's contribution has a group of teens stuck in a house turning into a pumpkin. The anthology has many different perspectives for different ages on what is scary about Halloween. I believe that is what made HALLOWEEN HORRORS intriguing to me at 7 and at twenty-something. I certainly wouldn't pass up a chance to read it if you can.

MY FAVORITE HALLOWEEN ANTHOLOGY

I was lucky enough to pick up this Halloween anthology in paperback in the waning days of September '87 right after I signed into Ft. Devens, MA. Nothing beats being in New England in the Fall. Anyway, I was happy to be able to find some Halloween related horror just in time for my favorite holiday. Having recently read a lot of longer fiction by Clive Barker and Stephen King, I was glad to be able to enjoy a few of the shorter works by some of my other favorite writers (Bloch, Campbell, Grant, McCammon, McDowell, Strieber). The story that I liked the best (and remember the most) out of this collection is Whitley Strieber's "The Nixon Mask". This collection easily ranks right up there with October Dreams (edited by Richard Chizmar and Robert Morrish) and is way better then The Ultimate Halloween (edited by Marvin Kaye). I only wish that more (not just horror) writers would try their hand at crafting a tale that somehow deals with Halloween so that I'd have more to read at and about this time of year. Happy Halloween!!!

Horrific Halloween Haunting Tales!

Halloween Horrors is one of the best all around horror anthologies that I have been privileged to read in some time. Editor Alan Ryan offers us 13 stories and one poem about that most chilling of autumn nights, Halloween. The star studded author's list includes:Robert R. McCammon- He'll Come Knocking at Your DoorCharles L. Grant- EyesWhitley Strieber- The Nixon MaskPeter Tremayne- The Samhain FeisSteve Rasnic Tem- TricksterMichael McDowell- Miss MackGuy N. Smith- Hollow EyesAlan Ryan- the Halloween HouseCraig Shaw Gardner- The Three Faces of the NightBill Pronzini- The PumpkinFrank Belknap Long- Lover in the WildwoodRamsey Campbell- ApplesRobert Bloch- PranksThis book is well worth the price and will be a wonderful addition to any horror collection!