ALL HALLOW’S EVE BOOKS

With Halloween literally just around the corner, what better time than now to shine a light on a few of my books which somewhat fit the bill.

Personally, I haven’t ever written a book that solely revolves around the notion, nor have I focused any of my collections around the theme, but I do have a sprinkling of stories throughout my work that suit, and when it comes to novels, my latest release, Ghoul Night, is the closest I’ve come with that.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts and the like, Ghoul Night is not a Halloween story per se, but the original onset of events leading to the besieged city of Empyrium being cursed with visitations by monstrous entities kicked off on one All Hallow’s Eve way back in the mists of time.

Consequently, this became an annual event where the metropolis was more susceptible to being invaded by Ghouls on this particular night, but as things progressed one yearly visit wasn’t enough to sate these otherworldly monsters, and eventually the city has to contend with this shit escalating on a monthly basis.

Nonetheless, in maintaining the initial Halloween theme, many of the bestial freaks materialize as if they’re in bastardised versions of costumes, albeit with these apparent masks and so forth forming part of their bodies, not as any sort of attire. Regardless of the evening they’re descending upon the city, they still maintain their monstrous ties to the event that initially allowed them to arrive and run rampant.

In any case, if you’re seeking any book of mine that features anything of All Hallow’s Eve prominence, then Ghoul Night is definitely your best bet, or rather a great place to start.

Elsewhere, you can investigate the entire Extremes series. Not all of them contain tales that completely fit the bill per se, bar More Extremes where the book’s concluding story Seven features events that occur on Halloween. However, each of the books are comprised of stories that could quite adequately serve as horrifying Halloween fodder. Just for the hell of it I will mention a story from each book that could work well.

Extremes. The original book of the series has a couple of tales that could work including freakish gatherings, a masked child killer, an establishment featuring themed costume nights for the staff (though these latter couple of pieces are actually based around other holidays, namely Easter and Christmas) and so forth, but for me the best representation of anything Halloween related would be none other than Under a Clown Moon.

What could be better than a bizarre multicoloured moon that comes out on a random night and brings about a fuckload of murderous clowns determined to wreak havoc on the town and cause splattery mayhem.

More Extremes. There are cannibals, demons, swamp-dwelling entities, vicious human monsters and so forth in here, but as I’ve already mentioned, Seven is the pick for this one. This one revolves around a young girl on Halloween seeking to escape an abusive uncle, coming across a mysterious woman who dwells in a house she’s been advised to stay well away from. Most folk in town avoid this place, but not this young wandering girl. There’s a row of seven pumpkins here, and there’s more to them, and the mysterious woman, than meets the eye.

Greater Extremes. There’s not really anything specific in this one relating to Halloween, but there’s plenty of werewolf/vampire/zombie stuff going on, as well as some pretty flawed fucking people, but it’s a tossup between a couple of the tales that verge on novella length that I’d suggest over some of those. They would be Diabolical and The Haunt. Both of these revolve around some pretty abhorrent people, the train of stupid decisions they make and the resultant chaos and monstrous events that unfold as a consequence of said decisions.

Extremes: Couples. Once again, this book doesn’t feature anything centred around Halloween, but there are a couple of tales which could work for a suitably grotesque read for the occasion. There are subterranean creatures aplenty, folks with cannibalistic tendencies, masked souls, some spooky kids with a love for all things grisly and gruesome, hosts of horrible people and brutality galore, but I’m going to go with Lurker.

Not only is this one of my own personal favourite tales of this collection, but thematically it comes closest to what we’re discussing in this post. This tale is focused around a little girl who loves being told bedtime stories by her dad, preferably of the more macabre variety, and not just ones from a book. They must be completely made up on the spur of the moment. While the story dreamed up by the father has the desired effect to thrill the daughter, it also has some unforeseen circumstances unfolding. There are masks in here too, though they serve as side props more than anything, but you’ll see where they find their place in the tale.

None of these stories I’ve picked are for the faint of heart, but hell, you’d have already known that by the title of the series. This is Extremes after all. Be prepared to get some blood splattered on you.

In addition to these books and stories, you might find the likes of the other books I’ve released this year to be applicable. There’s full length novel Corpse Collector which should be suitably bloodsoaked and grisly. For a different collective of souls who find themselves thrown together out in the wilderness this is going to be an exercise in brutality and depravity, where not all of them are going to survive the night. Something terrible and inexorable dwells out in this stretch of thick woodland and this is his domain.

Novella The Craze is something else to consider. When a bunch of teenage friends venture out to check out the new film featuring their favourite action hero, they didn’t quite anticipate any other event topping that one. Unfortunately, the event that will is not one of the pleasant variety.

It’s one that is going to morph many of the city’s population into violent, degenerate freaks intent on bloodshed and bloody destruction, and when these hapless kids aren’t running for their lives, they’re going to be fighting for their lives.

Finally, you can check out one of my earlier collections for a genuine Halloween based tale. This would be perhaps my tamest set of stories compiled so far, Disquiet: An Assemblage of the Unnerving., but at least it does contain the bona fide All Hallow’s story Creepy Green Light.

Alternatively, if you’re feeling lazy and don’t want to read this one, you can swing around here to have it narrated to you by the incomparable Drew Blood.

The lives of these three individuals are going to collide in a way none of them could have ever imagined.

All three of them, miles from home, are going to find themselves stranded out in the hostile wilderness, where something very wrong is going on.

https://smarturl.it/corpsecollector

This apparent harmless detour is going to engulf them in a nightmarish tempest that none of them could have foreseen.

This is no concert, no art show, no festival. This is the Craze.

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One fateful All Hallow’s Eve, something terrible came to the city of Empyrium.

Then it came again the following year.

Now, it comes to visit on a monthly basis.

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Essentially, any of my books would be suitable if you’re looking for something horrific for the season, but those I’ve mentioned above are probably the best bets if you want something that comes close to the mark in terms of theme.

So on that note, I will depart, but I will leave you with something else. Obviously, this isn’t going to be emerging from the shadows for this year’s Halloween, but rest assured it will be coming forth next year. Be afraid.