Monster: Eine Halloween-Geschichte

by Stewart O'Nan

They were going to be monsters, for the church; Creatures from the Black Lagoon. Mark and his best friend Derek would each get to wear a suit with a zipper up the back and a head that fit like a diving helmet. They could scare the little kids and gross out the girls. No one would know who they were.

A backyard accident ensures this Halloween will be even more memorable than the young boys expect. Their friendship will never be the same!

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Short Stories

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Stewart O'Nan is the author of eighteen novels, including Emily, Alone; Last Night at the Lobster; A Prayer for the Dying; Snow Angels; and the forthcoming Ocean State, due out from Grove/Atlantic on March 8th, 2022.

With Stephen King, I’ve also co-written Faithful, a nonfiction account of the 2004 Boston Red Sox, and the e-story “A Face in the Crowd.”

You can catch me at stewart-onan.com, on Twitter @stewartonan and on Facebook @stewartONanAuthor

Reviews

[Jaffa Kintigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This coming-of-age tale is profoundly moving. Despite its inclusion in an anthology of dark fantasy and horror short stories, one won't find fantasy nor tradition horror here. It's realism at its best--capturing a disturbing life event in the moment it changes the young teen. Highly recommended.

Mark is a shy teen, a follower, who finds himself mostly doing whatever next door neighbor, Derek, wants to do since his older brother Peter has now entered high school and has moved on to other companions. Derek wants them both to dress as The Creature from the Black Lagoon for the upcoming church haunted house--so they will. Derek wants them to shoot BBs at bottles in his backyard--so they do.

The mundanity of youth entertaining themselves shatters as Derek takes a BB in the eye . . .

Mark was holding the gun and harbors the guilt. Eight reactions emerge as each boy, his older sibling, and his parents embrace the accident.

This story was included in the anthology The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror: 2010 edited by Paula Guran.

[Recensioni in tre parole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breve. Teso. Terrificante.

[Rob Errera · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Garton and Lansdale bring lighthearted EC-style chills to their Halloween tales, Stewart O’Nan takes it to a deeper and darker place in his coming-of-age tale, Monsters. O’Nan gives us some meat to chew on in this short tale—the lost of innocence, the power of guilt, the purpose and function of religion and prayer, and the aftermath of random tragedy. All that and The Creature From The Black Lagoon! Stewart O’Nan has crafted a tale both poignant and creepy in Monsters.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a lightweight horror story for the young adult crowd or possibly even older children. A good story about two friends, boys, who are playing a dangerous game with guns and rocks when one of them is (somewhat predictably) hurt. The setting is Halloween-themed as the boys are getting ready for the fall holiday. Only 25 pages or so, and a lightweight read.

[Phil Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good short story! It was way more serious in tone than the others I have read in the series. This tale deals with a child coming to grips with a horrible accident he caused. I felt for this child and his family as well as the victim. A painfully wonderful read.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good short story! Just when I was getting really engaged it's over...Wish it was longer. I look forward to reading some more of Stewarts work.

[Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stewart O'Nan is one of my favorite authors and during October, I generally only read Halloween stories so when I came across a Halloween story by one of my favorite authors I was excited. I was disappointed after reading the story. It's about two boys who are neighbors and best friends who are outside playing with a BB gun when one of the boys accidently shoots the other. Very well written and you dive deep into how all the characters react to the situation. My problem with the story is that it ends very abruptly and nothing really has happened. Maybe there was a point to the story but if there was - I totally missed it.

[Rina.P · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ich kann hier wirklich keine Objektive Bewertung abgeben. Denn ich war mehr überrascht als enttäuscht. Ich erwartete eine Gruselstory und bekam ein Drama? Der Schreibstil ist gut und die geringe Seitenzahl war ja wirklich ein durchschlüpfen aber ich wollte eigentlich was anderes.

[Mark Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason it wasn't 5 stars, was it wasn't exactly horror or dark fantasy.

[Irmtraud Oelschläger · Rating 3 out of 5]

It drew me right in! Es handelt ja von einer Gruppe Jugendlicher, aber ein älterer Cop hat da ein Geheimnis… ich fand es eine spannende Lektüre - trotz meinen 60+ Jahren - und war wieder einmal überrascht, wie unterschiedlich und wie doch jedes Mal/Buch fantastisch Stewart O‘Nan schreibt. Ich las bisher jedes seiner Bücher mit grösstem Vergnügen!