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The Other (1997): A Violent Indulgence
It was supposed to be the perfect Halloween...
On Halloween 1997, Evil descends on the quiet town of Brookhaven in the shape of a 13-year-old boy. Edward Glenn is possessed with the power and compulsion of a dark entity known to him only as The Other, which drives him to unleash a horrifying spree of violence that will haunt the town for decades to come.
After a night of trick-or-treating and horror movies, the best night of Jamie and Ronnie's collective lives is about to be shattered...red...
On Halloween 1997, Evil descends on the quiet town of Brookhaven in the shape of a 13-year-old boy. Edward Glenn is possessed with the power and compulsion of a dark entity known to him only as The Other, which drives him to unleash a horrifying spree of violence that will haunt the town for decades to come.
After a night of trick-or-treating and horror movies, the best night of Jamie and Ronnie's collective lives is about to be shattered...red...
143 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2023
9 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Joshua MacMillan
11 books58 followersJoshua MacMillan is a lifelong horror fan. He was born and raised in Texas, but he currently resides with his wife Audree in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Joshua has short stories published in multiple anthologies, but his main focus is novella and novel writing.
He is a proud and fervent supporter and fanatic of anything and everything within the realm of the horror genre and finds comfort and solace within the disturbing and the macabre!
His debut novel, The Best of Intentions, was published in the summer of 2021 through D&T Publishing and is available in eBook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook via Amazon!
His grindhouse-style novella, The Death House, was his first trek into self-publishing and is available via Amazon in eBook, paperback, and audiobook formats.
His latest release was written in collaboration with author Megan Stockton (...and Nobody Knows It But Me, Bluejay, Ethic), and is now available on Amazon in eBook and paperback formats.
He has written for the award-winning horror website Dread Central and has written for Stitched Smile Publication's House of Stitched Magazine.
He generally keeps paperback copies on hand for anyone interested in acquiring a signed copy! Feel free to send him a message if you’re looking for one! You can also visit his online store to purchase signed books as well!
When he is not writing or at one of his day jobs, he can be found at home relaxing, or at the local movie theater taking in as much horror as humanly possible.
Joshua has short stories published in multiple anthologies, but his main focus is novella and novel writing.
He is a proud and fervent supporter and fanatic of anything and everything within the realm of the horror genre and finds comfort and solace within the disturbing and the macabre!
His debut novel, The Best of Intentions, was published in the summer of 2021 through D&T Publishing and is available in eBook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook via Amazon!
His grindhouse-style novella, The Death House, was his first trek into self-publishing and is available via Amazon in eBook, paperback, and audiobook formats.
His latest release was written in collaboration with author Megan Stockton (...and Nobody Knows It But Me, Bluejay, Ethic), and is now available on Amazon in eBook and paperback formats.
He has written for the award-winning horror website Dread Central and has written for Stitched Smile Publication's House of Stitched Magazine.
He generally keeps paperback copies on hand for anyone interested in acquiring a signed copy! Feel free to send him a message if you’re looking for one! You can also visit his online store to purchase signed books as well!
When he is not writing or at one of his day jobs, he can be found at home relaxing, or at the local movie theater taking in as much horror as humanly possible.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 20, 2023
Note: I was gifted a free ARC of this book for an honest review.
This is the second book by both Joshua Macmillan and Megan Stockton that I have read. It was a solid 4.5. This was a quicker read, very realistic as far as the fear and happening of a home invasion, and an entertaining read.
This story begins in 1997, on Halloween night, where two younger boys are out trick or treating by themselves for the first time. They are being watched, unbeknownst to them. Fast forward the VHS, and one of the boys' parents and neighbors are tricked into a treat, via a home invasion.
The way the story ends, it Could be set up for a sequel. Elements of supernatural, great detailing, and I really enjoyed the stories' flow.
This is the second book by both Joshua Macmillan and Megan Stockton that I have read. It was a solid 4.5. This was a quicker read, very realistic as far as the fear and happening of a home invasion, and an entertaining read.
This story begins in 1997, on Halloween night, where two younger boys are out trick or treating by themselves for the first time. They are being watched, unbeknownst to them. Fast forward the VHS, and one of the boys' parents and neighbors are tricked into a treat, via a home invasion.
The way the story ends, it Could be set up for a sequel. Elements of supernatural, great detailing, and I really enjoyed the stories' flow.
June 12, 2023
October 31st, 1997, best friends Jamie and Ronnie are out trick-or-treating. Unbeknownst to the boys, they are being followed by classmate, Eddie Glenn. Eddie has been possessed by an evil known to him only as The Other, which lives inside him, filling him with dark desires.
For some reason, Eddie can't help but want to murder his two classmates - whom he follows back to Jamie's house, lingering around outside, biding his time. Once Jamie's father hears a noise outside, and goes to investigate, he comes face to face with The Other - and the night becomes a bloodbath from there on out.
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This book was a fun, quick slasher, I loved the cover art, I loved the idea. But I think it needed to be longer, because I really wanted some background. I would've loved to find out what The Other is, where it came from, why it chose Eddie, etc.
Also the year was supposed to be 1997, but flatscreens, blu rays and cellphones were mentioned so I was kind of confused.
All in all, I liked it, it was fun, but I think it would make a better novel than a novella, just to be able to give some more of that important background.
For some reason, Eddie can't help but want to murder his two classmates - whom he follows back to Jamie's house, lingering around outside, biding his time. Once Jamie's father hears a noise outside, and goes to investigate, he comes face to face with The Other - and the night becomes a bloodbath from there on out.
-------------
This book was a fun, quick slasher, I loved the cover art, I loved the idea. But I think it needed to be longer, because I really wanted some background. I would've loved to find out what The Other is, where it came from, why it chose Eddie, etc.
Also the year was supposed to be 1997, but flatscreens, blu rays and cellphones were mentioned so I was kind of confused.
All in all, I liked it, it was fun, but I think it would make a better novel than a novella, just to be able to give some more of that important background.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It’s not the first book I’ve read from either author, they’re always coming up with great ideas, though together they’ve written a terrific supernatural slasher/home invasion story! The setting is a 1997 Halloween night, and the plot revolves around a couple of boys, Jamie and Ronnie, best friends trick or treating on their own for the first time. What they don’t know is they’ve become the target of another boy, Eddie, who’s possessed, in part, by an evil entity: The Other. Guided by this mysterious demonic presence, Eddie is prepared to destroy both the boys and Jamie’s family. However, the story isn’t simply about killings and violence: the characters were really well done, fully fleshed out, to the point that it almost pained me to see where it was all inevitably going. The ‘90s atmosphere, the banter between the kids, the couple’s relationship; it all contributes to a very detailed, very horrific slasher story, tense, full of dread and suspense, in the best slasher style! Recommended.
March 21, 2023
A fast paced horror slasher. Halloween Night - what would kids rather do - go to church or get candy and watch a Jason movie. A peaceful home gets painted red as each family member meets the one that is controlled by THE OTHER. Sex, blood, and Twix! What’s not to love.
April 30, 2024
Wow...just...wow. This one grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go. It shows absolutely no mercy...so it's definitely not for the faint of heart. Sucked me in from page one...the characters felt real...and I was very invested in them. Which is unfortunate given how brutal this book is...but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 31, 2023
A good, solid halloween slasher with a bit of the supernatural. Entertaining and straight to the point.
April 3, 2023
A quick highly enjoyable book loved the old school slasher vive tinged with a supernatural entity.
April 4, 2023
This one is like Halloween if kid Michael was the killer. Absolutely brutal kills. Cinematic feel throughout. I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on these two authors going forward.
May 18, 2023
You would think I could get tired of Halloween slashers by now but that's not the case. I will find something new to me and interesting in every one that I read. In THE OTHER (1997) the characterizations really kept me invested. From the kids going trick-or-treating and playing video games to the parents letting them watch a horror movie and then having some sexy times... to all the fear when the invasion and killing starts... it all seemed so authentic. And with this sense of believability, the fear and stress kicked up a notch. Creepy and quick, THE OTHER (1997) reminds me why I love horror and slashers so much. I hope we get more collabs from these two authors in the future.
May 29, 2023
Halloween night, tricks AND treats, supernatural entity, full on slasher 90’s vibes, possessed kid…. I’m here for ALL of it! My only complaint is it was to short and I wanted more!
Absolutely loved this, so much fun and I felt like I was right in the middle of a slasher movie. It’s on #kindleunlimited so do yourself a favor and go check it out!
Absolutely loved this, so much fun and I felt like I was right in the middle of a slasher movie. It’s on #kindleunlimited so do yourself a favor and go check it out!
April 25, 2023
"So far, the night was definitely stacking up to be the best Halloween ever."
Loved the 90s nostalgia with this one! Took me back to the days of my childhood as I laid under the covers reading Goosebumps by flashlight long after I should've been asleep. A few jump scares, lots of blood, and a slight sense of innocence in the should've-known-better.
The story follows buddies Jamie and Ronnie who go trick or treating on Halloween in 1997 for the first time by themselves. As they thoroughly enjoy everything about their independence, they fail to realize that they have eyes watching them. Eddie, a possessed kid, along with the Other which is the entity that has possessed him soon wreak havoc on the boys and Jamie's family. There's blood. There's slaughter. There's helplessness.
It's essentially a slasher you can't help but love. The ending leaves things open for a sequel and boy! I can't wait for more.
Great for Halloween fans. Especially the ones who grew up in the 90s. Nostalgia at its sweetest.
#theother #meganstockton #joshuamacmillan #read #reads #book #books #horror #horrorbook #indiebrawl #horrorbooks #PangoBooks
Loved the 90s nostalgia with this one! Took me back to the days of my childhood as I laid under the covers reading Goosebumps by flashlight long after I should've been asleep. A few jump scares, lots of blood, and a slight sense of innocence in the should've-known-better.
The story follows buddies Jamie and Ronnie who go trick or treating on Halloween in 1997 for the first time by themselves. As they thoroughly enjoy everything about their independence, they fail to realize that they have eyes watching them. Eddie, a possessed kid, along with the Other which is the entity that has possessed him soon wreak havoc on the boys and Jamie's family. There's blood. There's slaughter. There's helplessness.
It's essentially a slasher you can't help but love. The ending leaves things open for a sequel and boy! I can't wait for more.
Great for Halloween fans. Especially the ones who grew up in the 90s. Nostalgia at its sweetest.
#theother #meganstockton #joshuamacmillan #read #reads #book #books #horror #horrorbook #indiebrawl #horrorbooks #PangoBooks
May 5, 2023
This new novella from Joshua MacMillan and Megan Stockton packs a punch from start to finish. Great characters, lots of friendly violent fun, blood, guts and candy. If your looking for something new you won't be disappointed in this gem!
July 30, 2023
3.5 stars.
A fun novella with vintage horror movie vibes.
A fun novella with vintage horror movie vibes.
April 7, 2023
*I'm not going to give you the 'what this book is about' blurb - you can read that elsewhere.
1. Stockton and MacMillan are the author pairing I didn’t know I needed. I love both of their writing styles, but never would have thought to pair them up. Thankfully, they went for it, and it turned out to be AWESOME.
2. This is a Halloween-themed slasher, so not only does it pair 2 fantastic authors; it’s also 2 of the themes I am a total sucker for: Halloween and good ol’ slasher gore. Especially when that slasher gore creates a sense of foreboding and dread.
3. I find kids to be creepy in general. I mean, there ARE social media accounts dedicated to the weird and unsettling things kids say and do. However, for the most part, kids are seen as innocent and pure, so when that innocence is corrupted by something otherworldly, it adds a level of creepiness to the plot. Adults? Well, we’re just nasty destroyers of all that is good, but kids are the opposite, so pairing them with a demonic force is a great way to up the horror ante.
4. The ending was left open; I believe the authors are planning another installment (don’t quote me on that). I’m curious to see which character from this first book it follows, if any, because there are a couple of avenues that could be really entertaining!
5. If you’re into the Halloween (Michael Myers) movies, you’ll probably enjoy this quick read!
1. Stockton and MacMillan are the author pairing I didn’t know I needed. I love both of their writing styles, but never would have thought to pair them up. Thankfully, they went for it, and it turned out to be AWESOME.
2. This is a Halloween-themed slasher, so not only does it pair 2 fantastic authors; it’s also 2 of the themes I am a total sucker for: Halloween and good ol’ slasher gore. Especially when that slasher gore creates a sense of foreboding and dread.
3. I find kids to be creepy in general. I mean, there ARE social media accounts dedicated to the weird and unsettling things kids say and do. However, for the most part, kids are seen as innocent and pure, so when that innocence is corrupted by something otherworldly, it adds a level of creepiness to the plot. Adults? Well, we’re just nasty destroyers of all that is good, but kids are the opposite, so pairing them with a demonic force is a great way to up the horror ante.
4. The ending was left open; I believe the authors are planning another installment (don’t quote me on that). I’m curious to see which character from this first book it follows, if any, because there are a couple of avenues that could be really entertaining!
5. If you’re into the Halloween (Michael Myers) movies, you’ll probably enjoy this quick read!
February 16, 2024
Notes from a Decaying Millennial:
I purchased The Other (1997) during a recent visit to a Eau Clair, Wisconsin.
A local creepy boutique had a table display of the works of Joshua MacMillan.
When it’s in the budget, I love supporting local/regional horror authors.
These are the folks that do what they can to help “Keep Wisconsin Weird”
THIS IS NOT A PAID REVIEW
-
Horror Fiction is well known for being a showcase for a true spectrum of Book Cover illustration. They can be lurid, attention grabbing, sometimes blatantly graphic. In each case the end purpose is served. Grabbing the potential readers attention and drawing them towards the book. The OTHER (1997) , a horror novella by Megan Stockton and Joshua MacMillan, succeeds in this goal without question. The Cover Design by Christy Aldridge has all the markings and style of a Video Cassette sleeve, it would have looked right at home in the video rental shops and grocery store movie rental shelves of my childhood.
Moving past the exterior artwork The Others (1997) is a an excellent example of a sub-genre typically known as “analog Horror” but I would go further and dub it “VHS HORROR” (yes that includes the beta max horror fiction). Even the title is presented like something you would read on the label spine of a black VHS tape, perhaps one that is in a bin of others orphans, all without boxes.
Authors Stockton & MacMillan embrace this horror nostalgia with full force, inviting those of us who remember watching films in VHS to pop this particular tape into the slot of our brains, adjust for tracking, and watch.
Regardless of age the characters brought to life by Stockton and MacMillan are fully fleshed out. Our time with them is very brief, for many won’t last the night. In that brief time we are right there with them, in their happiness, in their peace, in the moment fear washes over them like ice.
As if to remind us that this is a horror book (as I slasher If you will) Stockton and macMillan quickly dispense with any pretense that the people of Brookhaven will survive this night unscathed and unmarred. The gore remains firmly in the spirit of B-Movie VHS horror, but the writers also twist that knife. We feel the sting of the flesh wound, taste the blood splash on our tongues, see the steam rise from innards exposed to the cold night by the slash of a blade.
We are left with a bloody mess that Art the Clown would appreciate. We are also left with a burning question….Will there be a sequel?
-
- Tech that was, and tech that wasn’t in 1997 -
I was unable to give this book 5 stars. I would be remiss if I did not address the reason.
Historical anachronisms present in any narrative negatively effect the readers suspension of disbelief.
Flat-screen TVs were indeed released in 1997, but they cost over $15,000. Blue-ray players did not exist then. DVDs did finally hit the US market that year, but videotapes were still the king of home media at the time. Finally, cell phones. While cellphones were already commonly used in 1997, they were not the smart phones of today. Sony Erickson did come out with the GS88 that year, but it was a large device with a flip out key-board. This smartphone, like the aforementioned flat screen tv, was not in general use by any means in 1997. I don’t know if these were details that slipped by in the editing process, but their presence in the narrative, while brief, impacted the rest of the story.
I purchased The Other (1997) during a recent visit to a Eau Clair, Wisconsin.
A local creepy boutique had a table display of the works of Joshua MacMillan.
When it’s in the budget, I love supporting local/regional horror authors.
These are the folks that do what they can to help “Keep Wisconsin Weird”
THIS IS NOT A PAID REVIEW
-
Horror Fiction is well known for being a showcase for a true spectrum of Book Cover illustration. They can be lurid, attention grabbing, sometimes blatantly graphic. In each case the end purpose is served. Grabbing the potential readers attention and drawing them towards the book. The OTHER (1997) , a horror novella by Megan Stockton and Joshua MacMillan, succeeds in this goal without question. The Cover Design by Christy Aldridge has all the markings and style of a Video Cassette sleeve, it would have looked right at home in the video rental shops and grocery store movie rental shelves of my childhood.
Moving past the exterior artwork The Others (1997) is a an excellent example of a sub-genre typically known as “analog Horror” but I would go further and dub it “VHS HORROR” (yes that includes the beta max horror fiction). Even the title is presented like something you would read on the label spine of a black VHS tape, perhaps one that is in a bin of others orphans, all without boxes.
Authors Stockton & MacMillan embrace this horror nostalgia with full force, inviting those of us who remember watching films in VHS to pop this particular tape into the slot of our brains, adjust for tracking, and watch.
Regardless of age the characters brought to life by Stockton and MacMillan are fully fleshed out. Our time with them is very brief, for many won’t last the night. In that brief time we are right there with them, in their happiness, in their peace, in the moment fear washes over them like ice.
As if to remind us that this is a horror book (as I slasher If you will) Stockton and macMillan quickly dispense with any pretense that the people of Brookhaven will survive this night unscathed and unmarred. The gore remains firmly in the spirit of B-Movie VHS horror, but the writers also twist that knife. We feel the sting of the flesh wound, taste the blood splash on our tongues, see the steam rise from innards exposed to the cold night by the slash of a blade.
We are left with a bloody mess that Art the Clown would appreciate. We are also left with a burning question….Will there be a sequel?
-
- Tech that was, and tech that wasn’t in 1997 -
I was unable to give this book 5 stars. I would be remiss if I did not address the reason.
Historical anachronisms present in any narrative negatively effect the readers suspension of disbelief.
Flat-screen TVs were indeed released in 1997, but they cost over $15,000. Blue-ray players did not exist then. DVDs did finally hit the US market that year, but videotapes were still the king of home media at the time. Finally, cell phones. While cellphones were already commonly used in 1997, they were not the smart phones of today. Sony Erickson did come out with the GS88 that year, but it was a large device with a flip out key-board. This smartphone, like the aforementioned flat screen tv, was not in general use by any means in 1997. I don’t know if these were details that slipped by in the editing process, but their presence in the narrative, while brief, impacted the rest of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2024
Michael Myers Inspired for sure
This was a quick, bloody Halloween story that definitely struck me as a possible Michael Myers inspired tale, like an alternate origin story for him. Wish I saved this for Halloween!
This was a quick, bloody Halloween story that definitely struck me as a possible Michael Myers inspired tale, like an alternate origin story for him. Wish I saved this for Halloween!
August 26, 2023
First of all I love this cover! If you swipe you can see the coloured version 😍.
Well that was F**ked up!
It's Halloween 1997 in Wisconsin, kids are trick or treating, parents are partying and some are home alone. Two boys are being stalked, why? Because The Other wants blood, violence and mayhem and he uses a boy called Eddie to get it!
This was such a good read I couldn't put it down, definitely a great read for the fall month approaching too!
Well that was F**ked up!
It's Halloween 1997 in Wisconsin, kids are trick or treating, parents are partying and some are home alone. Two boys are being stalked, why? Because The Other wants blood, violence and mayhem and he uses a boy called Eddie to get it!
This was such a good read I couldn't put it down, definitely a great read for the fall month approaching too!
November 29, 2023
The Other is a fun, bloody Halloween tale in the classic slasher style we all love. It gave me a major Michael Myers vibe. Not the mask wearing brutal adult killer, but the young Michael in a clown suit holding a bloody butcher knife.
A very quick read that is fun and fast-paced. There are some unanswered questions, but rumor has it that a continuation of the story is in the works. Let's hope so.
A very quick read that is fun and fast-paced. There are some unanswered questions, but rumor has it that a continuation of the story is in the works. Let's hope so.
May 22, 2023
Oh man, Eddie's pretty messed up.
Fast, fun, gory story.
Fast, fun, gory story.
August 30, 2023
A fun read with all the classic slasher vibes. Can’t wait for a sequel!
October 28, 2025
Reading this felt like watching a great 90s horror movie. The buildup, the tension, and the chaos of that Halloween night were so vivid. I could picture every scene like it was happening in front of me. The writing keeps you hooked from start to finish, and Edward Glenn is one of those characters you’ll never forget equal parts heartbreaking and horrifying.
April 28, 2023
I'm a fan of both authors and this classic '90s horror (slasher.) I can't wait for the sequel!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews