Tales of Terror

by Ida Chittum

A collection of short stories set in the Ozarks dealing with natural and supernatural events.

Genres: Horror

123 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Samme Chittum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a great collection of strange and fascinating folk stories from the Ozarks that make you shiver, shake your head and even laugh. They were written by my mother, Ida Chittum, who was a wonderdul story teller who grew up among haunts and spooks of all sorts. Read this if you get a chance.

[Maria Kemplin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this so often my elementary school librarian refused to let me check it out any more. The illustrations are excellent and greatly contribute to the mood of the book. I treasure the copy I have now.

[Becky Patrick]

I read this book as a child and I still remember the scary stories to some degree, so I would like to find another copy. I'll be on the look out. If you find a copy, read it and hold on to it.

[Margaret Bald · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Tales of Terror” is a delightful collection of 18 short stories by Ida Chittum (1918-2002), with an intro by her daughter, writer Samme Chittum. It’s set in the remote Ozark Mountains of Missouri, land of rolling hills, abandoned mining shafts, and sinkholes. Ida was inspired by the rich folklore and storytelling tradition she grew up with—tales of ghosts, spirits, and both supernatural and human monsters. And sympathy for the downtrodden. From the opening pages of her first story, “The House the Dovers Didn’t Move Into” (you’ll find out why) to the last, “Courtland Wethers and the Pit” about a pit with agency (don’t ask), you know you’re in the hands of a masterful writer. Read and enjoy but don’t turn the lights out!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Ida Chittum’s Tales of Terror brings to mind a group of rapt listeners gathered around a campfire on a moonlit summer evening as she narrates, weaving one tale after another, captivating us with her distinctive voice, creative turns of phrase, and mysterious, sometimes eerie plot twists. In every story, I hear her as if she is sitting beside me. Her wondrous imaginings derived from legends swirling in the wind or spun from the whispered tales passed down through the ages enchant and mesmerize us, luring us in suspense one moment, making us chuckle aloud the next — and sometimes, like the captivating “Vision of Roses,” breaking our hearts only to mend them again. The characters include snipe hunters, feather readers, lazy loafers, and ghouls, an unusual array of personalities brought to life by Ida’s lively prose and conversational flair. The reissue of Tales of Terror is a gift that extends the chance for future generations of readers to experience Ida Chittum’s storytelling genius. I hope that readers of all ages will rediscover this masterful chronicler.