Very Special Episodes

by Jason Harlow, Q. Zhou (Contributor), Garret Harlow (Contributor)

Adjust your antenna, and take a nightmarish trip down memory lane with the episode guide that didn't make it past Standards and Practices. Inspired by the "very special episodes" of the 90s, this anthology of suburban scares recaptures the magic of some of the unforgettable cautionary tales in TV history.

Each story rewinds to the horror tropes of much simpler times - stranger danger lurking in the shadows, wide-eyed cult recruiters waiting after school, over-the-top drug warnings, and many more nostalgic themes twisted into something even more horrific. These made-for-TV tales are brought to life by some of extreme horror's most promising up-and-coming voices.

Tonight, we welcome you back to primetime television. Where every episode is one you'll never forget.

Featuring stories by Jessica Gleason, Mike Harris, AudraKate Gonzalez, Q. Zhou, Bryan Stubbles, and more.

WARNING: This book contains graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

234 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2026

Reviews

[SeveredTherapy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This, most definitely brought me back to a simpler time. The caffeine pill story was AMAZING and I was picturing Jessie the entire time. The last story, from Mike Harris, just put the cherry on top of an amazing book.

This collection brought back some memories and while not as 'extreme' as other books in my history, this one was a lot of fun. Thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely be reading it again.

5.25 out of 5 severed thumbs-up.

[Justin Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Pixie Dust and Beauty Isn’t Consent. The Bloody Mary Clown Incident, Legend of Dopeface, The Ratkeeper’s Basement, Unbound, and The Devil’s Lettuce were a lot of fun. She Called Herself Jenny, The Industry, and Never Be a Bully had that special episode feel with what they were based on. This is a good collection of short stories!

[Charlene (Char) ❤︎ ❀˖° ❤︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫, 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟗𝟎𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤; 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 “𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤,” “𝐄𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞, 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚,” 𝐨𝐫 “𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞,” 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

The stories are set in the 90s—ah, what a fantastic time before the tech boom! Each tale touches on significant themes from that era. A special shoutout to the introduction by Cameron Chaney, who did a fantastic job setting the tone for what’s to come. While all the stories were great, here are a few that stood out to me:

**She Called Herself Jenny (Q. Zhou)** - Two friends head to a bar to help one of them cope with a broken heart. What better way to heal than with a drink? They meet a woman named Jenny, but little do they know, that night will change everything.

**The Industry (Quinn Patrick)** - A group of teens looking to make some quick cash answer a modeling call at their local mall. But the casting director has his sights set on just one person, and what happens next is downright chilling.

**The Ratskeeper’s Basement (Jason Harlow)** - A young man grapples with a painful truth after confiding in his parents about a terrible incident, only to be met with disbelief. On his way home with a friend, he encounters a man who offers an unexpected opportunity.

**Never Be A Bully (Kay Hanifen)** - This story had me in tears from the very first page; I could already sense where it was headed. Two kids befriend a new classmate with a mental disability, and it serves as a cautionary tale—just remember, everyone has to pay a price.

All the stories in this book showcase the incredible range of these authors. I highly recommend giving it a read; it’s packed with all the nostalgic vibes of the 90s. And as always, thank you, Jason, for the chance to dive into your work!