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Starlight Drive: Four Tales for Halloween
Four Halloween short stories from Bram Stoker nominated author John Palisano
74 pages, Paperback
Published February 19, 2016
4 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
John Palisano
103 books164 followersOne evening when I was only a small boy, my father allowed me to stay up late with him and watch NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD on television. He fell asleep, but I waited for the end. I couldn’t believe they’d let the lead guy die after all that. I was horrified. Later that summer we went to the drive-in, which was a big deal in Norwalk, Connecticut in the 1970s. Everyone went. We all piled into the Bomb, our old station wagon, and saw lots of movies there. There was a swing set right up front where a many of the little kids congregated. We got a kick out of that, especially during GREASE, because there was a similar set-up in the movie. One night, though, there was a double-feature that I’ll never forget.
Demon Seed scared me, and the unforgettable images still haunt me. The film that followed, though, ruined me for good. ALIEN. I don’t think I walked past my attic door after dark that entire summer for fear the alien would snatch me up and away.
Soon I couldn’t even go to the beach. JAWS waited for us. Of course, this was also the time I discovered my father’s treasure trove of old horror comics, most of which I still have safe and sound. My imagination was on fire. We went to some of the early science fiction conventions in New York. I found Fangoria, and used Tom Savini’s Grande Illusions book in an attempt to make my own monsters at home, and experimented with that for several fake-bloodstained years. Eventually, though, I realized my favorite part was in dreaming up the ideas. In all truth, I was better in that regard than in any of my make-ups.
During middle school I put out a xeroxed fanzine Castle Gore that I sold to my classmates for a quarter an issue. Inside, alongside my reviews of whatever movies were coming out, I put some of my own short stories.
By the time I was thirteen I’d completed my first novel . . . novella, really . . . about a time-traveling teenager who saves the world from a monster bred in a Victorian scientist’s lab. He used a flying go-kart to do so.
Songwriting found me. For years I toured with rock n’ roll bands, opening for national acts, and all the while, writing lots of lyrics, poems, and short stories. Winding up at Emerson College, I truly found myself. My short stories were finally professionally published in some of the local academic literary magazines, and also my script He’d Hoped For Mars won the Latent Image Magazine screenwriting contest, but was turned into a successful short film, scored by Aaron Logan at nearby Berklee College of Music.
After college I moved to Los Angeles, taking an internship with Ridley Scott. That was a phenomenal time in my life, and I learned so much. I worked on many big budget films, and got to see how those films I grew up with really came together. Of course, being in that hotbox, I wrote lots of scripts. Had an option or three, and produced a couple of low-budget films while I was at it. Something happened, though.
The movies of the scripts often came out so differently than the original ideas. Budget compromises. With writing stories, well, the only limit is your imagination. You’re not limited to how much money you have, or time, or your location, or the skill of the CG artists on your team.
Shifting gears to prose has not been easy. I had hundreds of rejections from top markets until I began to place my stories. That is not an exaggeration. It was harder to place a pro-level fiction piece than find financing for my first film. I love the challenge, and few things have been as satisfying.
My journey continues, of course. All these years later, we finally have the release of my novel NERVES from Bad Moon Books in the winter of 2012. In the meantime, there’s lots of short stories appearing soon, and several movie projects, too.
Thanks for reading.
Best,
John Palisano
Demon Seed scared me, and the unforgettable images still haunt me. The film that followed, though, ruined me for good. ALIEN. I don’t think I walked past my attic door after dark that entire summer for fear the alien would snatch me up and away.
Soon I couldn’t even go to the beach. JAWS waited for us. Of course, this was also the time I discovered my father’s treasure trove of old horror comics, most of which I still have safe and sound. My imagination was on fire. We went to some of the early science fiction conventions in New York. I found Fangoria, and used Tom Savini’s Grande Illusions book in an attempt to make my own monsters at home, and experimented with that for several fake-bloodstained years. Eventually, though, I realized my favorite part was in dreaming up the ideas. In all truth, I was better in that regard than in any of my make-ups.
During middle school I put out a xeroxed fanzine Castle Gore that I sold to my classmates for a quarter an issue. Inside, alongside my reviews of whatever movies were coming out, I put some of my own short stories.
By the time I was thirteen I’d completed my first novel . . . novella, really . . . about a time-traveling teenager who saves the world from a monster bred in a Victorian scientist’s lab. He used a flying go-kart to do so.
Songwriting found me. For years I toured with rock n’ roll bands, opening for national acts, and all the while, writing lots of lyrics, poems, and short stories. Winding up at Emerson College, I truly found myself. My short stories were finally professionally published in some of the local academic literary magazines, and also my script He’d Hoped For Mars won the Latent Image Magazine screenwriting contest, but was turned into a successful short film, scored by Aaron Logan at nearby Berklee College of Music.
After college I moved to Los Angeles, taking an internship with Ridley Scott. That was a phenomenal time in my life, and I learned so much. I worked on many big budget films, and got to see how those films I grew up with really came together. Of course, being in that hotbox, I wrote lots of scripts. Had an option or three, and produced a couple of low-budget films while I was at it. Something happened, though.
The movies of the scripts often came out so differently than the original ideas. Budget compromises. With writing stories, well, the only limit is your imagination. You’re not limited to how much money you have, or time, or your location, or the skill of the CG artists on your team.
Shifting gears to prose has not been easy. I had hundreds of rejections from top markets until I began to place my stories. That is not an exaggeration. It was harder to place a pro-level fiction piece than find financing for my first film. I love the challenge, and few things have been as satisfying.
My journey continues, of course. All these years later, we finally have the release of my novel NERVES from Bad Moon Books in the winter of 2012. In the meantime, there’s lots of short stories appearing soon, and several movie projects, too.
Thanks for reading.
Best,
John Palisano
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 15, 2020
Every October, I drop everything I might be currently reading and jump headfirst into Halloween Horror. Starlight Drive promises "Four Tales of Halloween Horror" and John Palisano delivers.
STARLIGHT DRIVE-- Two neighborhood friends on the cusp of being "too old for trick-or-treating" go out on the town and notice that something is very different about this Halloween night. I love the way Palisano wrote the dialog between these two boys as they process everything they witness. The ending is EVERYTHING. You need to read this right, meow.
OUTLAWS OF HILL COUNTY-- By far the standout in this collection and the longest of the 4 stories. A creature-feature with unique monster building. Palisano starts this off with one of the best opening lines ever--it really jumped out at me. You'll have to buy the book to read it for yourself! After the initial shock of the first sentence, Palisano lulls readers into a comfortable narrative about Halloween parties and hitting on girls until you're distracted enough to forget all about the Long Fellow *shivers* but you'll be reminded soon enough...
SAMHAINOPHOBIA-- "Tonight is the night the dead return. We're here to guide you." It's Halloween night, some college bros go to a party, and then when they leave, they realize they might have made a wrong turn somewhere. This one was fun, like a Black Mirror episode.
FANTASMA- Aw, this one was sad. Just another Dios de la Muertos celebration but this time, Raymond hears a voice...I wish this one wasn't so short!
I totally recommend this book to horror readers looking for Halloween specific stories to read in October. They are absolutely perfect--if not maybe too short. You could read this whole thing in one night (All Hallows Eve?) but I wanted it to go on longer. John Palisano's writing is like putting on your favorite sweater--very familiar and cozy (even while he's trying to scare you!)
STARLIGHT DRIVE-- Two neighborhood friends on the cusp of being "too old for trick-or-treating" go out on the town and notice that something is very different about this Halloween night. I love the way Palisano wrote the dialog between these two boys as they process everything they witness. The ending is EVERYTHING. You need to read this right, meow.
OUTLAWS OF HILL COUNTY-- By far the standout in this collection and the longest of the 4 stories. A creature-feature with unique monster building. Palisano starts this off with one of the best opening lines ever--it really jumped out at me. You'll have to buy the book to read it for yourself! After the initial shock of the first sentence, Palisano lulls readers into a comfortable narrative about Halloween parties and hitting on girls until you're distracted enough to forget all about the Long Fellow *shivers* but you'll be reminded soon enough...
SAMHAINOPHOBIA-- "Tonight is the night the dead return. We're here to guide you." It's Halloween night, some college bros go to a party, and then when they leave, they realize they might have made a wrong turn somewhere. This one was fun, like a Black Mirror episode.
FANTASMA- Aw, this one was sad. Just another Dios de la Muertos celebration but this time, Raymond hears a voice...I wish this one wasn't so short!
I totally recommend this book to horror readers looking for Halloween specific stories to read in October. They are absolutely perfect--if not maybe too short. You could read this whole thing in one night (All Hallows Eve?) but I wanted it to go on longer. John Palisano's writing is like putting on your favorite sweater--very familiar and cozy (even while he's trying to scare you!)
October 4, 2016
Four creepy tales just in time for Halloween. John Palisano takes on familiar themes and adds his own unique twist. This is a short, highly entertaining collection to get you in that October mood. The first story – the eponymous Starlight Drive – finds two boys who find their much anticipated Trick or Treating takes and unexpected turn when they find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Lots of Halloween elements here. Possibly my favourite of all the stories. Then came Outlaws of Hill County which introduced us to a versatile and especially nasty soul-sucking monster which only emerges at Halloween, but proceeds to make up for lost time by terrorizing the local community. Samhainophobia starts with one of my least favourite insects – a Daddy Longlegs. Fortunately, not a live one! The story itself centres on a group of friends who go to a Halloween party. So far, so good. But then they leave the party and make their way home. That’s when the darkness hides danger and nothing will ever be right again. Rounding off the collection is Fantasma. It is three years since Raymond’s cousin, Luis died. It’s also Halloween, when the dead can rise again…
October 5, 2016
These four stories are good & spooky! My favorite is Fantasma, the last one in the book. Good buy for October!
Recommended!
Recommended!
December 15, 2021
This is a great collection of chilling tales that are perfect for a fall night. Each one is well-written, highly imaginative, creative, and just disturbing enough to linger for a while, in the back of your mind, making you look over your shoulder as you lock up your house for the night. You might want to check those locks just one more time before you drift off to sleep. Starlight Drive is well worth becoming an annual fall read, 4.5 stars.
November 3, 2021
A perfect book for Halloween, and for the days after Halloween as well.
October 31, 2021
Starlight Drive - Four Tales for Halloween by John Palisano is an excellent short collection to read on the scariest night of the year. In just four short stories Palisano paints diverse and vivid images of some of the various meanings, from vengeance to memory, this holiday takes on. My favorite story in the collection was probably SAMHAINOPHOBIA, although all four are enjoyable reads. This is a perfect book to read on or near All Hallow’s Eve. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars).
September 17, 2016
One thing a I've picked up on is that Palisano writes unique stories. No run-of-the-mill standard fare in his books!
"Starlight Drive" is one of my favorites, and if you know me and have read the story you wouldn't have to ask why. Justice served in a most unusual way with the help of some unusual accomplices. I gave this story 5 stars.
"Outlaws of Hill County" describes a creature unlike any I've heard of before and it only comes out on Halloween. It's just one night though, right? I gave this story 4 stars.
"Samhainophobia" was grim and dreary, a reminder that life doesn't last forever but it's beautiful while we have it and sometimes, even when life leaves us we still cling to it, The Grey Ones, The Travelers, The Ushers of the Dead. I gave this story 5 stars.
"Fantasma" was a quick encounter with death on the Day of the Dead itself Dios De La Muertos. I enjoyed the style of writing in this one like flashes of a movie. I gave this story 4 stars.
An average of 4.5 stars that I bumped up to 5 because Palisano has never written a story that seems like something I've read before.
"Starlight Drive" is one of my favorites, and if you know me and have read the story you wouldn't have to ask why. Justice served in a most unusual way with the help of some unusual accomplices. I gave this story 5 stars.
"Outlaws of Hill County" describes a creature unlike any I've heard of before and it only comes out on Halloween. It's just one night though, right? I gave this story 4 stars.
"Samhainophobia" was grim and dreary, a reminder that life doesn't last forever but it's beautiful while we have it and sometimes, even when life leaves us we still cling to it, The Grey Ones, The Travelers, The Ushers of the Dead. I gave this story 5 stars.
"Fantasma" was a quick encounter with death on the Day of the Dead itself Dios De La Muertos. I enjoyed the style of writing in this one like flashes of a movie. I gave this story 4 stars.
An average of 4.5 stars that I bumped up to 5 because Palisano has never written a story that seems like something I've read before.
April 2, 2016
I love Halloween. That and Thanksgiving are my favorite days of the year. Nobody really minds if you scare them on Halloween and you don't have to dress in work clothes to go to your job. John Palisano talks a little bit about that before he gets into his storytelling - which made for a fifth story. Nice!
These four other short stories will keep you going until next October. My favorite? The one about the cats, of course!
Double stars for that.
These four other short stories will keep you going until next October. My favorite? The one about the cats, of course!
Double stars for that.
September 4, 2018
I appear to be the outlier among those who've reviewed this book, but three stars is about as high as I can go.
January 11, 2022
John Palisano possesses the ability to create a wonderful sense of time and place. These five stories have a sense of dread that builds as the characters realize that things on that particular Halloween are not as they seem. Recommended for anyone seeking a tight collection of horror short stories that transport the reader while leaving them with unease.
February 28, 2024
I'm a huge fan of Halloween and am constantly on the hunt for stories that will keep me in that mindset all year long. Though I don't often gravitate toward short stories, I decided to snatch up this collection.
These stories were so imaginative! And oddly enough, the shortest one was my favorite. I'd almost like to see that one expanded into a novel.
These stories were so imaginative! And oddly enough, the shortest one was my favorite. I'd almost like to see that one expanded into a novel.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews