The Young Oxford Book of Nasty Endings

by Dennis Pepper (Editor)

This is a collection of stories which all have a big surprise at the end.
You’ll meet sinister landladies, weird sweetshops, evil statuettes, deadly coffins, poisonous hats, awful slitherings, murderous monks, and real lions in the nursery.
But watch out for the ending—it could be nasty.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Young Adult, Anthologies, Fiction, Suspense

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Kristal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine collection of suspenseful & spooky short stories that are even more chilling by the fact that each one is about normal people doing normal, everyday things...then something nasty happens!

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid short story collection. I can't remember how I first discovered this book (it must've been recommended somewhere on the internet back in 2020) but the quality is what you'd expect from an Oxford University Press title, including thick paper and surprisingly beautiful illustrations and formatting.

My biggest complaint is that most of the endings aren't surprise/twist endings, but just "bad" endings where things end badly for whoever was featured in the story. Some stories seem to lack purpose other than presenting a creepy premise, and others felt unnecessarily sad, such as the well-meaning father in "Every Litter Bit Hurts," which is probably the one story I wish I didn't read.

My ratings/reviews of the 35 stories in the collection: (asterisks represent stories I've read before)
1. THE LANDLADY by ROALD DAHL (4/5) - set the stage for the book well, creepy with good pacing
2. CALL FIRST by RAMSEY CAMPBELL (3/5) - not entirely sure I understood the ending does the old man have a ghost haunting his house whose attacks he blocks by calling?
3. WE'LL LOOK AFTER YOU by ROBIN KLEIN (3/5) - creepy, but nothing much happens
4. SWEET SHOP by MARC ALEXANDER (2/5) - fairy tale retelling; you know which one
5. THOSE THREE WISHES by ROBERT SCOTT (2/5) - vaguely funny, too short to care about the character
6. THE LOONY by ALISON PRINCE (2/5) - another story I didn't really understand, with an unsatisfying ending
7. GHOST HUNTER by SYDNEY J. BOUNDS (3/5) - typical ghost story
8. THE MYSTERY OF THE SEMI-DETACHED by E. NESBIT (2/5) - short and predictable
9. A FACE IN THE NIGHT by RUSKIN BOND (2/5) - seemed pointless
10. SUCH A SWEET LITTLE GIRL by LANCE SALWAY (3/5) - familiar if you've ever seen a horror movie starring a nasty child
11. MR. LUPESCU by ANTHONY BOUCHER (3/5) - one of many imaginary friend stories in the collection, with a twist that I didn't fully grasp who is Gorgo? and how did the kid not recognize his own "imaginary" friend?
12. THUS I REFUTE BEELZY by JOHN COLLIER (2/5) - too similar to the two stories preceding it with the imaginary friend and disbelieving family member
13. A SHARP ATTACK OF SOMETHING OR OTHER by T.H. WHITE (1/5) - didn't have the patience for this story. Something about hats and pranking someone by swapping them?
14. VOODOO by FREDERIC BROWN (3.5/5) - short and amusing
*15. THE CANDIDATE by HENRY SLESAR (4/5) - a story I've read before and possibly how I discovered this collection. Slow start, fascinating final third
16. THE NEAR DEPARTED by RICHARD MATHESON (2/5) - too short and predictable (and given away by the title)
17. THE STATUETTE by KENNETH IRELAND (3/5) - precursor to Child's Play
*18. THE MEETING by ROBERT SCOTT (4/5) - one I've read before and that I'm sure predates the credited author
19. THE TALKING HEAD by ROBERT SCOTT (2/5) - did not get it. Was the ending supposed to be funny?
20. PATHS by JOHN CHRISTOPHER (3/5) - another story where I'm not sure I got the punchline. Maybe there isn't one and it's just a nice time travel story?
*21. THE VELDT by RAY BRADBURY (3/5) - hard to rate because I've read this several times before, but it fits right in with the theme of the collection
22. THE OLD BURYING PLACE... by GERALD KERSH (3/5) - not 100% sure I get the twist, but if I'm right, it's a good one the characters are from the future and the bodies in the caves are from the gas mask age
23. HEY, YOU DOWN THERE! by HAROLD ROLSETH (4/5) - amusing and I should've seen the ending coming
24. A HUNDRED STEPS by ROBERT SCOTT (2/5) - not sure what the point was. A marriage destined to fail?
25. REVIVAL MEETING by DANNIE PLACHTA (4/5) - short but definitely a nasty ending
26. DEATH'S MURDERERS by GERALDINE MCCAUGHREAN (2/5) - a typical folk tale? nothing surprising, nothing particularly interesting about greedy men finding coins
27. THE CATHEDRAL CRYPT by JOHN WYNDHAM (2/5) - one of 2 stories in the collection that couldn't capture my interest at all
*28. ONE CHANCE by ETHEL HELENE COEN (4/5) - read previously in Spooky Campfire Stories, short and definitely on-theme
29. THE SECRET OF CITY CEMETERY by PATRICK BONE (3/5) - karma for a nasty bully
*30. THE HELPFUL UNDERTAKER by ROBERT SCOTT (4/5) - another one I've read before at some point. Like the other stories by this author, short and vaguely amusing rather than tragic
31. THE DAVENPORT by JACK RITCHIE (4/5) - started off with a very similar premise to Haruki Murakami's "Where I'm Likely to Find It," which is maybe why the ending surprised me so much
32. EVERY LITTER BIT HURTS by MICHAEL AVALLONE - no rating. It's the one story that left me with a really bad feeling because it's about well-meaning father and son who don't deserve the ending they get.
33. COP FOR A DAY by HENRY SLESAR (2/5) - not sure what the point was. Criminals doing criminal things?
34. ON THE SIDEWALK, BLEEDING by EVAN HUNTER (3/5) - another sad one. Probably the most realistic story in the collection, with a realistic ending.
35. THE SKELETON IN THE CLOSET by RICHARD and JUDY DOCKREY YOUNG (4/5) - not sure why this story came after the Acknowledgments but a strong one to end on, especially considering how short it is.

Average: 2.87

[Meredith L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect compilation for this time of year, full of diverse stories of varying length. Some of the stories are very short and contain black humor, such as "The Helpful Undertaker," by Richard Matheson, while others are longer and take time to build suspense. Perfect for reading around a campfire or late at night when you're searching for a delicious chill. All the stories have a common theme, a shocking or macabre ending. The editor does a good job at balancing the macabre with the more understated stories of terror. THe quieter ones are the most horrific, at least in my opinion. Here are a list of my favorites:

The Landlady, by Roald Dahl. A young employer at a new job finds lodging at a kind landlady's home, but things are not what they seem. A very quiet story that packs a punch. Could a story like this happen? Absolutely.
Sweet Shop, by Marc Alexander. Two children seek refuge from their parents' constant fighting in a sweet shop owned by a kind, elderly lady. A story with clever nods to "Hansel and Gretel" but set in a contemporary time.
Such a Sweet Little Girl, by Lance Salway. Julia claims that there is a ghost in her bedroom, but her older brother, Edward, scoffs at the idea. A story of sibling rivalry with a grisly twist.
Paths, by John Christopher. Three children meet on converging paths in the wood, paths that lead to different time periods. They become friends and have a pleasant walk, but the ending leaves the reader with a strong sense of foreboding as the time periods of each child are revealed. Things are not what they seem.
The Veldt, by Ray Bradbury. A story very relevant to our time as the looming subject of AI is now stronger than ever. A story that is eerily timeless and whose ending is horrific.
Every Litter Bit Hurts, by Frank Avalon. A little boy is going for a ride with his father and finds a mysterious object in their car. Heart-stoppingly suspenseful.
Hey! You Down There!, by Harold Holspeth. A husband and wife discover an abandoned well on their property that is revealed to be a portal into a mysterious world, a world where mysterious creatures seek to learn more about Earth. This one is darkly humorous.
Death's Murderers, by Geraldine McCaughrean. Three travellers discover a treasure and also encounter Death, whom they resolve to thwart. A retelling of "The Pardoner's Tale," by Geoffrey Chaucer.

This plethora of stories is an excellent collection, lots of fun. Recommended for people who love scares.
God bless you all.

[Tim Pendry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here we have thirty four weird and horror stories, some at least notionally from great masters like Dahl, Campbell, Bradbury, Matheson, Nesbit, Kersh and Wyndham, undoubtedly simplified and partially bowdlerised for an adolescent readership.

The aim is undoubtedly didactic, not to frighten young people but to make them think by introducing them to a genre where the final nasty conclusion can be deduced from clues given in the preceding narrative. The text is about 'literature' rather than triggering sleepless nights.

It is a worthy effort and will give the intelligent adolescent an opportunity to experience the 'frisson' to be found in a good horror tale and perhaps it will draw them on to read more as they mature. Above all, the stories should make them think about grim possibilities.

The horror tale (especially to men) is the dark side companion to the crime or romance novel (more popular with women in general), science fiction and the thriller. Here the stories create unease and mild anxiety at most rather than disgust or true horror.

Genre literature is about channeling specific emotions. There is nothing wrong with introducing maturing higher ability kids to the literature of anxiety and even fear as an exercise in catharsis. This particular text is a good introduction.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book randomly in a charity shop and as a sucker for horror stories this one struck me as an entertaining read. Most of the stories in it were very enjoyable and I could see them being adapted and being longer. All in all a fun little book if you are a fan of horror, scary or just unpleasant storytelling.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for storytelling to upper KS2. A great array of stories ranging from 10-30 minutes. The children on SBC1 I read to, loved being spooked by the shocking ending and remained gripped the whole time. Perfect for an end-of-day activity.

[Jennifer (Novel Crawler) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good compilation book of short stories for YA. I enjoyed reading this book, but I wasn't wowed.

[Frindle Babbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this back in high school and it knocked my brain right out of my skull. Five stars for being so formative and for introducing me to Ramsey Campbell.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kxkx

[Willen P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally read some of these stories back in 2006 when I had the physical copy (borrowed from the library). This year I finished it on Aug 10 2023, every story. Great throwback!

Some of them didn't really have "nasty" endings though? Not sure why they were published here. Below are a list of some of my favourites or ones I could comment about.

The Landlady • (1959) • short story by Roald Dahl - Read this a few times before
Call First • (1975)• short story by Ramsey Campbell - Quite spooky.
Sweet Shop • (1985) • short story by Marc Alexander - Great parallels!
The Loony • (1984) • short story by Alison Prince - Probably one that I remember the most (rereading). Greatly written.
Ghost Hunter • (1981) • short story by Sydney J. Bounds
Mr. Lupescu • (1945) • short story by Anthony Boucher - Very short but left an impact on me. (I think also a reread)
Voodoo • (1954) • short story by Fredric Brown - hilarious and spooky.
The Statuette • (1983) • short fiction by Kenneth Ireland - Love the artwork used for the title. Scary tale too.
The Talking Head • short story by Robert Scott - I'd forgotten about this one page story until I saw it here. More comical I guess (But still nasty)
Paths • (1984) • short story by John Christopher Not sure why this was included in this anthology, I wish it were a longer tale though. I liked the "time travel" theme.
Hey, You Down There! • (1971) • short story by Harold Rolseth - Definitely one of the best.
Death's Murderers • short story by Geraldine McCaughrean - amazing
One Chance • non-genre • (1935) • short story by Ethel Helene Coen - kind of terrifying
The Davenport • (1979) • short story by Jack Ritchie - hilarious ending.
Cop for a Day • non-genre • (1957) • short story by Henry Slesar - Never saw that coming
On the Sidewalk Bleeding • non-genre • (1957) - probably could happen in real life, quite sad.

Again, I am thankful that I got to finish this collection (though I'm wondering why ten-year-old me skipped a lot of these - they mostly weren't even verbose!

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title says it all. It's for young readers (I'm thinking middle school) and every story has a nasty ending. The stories start out mediocre and never get better. Maybe my tastes run too strongly towards a more sophisticated story. Maybe the relentless twist endings and stings at the end of the tale make it predictably dull. But most of this collection was lifeless. Maybe I would have liked this in 5th or 6th grade, but not now.

First, most of the stories are pretty dated. Considering the publication date of 1997, I would have expected inclusion of a few more modern pieces. Now I love vintage horror, but with what appears to be only six pieces from the 90's (less than 20% of the total), the collection has a very dated feel.

The Dahl and Campbell stories were well constructed and good openers for the collection, but they were hampered by the frame of the collection letting you know in advance to expect the stinger.

WE'LL LOOK AFTER YOU had a nice creepy Hills Have Eyes / Misery vibe that is accessible for kids.

MR LUPESCU by Anthony Boucher was an unexpected surprise. I was expecting a twist, but not THAT one.

HEY, YOU DOWN THERE! by Harold Rolseth was everything I expected, but good Morlock fun.

THE CATHEDRAL CRYPT by John Wyndham had the best atmosphere and believable protagonists of the entire collection, but was ultimately undone by a rather weak ending.

Outside those six pieces, this was largely a chore. I can't recommend reading this.

[Thom (T.E.) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up at the library, on a whim--and glad I did. The editing is brilliant for the target audience (teens, but also reaching to hook precocious middle-schoolers). The "anecdote plus a twist" material meant for the youngest range of the audience was over swiftly, so no harm done. A couple of pieces were a bit toothless or obvious. But the majority of the stories made for gripping light reads. A classic mix of talent: Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, John Collier, Henry Slesar. The idea of a "nasty ending" suggests thrillers shading into pure horror--but there was a minor thread (perhaps purposefully kept toward the back of the volume) of hardboiled and crime-fiction material. Best of all was the opening: a Roald Dahl tale wherein an accrual of individually harmless details leads to subtly increasing chills for the reader. Then, as follow-through, a perfectly paced short story of claustrophobic gruesomeness, courtesy of Ramsey Campbell. I wish more publishers and anthologists would try something like this.

[Madalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was kinda good. The front cover and some of the summarys of some stories got me interested. But, I kinds feel that I was let down. I really enjoy mystery, ghost stories and murder books and this had some of all of them in some of the stories. What I kinda feel let down about though, was the fact that some of the stories weren't so good, I could predict what was going to happen, or I just didn't get it.
I did kinda like some of the stories though. Some were very clever and I enjoyed them. Some may have taken me a min to get, but when I did I liked them. I would reccomend this book though.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remembered this book because I remembered a short story about a secret society of people who kill other people at a distance just by wishing them dead. Expert Googling led me to "The Candidate" by Henry Slesar, and checking through anthologies containing it brought me back to this book. There's quite a bit of other good stuff in here too, including "The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury. Some of the stories are pretty deeply creepy; some are darkly funny; quite a few made my skin crawl. All in all, worth a read for sure.

[Conal Cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology came out towards the tail end of the 90s YA horror boom, but it stands as maybe the best anthology of dark fiction for the tween and teen set, what with its literate approach and inclusion of slightly more "adult" horror stories (Ramsey Campbell's "Call First," for example). This book walks a perfect balance between having young protagonists and age-appropriate content without seeming watered-down , hokey, or derivative.

[Ikyoto · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a few stories in this book that were a 5, but most were not so good.

[Rianna]

it was ok, didn't really do it for me though. I was hoping to be scared silly but I guess not...

[Hel Gibbons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great, nasty stories in here...