The Campfire Collection: Spine-tingling Tales to Tell in the Dark

by Eric B. Martin (Editor & Introduction)

The Sun has set, the campfire is lit, and dark night presses insuddenly, the wilderness seems very big and very scary. In the good old-fashioned tradition of story-telling, The Campfire Collection offers twenty-five spine-tingling tales, both true and fictional, of the human experience in the great outdoors. From beastly attacks, to brushes with death and supernatural encounters, this anthology captures the cruel, sometimes macabre, side of Mother Nature.

And it isn't pretty. Haruki Murakami describes a life destroying tsunami, and Cynthia Dusel-Bacon gives an agonizingly detailed account of being mauled by a bear. Rounded corners and durable cover make this a suitable companion for any overnight excursion, and large type means easy radin by campfire or flashlight. Whether you're just pitching a tent in the backyard or all the way up on the top of Mount Everest, The Campfire Collection is a chilling read from writers who have lived to tell.

The show-shoers / George R. Stewart
The birthday boys / Beryl Bainbridge
The other side of luck / Greg Child
Cadillac desert / Marc Reisner
The seventh man / Haruki Murakami
To build a fire / Jack London
A descent into the maelström / Edgar Allan Poe
The hyena / Paul Bowles
"Come quick! I'm being eaten by a bear" / Larry Kanuit
The wolves of Aguila / Peter Matthiessen
The crematioin of Sam McGee / Robert W. Service
The Marfa lights / Judith M. Breuske
They bite / Antony Boucher
The red man / Eric Martin
Hunters in the snow / Tobias Wolff
For everything its season / John Long
McTeague / Frank Norris

Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Nonfiction

242 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book several years ago. I enjoyed this collection of stories (some true, some fictional) of scary things that occurred in nature, but the one that really stayed with me was "The Seventh Man" by Haruki Murakami. Every once in a while, I like to come back to this book and reread my favourites. In my opinion, an interesting read!

[Melissa P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

⛺️🔥🌛

A for effort with this book (sort of), but I can't give more than 2 stars. I was expecting eerie stories but at least a handful were kind of a snooze. I wanted creepy, R.L. Stine and/or Stephen King kind of stories but I didn't get that. The creepiest chapter I read was called "The Seventh Man" (and I will recommend that story, alone). This book was written in 2000 and it was on a summer themed display at my library. I liked the cover and it says "Spine-tingling tales to tell in the dark" (hmm, not really for me though). There are certainly people who will like this book, it just wasn't for me. Happy reading! 👁👁👻

[Galo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never judge a book by its cover nor its title. The Campfire Collection is a short story compliation which is less horror and more an existential meditation on three themes: The Elements, Beasts, and the Unknown, all serving as an observation of the consequences of our interactions with the unpredictable forces of nature. Contributions by authors Haruki Murakami, Jack London, Poe, Peter Matthiessen, Anthony Boucher, Eric Martin, and John Long make this a worthwhile read.

[Cat. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought these would be scary fiction stories, but they are scary true stories about physical stresses like mountain-climbing and blizzards.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed a number of the stories in this collection. Others gave me some areas I want to explore and learn more about. I found Poe's style hard to read however. I did find the title misleading hoever. Few of these stories were spine tingling in any way.

[Gina Zappa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of these stories were just not for me. I picked this up and put it down for quite some time before I managed to make my way through the whole thing...and it is not a big book...so take from that admission what you will.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thrills and chills in the great outdoors, from classic tales to the most modern, it is sometimes hard to sort the facts from the fiction in this enjoyable collection.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely an “R” rated book not for children. First story involves cannibalism, and in the second Scott dies in his attempt at the South Pole because, unlike Amundson’s dogs, his motor sledges weren’t edible. And we go on to the thin air of the Himalayas and the deadly rapids passing through Grand Canyon.

Story five involves a Tsunami. Typically a bay empties until it’s rockie bottom shows. Those who do not understand the signs and flee are swept up in the unrelenting wave that sweeps in when the waters return. My mistake, a tidal wave caused by a typhoon. Follows London’s story of a man out in one hundred degrees of frost with his dog in the Yukon. Again, it doesn’t end well.

The book sat for over a year until I regained my sight.

The Cremation of Sam McGee I know almost by heart. The collection ends with two rock climbers on a ledge 1500’ up and two more in the middle of Death Valley with no water. Neither tale ends well.

This may be titled campfire collection but it’s more nightmare.

[Lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a library sale years ago, and finally decided to read it. Now I see why it was being retired. I had a very difficult time getting through this book. Overall, it was quite boring for me. Some of the stories were better than others, of course, but most of them had to do with "nature" killers such as frostbite, and I was expecting something more along the lines of slashers. My favorite story in the book was "Come Quick! I'm Being Eaten by a Bear!" written by Larry Kanuit after he interviewed Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, the survivor of a bear attack. I would re-read that terrifying story, along with the eerie poem "The Cremation of Sam McGee" by Robert W. Service, and pass on the rest.

[Colleen Mertens · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book collects scary stories in one anthology based on the premise of frightening at a campfire. Some of the stories are pretty gruesome and some disturbed me for a long time after finishing the books. Many of the stories deal with man vs themselves or nature. I would not recommend this book for children.

[Blake Scicli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected scary ghost stories you could retell around a campfire that were "campy" but this collection of short stories and excerpts was pretty good. The last 4 or 5 stories were actually scary and just dark enough to make you shudder, though too long to retell around the campfire. I would recommend the book nonetheless if you're looking for something fun to read.

[Dagnija · Rating 3 out of 5]

None of these were any close at all to spine-tingling, not even Edgar Allan Poe's "Descent into the Maelstrom." It did include Jack London's "To Build a Fire," and the very ending of Frank Norris' "McTeague" which I found quite interesting.

[Kathy Edgin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really good stories, and some mediocre but none bad. Not "ghost" stories.

[Owen Martinez]

nice

[Dee Dee · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF very dull

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eric Martin's "Campfire Collection" presents readers with an assortment of stories that, while enjoyable, fail to leave a lasting impression of greatness. The collection offers a mix of themes and narratives, but ultimately falls short of delivering the memorable impact that distinguishes truly outstanding works of fiction.

One of the strengths of "Campfire Collection" lies in its variety of storytelling. Martin explores different genres and subjects, from horror to mystery to science fiction, providing readers with a diverse range of tales to enjoy. Each story is competently written and holds its own merits, demonstrating Martin's versatility as a writer.

However, despite the collection's diversity, many of the stories lack the spark of originality or depth needed to truly captivate readers. While they are entertaining in the moment, they often fail to leave a lasting impression or provoke deeper thought or reflection. As a result, the collection as a whole feels somewhat lacking in substance or depth.

Additionally, some readers may find themselves craving more complexity or nuance in the storytelling. Many of the plots and characters feel somewhat predictable or clichéd, with few surprises or twists to keep readers on their toes. While this may be appealing to readers seeking light entertainment, those looking for more depth or complexity may find themselves disappointed.

In conclusion, "Campfire Collection" by Eric Martin offers readers a decent assortment of stories that are entertaining in the moment, but ultimately fail to leave a lasting impression. While the collection showcases Martin's storytelling abilities and range as a writer, it lacks the greatness that distinguishes truly memorable works of fiction. Nonetheless, for readers seeking light entertainment and a quick escape into different worlds, "Campfire Collection" may still prove to be an enjoyable read.

[Eric Zhu · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book collection gets three stars for my rating and has its ups and downs.

For starters, Part 1: The Elements was probably my least favorite out of all the parts in the collection because some of those stories were somewhat unremarkable and boring, except "The Seventh Man", "To Build A Fire", and "A Descent into the Maelström. But, my favorite part has to be Part 4: Ourselves because it has a consistent pace of stories and could sometimes relate to "spine-tingling".
Part 2: Beasts and Part 3: The Unknown served their purposes.

Additionally, some tales are inconsistent when it comes to actually being "spine-tingling" and don't have enough horrific surprises to the point where they feel like filler in an already mixed-bag collection. While there are definitely standouts in this rather mediocre collection, I still couldn't resist looking at its faults for how forgettable some of the tales seem to live up to "spine-tingling".

Personal Favorite Short Stories/Excerpts:
"The Seventh Man" by Haruki Murakami, Translated by Jay Rubin
"The Red Man" by Eric B. Martin
"Hunters in the Snow" by Tobias Wolff

Personal Least Favorite Short Story/Excerpt:
"Cadillac Desert" by Marc Reisner (excerpt)