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Sci-Fi Sizzlers
Pumpkin Splice
The strange sounds. The weird lights. The ever-increasing mystery around Farmer Johnson's barn...
When Tobias and Kira raise the alarm from the next farm over, they're dismissed as two meddling kids with two overactive imaginations.
But as the Halloween festival draws near and tourists flock to their usually sleepy town of Hallow Creek, those two meddling kids' one crazy idea might be the only thing that can stop disaster in its tracks.
No tricks. No treats. Just a pumpkin splice shockoccino with a dash of danger and a sprinkle of terror...
__________
Pumpkin Splice is the fourth in a new series of Sci-Fi Sizzlers : standalone short stories from international bestselling author Craig A. Falconer
When Tobias and Kira raise the alarm from the next farm over, they're dismissed as two meddling kids with two overactive imaginations.
But as the Halloween festival draws near and tourists flock to their usually sleepy town of Hallow Creek, those two meddling kids' one crazy idea might be the only thing that can stop disaster in its tracks.
No tricks. No treats. Just a pumpkin splice shockoccino with a dash of danger and a sprinkle of terror...
__________
Pumpkin Splice is the fourth in a new series of Sci-Fi Sizzlers : standalone short stories from international bestselling author Craig A. Falconer
53 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2020
22 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 2, 2023
The story follows sibling duo Tobias and Kira who try to win a TV subscription by participating in the Hallow Creek pumpkin contest. They soon learn that Farmer Nigel Johnson, who owns and operates the nearby barn, has plans to cheat by using some insane technology (and some kind of blue liquid) to create a gigantic pumpkin. This book certainly isn't terrible by any means, but at the same time is nothing to write home about. While it's a fun and entertaining super quick read, it leaves a lot to be desired as there is nothing super memorable nor unique here. This is about exactly what you would expect from a middle-grade sci-fi/horror book. Recommended if you're looking for a quick Halloween read, but that's about it.
December 2, 2020
There was nothing wrong with this one, but it just wasn't my thing. It seems to be written for a much younger age group (like 7 or 8 years old) than what the rest of the Sci-Fi Sizzlers have been. It definitely read like a Goosebumps book. Had I known ahead of time, I'd have probably skipped reading this one.
October 31, 2021
An alright little short story about a small town Pumpkin competition and a couple of kids investigating a local who is up to no good.
Tonally it doesn't really fit with the rest of the Sci Fi Sizzlers collection, it's a little too scooby doo and far too much of the exposition for the central mystery and the villain's motives is done by way of one big info dump as the kids quickly scan through notes left by the villain. Really could have done with being creepier even if, perhaps especially if, it is aimed at kids.
Tonally it doesn't really fit with the rest of the Sci Fi Sizzlers collection, it's a little too scooby doo and far too much of the exposition for the central mystery and the villain's motives is done by way of one big info dump as the kids quickly scan through notes left by the villain. Really could have done with being creepier even if, perhaps especially if, it is aimed at kids.
December 4, 2022
Good pre-teen short
I guess I've outgrown the pre-teen category. I found this one to be a bit too childish to give it a higher rating. Nothing WRONG with it. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
I guess I've outgrown the pre-teen category. I found this one to be a bit too childish to give it a higher rating. Nothing WRONG with it. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
January 11, 2022
A fun easy read.
June 4, 2023
Top Notch Science Fiction!
July 16, 2025
This was ADORABLE.
October 19, 2025
Fun, fast paced, sci-fi horror short story! A great intro to horror for young readers not too spooky. A brother and sister duo want to win a pumpkin growing contest and halloween competition to win a lifetime supply of candy and tv subscription only to find that their neighbor might be using the competitions to accomplish something a bit more nefarious!
Halloween Rating: (Only rating how heavily halloween features/influences the story)
This book is full of fun halloween- Costumes, pumpkins and halloween festival. Very halloween-y so I give it 5/5🎃
Halloween Rating: (Only rating how heavily halloween features/influences the story)
This book is full of fun halloween- Costumes, pumpkins and halloween festival. Very halloween-y so I give it 5/5🎃
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews