Orangefield

Orangefield #1.3

by Al Sarrantonio

Come to ORANGEFIELD, where Halloween is always special...

In the town of Orangefield, nestled in a glorious orange ring of pumpkin patches in the mountains of upstate New York, Halloween is the best time of year. Orangefield produces the cleanest, fattest, brightest-colored, longest-lasting-after-picking, finest pumpkins in the East, and its week-long Pumpkin Days festival, with its contests, cook-offs and decorations, is the finest celebration of autumn anywhere.

But there is a darker, more secret side to Halloween in Orangefield. For the town has become the home of Samhain, the Celtic Lord of Death, whose own ancient festival became the modern holiday of pumpkin carving and trick or treating. In Orangefield, myths and stories of Samhain abound. But this year myth becomes reality as the Lord of Halloween attempts to usher in a reign of death and destruction to the idyllic town — and the world.

The fate of all life rests in the hands of a little girl called Wizard, and the remembrance of a long forgotten horror...

Genres: Halloween, Fiction

180 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Al Sarrantonio was an American horror and science fiction writer, editor and publisher who authored more than 50 books and 90 short stories. He also edited numerous anthologies.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was a kind of illustrated version of Horrorween by the same author. Nothing new under the sun. Annabeth Turner, Kathy Marks, Aaron Carter and his tragic life turning him into the pumpkin tender, the scheming evil characters. Everything culminates in Halloween Eve. Well, maybe for those who didn't read Horrorween. To me it was a bit redundant as everything is said and done in Horrorween as well. The illustrations weren't spectacular enough to justify Horrorween in a new jacket.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 Stars.
Orangefield is a town in upstate New York which has become famous since 1940 for the best pumpkins on the East coast. But since the 1950's strange happenings have been occurring especially around the Halloween season as an evil entity (a thing in a black cape) preys upon the small town. The residents have named this entity Samhain but are afraid to say his name or even speak of him out loud. On this Halloween Samhain has something planned that he tried two times before but failed. The last attempt happened on Halloween 1981 when two suicides and one attempted suicide had left the message "THREE WILL SHOW THE WAY." What does the message mean and will this Halloween find Samhain successful?

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read. Very reminiscent of Ray Bradbury. Another wonderful read for the Halloween season.

After this reread for the Halloween season I am more in love with this book.Fantastic story telling and development. A fall classic.

[Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first Sarrantonio book I've read. I wanted to start the Orangefield series and started with what I think is the first one written (published 2002). I loved it and the Cemetery Dance edition is pretty nice, though it could be better.

I'm instantly starting Horrorween (worst titled book of all time, maybe) but would like some guidance from a fan/reader of the Orangefield series as to which order I should really be reading them in and why. The list on Goodreads is out of publishing order and doesn't match some other sites.

[Geoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Halloween novel. It's about a town called Orangefield that is known for their pumpkins, and their wonderful pumpkin festivals. It is also home to a certain Samhain, god of death, who can influence mortals on the day of Halloween. It's not a difficult read, but nevertheless a fun novel. A little twist at the end was a pleasant surprise, but other than that, it was standard fare. There is a second book in this series which I am sure to check it out, as I did enjoy this story.