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Halloween Horrors
This collection of thirteen tales of horror highlights the customs and traditions of the celebrated Halloween night of gouls and goblins and features contributions by such best-selling authors as Whitley Streiber, Robert Bloch, and Frank Belknap Long
245 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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308 people want to read
About the author
Alan Ryan
94 books42 followersAlan Peter Ryan was an American author and editor, known for his work in the horror genre in the 1980s.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 3, 2020
Introduction / “Halloween Night” by Alan Ryan
In lieu of a dull prosaic introduction, Ryan wisely opens this anthology with a short poem that celebrates the mischief and merriment of Halloween—specifically Halloween night when all the heavy hitters come out. Cute!
He’ll Come Knocking at Your Door by Robert R. McCammon
Very Halloweeny! McCammon is most known for thick novels, but here is a clean, short piece that delivers full range Halloween fantasm, including top secret town meetings, high stakes trick or treating, and a home invasion by the Devil himself. It’s a little silly, a lot scary, and encompasses everything there is to love about October 31st. A superb opener!
Eyes by Charles L. Grant
Though my sampling is limited, I'm rarely pleased by Grant’s “quiet" or "lingering" style of horror. I would rephrase this as "vague" or "boring." That said, Eyes is worth reading. Ryan introduces this story by saying he encouraged Grant to write something "really nasty." An effective prompt, I think, and you can feel it working against Grant’s usual desire to write about nothing.
There’s still plenty of signature Grant rhapsodies, but he catches himself earlier than normal and abruptly paragraph breaks back to content. If you can get through these atmospheric, possibly ADHD-fueled indulgences, you’ll find a memorable story of parental guilt, creepy jack-o’-lanterns, and Halloween hauntings. If nothing else, the story's imagery proved helpful for the 1st edition cover art.
The Nixon Mask by Whitley Strieber
Many odd things happen as Richard and Pat Nixon pass out Halloween candy in the White House. Almost like Twilight Zone odd, but actually more ‘odd’ as in illogical. For example, the president and first lady have entire scripts for telephone greetings and what to say to children’s Halloween costumes. It’s not clear why they need scripts for these mundane activities or why it’s so difficult to stick to them. Was this something the Nixons did routinely?
There’s a point where Nixon loses his place in the script and calls a Cinderella-dressed child a terrifying ape, but the logistics of the mishap—and how it continues for several more children—is inexplicable. Did he memorize reactions to an entire group of children's costumes in advance? Why such a challenge to get back on script?
In the final pages the strangeness shifts into what is possibly a symbolic suggestion that Watergate was due to supernatural evil taking over Nixon's personality. Like Halloween as a metaphor for paranoid schizophrenia. Maybe?
Perhaps I’m too far removed from 1970s current events, or perhaps Strieber’s symbolism is too obscure, but I’m pretty sure this one misses the mark either way. It still compels the reader to turn the pages, but only in effort to understand what the hell is going on.
The Samhain Feis by Peter Tremayne
My first exposure to Tremayne, though his novel The Ants (1979) is high on my to-read list. His prose is good enough but the pacing lacks urgency. It's a disappointingly slow burn for a story that's only 19 pages. When the Celtic-inspired Halloween spookiness finally kicks in, however, you get what you paid for. Too bad that's only about five pages.
Trickster by Steve Rasnic Tem
Family drama involving a dead brother with a Halloween heart. Hooks right away and doesn't let go. Vivid characters who effortlessly swell in complexity as the pages turn. The ending is unnecessarily ambiguous (no idea what happened) but the ride is so good I don't even mind. Have a feeling this will be one of the standouts in the collection.
Miss Mack by Michael McDowell
Since reading McDowell's epic family saga Blackwater I've been obsessed with everything he's ever written, including a novelization of the movie Clue.
No surprise, this story, which Ryan bills as McDowell's "first" short piece, does not disappoint. Rich setting, fully formed characters, a haunting sense of impending doom. With signature finesse, McDowell lulls us into a false sense of normalcy, only vaguely aware of something sinister in the air, then drops the horror.
His style remains unique and fresh as the years go by, improving even with age. Recently I've seen his novels popping up on the syllabi of gothic literature courses. Deservingly so. McDowell is one of the few who have elevated the horror genre into something respectable and worth studying. Admittedly this short story doesn't have the literary power of his lengthier masterworks, but it still comes across savory. Something you want to read multiple times. A+
Hollow Eyes by Guy N. Smith
Didn’t care for this one. Hard to pinpoint why. It’s from a villainous POV which is often interesting, but in this case the character is a bit too unstable to deliver good narration. I also think Smith takes himself too seriously. A little levity might have made this harsh dish more digestible.
The Halloween House by Alan Ryan
The editor's story is a traditional haunted house refrain with teenage characters and an unexpected twist at the end. The twist is delicious and clever, though rather thick with plot holes. I'm sure there could've been more creative ways to build up to that epic ending image. Ways that enhance the prior pages rather than make them all problematic in retrospect. Still, I like it, so mission accomplished.
Three Faces of the Night by Craig Shaw Gardner
Confusing all around, from the structure to the scatterbrained story. Not a highlight.
Pumpkin by Bill Pronzini
Pumpkins are my favorite thing about Halloween, and certainly a story about an evil one keeps my attention. Pronzini writes in a mainstream, easy-to-digest way, with recognizable characters and crisp descriptions. An enjoyable ride even if the ending is abrupt and misses an opportunity to deliver over-the-top horror. Just a few extra paragraphs of grisly imagery might have been enough to move this from interesting to a favorite.
Lover in the Wildwood by Frank Belknap Long
Frank Belknap Long is the type of writer I wish to be. He published his first story at the age of 22 and never stopped until his death at 92. His biography is rather interesting as well, since he was an enduring friend to H.P. Lovecraft and many other big names in the horror/sci-fi world.
Admittedly I haven't read many of his works, but I always admire his tender attention to character and pushing the genre into more emotional territory rather than the more common shlock. This story here is no exception, with characters who are deeply involved in their fictional world and have actual, deep feelings. It sticks out, not as a sore thumb but as a slightly grim reminder of real world scares and not just the fantastic. Admittedly not as memorable either, but it improves the collection by diversifying the ordinary definition of Halloween.
Apples by Ramsey Campbell
Ramsey Campbell is another horror staple whose continuous writing career is presently in its fifth decade. I've certainly read better by him than this submission, however, which is too noisy with side plots and lacks focus on any particular character.
Pranks by Robert Bloch
Bloch is known for writing Psycho, but his bibliography of other novels and short stories is an endless source of quality entertainment. His prose is effortlessly captivating and his ability to see a premise through to the end is something to be admired. For this story, he uses a collage of flash snippets to build a full neighborhood of Halloween activity. The ending, though vague and mysterious, will certainly scare parents.
Overall…
It’s basically impossible to find a short story anthology that’s good from beginning to end. My hunch tells me it’s because big authors have their work pre-accepted on name only, not on merit. Consequently there’s not much initiative. This collection also suffers from being a boy’s club (every story is written by a man) and the lack of diversity is noticeable.
Nevertheless, Halloween Horrors is more reliably good than most. The few standouts are really standouts, particularly the McDowell and McCammon tales. You could find worse autumn reading.
In lieu of a dull prosaic introduction, Ryan wisely opens this anthology with a short poem that celebrates the mischief and merriment of Halloween—specifically Halloween night when all the heavy hitters come out. Cute!
He’ll Come Knocking at Your Door by Robert R. McCammon
Very Halloweeny! McCammon is most known for thick novels, but here is a clean, short piece that delivers full range Halloween fantasm, including top secret town meetings, high stakes trick or treating, and a home invasion by the Devil himself. It’s a little silly, a lot scary, and encompasses everything there is to love about October 31st. A superb opener!
Eyes by Charles L. Grant
Though my sampling is limited, I'm rarely pleased by Grant’s “quiet" or "lingering" style of horror. I would rephrase this as "vague" or "boring." That said, Eyes is worth reading. Ryan introduces this story by saying he encouraged Grant to write something "really nasty." An effective prompt, I think, and you can feel it working against Grant’s usual desire to write about nothing.
There’s still plenty of signature Grant rhapsodies, but he catches himself earlier than normal and abruptly paragraph breaks back to content. If you can get through these atmospheric, possibly ADHD-fueled indulgences, you’ll find a memorable story of parental guilt, creepy jack-o’-lanterns, and Halloween hauntings. If nothing else, the story's imagery proved helpful for the 1st edition cover art.
The Nixon Mask by Whitley Strieber
Many odd things happen as Richard and Pat Nixon pass out Halloween candy in the White House. Almost like Twilight Zone odd, but actually more ‘odd’ as in illogical. For example, the president and first lady have entire scripts for telephone greetings and what to say to children’s Halloween costumes. It’s not clear why they need scripts for these mundane activities or why it’s so difficult to stick to them. Was this something the Nixons did routinely?
There’s a point where Nixon loses his place in the script and calls a Cinderella-dressed child a terrifying ape, but the logistics of the mishap—and how it continues for several more children—is inexplicable. Did he memorize reactions to an entire group of children's costumes in advance? Why such a challenge to get back on script?
In the final pages the strangeness shifts into what is possibly a symbolic suggestion that Watergate was due to supernatural evil taking over Nixon's personality. Like Halloween as a metaphor for paranoid schizophrenia. Maybe?
Perhaps I’m too far removed from 1970s current events, or perhaps Strieber’s symbolism is too obscure, but I’m pretty sure this one misses the mark either way. It still compels the reader to turn the pages, but only in effort to understand what the hell is going on.
The Samhain Feis by Peter Tremayne
My first exposure to Tremayne, though his novel The Ants (1979) is high on my to-read list. His prose is good enough but the pacing lacks urgency. It's a disappointingly slow burn for a story that's only 19 pages. When the Celtic-inspired Halloween spookiness finally kicks in, however, you get what you paid for. Too bad that's only about five pages.
Trickster by Steve Rasnic Tem
Family drama involving a dead brother with a Halloween heart. Hooks right away and doesn't let go. Vivid characters who effortlessly swell in complexity as the pages turn. The ending is unnecessarily ambiguous (no idea what happened) but the ride is so good I don't even mind. Have a feeling this will be one of the standouts in the collection.
Miss Mack by Michael McDowell
Since reading McDowell's epic family saga Blackwater I've been obsessed with everything he's ever written, including a novelization of the movie Clue.
No surprise, this story, which Ryan bills as McDowell's "first" short piece, does not disappoint. Rich setting, fully formed characters, a haunting sense of impending doom. With signature finesse, McDowell lulls us into a false sense of normalcy, only vaguely aware of something sinister in the air, then drops the horror.
His style remains unique and fresh as the years go by, improving even with age. Recently I've seen his novels popping up on the syllabi of gothic literature courses. Deservingly so. McDowell is one of the few who have elevated the horror genre into something respectable and worth studying. Admittedly this short story doesn't have the literary power of his lengthier masterworks, but it still comes across savory. Something you want to read multiple times. A+
Hollow Eyes by Guy N. Smith
Didn’t care for this one. Hard to pinpoint why. It’s from a villainous POV which is often interesting, but in this case the character is a bit too unstable to deliver good narration. I also think Smith takes himself too seriously. A little levity might have made this harsh dish more digestible.
The Halloween House by Alan Ryan
The editor's story is a traditional haunted house refrain with teenage characters and an unexpected twist at the end. The twist is delicious and clever, though rather thick with plot holes. I'm sure there could've been more creative ways to build up to that epic ending image. Ways that enhance the prior pages rather than make them all problematic in retrospect. Still, I like it, so mission accomplished.
Three Faces of the Night by Craig Shaw Gardner
Confusing all around, from the structure to the scatterbrained story. Not a highlight.
Pumpkin by Bill Pronzini
Pumpkins are my favorite thing about Halloween, and certainly a story about an evil one keeps my attention. Pronzini writes in a mainstream, easy-to-digest way, with recognizable characters and crisp descriptions. An enjoyable ride even if the ending is abrupt and misses an opportunity to deliver over-the-top horror. Just a few extra paragraphs of grisly imagery might have been enough to move this from interesting to a favorite.
Lover in the Wildwood by Frank Belknap Long
Frank Belknap Long is the type of writer I wish to be. He published his first story at the age of 22 and never stopped until his death at 92. His biography is rather interesting as well, since he was an enduring friend to H.P. Lovecraft and many other big names in the horror/sci-fi world.
Admittedly I haven't read many of his works, but I always admire his tender attention to character and pushing the genre into more emotional territory rather than the more common shlock. This story here is no exception, with characters who are deeply involved in their fictional world and have actual, deep feelings. It sticks out, not as a sore thumb but as a slightly grim reminder of real world scares and not just the fantastic. Admittedly not as memorable either, but it improves the collection by diversifying the ordinary definition of Halloween.
Apples by Ramsey Campbell
Ramsey Campbell is another horror staple whose continuous writing career is presently in its fifth decade. I've certainly read better by him than this submission, however, which is too noisy with side plots and lacks focus on any particular character.
Pranks by Robert Bloch
Bloch is known for writing Psycho, but his bibliography of other novels and short stories is an endless source of quality entertainment. His prose is effortlessly captivating and his ability to see a premise through to the end is something to be admired. For this story, he uses a collage of flash snippets to build a full neighborhood of Halloween activity. The ending, though vague and mysterious, will certainly scare parents.
Overall…
It’s basically impossible to find a short story anthology that’s good from beginning to end. My hunch tells me it’s because big authors have their work pre-accepted on name only, not on merit. Consequently there’s not much initiative. This collection also suffers from being a boy’s club (every story is written by a man) and the lack of diversity is noticeable.
Nevertheless, Halloween Horrors is more reliably good than most. The few standouts are really standouts, particularly the McDowell and McCammon tales. You could find worse autumn reading.
November 4, 2015
I missed Halloween by a few days when I finished this one, but this was a really good collection of Halloween horror tales.
The list of authors is very impressive: Robert Bloch, Ramsay Campbell, Robert McCammon, Charles Grant...the list goes on and on. Like most collections of this type, you end up with some stories being stronger than others. All of the stories are unsettling, and they all do a good job of setting a Halloween mood. This is not a light hearted collection, as practically all of the stories are very dark.
I'm not sure if I had a favorite, but I didn't have a least favorite either. As collections of this type go, this is one of the stronger that I've read. If you enjoy dark stories with a Halloween theme, try this one out.
The list of authors is very impressive: Robert Bloch, Ramsay Campbell, Robert McCammon, Charles Grant...the list goes on and on. Like most collections of this type, you end up with some stories being stronger than others. All of the stories are unsettling, and they all do a good job of setting a Halloween mood. This is not a light hearted collection, as practically all of the stories are very dark.
I'm not sure if I had a favorite, but I didn't have a least favorite either. As collections of this type go, this is one of the stronger that I've read. If you enjoy dark stories with a Halloween theme, try this one out.
October 30, 2015
3.5; an inconsistent anthology containing a handful of strong stories, but worth picking up just for the inclusion of Michael McDowell's 'Miss Mack', which begins as a quirky account of larger than life characters in small-town Alabama before transforming into an uncanny masterpiece that resembles a Southern Gothic take on Ligotti's 'Mystics of Muelenburg'.
November 1, 2015
Middling horror anthology from the usually reliable Alan Ryan (his PENGUIN BOOK OF VAMPIRE STORIES is stellar). Lots of recognizable names from the '80s horror canon--McCammon, Campbell, Grant, etc--whose contributions range from okay to good. There are two stories that rise above the rest: Steve Rasnic Tem's "Trickster," a sad heartbreak of a story about a man's late brother who was an incorrigible practical joker, and Michael McDowell's "Miss Mack." McDowell's tale is one of my favorites of the 1980s, with a truly chilling, disturbing finale. HALLOWEEN HORRORS is worth seeking out for these two works; otherwise, don't go out of your way for it.
I have a full review here: http://toomuchhorrorfiction.blogspot....
I have a full review here: http://toomuchhorrorfiction.blogspot....
January 3, 2014
I specifically requested this book from the public library for the short story "Miss Mack" by Michael McDowell. Spooky stuff!
October 27, 2019
Halloween Horrors (edited by Alan Ryan) was a really mixed bag of stories. (This book has the worst cover I have ever seen, hands down, but that is really not germane to this review. Onward...) Some of these entries were real gems-there are great tales by Robert McCammon or Robert Bloch, for instance, plus a smattering of good stories by other authors. Overall this anthology did not fill me with dread, however-there is more dross than gold. Three stars.
November 25, 2024
Short spooky tales centered around Halloween.
June 22, 2014
13 tales of terror with a Halloween theme especially written for this collection by authors such as Robert R. McCammon, Whitley Strieber, Guy N. Smith, Robert Bloch, Bill Pronzini and others. Each story is preceded by an all too brief introduction by Ryan.
Ratings below are out of 5
“He’ll come knocking at your door” by Robert R. McCammon.
When a man refuses to comply with a strange request list, a creature comes to visit on Halloween. (4/5)
“Eyes” by Charles L. Grant
A man is haunted by a Halloween tragedy (4/5)
“The Nixon Mask” by Whitley Strieber
Halloween with Richard Nixon (4/5)
“The Samhain Feis” by Peter Tremayne
An evil presence haunts a holiday cottage in Ireland. (3/5)
“Trickster” by Steve Rasnic Tem
A man is troubled by his brother Alex, a sick practical joker (4/5)
“Miss Mack” by Michael McDowell
On Halloween night, a woman is trapped in a night that won’t end (4/5)
“Hollow Eyes” by Guy N. Smith
A grisly tale about a Halloween bonfire (3/5)
“The Halloween House” by Alan Ryan
Teenagers are trapped in a spooky old house on Halloween (2/5)
“Three Faces of the Night” by Craig Shaw Gardner
Stranges events on Halloween night lead a man into old dark woods (2/5)
“Pumpkin” by Bill Pronzini
A mysterious pumpkin has an evil presence and must never be picked. (3/5)
“Lover in the Wildwood” by Frank Belknap Long
A wheelchair bound patient insists on visiting the woods on Halloween night (2/5)
“Apples” by Ramsey Campbell
Children stealing apples for Halloween night leads to a strange outcome (2/5)
“Pranks” by Robert Bloch
Children go missing on Halloween (3/5)
A Patchy anthology that starts well and then peters off because of familiarity. Nevertheless, a fair collection.
Ratings below are out of 5
“He’ll come knocking at your door” by Robert R. McCammon.
When a man refuses to comply with a strange request list, a creature comes to visit on Halloween. (4/5)
“Eyes” by Charles L. Grant
A man is haunted by a Halloween tragedy (4/5)
“The Nixon Mask” by Whitley Strieber
Halloween with Richard Nixon (4/5)
“The Samhain Feis” by Peter Tremayne
An evil presence haunts a holiday cottage in Ireland. (3/5)
“Trickster” by Steve Rasnic Tem
A man is troubled by his brother Alex, a sick practical joker (4/5)
“Miss Mack” by Michael McDowell
On Halloween night, a woman is trapped in a night that won’t end (4/5)
“Hollow Eyes” by Guy N. Smith
A grisly tale about a Halloween bonfire (3/5)
“The Halloween House” by Alan Ryan
Teenagers are trapped in a spooky old house on Halloween (2/5)
“Three Faces of the Night” by Craig Shaw Gardner
Stranges events on Halloween night lead a man into old dark woods (2/5)
“Pumpkin” by Bill Pronzini
A mysterious pumpkin has an evil presence and must never be picked. (3/5)
“Lover in the Wildwood” by Frank Belknap Long
A wheelchair bound patient insists on visiting the woods on Halloween night (2/5)
“Apples” by Ramsey Campbell
Children stealing apples for Halloween night leads to a strange outcome (2/5)
“Pranks” by Robert Bloch
Children go missing on Halloween (3/5)
A Patchy anthology that starts well and then peters off because of familiarity. Nevertheless, a fair collection.
May 25, 2014
A curate's egg of a book: first class stories from some of the best names in the business, including Pumpkin by Bill Pronzini, in which he makes the idea of an evil, haunted pumpkin genuinely creepy; He'll Come Knocking at Your Door, a good old-fashioned stomach churner from Robert McCammon; and Apples by Ramsay Campbell, in which the great master of horror show why developing your horror at a remove from your reader can work brilliantly as it gets closer, and closer and closer... notable entries from Charles L. Grant, Steve Rasnic Tem, Robert Bloch and Michael McDowell round out the better two-thirds of the book.
Balanced against this are some truly dreadful efforts: The Nixon Mask by Whitely Streiber may have had some relevance when Nixon was at the height of his power, but as a Halloween-themed chiller it drops depressingly flat, a one-note gag with no narrative tension beyond stylistic finger-stretches; The Samhain Feis by Peter Tremayne is little more than an exercise in look-what-I-read-about infodumping; and Guy N. Smith's Hollow Eyes is just another dire example of the first-draft-last-draft overwrought drivel that has made that author such a joke name. Any anthology in which the editor includes an example of his own work is always a bit suss, and here editor Alan Ryan graces us with not only a story-- a predictable haunted house tale named, surprisingly enough, The Halloween House but a poem as well. As an example of overweening egotism writ large, it's a cracker.
Worth it for some wonderful examples of horror authors at the top of their game, but spoiled by too many sub-standard inclusions.
Balanced against this are some truly dreadful efforts: The Nixon Mask by Whitely Streiber may have had some relevance when Nixon was at the height of his power, but as a Halloween-themed chiller it drops depressingly flat, a one-note gag with no narrative tension beyond stylistic finger-stretches; The Samhain Feis by Peter Tremayne is little more than an exercise in look-what-I-read-about infodumping; and Guy N. Smith's Hollow Eyes is just another dire example of the first-draft-last-draft overwrought drivel that has made that author such a joke name. Any anthology in which the editor includes an example of his own work is always a bit suss, and here editor Alan Ryan graces us with not only a story-- a predictable haunted house tale named, surprisingly enough, The Halloween House but a poem as well. As an example of overweening egotism writ large, it's a cracker.
Worth it for some wonderful examples of horror authors at the top of their game, but spoiled by too many sub-standard inclusions.
May 31, 2020
A couple of these stories were amazing, a few were decent, but many weren't good at all. There were a lot of problematic elements, too: slurs for disabled people, fat-phobia, misogyny... I also found it sad that the only gay character was evil, and that both gingers were evil. I'd skip it, if I were you.
January 6, 2013
A sterling collection, pulled together by a great editor, which is a great read over the Halloween period.
April 5, 2012
A fine collection of fun Halloween tales. Really good stories by McCammon, Long, Bloch, and Grant, though there's not really a bad one in the bunch. Great fare for an autumn evening.
October 7, 2013
I enjoyed this book it had a good selection of stories :) perfect for an horror lover :)
November 18, 2015
This was a fun little read. The stories were good and I really enjoyed the fact that they reminded me of campfire stories.
October 17, 2020
Some strong names in this anthology, somewhat atypical of its time, with the usual '80s suspects rubbing shoulders with a few left-field choices, including older writers and a couple not known for short stories. This produces a very mixed bag: a lot of average tales, and a couple that either don't really fit the Hallowe'en horror brief or simply aren't very good. Overall score is 43/65, so Three Stars.
He’ll Come Knocking at Your Door, by Robert R. McCammon: 4/5. A town's Faustian bargain takes a newcomer by surprise. A steadily escalating sense of unease and suspense are McCammon's strengths here, as well as strong characterisation. I'm not keen on the protagonist's unwitting participation in the deal, as that strikes an unfair note the story doesn't need, but the almost comedic gonzo ending makes up for all ills.
Eyes, by Charles L. Grant: 5/5. A grieving father faces his guilt on Hallowe'en night. A perfect example of Grant's signature 'quiet horror', poetic prose building atmosphere and mystery, teasing the background out with characterisation and a slow drip of information and anticipation, and then (prompted by the editor to write something a little more 'nasty' than he's known for) ending masterfully on a horrific note with the chilling placement of a single word.
The Nixon Mask, by Whitley Strieber: 1/5. The Nixons at Hallowe'en. An odd, surreal piece, over ten years late as political satire, and assuming some knowledge of the facts (if you're too young to know - or too old to recall - Mrs Nixon's first name, her introduction into the narrative doesn't remind you, so her presence is amorphous and off-putting). In any case, fails as a horror story and as a Hallowe'en tale, so has no place in this collection.
The Samhain Feis, by Peter Tremayne: 3/5. An estranged wife and her son take a break in the Irish wilds. Perfunctory prose, paced for brevity (and occasional here's-my-research info-dumps), keep this from being any more than an unremarkable and fairly standard tale; almost too much going on, and too quickly.
Trickster, by Steve Rasnic Tem: 3/5. A practical joker returns from the dead. Compellingly written, very well paced and packed with incidental and character detail, but the central conceit rings a little false and it's all in service to a tired and ultimately predictable trope, Tem bringing a huge amount of craft to an unremarkable tale.
Miss Mack, by Michael McDowell: 5/5. Two friends are targeted by a jealous third. McDowell, a writer only in more recent years receiving his (sadly posthumous) due, spins a tale of two women so engrossing that twenty pages of character and scene-setting fly by before anything remotely spooky happens, and it's the writer's craft that makes it both frustrating and heartbreaking to read to the end.
Hollow Eyes, by Guy N. Smith: 3/5. A father seeks out his daughter's 'unsuitable' boyfriend. A very on-theme, EC Comics-style tale of revenge and just desserts (which elements render it, of course, quite predictable) in what editor Ryan describes as Smith's 'style uniquely his own'. Ouch. Smith's protagonists are always so identical I can't see them as anything other than authorial stand-ins, which makes the comments about 'the youth', and fat and homeless people unpalatable.
The Halloween House, by Alan Ryan: 4/5. A group of teens investigate the local haunted house.
I'm not normally a fan of editors including themselves in their own anthologies, but this is a carefully paced episode, beautifully written in that faux-Bradbury style, with its predictability assuaged by a wholly surreal and disturbing development in the final pages which finishes it off in style.
Three Faces of the Night, by Craig Shaw Gardner: 2/5. A character experiences Hallowe'en as a child and an adult, and something else. I've read this twice, and I'm still not sure what it is. The writing is fine, but the construction and aspect is obtuse; it might be a folk horror, or it might be a vampire tale, but it's definitely unsatisfying.
Pumpkin, by Bill Pronzini: 4/5. A farming couple are warned they have grown a cursed pumpkin that should never be picked. Pronzini has an engaging and likeable style, adding character and atmosphere to his seemingly standard tale, even as it trundles to an obvious climax; redeemed by an abrupt and visually striking ending, a WTF moment which might have been spoiled by further description or elaboration.
Lover in the Wildwood, by Frank Belknap Long: 2/5. A nurse is asked to take a patient into the woods for a meeting. A quite beautifully and engagingly written dark fantasy, but amorphous and unexplained, and largely unmemorable; for this anthology, the Hallowe'en setting is incidental, and it's far from horror.
Apples by Ramsey Campbell: 3/5. A group of friends' mischievous pranking receives retribution on Hallowe'en night. An almost classic story, not yet written in the tortured grammar and nigh-unreadable style of his later prose, but told with too many characters, so lacks focus (in this and in the rambling background), and the fine ending is diminished as a result.
Pranks, by Robert Bloch: 4/5. A small town Hallowe'en, but the children who go out trick-or-treating don't come back. Bloch's easy prose style and deft characterisation build a large cast here, with plenty going on, so the thrust of the story emerges late as a nasty twist; though there's a later - sort of expanded explanation - twist to finish on, and this doesn't land quite as well.
He’ll Come Knocking at Your Door, by Robert R. McCammon: 4/5. A town's Faustian bargain takes a newcomer by surprise. A steadily escalating sense of unease and suspense are McCammon's strengths here, as well as strong characterisation. I'm not keen on the protagonist's unwitting participation in the deal, as that strikes an unfair note the story doesn't need, but the almost comedic gonzo ending makes up for all ills.
Eyes, by Charles L. Grant: 5/5. A grieving father faces his guilt on Hallowe'en night. A perfect example of Grant's signature 'quiet horror', poetic prose building atmosphere and mystery, teasing the background out with characterisation and a slow drip of information and anticipation, and then (prompted by the editor to write something a little more 'nasty' than he's known for) ending masterfully on a horrific note with the chilling placement of a single word.
The Nixon Mask, by Whitley Strieber: 1/5. The Nixons at Hallowe'en. An odd, surreal piece, over ten years late as political satire, and assuming some knowledge of the facts (if you're too young to know - or too old to recall - Mrs Nixon's first name, her introduction into the narrative doesn't remind you, so her presence is amorphous and off-putting). In any case, fails as a horror story and as a Hallowe'en tale, so has no place in this collection.
The Samhain Feis, by Peter Tremayne: 3/5. An estranged wife and her son take a break in the Irish wilds. Perfunctory prose, paced for brevity (and occasional here's-my-research info-dumps), keep this from being any more than an unremarkable and fairly standard tale; almost too much going on, and too quickly.
Trickster, by Steve Rasnic Tem: 3/5. A practical joker returns from the dead. Compellingly written, very well paced and packed with incidental and character detail, but the central conceit rings a little false and it's all in service to a tired and ultimately predictable trope, Tem bringing a huge amount of craft to an unremarkable tale.
Miss Mack, by Michael McDowell: 5/5. Two friends are targeted by a jealous third. McDowell, a writer only in more recent years receiving his (sadly posthumous) due, spins a tale of two women so engrossing that twenty pages of character and scene-setting fly by before anything remotely spooky happens, and it's the writer's craft that makes it both frustrating and heartbreaking to read to the end.
Hollow Eyes, by Guy N. Smith: 3/5. A father seeks out his daughter's 'unsuitable' boyfriend. A very on-theme, EC Comics-style tale of revenge and just desserts (which elements render it, of course, quite predictable) in what editor Ryan describes as Smith's 'style uniquely his own'. Ouch. Smith's protagonists are always so identical I can't see them as anything other than authorial stand-ins, which makes the comments about 'the youth', and fat and homeless people unpalatable.
The Halloween House, by Alan Ryan: 4/5. A group of teens investigate the local haunted house.
I'm not normally a fan of editors including themselves in their own anthologies, but this is a carefully paced episode, beautifully written in that faux-Bradbury style, with its predictability assuaged by a wholly surreal and disturbing development in the final pages which finishes it off in style.
Three Faces of the Night, by Craig Shaw Gardner: 2/5. A character experiences Hallowe'en as a child and an adult, and something else. I've read this twice, and I'm still not sure what it is. The writing is fine, but the construction and aspect is obtuse; it might be a folk horror, or it might be a vampire tale, but it's definitely unsatisfying.
Pumpkin, by Bill Pronzini: 4/5. A farming couple are warned they have grown a cursed pumpkin that should never be picked. Pronzini has an engaging and likeable style, adding character and atmosphere to his seemingly standard tale, even as it trundles to an obvious climax; redeemed by an abrupt and visually striking ending, a WTF moment which might have been spoiled by further description or elaboration.
Lover in the Wildwood, by Frank Belknap Long: 2/5. A nurse is asked to take a patient into the woods for a meeting. A quite beautifully and engagingly written dark fantasy, but amorphous and unexplained, and largely unmemorable; for this anthology, the Hallowe'en setting is incidental, and it's far from horror.
Apples by Ramsey Campbell: 3/5. A group of friends' mischievous pranking receives retribution on Hallowe'en night. An almost classic story, not yet written in the tortured grammar and nigh-unreadable style of his later prose, but told with too many characters, so lacks focus (in this and in the rambling background), and the fine ending is diminished as a result.
Pranks, by Robert Bloch: 4/5. A small town Hallowe'en, but the children who go out trick-or-treating don't come back. Bloch's easy prose style and deft characterisation build a large cast here, with plenty going on, so the thrust of the story emerges late as a nasty twist; though there's a later - sort of expanded explanation - twist to finish on, and this doesn't land quite as well.
October 19, 2018
This is a fun and nostalgic anthology that doesn't break new ground, but delivers just the right amount of creepiness in a campy, flashlight-under-the-chin way.
The first story, Robert McCammon's "He'll Come Knocking at Your Door," is a sturdy story about trick-or-treating gone amok which serves as a good cornerstone for the collection. At the end, editor Alan Ryan wraps up the anthology with "Pranks," by Robert Bloch, one of the more disturbing stories and a strong note to end on. "Miss Mack" by Michael McDowell is head and shoulders the best story and makes this worth the $3.50 (in 1987) cover price.
In between, there is a fair sampling of tones to the stories: "The Nixon Mask" by Whitley Streiber has a streak of dark humor running through it, while "Lover in the Wildwood" by Frank Belknap Long is more poignant than horrific. And there are a couple of predictable stories as well; they aren't badly written, but the reader is going to pick up on how the story will progress within a few paragraphs. I don't begrudge this collection these recycled horrors; Halloween-specific tales can't really go too far afield without losing a sense of fun.
The first story, Robert McCammon's "He'll Come Knocking at Your Door," is a sturdy story about trick-or-treating gone amok which serves as a good cornerstone for the collection. At the end, editor Alan Ryan wraps up the anthology with "Pranks," by Robert Bloch, one of the more disturbing stories and a strong note to end on. "Miss Mack" by Michael McDowell is head and shoulders the best story and makes this worth the $3.50 (in 1987) cover price.
In between, there is a fair sampling of tones to the stories: "The Nixon Mask" by Whitley Streiber has a streak of dark humor running through it, while "Lover in the Wildwood" by Frank Belknap Long is more poignant than horrific. And there are a couple of predictable stories as well; they aren't badly written, but the reader is going to pick up on how the story will progress within a few paragraphs. I don't begrudge this collection these recycled horrors; Halloween-specific tales can't really go too far afield without losing a sense of fun.
October 30, 2019
Alan Ryan’s edited Halloween Horrors is a good Halloween anthology. My Favorite stories are:
He’ll Come Knocking At Your Door by Robert McCammon - Great suspense and scares.
Eyes by Charles Grant - A sad terrifying story
Trickster by Steve Tam - Laugh-fully creepy
Lover In The Wildwood - Nuts and disturbing
Definitely recommend for a October read.
He’ll Come Knocking At Your Door by Robert McCammon - Great suspense and scares.
Eyes by Charles Grant - A sad terrifying story
Trickster by Steve Tam - Laugh-fully creepy
Lover In The Wildwood - Nuts and disturbing
Definitely recommend for a October read.
April 9, 2018
First story I loved and a few others are from other short story compilations I've already read. For the most part there were some decent stories and overall a quick read to get your Festive fall juices flowing.
September 24, 2021
A neat collection of chilling tales, with a couple of bum notes but that’s all, from classic authors such as Robert Bloch, Charles.L.Grant and Robert.R.McCammon.
Like I say, a couple of the stories are a bit meh, but the rest are top notch classics - often with a twist in the tail.
Like I say, a couple of the stories are a bit meh, but the rest are top notch classics - often with a twist in the tail.
October 14, 2021
Some duds, but overall good.
Read
June 28, 2023Miss Mack by Michael McDowell, read by Jessica Nettles on PseudoPod
August 7, 2023
Found this anthology at a used bookstore. A fantastic read, most of the stories in this collection are very creepy and take popular Halloween tropes in unexpected directions.
October 29, 2023
A fun enough little collection for All Halloween's Eve. Maybe I didn't enjoy all the stories, but it definitely set that spooky tone and atmosphere I enjoy this time of year.
November 26, 2023
Starts really strong, but ends up an only slightly above average. Halloween fans will enjoy, but wish I could give a stronger recommendation.
October 28, 2024
I read 1 story a day until it was finished, and I'm sad it's over. The stories in this collection were enjoyable, atmospheric, spooky, and weird. Perfect October treat.
March 19, 2025
All Killer. Absolutely No Filler.
October 2, 2025
3.5 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟
April 26, 2021
~2.3 average mean rating for the stories
I unfortunately did not finish all these stories. I read 8 out of the 13. These stories were not horrible. They were solidly written. They were just too cheesy and forgettable to enjoy. I stopped reading the collection because I knew I would forget them. These stories certainly set the mood for Halloween, but there are far better short stories and novels that accomplish the same thing. These stories just lacked and edge for becoming permanent in my memories.
My rankings for each individual story are below:
1. 2.5 stars
2. 2 stars
3. 1.5 stars
4. 2.75 stars
5. 3.25
6. 3.5
7. 3.25
8. 3
I unfortunately did not finish all these stories. I read 8 out of the 13. These stories were not horrible. They were solidly written. They were just too cheesy and forgettable to enjoy. I stopped reading the collection because I knew I would forget them. These stories certainly set the mood for Halloween, but there are far better short stories and novels that accomplish the same thing. These stories just lacked and edge for becoming permanent in my memories.
My rankings for each individual story are below:
1. 2.5 stars
2. 2 stars
3. 1.5 stars
4. 2.75 stars
5. 3.25
6. 3.5
7. 3.25
8. 3
November 20, 2014
A few years ago, probably around Halloween, I picked this book up and read the only two stories worth mentioning, "He'll Come Knocking at Your Door" and "Miss Mack". I tried some of the others in the book but found them to pale in comparison to these two above, which actually deserve 5 stars each.
"He'll Come Knocking at Your Door" by ROBERT R MCCAMMON
is about a young family who's just moved to a small town in Alabama, I think called Essex something. The community is full of wonderful neighbors, and the family fits right in. Good luck follows them, including a minor lottery win and a new truck. Then Halloween comes. All the men of the town gather, and the father is invited for his first "reading of the list". He doesn't under the seriousness of the gathering, nor the demands being asked—when the thing will come knocking at the door to collect. He doesn't want to participate (what sane person, he thinks, would want to?) and tries to run. It's a very scary, suspenseful tale with a terrifying ending. It's the first story in the book.
"Miss Mack" by MICHAEL MCDOWELL
This one is less of a scary story but does leans towards suspense and horror as the story comes to a close. This one is more about the friendship of the titular character and a young teacher, new to town, and the act of an evil man, Mr. Hill, who wants to marry the young teacher and finds Miss Mack in his way. This one will chill you to the bone.
Others that I read but didn't care for: "Halloween House", "Apples", "Pranks", "Trickster"; I found these poor attempts at scary stories. I started "Eyes" and "Nixon Mask" and "Samhein Fesh", but none of them could hold my attention long enough to finish; "Eyes" grossed me out a few pages in, so I stopped, and as for the other two, I skimmed the rest.
"He'll Come Knocking at Your Door" by ROBERT R MCCAMMON
is about a young family who's just moved to a small town in Alabama, I think called Essex something. The community is full of wonderful neighbors, and the family fits right in. Good luck follows them, including a minor lottery win and a new truck. Then Halloween comes. All the men of the town gather, and the father is invited for his first "reading of the list". He doesn't under the seriousness of the gathering, nor the demands being asked—when the thing will come knocking at the door to collect. He doesn't want to participate (what sane person, he thinks, would want to?) and tries to run. It's a very scary, suspenseful tale with a terrifying ending. It's the first story in the book.
"Miss Mack" by MICHAEL MCDOWELL
This one is less of a scary story but does leans towards suspense and horror as the story comes to a close. This one is more about the friendship of the titular character and a young teacher, new to town, and the act of an evil man, Mr. Hill, who wants to marry the young teacher and finds Miss Mack in his way. This one will chill you to the bone.
Others that I read but didn't care for: "Halloween House", "Apples", "Pranks", "Trickster"; I found these poor attempts at scary stories. I started "Eyes" and "Nixon Mask" and "Samhein Fesh", but none of them could hold my attention long enough to finish; "Eyes" grossed me out a few pages in, so I stopped, and as for the other two, I skimmed the rest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2021
— 🎭🎃🍂🏠
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