Halloween reads roundup
Spooky season is here. To celebrate Halloween, here are some twisted tales — old and new — that will have you sleeping with the lights on.
“Interview with the Vampire: 50th Anniversary Edition,” by Anne Rice (Knopf, $50): In 1976, the late Anne Rice’s debut novel gave the vampire genre a much-needed blood transfusion, shifting the portrayal of vampires from heartless monsters (as seen in “Nosferatu”) to sympathetic, tormented, introspective beings struggling with their immortality and bloodlust, which opened the door for modern undead protagonists such as Angel (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Spike (“Buffy”), Edward Cullen (“Twilight”) and Stefan Salvatore (“The Vampire Diaries”). Vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac tells his life story to a young reporter, chronicling his relationship with Lestat de Lioncourt, who transformed him into a creature of the night. This handsome hardcover edition boasts a reversed gold-on-black version of the original gold foil cover, decorative sprayed edges and custom endpapers. There’s a foreword by Leigh Bardugo and an afterword by the author’s son, Christopher Rice, who’s a novelist in his own right. Visit annerice.com.
“It,” by Stephen King (Scribner, $50): Any list of horror novels would be incomplete without Stephen King. One of his most popular novels, “It,” turns 40 this year. A group of seven children join forces in Derry, Maine, circa 1957 to battle a supernatural entity called It, whose primary incarnation is Pennywise the Dancing Clown, the nastiest clown this side of the Joker. It awakens every 27 years to feed on the children of Derry. The seven vow to return to Derry should It ever reappear. Keeping good on their promise, they come together as adults in the mid-1980s to end It once and for all. King is a horror master, but he’s also an expert at writing period pieces (for example, “Stand by Me” and “The Shawshank Redemption”). With “It,” he blends the two. Yes, Pennywise is terrifying, but “It” is more a coming-of-age story focusing on the power of childhood friendships, childhood fears and loss of innocence. Other King novels to consider: “Misery,” “‘Salem’s Lot,” “Cycle of the Werewolf,” “Carrie” and “The Stand.” Visit stephenking.com.
“Summer of Night,” by Dan Simmons (St. Martin’s Griffin, $22): Like King’s “It,” Dan Simmons’ 1991 novel mixes terrifying supernatural forces with nostalgic childhood memories. During the summer of 1960 in Elm Haven, Illinois, five 12-year-old boys — Mike, Duane, Dale (largely based on Simmons), Harlen and Kevin — must join forces to battle an evil entity hiding within Old Central School. Simmons — who died earlier this year — wrote a sequel called “A Winter Haunting,” in which an adult Dale returns to Elm Haven. Simmons knows how to up the stakes, and his writing is taut from start to finish. Visit us.macmillan.com/author/dansimmons.
“Hyde Street,” by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis (Image Comics/Ghost Machine, $14.99): Michigan State University alumnus Geoff Johns — who’s written for comics and TV — and artist Ivan Reis have created a horror anthology series that takes its cue from “The Twilight Zone” and “Tales from the Crypt.” The titular location is a cursed, inescapable, surreal dimension that exists outside normal time and space. Bad people from any era or location who make a “wrong turn” can stumble upon Hyde Street and become trapped forever. Residents are twisted entities or monsters who punish and torment newcomers, collecting souls for the enigmatic supernatural being known only as the Scorekeeper. Gory and disturbing, Johns and Reis, who’ve collaborated before — most notably on DC Comics’ “Green Lantern” and “Aquaman” — prove they’re right at home in the horror genre. Available in two volumes. Visit ghostmachinepro.com.
“All Hallows Eve: Stories of Halloween and Other Festivals of the Dead,” edited by Ellen Datlow (Titan Books, $29.99): Halloween, Samhain, Dia de los Muertos — holidays where the line between the realm of the living and the realm of the dead blurs. Editor Ellen Datlow collects 19 stories by noted authors (including MSU alumnus Josh Malerman, Christopher Golden, Stephen Graham Jones, Alma Katsu and Richard Kadrey), having challenged them to avoid stereotypical monster stories and go for “the weird, the unusual, and of course the very very dark,” per her introduction. They rose to the challenge and then some, particularly Golden with “Or So the Story Goes.” Visit ellendatlow.com.
“Raven,” by Lyndsay Faye (The Mysterious Press, $27.95): “Raven” is Lyndsay Faye’s love letter to Edgar Allan Poe, godfather of the detective story and the horror genre. Occurring in antebellum America, Raven Helen Allan narrates this story from beyond the grave after she’s murdered. An orphaned young woman, Raven has been haunted by witchcraft since her mother’s death. She later finds a deep sense of belonging with a family of enslaved workers. This 464-page tome combines horror and witchcraft with a murder mystery. Visit lyndsayfaye.com.
“Other Worlds Than These,” by Stephen King and Peter Straub (Scribner, $35): The finale to the “Talisman Trilogy,” series protagonist Jack Sawyer, now much older, must stop a rampaging group of infected teenagers on the America-side and battle the forces of the mysterious Gullet at the edge of Mid-World. This novel contains 36 illustrations drawn by artist Gabriel Rodriguez. Before Straub’s death in 2022, he sent King his notes and ideas for this installment. This novel is accessible to both long-time fans and those who aren’t familiar with “The Talisman Trilogy” or King’s “Dark Tower” series. Visit peterstraub.net.
“Carry Me to My Grave,” by Christopher Golden (St. Martin’s Press, $29): A prolific author, Christopher Golden is known for the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Ghosts of Albion” franchises. However, he’s also known for his work in the horror genre. Set in 1956, Korean War veteran Malcolm Wise’s mother, Maggie — long rumored to be a witch — is dying. Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet stand vigil, as does a strange man in a raven mask waiting outside in the shadows. Before she dies, Maggie makes Malcolm promise to take her body to Shediak, Maine, and bury it within two days of her death or all hell will break loose. Forces at work try to stop Malcolm from making good on his promise, with violence and other unexplained phenomena erupting on the train ride to Maine. Equal parts riveting and disturbing, Golden puts the pedal to the metal in one of his most ambitious novels. Other Golden novels to consider: “The Ferryman,” “Strangewood” and “All Hallows.” Visit christophergolden.com.
