Skip to main content

Halloween Short Stories


 I haven't been into spooky stories in years (not since I got in trouble for scaring all the little girls at my sister's sleepover, ahem), but since we won't have traditional trick-or-treating or places to show off costumes, I'm trying to get into the Halloween spirit in other ways. I've made a whole tray of treat bags to mail out to the kiddos in my life, and the other day, I even voluntarily started reading a "scary" story--and I really enjoyed it. I like these kinds of softly haunting stories that get into the supernatural without being gory. So, here are a couple recent stories from Tor.com that helped me get into the Halloween atmosphere.

1. "Hearts in the Hard Ground" by G.V. Anderson

Loved this softly haunting story about a house full of more or less harmless ghosts. 

2. Placed into Abyss (Mise en Abyse) by Rachel Swirsky

I love Rachel Swirsky's writing, though this is actually the least weird story by her that I've read. It's a story that involves haunting and/or time travel, depending on how you view it. TW for abuse. 

3. How Lolly Willowes Smashed the Patriarchy By Selling Her Soul to Satan by Kristen Hanley Cardozo

It's not a short story, but I had to add this essay I just read from Electric Lit to the list. Cardozo hauntingly explains why selling your soul to Satan is preferable to living under the patriarchy. 

Comments

Lydia said…
I love supernatural stories! And Tor has so many great stories of all types.

My post.
Marianne said…
That is a lovely way of sharing, thanks for giving me some new ideas.

And thanks for visiting my TTT earlier. It was nice talking to you.
Judy Krueger said…
I like the idea of that last one.
Sue Jackson said…
Oooh...I haven't read any of these yet! I bet Shirley Jackson has some good spooky short stories, too. I just finished reading her novel, The Haunting of Hill House, and it was so good! And very creepy.

Sue

Book By Book

Popular posts from this blog

Books with Single-Word Titles

Happy Top Ten Tuesday over at That Artsy Reader Girl! Books with Single-Word Titles These are all my favorite books that I could think of with one-word titles. A lot of fantasy, a few nonfiction (minus subtitles) and Kindred , whether you consider it scifi or historical fiction. Also two portmanteaus using the word "bitter." I suppose it's a word that lends itself to amelioration. 1. Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler 2. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore 3. Fire by Kristin Cashore 4. Heartless by Marissa Meyer 5. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini 6. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius 7. Stoned by Aja Raden (has a subtitle) 8. Educated by Tara Westover 9. Fledgling by Octavia Butler 10. Kindred by Octavia Butler

Book Review: The Speed of Clouds by Miriam Seidel

Book Review: The Speed of Clouds by Miriam Seidel *To Be Released from New Door Books on April 10, 2018* Mindy Vogel is haunted by the future. In frequent daydreams, she toggles between her real, wheelchair-bound life and the adventurous life of her fanfic alter ego, SkyLog officer Kat Wanderer. She's haunted by all that Kat can do which she cannot---belong to an organization of comrades, walk, and fall in love---yet. Because at twenty-four, Mindy's future is very much ahead of her, wheelchair notwithstanding. Through Mindy's "SkyLog" fanzine and related emails, Seidel evokes Star Trek fandom around the turn of the millenium, but also creates a new and compelling science fictional universe, similar to what Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl  does for the Harry Potter fandom with "Simon Snow." Mindy is among the pioneers transitioning fandom from print to digital, boldly encountering like-minded individuals from the comfort of her chair behind the monito

Books On My Summer 2024 TBR

 I've been fairly successful with my reading goals so far this year (40 out of 42 read!), but I still have some goals to catch up on or exceed (books by authors of color and women in translation). I've also got my book club books, and I'll throw a few new and/or summery titles into the mix for inspiration. Hoping to read many of these outside, basking in beautiful weather! Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Books On My Summer 2024 TBR She's Up to No Good by Sara Goodman Confino--This is technically for a book club, although I probably won't be able to attend the meeting.  I've heard so many good things about this one, and it looks like a good summer read, so I'm planning to read it anyway. Midnight in Siberia: A Train Journey into the Heart of Russia by David Greene (Book club read)--I already have it out of the library, but have to get on this one! It sounds very interesting but nonfiction usually takes me a little longer. The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris (Book cl