“October Screams”: One of the Best Anthologies To Read for Halloween
A review of the 2023 Halloween-themed fiction anthology
October Screams was my most anticipated Halloween read this season. Although anthologies are typically a mixed bag, the big-name horror authors motivated me to buy a copy. Featuring twenty-seven stories about the scariest holiday of the year, this book was a fitting way to celebrate the days leading up to All Hallows’ Eve.
“Sweetmeat” by Clay McLeod Chapman
A father checks his son’s candy after trick-or-treating and finds a mystery confection that changes his life. I loved the spin on the urban legend of razor blades and poison in candy. Plus, Chapman’s writing popped off the page with his engaging narrator.
“The Magic Trick” by Gregory L. Norris
A man recounts how he lost his childhood friend on Halloween. This reminded me of a story from the quintessential Halloween anthology, October Dreams, capturing the yearning for childhood and magic, especially in the face of real-life horrors.
“The Treat-or-Tricker” by Evans Light
A man finds a different trick-or-treater asking him, “Treat or trick?” As much as the spin on…
