Haunted Nights by Ellen Datlow and Lisa Morton

Description

Sixteen never-before-published chilling tales that explore every aspect of our darkest holiday, Halloween, co-edited by Ellen Datlow, one of the most successful and respected genre editors, and Lisa Morton, a leading authority on Halloween.

In addition to stories about scheming jack-o'-lanterns, vengeful ghosts, otherworldly changelings, disturbingly realistic haunted attractions, masks that cover terrifying faces, murderous urban legends, parties gone bad, cult Halloween movies, and trick or treating in the future, Haunted Nights also offers terrifying and mind-bending explorations of related holidays like All Souls' Day, Dia de los Muertos, and Devil's Night.

"With Graveyard Weeds and Wolfbane Seeds" by Seanan McGuire
"Dirtmouth" by Stephen Graham Jones"
"A Small Taste of the Old Country" by Jonathan Maberry
"Wick’s End" by Joanna Parypinski
"The Seventeen Year Itch" by Garth Nix
"A Flicker of Light on Devil’s Night" by Kate Jonez
"Witch-Hazel" by Jeffrey Ford
"Nos Galen Gaeaf" by Kelley Armstrong
"We’re Never Inviting Amber Again" by S. P. Miskowski
"Sisters" by Brian Evenson
"All Through the Night" by Elise Forier Edie
"A Kingdom of Sugar Skulls and Marigolds" by Eric J. Guignard
"The Turn" by Paul Kane
"Jack" by Pat Cadigan
"Lost in the Dark" by John Langan
"The First Lunar Halloween" by John R. Little

 

This anthology by the horror writers association was a mixed trick or treat bag of goodies for all fans of short horror fiction and of course Halloween. A couple of the stories leaned more towards sci-fi and although that's just not my thing I still enjoyed this book.

The stories that really stood out for me were With Graveyard Weeds and Wolfbane Seeds by Seanan McGuire about an old abandoned house that never seems to fall into disrepair and some teen vandals who intend to break in. 

 Dirtmouth by Stephen Graham Jones in which a man who is grieving the loss of his wife plans a get away with his children over Halloween, the one night of year when anything is possible.

A Small Taste of the Old Country by Jonathan Maberry concerns two men who are treated to a most delicious and well deserved meal.

Wick’s End by Joanna Parypinski Two strangers in a tavern tell each other scary stories in a competition where the stakes are higher than they appear to be.

The only story that really scared me was We’re Never Inviting Amber Again by S. P. Miskowski A man regrets inviting his quirky sister-in-law to his Halloween party, she always ruins everything but this night is really hell on his guests!

A Flicker of Light on Devil’s Night by Kate Jonez What's a poor single mother to do when she's lost control of her children and Halloween is coming?

All Through the Night by Elise Forier Edie is a hauntingly tragic tale of a destitute widowed mother trying to make a life for herself and her baby when she meets a strange man in a tavern who might not be human.

 

 

I received an advance copy for review.