It’s fall, the leaves are changing colors and falling, the temperature’s staying below 90, sometimes, and there’s that cool, crisp, familiar feeling of autumn in the air.
This means a certain holiday is likely on many people’s minds – National Taco Day! Just kidding – although that is actually a thing, it’s Halloween. It’s no wonder that so many feel an affinity for Halloween as it brings back fond memories of dressing up, trick-or-treating, and doing your best to scare as many people as possible. While looking back on all of that is fun, there likely aren’t many college students trick-or-treating anymore. Instead, we may be looking to embrace the scarier side of late autumn.
This probably means a monthlong dedication to horror movies. Whether it be Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface, or Ghostface, horror films and horror characters are as much a part of Halloween lore as candy and jack o’lanterns.
But what about all the bookworms out there? What about those who prefer a more subtle way of being scared? What about the ones who prefer to settle down with a good story that gives you the feeling that there’s someone in the house even though you’re sure you’re home alone? For them, and really anyone looking for something else to enhance the spooky atmosphere this season, here are my top 10 short stories to read on Halloween.
- “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving.
Some may call it clichéd to include this story at all, much less at No. 1, while others may call those people wrong. But, in all seriousness, good luck finding anybody who hasn’t heard of the Headless Horseman. Whether you grew up watching the classic animated Disney version from 1949, the Tim Burton version from 1999 starring Johnny Depp, or any of the multiple adaptations that have been spawned through the years, the story of Ichabod Crane and his fateful encounter with the Headless Horseman is as iconic a Halloween tale as any and is always essential for reading around this time.
2. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
When a single short story prompts massive amounts of hate mail, subscription cancellations, and bans in foreign nations, suffice it to say it was something unique. This is precisely what happened when “The Lottery” was published in The New Yorker in June 1948. Since then, it has been held in the pantheon of short American literature, and American literature in general. There are no ghosts, vampires, werewolves, or mythical creatures of any kind present in this story, yet it remains one of the most disturbing stories ever penned. I won’t spoil anything, but I will say this: Read until the end and you’ll never forget it.
3. “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
No list of horror short stories would be complete without an entry from Poe. While there are many viable candidates for this list, including “The Tell-Tale Heart” or “The Masque of the Red Death,” there’s something about the imagery in this story that feels more Halloween oriented. From Fortunato’s jester costume to the dark, gloomy catacombs, this tale of revenge is one of the darkest Poe ever created and the image of a chain-clad Fortunato trapped behind a wall of brick with the bells of his jester costume ringing is sure to remain in the reader’s mind long after reading.
4. “The Jaunt” by Stephen King
Well, if we’re including Poe on this list, then we have to mention King as well. Like Poe, King has many stories that would look great on this list. A few of his other short thrillers include “Children of the Corn,” “The Boogeyman,” “Survivor Type,” “The Moving Finger,” “The Man in the Black Suit” and many more. This story, collected in his 1985 short story collection Skeleton Crew, is much more science fiction oriented than is typical of King’s work. Set in an unspecified year in the future, the story tells of a family waiting to be “jaunted” to Mars. “Jaunting,” as it’s referred to in the story, is a form of instantaneous teleportation. There’s only one rule for jaunting – one cannot be awake. Because of this, all passengers are given general anesthesia before the jaunt. But what happens when the main character’s son gets too curious about what happens when you’re awake? Like “The Lottery,” this story is very easy to spoil, so I’ll leave it there. But also like “The Lottery,” I simply recommend you read until the end as it’s one of the most disturbing, terrifying endings King ever wrote.
5. “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs
Such a simple theme, a moral that feels as old as time; be careful what you wish for. Though I can’t justifiably say this was the first time this theme had been explored, it is one of the more notable examples. The story tells of a family who has been given an object, the titular paw, that is said to grant three wishes to whoever claims ownership of it. Their wishes will be granted, but they will also receive a punishment for tampering with fate. Dark, disturbing and even fantastical, this story has influenced a slew of authors through the years and is bound to get under your skin in one way or another.
6. “Faun” by Joe Hill
Imagine Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe but instead of children going through the wardrobe it’s a group of big-game hunters. Not hooked yet? Now imagine that same scenario, but soon the hunters become the hunted. If you’re still not hooked, I guess you should skip to the next one, but for those who are hooked, this fantasy/horror tale from Joe Hill (the pen name of Joseph Hillstrom King – guess who his father is) is sure to keep you engaged all the way until the twist ending. If you love the works of Stephen King, give his son’s stories a chance, too (if you guessed his father was Stephen King, you’re right! I don’t have any prizes; sorry).
7. “A Ghost Story” by Mark Twain
You mean the guy that wrote Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer dabbled in horror, too? Well, not exactly. Any story where the main character chastises the ghost for breaking furniture isn’t exactly hide-under-the-blankets scary. Nevertheless, Twain does a brilliant job parodying the ghost story tradition while also offering a satirical dig at superstition. Brilliantly written – surprise, surprise – and full of dark, foreboding imagery as well as humorous scenes, this story is definitely one of the lighter ones on this list, but it creates the fun/spooky atmosphere that feels so appropriate for this season.
8. “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream” by Harlan Ellison
This takes the cake for the best title on the list. Ellison crafts a bizarre, mysterious post-apocalyptic tale of a vengeful supercomputer that has wiped out nearly every human on the planet, except for five random people. The story follows their attempts to survive in the underground area in which they are being held captive. All the while the supercomputer, known as AM, amuses itself by torturing the group in one way or another. With the rise of A.I. and the inevitable dominance of the digital age, it is stories like this that feel more timely than ever, and that’s truly terrifying.
9. “Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad” by M.R. James
Did you think we were going to discuss short stories for Halloween and not talk about a classic ghost story? Also a story with a great title, this story tells of a young Cambridge professor who discovers an old bronze whistle in a hole in the wall of a ruined Knights Templars’ preceptory. Curious, the professor takes the whistle back with him and blows on it. Shortly thereafter, strange things begin to occur. Given that the professor is a skeptic of the supernatural, he initially writes it off as mere coincidences. But as the days go by, he starts to suspect there’s something else going on. A feeling of dread and paranoia permeates the story, making it a great candidate for a quiet Halloween at home. Hopefully, not too quiet though.
10. “Dem Bones” by S.E. Schlosser
OK, competition’s over, this is the best title! Not every story on the list has to be scary necessarily; after all, Halloween is beloved by children all across the country and sparks some spooky nostalgia in a lot of us. Definitely the most lighthearted story mentioned, this story is all about the ghosts of the pirate Captain Kidd and his mates as they return to the New Jersey coast as a crew of glowing skeletons sailing in a shadow-clad ship. The crew eventually came to be known as Dem Bones. This story is very fun to read as it puts you back in the mindset of a kid while also offering some genuinely creepy imagery. It’s a quick read that brings back memories of the lighter side of Halloween and is perfect for sharing with the younger members of your family if you’re stuck babysitting.
As with every list, there will inevitably be a few things left over. Not everything you think is worthy to be on a list has the chance to make it. Considering this, I feel it’s appropriate to include some honorable mentions. These stories are also very appropriate for the Halloween season, but they just didn’t make it into my top `10. My honorable mentions are:
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• “The Signal Man” by Charles Dickens
• “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• “The Golden Arm” old folktale
• “A Collapse of Horses” by Brian Evenson
• “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl
