Scary stories have been a Halloween tradition since the days of the ancient druids. How often have people gathered around a campfire, a Jack-o-lantern, or a flashlight to hear chilling tales and urban legends? It's an activity as Halloween as carving a pumpkin, watching a horror flick, or putting on a costume.
But supposing certain bibliophiles want something a little longer than a campfire tale, and maybe a little scarier than an urban legend? Fret not, dear readers. The literary world is rife with novels and horror compilations perfect for the spooky season. Ranging from mildly creepy to downright horrifying, there's a book for every taste in terror.
Clown in a Cornfield (by Adam Cesare)
The most recent novel on this list, Clown in a Cornfield is like a modern '80s slasher but in literary form. It features a cast of teenage victims, an unsettling small town, and a drowning victim that possibly evokes a death curse.
While Frendo the Clown might not be as famous as Derry's dancing killer clown, he's got a major creep factor that will definitely give readers a good case of the willies.
Herbert West-Reanimator (by H.P. Lovecraft)
Of course, one can't have a good Halloween without a handful of zombies. While it might be easy to go to World War Z, it might be better to pick up an old classic first.
It may not be Call of Cthulhu, but this novella by the legendary H.P. Lovecraft is a disgusting and unsettling entry into the zombie genre. Illegal experiments, reanimated corpses, and deeds done in the dead of night -- what more could a reader want?
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (by Alvin Schwartz)
There's a saying that children like to be scared; they just don't know it yet. Millions of children were frightened out of their midnight reading thanks to the tall tales and urban legends cultivated by Alvin Schwartz, and that's not even mentioning the nightmare-inducing artwork.
Thanks to the film adaptation that was produced by Guillermo del Toro, this classic book series has seen a resurgence in relevance and popularity. Even adults are rediscovering them and experiencing the horrors one more time.
The Shining (by Stephen King)
If there is only one haunted house novel readers must fearlessly dive into this Halloween, it has to be Stephen King's The Shining. Haunted mansions and houses are a dime a dozen, but a haunted hotel? Now that's a story!
With psychic kids, evil spirits, and a drunken dad who goes on a murderous rampage, it checks a lot of boxes for traditional, hardcore horror. No Stanley Kubrick required.
Night Shift (by Stephen King)
If The Shining isn't your glass of redrum, why not pick up something more digestible? Night Shift is a collection of King's creepiest short stories, featuring several that later became full-length feature films.
Stories like Children of the Corn, Trucks, The Lawnmower Man, and The Mangler all make frightening appearances here, and no fan of the author should be without this text. Creepy kids, demonic possessions, and gruesome mutilations practically bleed through the pages.
Coraline (by Neil Gaiman)
Although The Graveyard Book is also an excellent choice from the genius that is Neil Gaiman, Coraline is the much scarier work. For a children's book, it's a piece of dark fantasy that gets uncomfortably creepy at times.
There's no blood and gore by any means but through his gift for the written word, the Sandman scribe creates a chilling tale with otherworldly beings, black cats, and growing pains. If the kids only read one work from the man, it should definitely be Coraline.
Dracula (by Bram Stoker)
For the hardcore literary enthusiast out there, there's nothing like the classics. No Halloween could ever be complete without a visit from Count Dracula himself, who first appeared in Bram Stoker's immortal Gothic horror novel.
Dracula has all the trimmings and trappings for a perfect Halloween night: Creepy castles, insane asylums, and vampires galore festoon this frightening Transylvanian tale. Only one other work could possibly hold a candle to it, and that would be...
Frankenstein (by Mary Shelley)
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein didn't just give audiences the basis of one of the most beloved/feared Classic Universal Monsters, but her novel is also responsible for giving birth to modern science-fiction as it's known today. While it lacks any vampires and insane asylums, Frankenstein does feature one of the most famous monsters ever to grace the page.
The tale of Dr. Frankenstein and his reanimated creature is as tragic and terrifying as can be, and is the one horror novel that has spawned possibly the most film adaptations to date... next to Dracula, of course.
Something Wicked This Way Comes (by Ray Bradbury)
He might be better known for works like The Martian Chronicles or Fahrenheit 451, but Ray Bradbury's beautifully haunting horror novel that shines brighter than any Jack-o-lantern.
Something This Way Comes is a strange and frequently scary novel where no one dies or even gets mortally wounded, but the sinister nature of a mysterious circus that blows into town is enough to give more than a few chills. Bradbury's gift for the written word truly shines and creates a deliciously devilish narrative.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (by Washington Irving)
The Headless Horseman's legend is, without a doubt, one of the most famous ghost story in all American literature, if not all time. Washington Irving's tale of Ichabod Crane's encounter with the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow is the most iconic tale told around this time of year.
It's been read, reread, repeated around campfires, performed on stage, and even has a handful of films. To date, the most famous and influential version of the tale is the one animated by Disney in The Adventures of Ichabod Crane & Mr. Toad (1949). If there's one story that truly captures the Halloween spirit, it's this ghostly classic.