Now that October is halfway through here in Puyallup, WA, Halloween is right around the corner! Today, Canyon Park Blog has some unsettling short stories to share that are perfect for Halloween; they will definitely give you goosebumps! Click on the links to read the full version of each story and get a good scare.
“Ligeia” by Edgar Allen Poe
Famous for his tales of horror and mystery, Poe’s most well-known works are The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven. Ligeia, however, is less recognized yet an equally unsettling masterpiece.
“An unnamed narrator opens the story by claiming not to remember the circumstances in which he met his beloved, the lady Ligeia. Although he fixates on her rare learning, her unusual beauty, and her love of language, the narrator cannot specifically recall how Ligeia became his love object.”
“The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs
“Be careful what you wish for: That’s the message of this macabre tale. Though this story has been told and retold, Jacobs’ original version from 1902 has a special frisson to it. A poor couple, the Whites, live with their grown son, Herbert, who works at a factory. When they come into possession of a magical monkey’s paw, capable of granting three wishes, they don’t hesitate to start wishing ― though maybe they should have.”
“The Turn of the Screw” by Henry James
“The story, told by a young governess, is set in the English countryside at a family estate. The governess has been hired to care for the young niece and nephew of her generally absent employer, and though she finds them adorable, their behavior soon begins to concern her. Are these just badly behaved kids, or is the house haunted by malevolent ghosts? James doesn’t seem sure himself, and the ambivalence will get under your skin like nothing else.”
“Children of the Corn” by Stephen King
Stephen King is well-known for his bone-chilling horror novels, and his short story “Children of the Corn” is no exception.
“In an attempt to save their failing marriage, Burt and Vicky, a bickering couple, are driving to California for vacation. As they drive through rural Nebraska, they accidentally run over a young boy who ran onto the road. Upon examination of the body, Burt discovers the boy's throat had been slit and he was bleeding to death before he was hit. After opening the boy's suitcase, they find a strange-looking crucifix made of twisted corn husks.”
“The Ravine” by Ray Bradbury
From his classic collection of short stories Dandelion Wine, Ray Bradbury paints a haunting picture of two women traveling to the movies in the dark amidst rumors of a killer on the loose. The audio recording of this haunting story from the radio series “Bradbury 13” is sure to give you goosebumps!
Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoyed our post and that you have a fright-filled halloween at your apartment or out and about in Tacoma.