October Dreams
The volume mixes a generous amount of well-written new fiction with classic reprints, several "Favorite Halloween Memories," an informative "Short History of Halloween" by Paula Guran, a well-chosen "Overview of Halloween Films" by Gary A. Braunbeck, and an equally useful "Reader's Guide to Halloween Fiction" by Stefan Dziemianowicz. Many of the authors contribute both a story and a Favorite Memory, and Ray Bradbury, to whom the volume is rightfully dedicated, contributes these and a poem.No review can do justice to an anthology whose table of contents crowds three pages. But perhaps a taste of three stories will suggest the breadth and depth of the whole. Ray Bradbury's subtle "Heavy Set" considers what it might be like to be the mother of a muscular, disturbed, and exceptionally attached son. In the West Coast gothic "A Redress for Andromeda," Caitlin R. Kiernan presents a beautifully written consideration of the costs of a hidden secret. Artist Gahan Wilson proves himself also talented at fiction with "Yesterday's Witch," in which trick-or-treaters find the neighborhood witch isn't any such thing ... or is she? October Dreamsis highly recommended to all fans of horror and dark fantasy. --Cynthia Ward Contents Gone * (2000) * shortstory by Jack Ketchum A Redress for Andromeda * [Dandridge Cycle] * shortstory by Caitlin R. Kiernan The Black Pumpkin * (1986) * shortstory by Dean R. Koontz [as by Dean Koontz ] Lantern Marsh * (2000) * shortfiction by Poppy Z. Brite Conversations in a Dead Language * (1989) * shortstory by Thomas Ligotti Yesterday's Child * (1987) * shortstory by Thomas F. Monteleone The Whitby Experience * (2000) * shortstory by Simon Clark In-between * (2000) * poem by Ray Bradbury Yesterday's Witch * (1973) * shortstory by Gahan Wilson A Short History of Halloween * (2000) * shortfiction by Paula Guran Mask Game * (2000) * shortfiction by John Shirley Out of the Dark * (2000) * shortfiction by David B. Silva Heavy Set * (1964) * shortstory by Ray Bradbury (aka Heavy-Set) Boo * (2000) * shortstory by Richard Laymon Masks * (1985) * shortstory by Douglas E. Winter The Circle * (1982) * shortstory by Lewis Shiner First of All, It was October * (2000) * shortfiction by Gary A. Braunbeck Pay the Ghost * (2000) * novelette by Tim Lebbon Buckets * (1989) * novelette by F. Paul Wilson Orchestra * (2000) * shortfiction by Stephen Mark Rainey Eyes * (1986) * shortstory by Charles L. Grant Deathmask * (2000) * shortfiction by Dominick Cancilla Some Witch's Bed * (2000) * shortfiction by Michael Marshall Smith The Trick * (1980) * novelette by Ramsey Campbell Pork Pie Hat * (1994) * novella by Peter Straub Trick-or-Read * (2000) * shortfiction by Stefan Dziemianowicz My Favorite Halloween Memory * (2000) * shortfiction by William F. Nolan