From my shelf to yours: frightening fiction

Olivia Barone

Editor in Chief

Halloween is fast approaching and has been since scary holiday decor when on sale in August. Now, you might be gearing up to spend Halloweekend out on the town in costume and looking for a read to get you in spirit. Or, maybe you prefer to spend Halloweekend at home and you are looking for a subtler scare. Don’t fear yet: I’ve compiled a list of my favorite frightening fiction for you, regardless of how you like to spend Halloween. Read if you dare. 

“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley

Let’s start with the classics. Shelley’s 1818 novel, “Frankenstein,” came from none other than a dark and stormy night when she, her husband and a collection of other writers decided to host their own scary story contest. Shelley, known by today’s fans as the “Mother of Goth,” was the only woman in the group of participating writers and the short story that came of it would be the inspiration for her shocking classic. “Frankenstein” features the tragic story of a modern Prometheus, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, as he plays God and ultimately toys with the once solid line drawn between life and death. His creation, the monster, is then forced to deal with the consequences of his own creation after being abandoned by the Doctor, leading to a revenge story that is more than gut wrenching. 

“Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshig Rice

Published in 2018, Rice’s post-apocalyptic style novel is set in barren Northern Canada on a reservation belonging to First Nation people. Abruptly, the Anishinaabe community's contact to the outside world is cut and resources diminish, leaving residents vulnerable and panicked. Tensions rise as the air grows colder and a series of warnings present themselves as dreams to main character Evan Whitesky and his family. Their nightmares become reality and desperation builds as a monster lurks in their midst, feeding on turmoil and flesh. An ode to the Anishinaabe people and their mythology, Rice’s novel provides a chilling retelling of the myth of the Wendigo while calling attention to the effects of colonization running rampant in native communities. 

Image by Liv Barone

“The Sphinx” by Edgar Allan Poe

Printed in less than thirty pages, “The Sphinx” is Poe’s horrific tale of twisted perspective and is perfect for those looking for a quick read. Published in 1846, the short story is set during a cholera outbreak in New York. The nameless narrator, absorbed in the city’s panic, visits his relative in a remote cottage in hopes of refuge. The short story is thus his retelling of how he witnessed something truly unbelievable during his visit: a monster, larger than the surrounding trees, descending the hill outside the window, seemingly carrying with it an omen of death. What’s worse? It seems the narrator is the only one who can see it. In just about 1500 words, Poe expertly crafts paranoia on the page, forcing readers to feel the same fear as its narrator. “The Sphinx" can be read free-of-charge at poemuseum.org. 

For more recommended reads, keep up to date with @rictheanchor on Instagram and let us know which spooky stories are your favorite.