Dennis Pepper

Here we have thirty four weird and horror stories, some at least notionally from great masters like Dahl, Campbell, Bradbury, Matheson, Nesbit, Kersh and Wyndham, undoubtedly simplified and partially bowdlerised for an adolescent readership.

The aim is undoubtedly didactic, not to frighten young people but to make them think by introducing them to a genre where the final nasty conclusion can be deduced from clues given in the preceding narrative. The text is about 'literature' rather than show more triggering sleepless nights.

It is a worthy effort and will give the intelligent adolescent an opportunity to experience the 'frisson' to be found in a good horror tale and perhaps it will draw them on to read more as they mature. Above all, the stories should make them think about grim possibilities.

The horror tale (especially to men) is the dark side companion to the crime or romance novel (more popular with women in general), science fiction and the thriller. Here the stories create unease and mild anxiety at most rather than disgust or true horror.

Genre literature is about channeling specific emotions. There is nothing wrong with introducing maturing higher ability kids to the literature of anxiety and even fear as an exercise in catharsis. This particular text is a good introduction. show less

I'm not a fan of short stories but gave this collection ago as I wanted something spooky and quick to read.

This collection has short stories which include ghosts, vampires, werewolves and all things that go bump in the night. The authors include names I know such as M R James and Angela Carter to others I've never heard of.

As the title suggests the collection is aimed at the younger reader. I didn't find the stories too scary but probably would have done if I was a lot younger. Some of the show more stories however were fun to read and my favourite was The Girl in the Mirror.

This book for me was ok to pass an afternoon but because of the audience it's aimed at I didn't find it too spooky. Lots of lovely illustrations in the book which was a bonus. show less

Above average collection of short stories with a nightmare theme. Intended for young readers, there is no gore and nothing truly terrifying, but a few of the stories provide gratifying chills. Also notable because most of the stories are not widely anthologized. Lots of lovely drawings.

Lots of creepy stories here including “An Apple for Miss Stevenson” about an old schoolhouse converted into a house and a little girl possessed by the ghost of a previous teacher.”Mayday” about a co-pilot who helps a pilot restart the engines after they fail flying over a volcano and “the Chocolate Ghost” who keeps wrecking a sweet shop in London until the two girls who own it pay him some attention.
In Black and White about the round photos from the past and how the camera was so show more slow you could run to the other end and appear on both sides of the group photo. About 2 friends Margery & Jenny. show less