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Darkness Creeping #1
Darkness Creeping: Tales to Trouble Your Sleep
Enter the world of...Darkness Creeping
Just imagine, for a moment, that you are trapped forever in someone else's nightmare. Or ponder being swallowed by something so horrible your mind can't even fathom it. If that's not scary enough, picture yourself receiving a hollow-eyed skull in the mail. Is it a twist of fate, or was it sent on purpose?
Are you ready to risk getting lost in stories so scary you might have to read them twice to remind yourself they're not real? Then step into DARKNESS CREEPING: TALES TO TROUBLE YOUR SLEEP and find out just how fearless you really are. Each spine-tingling story is sure to send your imagination reeling through the world of the unreal, to a place where darkness creeps and suspense rules. And once you're there, trapped inside the terror, you'll think of nothing else but finding a way out!
Contents:
• Neal Shusterman's Darkness Creeping: Tales to Trouble Your Sleep (1993) - interior artwork by Michael Coy
• Monkeys Tonight (1993)
• Black Box (1993)
• Flushie (1993)
• Screaming at the Wall (1993)
• Alexander's Skull (1993)
• Same Time Next Year (1993)
• Not It (1993)
• Car Four (1993)
• Resting Deep (1993)
• Shadows of Doubt (1993)
Just imagine, for a moment, that you are trapped forever in someone else's nightmare. Or ponder being swallowed by something so horrible your mind can't even fathom it. If that's not scary enough, picture yourself receiving a hollow-eyed skull in the mail. Is it a twist of fate, or was it sent on purpose?
Are you ready to risk getting lost in stories so scary you might have to read them twice to remind yourself they're not real? Then step into DARKNESS CREEPING: TALES TO TROUBLE YOUR SLEEP and find out just how fearless you really are. Each spine-tingling story is sure to send your imagination reeling through the world of the unreal, to a place where darkness creeps and suspense rules. And once you're there, trapped inside the terror, you'll think of nothing else but finding a way out!
Contents:
• Neal Shusterman's Darkness Creeping: Tales to Trouble Your Sleep (1993) - interior artwork by Michael Coy
• Monkeys Tonight (1993)
• Black Box (1993)
• Flushie (1993)
• Screaming at the Wall (1993)
• Alexander's Skull (1993)
• Same Time Next Year (1993)
• Not It (1993)
• Car Four (1993)
• Resting Deep (1993)
• Shadows of Doubt (1993)
126 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Neal Shusterman
91 books30.9k followersAward-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movie script.
In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.
Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”
Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.
Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.
Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."
And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.
Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!
In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.
Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”
Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.
Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.
Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."
And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.
Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 16, 2026
Neal Shusterman’s Darkness Creeping is in acceptable anthology of kids’ horror short stories. The art in here is nothing of note though there are some creepier shots, however none extra credit as again, nothing of note overall. The consistency is a bit off as there’s mid to amazing stories every other entry, which obviously isn’t a great thing, so some hinderance there. But the stories are all-in-all pretty damn solid and well written, with some lighter exceptions. Here are my ratings and reviews for each:
Monkeys Tonight - 6/10.
Not the start I was expecting. Odd story with a funny ending, okay horror, but pretty narrow and in no way great.
Black Box - 6/10.
Straightforward and quite drawn out, nothing to write home about. Good idea I guess. Ending did get a chuckle from me.
Flushie - 10/10.
This is a school shopping story in subtext… good lord, that’s brutal. No notes.
Screaming at the Wall - 9/10.
Besides the very abrupt and meh ending, this was a great idea for a story in general, kids’ horror or not. Takes a spin on mental decline and turns it into some kind of ESP… riveting.
Alexander’s Skull - 6.5/10.
Hey, that’s mine! This story has a great mystery with unresolved tension that I find good, but that’s about it. It’s a nothing burger to me… or, of me.
Same Time Next Year - 10/10.
I’ve had the exact thought the ending displays before, so I’m befuddled to finally see it turned into a story, let alone of my favorite genre. Probably the most middle-ground of the book thus far, with the ending being funny but genuinely harrowing. Very pleased with this.
Not It - 7/10.
Fun but not a lot to say. I liked the idea but it comes a little late in retrospect. Decent.
Car Four - 9.5/10.
Can’t bring myself to give it a perfect score, but it’s a damn good addition. I liked the tidbit of mirror horror near the end, and the concept was well executed. I wish the ending had a little more gotcha.
Resting Deep - 10/10.
A great closing story that tackles death and the persistence of life. It’s dark, atmospheric, and even has thalassophobia thrown in the mix—what’s not to like?
Shadows of Doubt 8/10.
Short poem, nothing to say.
—————————
Overall, 8/10. I’ve taken the average of course and rounded it down, and to be fair, the consistency was wack. But some gold in here no less. I’m assuming Darkness Creeping 2 is where the to-be Haunting Hour stories are… I’ll see to checking that out. Blackness Approaching.
Monkeys Tonight - 6/10.
Not the start I was expecting. Odd story with a funny ending, okay horror, but pretty narrow and in no way great.
Black Box - 6/10.
Straightforward and quite drawn out, nothing to write home about. Good idea I guess. Ending did get a chuckle from me.
Flushie - 10/10.
This is a school shopping story in subtext… good lord, that’s brutal. No notes.
Screaming at the Wall - 9/10.
Besides the very abrupt and meh ending, this was a great idea for a story in general, kids’ horror or not. Takes a spin on mental decline and turns it into some kind of ESP… riveting.
Alexander’s Skull - 6.5/10.
Hey, that’s mine! This story has a great mystery with unresolved tension that I find good, but that’s about it. It’s a nothing burger to me… or, of me.
Same Time Next Year - 10/10.
I’ve had the exact thought the ending displays before, so I’m befuddled to finally see it turned into a story, let alone of my favorite genre. Probably the most middle-ground of the book thus far, with the ending being funny but genuinely harrowing. Very pleased with this.
Not It - 7/10.
Fun but not a lot to say. I liked the idea but it comes a little late in retrospect. Decent.
Car Four - 9.5/10.
Can’t bring myself to give it a perfect score, but it’s a damn good addition. I liked the tidbit of mirror horror near the end, and the concept was well executed. I wish the ending had a little more gotcha.
Resting Deep - 10/10.
A great closing story that tackles death and the persistence of life. It’s dark, atmospheric, and even has thalassophobia thrown in the mix—what’s not to like?
Shadows of Doubt 8/10.
Short poem, nothing to say.
—————————
Overall, 8/10. I’ve taken the average of course and rounded it down, and to be fair, the consistency was wack. But some gold in here no less. I’m assuming Darkness Creeping 2 is where the to-be Haunting Hour stories are… I’ll see to checking that out. Blackness Approaching.
April 22, 2023
3 1/2 ⭐
Not the best, but had some pretty disturbing stories for a middle grade book. I didn't care for many of the stories, but I did like a few of them.
Not the best, but had some pretty disturbing stories for a middle grade book. I didn't care for many of the stories, but I did like a few of them.
April 21, 2010
"In the blink of an eye, you might suddenly feel
That your world's been invaded by all things unreal.
They slink up behind you, and don't make a sound,
But there's nothing to fear...if you don't turn around.
In the face of the future we fly on our own.
Hoping our wings never turn into stone.
If you fall from that sky to the sea, will you drown?
Well, there's no need to worry...unless you look down."
—Darkness Creeping: Tales to Trouble Your Sleep, PP. 125-126
The handicap inherently facing this book is a substantial one; its brevity necessitates the use of very short stories, and it can be difficult for even an incredibly skilled writer such as Neal Shusterman to create a truly frightening feeling and scene when the allotted space to fill is only about fifteen pages.
Some of the tales to be found in Darkness Creeping are more eerie than others. Car Four, for one, is a lot like a good horror movie, built with suspense toward the inevitable conclusion that something unbelievable is happening. It also has some real physical horror to underscore the terror that the characters are feeling and to drag us emotionally into the narrative. Screaming At the Wall takes the occurrence of an aging woman who at first glance seems to be losing her mental faculties, only for us to realize that she in fact has a far more effective grip on reality than any of her relatives who pity her "delusion."
Each of the stories compiled in this volume contains a deep surprise in how they finish, or takes us onto horrifying ground in an absolutely original way. Some of the stories are even viscerally linked, such as Not It and Resting Deep, though the connection is not at all immediately apparent.
Especially considering the lengths of the stories that comprise Darkness Creeping, I think that Neal Shusterman has done a terrific job in every facet of the book. In most cases when big-time authors write a collection of scary stories, they don't turn out to be as truly scary as I might have hoped, but this one definitely hits the mark at times, which is a significant accomplishment. I would give two and a half stars to Darkness Creeping.
"At the back of your mind, there's a hole open wide,
Where the darkness is creeping in from the outside,
You can light rows of candles to cast the dark out,
But it's always there hiding...
...in shadows of doubt."
—Darkness Creeping, P. 126
That your world's been invaded by all things unreal.
They slink up behind you, and don't make a sound,
But there's nothing to fear...if you don't turn around.
In the face of the future we fly on our own.
Hoping our wings never turn into stone.
If you fall from that sky to the sea, will you drown?
Well, there's no need to worry...unless you look down."
—Darkness Creeping: Tales to Trouble Your Sleep, PP. 125-126
The handicap inherently facing this book is a substantial one; its brevity necessitates the use of very short stories, and it can be difficult for even an incredibly skilled writer such as Neal Shusterman to create a truly frightening feeling and scene when the allotted space to fill is only about fifteen pages.
Some of the tales to be found in Darkness Creeping are more eerie than others. Car Four, for one, is a lot like a good horror movie, built with suspense toward the inevitable conclusion that something unbelievable is happening. It also has some real physical horror to underscore the terror that the characters are feeling and to drag us emotionally into the narrative. Screaming At the Wall takes the occurrence of an aging woman who at first glance seems to be losing her mental faculties, only for us to realize that she in fact has a far more effective grip on reality than any of her relatives who pity her "delusion."
Each of the stories compiled in this volume contains a deep surprise in how they finish, or takes us onto horrifying ground in an absolutely original way. Some of the stories are even viscerally linked, such as Not It and Resting Deep, though the connection is not at all immediately apparent.
Especially considering the lengths of the stories that comprise Darkness Creeping, I think that Neal Shusterman has done a terrific job in every facet of the book. In most cases when big-time authors write a collection of scary stories, they don't turn out to be as truly scary as I might have hoped, but this one definitely hits the mark at times, which is a significant accomplishment. I would give two and a half stars to Darkness Creeping.
"At the back of your mind, there's a hole open wide,
Where the darkness is creeping in from the outside,
You can light rows of candles to cast the dark out,
But it's always there hiding...
...in shadows of doubt."
—Darkness Creeping, P. 126
August 22, 2014
I have been a fan of Shusterman's since reading Unwind. I guess I just can't a story to scary me, however these stories were better and scarier than Schwartz. He definitely completed each story and I felt the writing was better. I enjoyed the illustrations more as well. This book is not published in audio, however I think it would be a great choice, especially with a narrator that can create a creepy scary voice. This would be a good read for older junior high and high school teens. There is also a sequel titled Darkness Creeping II: More Tales to Trouble Your Sleep. Check them out if you dare.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews