Bad Apples

[Latasha]

Nate wrote: "Pumpkin Head Ted

This had a very Twilight Zone feel to it for me. I've read the first three stories now and I'm impressed with how cinematic they are. How cool would it be for someone to crank t..."

yes!!!!

[Latasha]

the Scare Rows
this story had some great bits in it. however (view spoiler)[ the weird sex scenes were silly. they could have cut a few of them out and it would have been just fine. (hide spoiler)]

[Latasha]

I finished the book this morning. I liked this collection! it was fun, the stories were good and it just had that fun, happy time Halloween feel! I hope everyone else enjoys it as well!

[Josh]

I've read the first two stories, but I think I'll keep my thoughts in my head until I review it. Great stuff so far, though.

[Kate]

Charlene wrote: "Good morning, all!! I went away for the weekend and on the way home last night, since I didn't have to drive, I read the first story:
The Riggle Twins by Gregor Xane. I enjoyed it. A lot!
For wh..."

I agree that there's plenty of story left in those characters for at least a novella.

[Robert]

Finished last night. Definitely a top-notch anthology, aand one I can see myself revisiting in future Octobers. I think The Riggle Twins ended up being my favorite overall. Such a visual story! There are some images from "The Scare Rows" that I don't think my mind's eye will be able to "unsee" - ever. :-)

[Scot]

My mind either, Robert. There was a character in The Scare Rows that I especially felt bad for.

[Nate]

Personally, I could have done without the Scare Rows. I thought it brought the entire collection down a notch with its inclusion. The Riggle Twins ended up being my favorite as well.

[Latasha]

I think I liked Pumpkinhead Ted the best. There was some bits I liked about The Scare Rows (view spoiler)[ the description of the church! the scarecrows sitting in the pews, things like that (hide spoiler)] but I didn't enjoy it as much as the other stories.

[RachelvlehcaR]

Steven wrote: "The first story I visualized as a [spoilers removed] With Pumpkinhead Ted, as much as I enjoyed it [spoilers removed]"


I have only read the first story. I'm going to read the second tonight.

The Riggle Twins

Steven I too feel the (view spoiler)[whole Tim Burton feel to the story, just a little more twisted and darker. (hide spoiler)]

[Katy]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Steven wrote: "The first story I visualized as a [spoilers removed] With Pumpkinhead Ted, as much as I enjoyed it [spoilers removed]"


I have only read the first story. I'm going to read the seco..."

Ah, the Riggle twins, the lovely Ben and Bella. A warning story for anyone who doesn't get into the spirit of Halloween...

[Char]

Nate wrote: "Personally, I could have done without the Scare Rows. I thought it brought the entire collection down a notch with its inclusion. The Riggle Twins ended up being my favorite as well."

I'm sorry to hear that about Scare Rows, Nate. Sometimes negative comments make me want to read a story even more! :)

[Nate]

Charlene wrote: I'm sorry to hear that about Scare Rows, Nate. Sometimes negative comments make me want to read a story even more! :) "


Haha, funny how that works, isn't it?

[Char]

Nate wrote: "Charlene wrote: I'm sorry to hear that about Scare Rows, Nate. Sometimes negative comments make me want to read a story even more! :) "


Haha, funny how that works, isn't it?"

It is! I cannot even begin to tell you how often a negative review has caused me to purchase a book!
Too much bad language? I'm in!
Too much blood and gore? I'm in!
Too scary? I'm in!
So yeah, it is kind of odd.

[WendyB]

woo! I finally got my copy and can't wait to get started. Sounds like a good, fun, scary read.

[Char]

Wendyb wrote: "woo! I finally got my copy and can't wait to get started. Sounds like a good, fun, scary read."

Glad to have you, Wendyb!

[Latasha]

I'm finished so if anyone wants to borrow my copy, just send me a pm.

[RachelvlehcaR]

I finished Pumpkinhead Ted:

(view spoiler)[This story had the Pearl Jam song Jeremy theme to it (with a twist). It's a bad idea being a bully. Bad things will come around to you. This was plainly clear with Ted and his little group of bullies. It's quite typical for a boy pecking order hierarchy. Even when Ted thought he was able to get the last laugh on them with the little tinkle on their grave, it (they) came back to get him. I wonder if he didn't go there would they haunt him or go after him every Halloween? It's something to think about. (hide spoiler)]

I agree with Nick, these stories would be great on film (if done right).

[Kate]

Pumpkinhead Ted
(view spoiler)[ I really enjoyed this one, I felt a little disappointed he didn't get away with it but I liked that he became a part of Halloween lore. Even though he was bullied I found his home life more distressing, especially his mothers total neglect and inability to even look at him or acknowledge him. (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

Ghost Light Road

(view spoiler)[ Oh my goodness. I didn't expect that. Creatures! I'd freak if I saw people being devoured like that. "I wept, I pulled at my hair, pissed my pants." That would be me. Thinking we'd be in for a silly thrill ride just to spook each other out then see all that. Freaky. (hide spoiler)]

[Kate]

Ghost Light Road
(view spoiler)[ I didn't connect quite as much with this story. I don't think Bill is a very reliable narrator and I'm left with the feeling that his story is a bad trip (hide spoiler)]

[Katy]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Ghost Light Road

[spoilers removed]"

I thought they might meet the ghost, but (view spoiler)[ I wasn't prepared to meet who/what they met. Creepy creepy. What was the green drink? <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Katy]

Kate wrote: "Pumpkinhead Ted
[spoilers removed]"

Pumpkinhead. I liked this one too. (view spoiler)[ And I'm with Kate that I'm disappointed he didn't get away with it. But, he was getting too big...so in the third act, he had to be taken down. <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

@Kate, I too didn't connect with it as much. Not compared to the first two stories.

@Katy, you'd think with a title like Ghost Light Road it would be ghosts but... (view spoiler)[ I'm not sure what the green drink was but the theory of a bad trip is very possible. I can see that. (hide spoiler)]

[Kate]

Easy Pickings
(view spoiler)[ I loved this one, I'm a sucker for payback stories and this one didn't disappoint. Jacob is one nasty creature/demon, I felt sorry for Rascal but after everything Trevor had done I didn't feel much sympathy for him although having your insides sucked out is a horrifying way to go. (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

Ghost Light Road

My least favorite so far. I feel like (view spoiler)[ I didn't care about any of the characters so it wasn't shocking when they died such spectacular deaths. I did like the idea of these being creatures of some kind, but it was over before we could learn more about them. It didn't matter to me if it was a bad trip or not, I didn't care. (hide spoiler)] I'm a little bummed.

[RachelvlehcaR]

Easy Pickings

(view spoiler)[ I love this. I work in SPED (special education) so when these naughty boys, Trevor and Rascal, are kicking on him, Jack. I'm so happy that Jacob is there. dang bullies. :) (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

The Scare Rows

LOL. Honestly, this one is funny. (view spoiler)[ "The tip of the yellow phallus erupted, covering Sarah in a shower of steaming popcorn." lol. And the ending about the yeast infection. Oh my goodness. Just over the top. I couldn't help but to laugh through this one. (hide spoiler)]

[Kate]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "The Scare Rows

LOL. Honestly, this one is funny. [spoilers removed]"

I loved those bits as well. Gross and funny. :)

[RachelvlehcaR]

Kate, I think that's what made the story. :) I will never look at corn on the cob the same. People will start to wonder why I'm laughing.

[Latasha]

Kate wrote: "Ghost Light Road
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I kept waiting for him to come off a trip & realize he had killed everyone but I liked the werewolves so it's ok. (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

It looks like I, like most of you, did enjoy Easy Pickings. (view spoiler)[ I admit a fondness for creatures, especially mysterious ones that have no explanation. (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I finished Pumpkinhead Ted:

[spoilers removed]

I agree with Nick, these stories would be great on film (if done right)."

I liked your statement about Pearl Jam's Jeremy. ;:

[Char]

The Scare Rows
(view spoiler)[ I pictured the top hat guy as Leland Gaunt from Needful Things.
I'm torn about this story, because while I found the over the topness funny at times, at other times it fell flat. In a way I felt that these things cheapened the story. If there's any way that both things could make sense? :)
(hide spoiler)]

[Kate]

The Scare Rows
(view spoiler)[ This was great, so much sex and violence. Exactly my type of read. The popcorn part and the yeast at the end made me chuckle. Although I really enjoyed it, out of all the stories, this is the one that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I'm not sure I can really describe why but it felt wrong reading it. That's in no way a criticism it just seemed to push a few buttons for me, not really sure why. It also tickled me that I recognised some of the names in the read, that made me smile big time. (hide spoiler)]

[Kate]

Overall 4.5*.
Ed Lorn may have ruined popcorn for me forever. ;P

[Char]

LOL I know, right? Right now I'm leaning towards a 3.5*. I'm going to sleep on it though and see what percolates up in my head. :)

[Scot]

Kate wrote: "The Scare Rows
[spoilers removed]"

Yep. I totally get the whole pushed out of your comfort zone thing with The Scare Rows.

Interesting fact about the story. I've talked to Edward and he told me that he wrote all of the "characters" as the exact opposite as how he saw them in reality.

[Kate]

Scot wrote: "Kate wrote: "The Scare Rows
[spoilers removed]"

Yep. I totally get the whole pushed out of your comfort zone thing with The Scare Rows.

Interesting fact about the story. I've talked to Edward and..."

I did wonder how some of the people felt about being written the way they were.

[Kate]

Charlene wrote: "LOL I know, right? Right now I'm leaning towards a 3.5*. I'm going to sleep on it though and see what percolates up in my head. :)"

Some reads need time to settle in your brain before you rate them.
I really hope Gregor does something else with The Riggle Twins.

[Matthew]

Kate - we asked to be killed off in a horrible fashion. I think it's safe to say that we knew it'd be unique and memorable going in. ;)

Just wait until you see how some people get killed off in the final five episodes of Cruelty...

[Kate]

Matthew wrote: "Kate - we asked to be killed off in a horrible fashion. I think it's safe to say that we knew it'd be unique and memorable going in. ;)

Just wait until you see how some people get killed off in th..."

If nothing else, The Scare Rows was definitely memorable. ;)

[Matthew]

Very true. I'll never look at corn the same way. :(

[Kate]

Matthew wrote: "Very true. I'll never look at corn the same way. :("

LOL ;P

[WendyB]

I really wasn't gonna buy any candy for Halloween this year because we seldom get any Trick or Treaters and I end up eating way too much of the candy myself each year but... I may have to seriously rethink that after reading about the Riggle twins.
Do you think the bowl of Hershey's Kisses on the coffee table would be enough?

[Katy]

Wendyb wrote: "I really wasn't gonna buy any candy for Halloween this year because we seldom get any Trick or Treaters and I end up eating way too much of the candy myself each year but... I may have to seriously..."

You have to be giving it out in order for the Riggle Twins to bypass your house.

I end up giving out close to 20 bags per year. My neighbor puts up a large display, and all the kids then come next door to visit me. It's lots of fun, seeing all their costumes.

[Jason]

Charlene wrote: "Since all of the authors hang out around here, I'm hoping maybe one or more of them will pop in when we finish it. :)"

Okay... so I am ridiculously late in seeing this. My apologies. Thank you everyone, those who loved it and those who hated it, for giving our little collaboration a chance. I am happy to participate in this thread, and welcome all comments, criticism and questions.

P.S. - I was trying to figure out what sort of vibe Gregor's story gave me - Tim Burton! yes, but agreed darker, like DeVito's Penguin

[RachelvlehcaR]

Yes, Jason you nailed it. Perfect.

I do have to say that your story stuck out to me because I work in SPED. Darn those bullies!

[Jason]

Thanks, Rachel. I'm glad you liked it. And I commend you on your employment. A few of the people closest to me work in similar fields.

[Latasha]

We don't get trick or treaters where we live :( I wish we did. I love seeing all the costumes. But I still follow traditions. We have lots of pumpkins out and I currently have candy! And we decorate our house & yard!