A Halloween Pros story list...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

...because Kiashi was asking about Halloween fic with our lads!

Here's my list from over at Palelyloitering.com anyway - I've thrown it up quick-and-dirty, and I see there are a couple of missing links, but I'll try and get them in through the day. I'm sure there are stories missing though - what do I need to add?! *g*

ETA - oh, and there's another older and excellent supernatural storylist here at the original Hatstand, if this isn't enough!

Actually, it's been a whilst since we had any rec posts over here - would anyone care to rec halloween-type Pros stories that they've read..?

Discovered On All Hallow's Eve (free downloadable zine)

All Hallow's Eve by The Hag

All Hallow's Eve by Liriel

All in a Name by Callisto

All Soul's Night by Ravenstone

Battles Long Ago by Rhiannon

A Birdwatcher's Guide to Cornish Ghosts by Lizzie

Black Cat (aka Into the Blue) by Verlaine

Bluebell Hill by Ravenstone

Bodie and Doyle meet the Headless Horseman by PFL

Brigadoon by PFL

Cat Tales by Fanny Adams

Danger After Dark by Lily

Deadly Intervention by Josey

Death and the Magician by Ravenstone

Decrescendo by Erushi

The Devil and George Cowley by Ann Carr

A Double Portion of Spirit by Asymphototropic

The Drowning Plains by Bistokidsfan

Dust and Secrets by PJ

Fire by PFL

The Ghost and Mr Doyle by Gena Fisher

The Ghost and Raymond Doyle by Barbara Thomas

The Ghosts That Haunt Me by Merlyn Smith

Hafnos by Golden Bastet

Hammer Was Right by Tauna

Horseman by PFL

House Party (aka I Live To Serve) by Lizzie

I Live To Serve (aka House Pary) by Lizzie

If I Touch Thee... by Michelle Christian

If There Be Vampires and Werewolves by Slantedlight

In the Pumpkin Interest by The Hag

Incubus by Dee

The Informer by Enednoviel

Into the Widening Gyre by Verlaine

Iris by Foxcat

Killing Notes by Ellis Ward

Legacy by Mab

Legacy of Temptation by Ellis Ward

The Little Devil and the Vampire by Minori

The Most Heroic by Slantedlight

My Golden Afternoon With the Grim Reaper by PRZed

New Beginnings at Burdock by Slantedlight

Nightmares by Ravenstone

Nuts and Bolts by Zoe

On Dartmoor by Ravenstone

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words by J.M. Sherwood

A Picture of William Bodie by Ravenstone

Possession is Nine-Tenths by LilyK

Present Company by Rebelcat

A Purple Cow by The Hag

Pwnco by Slantedlight

Rediscovered in a Graveyard by HG

Secure Yourself to Heaven by LilyK

So Much For Wishes by Ellis Ward

Soul Survivor by Lizzie

Stolen Soul byLilyK

The Tailor Made Sequence by Helen Raven

Temple of Venus by Lizzie

This is Halloween by Magenta Blue

Tick Tock by Josey

Transfigurations by PRZed

Tricks and Treats by Callisto

Undercover by Erushi

Unhallowed Eve by Melanie Athene

The Vampire by Fanny Adams

The Waiting Room by Lizzie

Werewolves of London by Rimy

Sorry it's late for southern-hemisphereans, I should have thought of doing it yesterday!

Comments

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

That's a lot of Halloween stories! Though I think most are more "spooky" stories, rather than actually about Halloween. Did they even celebrate Halloween in the UK back then?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

And of course there's even more than that, because Pros writers have been writing scary stories since the very beginning... *g* You're quite right that they're not particularly about Halloween, but are scary stories - that's what Halloween stories are to me though, scary rather than set on a particular day!

They certainly didn't celebrate Halloween the way it is (and was I gather) celebrated in the US these days - not with mass dressing up and going out, and partying, and the entire country in the same sort of celebratory mood. I really enjoyed Halloween in the US when I was there, especially when there were children around - I got to go out trick or treating with a family one year, and it was wonderful!

I do remember in 1985 that student-age people thought about doing spooky things for Halloween though - though it tended more towards watching horror movies than anything else. I don't think I remember anyone having a Halloween party even then, or there being "events" like that. A bunch of us went up to Alderley Edge, I seem to remember, which is of course where the wizard might be found, but then as the science fiction and fantasy society we were a bit inclined that way anyway... *g* I can't imagine the lads would have come across Halloween much at all, in the normal course of events, except via films etc. from across the Pond... but someone who was here (and perhaps older, cos being at uni I think means different memories) would know better than me...

ETA - and Halloween today isn't celebrated here the way it's celebrated in the US, despite the supermarkets hyping it up by offering costumes and the other plastic tat that (well sorry, but it has... *g*) come from the US.) I kind of wish it was, because it really is something special there, but I can't imagine it ever being quite like that...

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I wonder why, since it's usually noted that Halloween has its traditions in Samain, which would be from that neck of the woods. *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

So late replying that it's November, and I know I missed another post of yours that I wanted to read too - I will get there!

I'm sure Halloween is rooted in British tradition, but I suppose it's one of those things that went separate ways in different countries, as British influence grew less. I suspect the direction Britain was going in disencouraged anything that wasn't science or politics or rationalism or (conversely!) the church, whereas societies in frontier countries like the US were free to develop the traditions in different ways... even the more "frontier" areas of Britain kept their old, more superstition-based traditions for much longer than "mainstream" (i.e. London-centric) Britain...

Unless of course the US did another Santa Claus sometime, but about Halloween - someone bigged it up to advertise something, and here we are! *g* Either way, it's a fun one, I reckon... *g*

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

Did they even celebrate Halloween in the UK back then?
Not in the same way, no.

Memories from 1980...

Trick or treating was not at all universal, and many many adults regarded it as no better than begging, and would close the door on trick or treaters. Perhaps more common in Scotland, where I think it was done slightly differently ('guising'), and the north of England (next door to Scotland :)) I was in the north-east, and definitely 'no, sorry, we don't do trick or treat' was my parents' response to kids at the door.)

My turnip lantern was always an actual turnip. I don't think I ever saw a real pumpkin until about 1985, seriously! - and certainly not carved into a lantern. And when I say 'turnip', I mean the big thing that people down south call a swede, and which I think you may call a rutabaga. They were complete bastards to make, often involving a chisel rather than a kitchen knife, and swearing from daddies drafted in to 'help' (do all the work).

It is dark by 5.30pm here, so Halloween stuff all happened in the dark. The weirdest thing for me, watching ET a couple of years later, was not how they were all wearing the wrong costumes (cowboys? princesses? Yoda? Did they not know it was about witches? You could be a witch, a vampire or a skeleton. That was it. Okay, maybe a mummy :)) but the fact that it all started in daylight. Noo!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

We have to start it in daylight here because it's almost 8p by the time it's dark, and way too cold to still be outside (we had a few flurries of snow yesterday.) I remember the first year I was here I wondered why there weren't any trick-or-treaters out. It was about 7:30-8p, and I had just turned on the porch light. In Phoenix, that's when things usually get going. Only later did I find out that kids start earlier here and know which houses to go to by who has their porch light on.

As far as the costumes go, it's always been that you could dress up in anything you wanted. At least, as far back as I can remember. Actually, rarely do I see "scary" costumes anymore. Most are usually from whatever is popular at the time (Star Wars, Thor, Spiderman, Batman, whatever.)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oooh, thanks so much for this! And Happy Halloween! :D

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Happy Halloween! Have a lovely time, doing all the things you enjoy most - and give someone a happy scare for me, eh? *g*

[caffyolay.livejournal.com]

Happy Halloween to you too! And thanks for mentioning some of my scribblings. :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ah, your scribblings are always worth mentioning! *g*

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

There's definitely another spooky one, though perhaps not a Halloween one: one in which Bodie is followed by a sort of grim spirit, one which haunted his father and now is haunting him. And he is trying to deal with it without Doyle finding out about it, in case it extends its malevolence to Bodie. And I can't remember its name!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ah, that one's on the list - Legacy by Mab! *g*

These are Halloween stories in the sense that they're spooky stories, not that they're particularly set at Halloween. I've never seen that distinction made before, but now two of you have made it!

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

Well, the title was 'a Halloween Pros story list', so I assumed 'at Hallowe'en' - although I see you also said 'Hallowe'en type' later on. In which case, it has occurred to me, Hafnos (http://archiveofourown.org/works/874414), by Golden Bastet - which could have been set on Hallowe'en...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yup, meaning stories for Halloween. Scary stories.

I don't think I've read Hafnos before, so thanks for that - added to the list!

[(Anonymous)]

Yes! I read the same story and I will try and find it again. Seriously scary and I love how Ray joins Bodie in the park and they fight the thing off together. It was almost like it couldn't survive in the face of love..??? Or perhaps I am just being being way too soppy....Kiashi

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

Hello, Kiashi! (You really should get an LJ account, you know - you comment more than some LJ users :)) byslantedlight has found it: Legacy, by Mab, on the Automated Hatstand (linked above).

[unbelievable2.livejournal.com]

Wow! What a great list to get stuck into! Thank you for putting it together! :))

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome, though it was done years and years ago so isn't particularly up to date I'm afraid! You know, there's another good one over at the Hatstand, under AUs - I should have mentioned that above, actually... *goes to do* *g*

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

If you're doing supernatural scary stories, my Apparitions crossover might fit: http://archiveofourown.org/works/259322 Secure Yourself to Heaven

I also have a (spoiler) story here: http://archiveofourown.org/works/523879
Possession is Nine-Tenths...

I didn't see my 2009 DIAJ Halloween challenge story here. It's Stolen Soul. http://hatstandfic.net/viewstory.php?sid=533&chapter=1

Thanks for doing such a great list.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh excellent, thanks for the links! It's an old list I'm afraid, which is why there's so much missing from it, and I don't think it was ever properly complete (I don't suppose any of these fic lists are, cos there's just so many fab Pros stories out there... *g*)

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I think it's almost impossible to have complete lists, even with the zines. Sometimes the odd one will pop up or nobody seems to know what's in it. I think combined we all do a good job of contributing to the lists and figure out the stories.

Thanks again.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Exactly - and that's what fandom's always seemed to be about to me, sharing things with and helping each other enjoy the lads!

[(Anonymous)]

Totally[!!] and thank you so much for the list [rubs together and drools]. I don't care when you posted it; I am so looking forward to feasting up it [blows kisses]...Kiashi

[(Anonymous)]

I am about to start reading "Secure yourself to Heaven"! We haven't got "Apparitions" here in Oz but I'm sure I'll get the gist of it, and I would have liked to have seen "The Chief". "Always and Everyone" was briefly on cable a few years ago - quite liked that too...Kiashi

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I think you'd be able to follow the story. I do try to put in enough back story without being too much just in case a reader hasn't seen a certain show. I did a small A&E crossover a while ago. I haven't done with The Chief but I have read a few.

Enjoy!

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

If you're still collecting, there's a a lot of spooky ones in the zine Brit Shriek - 'Got Those Vampiric Blues' (Stew) and 'Wednesday's Brother, Friday's Child' by Linda Terrell spring to mind.

I have to say that this is not my favourite zine: supernatural stories are very rarely my thing, and a lot of the stories are gen (also rarely my thing) But if you like the supernatural, this zine is full of it...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I am still collecting, but I don't have time right this second to go to Palelyloitering and make links for each of those individual stories (or check which ones are online) - there are definitely other spooky stories in the zines and ProsLib too, for that matter. I'll try and get to it tonight though, if I ever finish this work assignment - I'm only a quarter of the way through, I keep being distracted by how nice it is outside, what a rubbish headache I have, and of course what should be the joys of lj for All Hallow's eve! Good thought though, I'd not been thinking specifically of the zines...

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

No hurry! I try to put links in if I can. The ones I mentioned just there are not online - offhand, I don't think any of Brit Shrieks are...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Still not done this yet, but it's not forgotten... One or two of the BritShriek authors are online - Natasha Berry and Michelle Christian, for instance (and a quick check, since I've gone as far as writing this shows me that their Britshriek stories are too, so I'll add those links and check for the others). Thanks again.

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Great list! Thank you.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! Happy reading! *g*

[loyseofverlaine.livejournal.com]

Hi,

Just thought I'd update you: Black Cat and Into the Blue are the same story - just have different headings

And my big Pros horror story is In the Widening Gyre at http://archiveofourown.org/works/112221

Verlaine

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, how could that be missed out, I like Into the Widening Gyre! Mind you, it is an old list... I wonder if the other Dialj Nightmare stories are there... And thank you - corrections noted and made!

(Btw, you seem to have come up as two comments exactly the same here, so I'm going to delete one - just for neatness sake - but I'm not really deleting you, if you get notification!)

[loyseofverlaine.livejournal.com]

I may have hit the send button twice - it's been that kind of a day.

And thank you for providing the list. There are some titles on there I don't recall seeing. More reading!

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

...which is a gorgeous, gorgeous story, I have to say.

[(Anonymous)]

Have downloaded the Zine to start - thank you so much for compiling the list for me and "thank you" to you and all the other brilliantly talented writers who bring so much pleasure into my world. .VBG...and it has been interesting to hear how other people remember celebrating Halloween in different parts of the world. I've always been interested in Mexico's Day of the Dead = stunning art works. The best I could do last night was stick my [toy] Goliath spider to the window and hope some passer by noticed. Ahh the bliss of a weekend with no work to do; so reading here I come!..[kisses] .Kiashi

[cloudless-9193.livejournal.com]

What a great list! Thanks :-)