NNtG: Deadtime Stories #11: Nightmare on Planet X

It's time to voyage once again into Deadtime Stories. And we have aliens this time. We've covered a lot of alien-themed kids horror stories, and quality has always been a mixed bag. Some classic works, and quite a few that miss the mark entirely. So how did the Cascones handle this idea? Is it a classic or is it just yet another space case? Let's find out about Nightmare on Planet X.

This is a solid cover. We get our alien design for the book and it's pretty freaky, specially the worm-like antennae and the reflective looking bug eyes. It does a good job in selling that this is indeed another planet and the beings who reside are just as creepy as the planet itself. Also free Planet X postcard inside! But unfortunately it's not in this copy I'm reading on Openlibrary so I can't show it to you! 

Point by Numbers: The Snowman

It's time for the cold comforts of another Point Horror book. It is almost winter after all. And it just so happens that Stine gave us a book about snowmen... Yeah, I know he gave us a book about snowmen in Goosebumps, but I mean he at least offered a snowman-themed Point book back in 1994. And given it's Point and, more specifically, late-Stine Point, I'm not sure what to expect. Will this be solid cold gold, or an icy reception? Find out as we talk about The Snowman.

Very striking cover. And I don't mean that because the head of the snowman got struck off his body. Although, while it is trying to sell the concept of the killer of the story, there is a bit of a silliness to it. Feeling less like this is a book about a killer and more about someone who's a jerk and clotheslining snowmen. So maybe not a cover that works on the horror aspect as one would hope. Still solid. 

NNtG: Ghosts of Fear Street #33: Attack of the Vampire Worms

We're rapidly approaching the end of Ghosts of Fear Street. Like five at least. And as we approach the end, we're entering some of the books that have interested me the most. Case in point this book which is about vampire worms. We don't get enough vampire action in a lot of stuff (Goosebumps in particular) but kid-friendly Shadyside has at least delivered on the idea. Does this book suck, or is it worth biting down on? Let's find out with Attack of the Vampire Worms.

You know, I could make an easy joke about white worm-like creatures, but I'll take the high road. This is another Happy Boy Pat cover and I really like it. Probably one of the better CG covers from this era. And I think it's down to the vampire worms themselves. How they look like monster eels with their white and green fangs. They do feel like actual threats. I also get Monster Blood IV vibes, which normally isn't a good thing, but I've always maintained the cover was the best part of that book, so consider that a complement. Solid effort.

The Stinal Countdown: The Goosebumps Haunted Library

So, we've covered every mainline Goosebumps single narrative story in some form and fashion here on this blog. That's what I always think at least because I then get reminded that "Oh right. There's still the Haunted Library". And if you think Screams in the Night feels like the most obscure Goosebumps story item, then this is probably a close second. Because at the very least, the Haunted Library books were far easier to find, at least when they first released in 1996. 

So, what is the Goosebumps Haunted Library? Well in 1996, the peak year of the Goosebumps mania, Goosebumps ran a promotion with Hershey, Doritos and Pepsi that featured a "haunted library" box that contained three brand new short Goosebumps tales by R.L. Stine. With UPC codes and mail-in delivery you would receive the box and the stories, or could find the stories within specially marked Frito-Lay, Pepsi or Hershey products. These three stories are Bad Dog, Don't Make Me Laugh, and The Halloween Game. And these are REALLY short stories. As in about 20 pages, but given each page is generally tiny, it doesn't exactly mean the lengthiest item ever. But how do they fare? Are they decent short stories? More importantly, are they decent Goosebumps stories? Let's find out.

NNtG: Shivers #06: The Haunting House

Time to spin the wheel once more with another edition of the Russian Roulette of kids horror books, Shivers. Time to circle back to early Shivers this time with a book about a haunted house. Or, in this case a haunting house. A house for haunting. I mean it's no Dead House, but what really is? Now the question can be asked if we're getting a normal experience or something wild? I mean the next book after this is The Awful Apple Orchard and that's still the apex of fucked up endings, even for Shivers. Let's see what's in store for us with The Haunting House.

I like this cover, and in fairness it is an earlier book in the series, but I will say that when you look at the series as a whole, this cover feels very in line with most of the covers in the series. Big moon in the background over a starry sky, dead trees and ominous yellow light. There's even a skull on the cover because almost all of them have a skull on the cover. So judging it on the merits of the other covers it feels very straightforward and safe. On its own merit I still really like it. It sells the creepy vibes of the house which given what the book is about is kind of necessary. There's even some ominous crows and eerie eyes in the mailbox which I honestly love. So if it's your first Shivers cover it's great, if it's your twentieth, then it's nothing too unique but still good.

NNtG: Deadtime Stories #16: Night of the Pet Zombies

We covered Billy Baker's Dog Won't Stay Buried earlier this year. Spinetinglers' attempt at a story about dead pets returning from the grave to cause chaos. And it was one of my favorite books that I covered this year so far. Of course nothing, especially in kids horror, is ever fully original and there will always be others who do something similar. And that brings us to Deadtime Stories. Around the same time they too had a story about pets coming back from the dead. How does it compare? Did the Cascones do a better job? Or would it have been better to keep this book buried? Let's see with Night of the Pet Zombies.
 

This is another solid Broeck Steadman cover. Gets the point across very easily that we have pets coming back from the dead with their glowing red eyes. I love the fully skeletal dog in the back and the deep red sky. I will say I have some issues. The cover does feel very cramped with less of a chance to do much with the art. I also, I dunno, wish the pets looked more zombie-like with rotting flesh and whatnot. But maybe that was verboten from Troll so one skeleton dog and that's all you get. Still it's an enticing cover and does what it needs to sell you on a book about pet zombies.

The Stinal Countdown: Shark Night

So, with the new Goosebumps books of 2024 out of the way, we can focus on some more Stine standalones. Stine-dalones if you will. Last year was Slime Doesn't Pay! which was the story of a prize winning Goosebumps title from the 90s being in limbo for over a quarter century. This time we don't really have that, but we do have sharks. We had a shark in Deep Trouble, but barely. So it should be interesting to see what Stine does with this premise. It's time we get chummy with Shark Night.

Also yes, this was intended at one point for (Woo!) Party Summer 3, but I couldn't find a physical copy anywhere in time so screw it. Bought the ebook months later. 

This cover is decent. We have a decent shocked kid face with Liam's reaction to an oncoming hammerhead shark. Definitely the right kind of reaction to such a situation. I have a bad feeling I'm going to say this a lot, but this does give me Deep Trouble vibes. Kid in the water about to be attacked by a hammerhead. It does honestly feel like what you'd get for an alternate take on that cover. But for a book about sharks, it's fine.