Many Halloween anthologies exist on the market, but most offerings are crafted by different authors. Other collections are written by a single author. It’s rare to find an anthology of multiple stories written by the same group of authors. For Thirteen Paths: A Halloween Anthology, a trio of authors pen thirteen different stories. Fortunately, this triad brings a consistent tone to the anthology as well as captures the spirit of the season.
Every anthology has a theme, and I review the theme as well as the plot and the writing. A story could be great, but if it’s a Halloween-themed anthology and the offering is about Christmas, it won’t rate high. And note that a Halloween story doesn’t have to be scary. All that is required is that Halloween is at its center, not window dressing.
That said, one story in this anthology stands tall against most Halloween stories I’ve read (in this anthology and elsewhere). “Unseasonable” is about trick-or-treaters going door to door in a sudden winter storm that knocks out the power. It’s off-beat, frightening, well-conceived, and smartly executed. This story brings the chills both in terms of terror and setting.
Another fine offering is “I Know a Place.” In this tale, three trick-or-treaters discover a neighborhood where no one goes for sweets, only to find out why. “The Tunnel” is a fine example of voice and has that ambiguity that keeps the reader glued to the page. “Good Horror” is a creepy little tale well-suited for a Creepshow segment.
A call out to the story “Thinking of You.” This tale isn’t terrifying at all. Yet, it is the best example of an entry that has Halloween in its bone marrow. I enjoyed this one.
A few other offerings are worth a read—”Next Stop Home,” “Timber and Stone,” “Film to Digital.” Another nice touch is each story has its own illustration, which is fantastic for an anthology. I did struggle identifying some of the images, however.
Overall, the anthology has the variety and creativity one associates with the thirty-first of October. If you love Halloween, this book is worth reading.