October Reading Plans

After breaking through my reading slump with some Conan pastiche short stories last month, I jumped into Dracula by Bram Stoker this month. It’s been on my to-read list for a long time, and I figured this October was the right time to finally get to it. I have the deluxe edition with illustrations by Edward Gorey which I picked up during a Barnes & Noble 50% off hardcover sale a few years ago. I’m enjoying it so far although it’s slowed down a little after a strong start. Here’s a stack of some other books and comics I may or may not get to this October.

I always enjoy the book pics that Graeme over at Lord Samper’s Library posts on his blog, so I thought I would do something similar. Give him a follow if you’re not already doing so as he also posts lots of great book, film, and television reviews:

Lord Samper's Library (lordsamperlibrary.blogspot.com)

The stack:

Damnable Tales: A Folk Horror Anthology selected and illustrated by Richard Wells

I picked this up recently when I saw that it had a couple of short stories that I’ve been looking for, “Pallinghurst Barrow” by Grant Allan and "Randall's Round” by Eleanor Scott. It includes lots of other great authors as well including Robert Aickman, Shirley Jackson, and M.R. James. 

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Bradbury is one of my favorite authors. This has been on my to-read list after reading his collection The October Country and his book The Halloween Tree which goes over the history of Samhain and Halloween. 

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson 

Another one of my favorite authors. I’ve been wanting to read this ever since watching the filmed versions, The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price and The Omega Man with Charlton Heston.

A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny

One of my favorite books from another one of my favorite authors. It’s a tradition for many people to re-read it every October. I first read this in 2020 and re-read it in 2021 and 2022. I’m not sure if I’ll get to it this year. 

The Books of Blood I-III by Clive Barker 

Barker is an author I’ve been meaning to read more over after reading and enjoying The Hellbound Heart, the basis for the first Hellraiser film. 

Roots of the Swamp Thing by Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson, and Nestor Redondo

I’ve been a Swamp Thing fan ever since reading Alan Moore’s run in my university days. I found this collection at Half Price Books last year and had to pick it up. 

Dracula: Vlad the Impaler by Roy Thomas and Estaban Marato

Another Half Price Books find. I’ll read it once I’m finished with Dracula. This collects issues originally published by TOPPS Comics in the 90s. I found this in the reduced section for a couple of bucks. 

Will I get to everything in the stack? Probably not. But as usual, we’ll see what happens! I hope that you’re reading something good this October.