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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'Midnight Masquerade, a collection of Greg Chapman’s acclaimed and original fiction:
'Clown-for-hire, Harvey has the worst day of his life
'A childhood display of malice is resurrected thirty years later
'A priest finds true faith means devotion to blood and pain
'Revenge shows Emma what lies beneath her mask of fear
'A Halloween expert unleashes her own personal hell
'In these stories, you’ll discover how the masks we all wear hide our innermost fears, and how our choices can expose true horrors. Also included are Chapman’s acclaimed novellas, The Last Night of October and Vaudeville, and the short stories, Octoberville and Left on October Lane.'
Source: Publisher's blurb.
Contents
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The Last Night of October,
single work
novella
horror
'Seventy-year-old Gerald Forsyth dreads Halloween. Every year, on October 31st, a lone child has knocked on his door—a nightmarish reminder of a tragedy from his past. As each Halloween came and went, Gerald has been able to keep his door locked and the monstrous memory at bay, but the ravages of emphysema have left him a disgruntled and feeble-minded old man.
'When a new hospice nurse named Kelli arrives unexpectedly to replace his regular nurse on Halloween night, Gerald is caught unaware and before he can warn her, Kelli invites the threat into his home. The horrors that unfold will be no trick and the only treat the child will accept is the old man’s soul. Before the night ends, Gerald will have no choice but to bring his dark secret into the light.'
Source: Publisher's blurb (2021 ed.).
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Vaudeville,
single work
novella
horror
'Young Anthony Moore is desperate to discover the truth about his father's death. In Keaton Woods, the truth is waiting for him, held by vengeful demons. "The All-American Travelling Troubadours" have a dark story to perform – all they need is an audience of four young souls. Anthony is about to discover just what he is willing to sacrifice in order to seek answers. Vaudeville is a coming-of-age horror tale, touching on themes of grief, loneliness and the darkest days of the American Civil War, from one of dark fiction's rising stars, Greg Chapman.'
Source: Publisher's blurb.
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Octoberville,
single work
short story
horror
'When Tom Crane crashes his car into a tree he heads to the nearest town, only to find that Octoberville has a very unhealthy obsession with Halloween.'
Source: Back-cover blurb.
- Left on October Lane, single work short story horror
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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[Review] Midnight Masquerade
2023
single work
review
— Appears in: Aurealis , no. 164 2023;
— Review of Midnight Masquerade 2023 selected work short story novella
-
[Review] Midnight Masquerade
2023
single work
review
— Appears in: Aurealis , no. 164 2023;
— Review of Midnight Masquerade 2023 selected work short story novella
Awards
- 2023 finalist Australian Shadows Award — Collection