Thread: Scary Strories to Tell in the Dark Books

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This morning, I visited Pumpkin Rot's blog and checked out the article concerning the illustration changes now being made to the classic children's ghost story books "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark".

All 3 of the books in the series have been a huge influance and part of my early growth in all things Horror. The illustrations by Stephen Gammell are quite simply Terrifiying and Amazing all in the same! While the stories are a great collection of old urban tales, it was the illustrations and paintings in the book that made it very unique and kept young kids up at night. Some of the pictures I saw as a young child when I first opened the books gave me such chills that I proceeded with caution at each turn of the page!

Apparently, the Books with the artwork of Stephen Gammell are now out of print and have been replaced with artwork that is generic and lacking the true madness of what Gammell did in bringing the stories to life. I for one, am not happy about the changes.

My response: WHAT THE %$#@!!!!!

Check out the articles here:

http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com...l-vs-helquist/

http://pumpkinrot.blogspot.com/2012/01/gammellness.html

The illustrations aren't technically 'bad', but they are nothing compared to the former artwork that was used in those books previously. I'm not thrilled about the change, either I see that the prices are being driven up now for that very reason... No, I'm not planning to sell mine, unless I can make a cool mil

Originally Posted by Garthgoyle

The illustrations aren't technically 'bad', but they are nothing compared to the former artwork that was used in those books previously. I'm not thrilled about the change, either I see that the prices are being driven up now for that very reason... No, I'm not planning to sell mine, unless I can make a cool mil

The new artwork is a style all of it's own and no, it's not bad. I have all 3 books and the Scary Stories Treasury Hardcover edition in my collection that I do not plan on parting with anytime soon.

The price on them is going up, how far? That should be interesting!

I've never read this book , I'm going to have to buy a copy. I agree the original artwork is better.

I bought the Treasury on clearance about 4 years ago at Borders. I only have the second book otherwise and have never read the third one, so I need to find the Treasury and read it!

This topic was brought up last year as well. I don't understand why publishers feel the need to change the artwork. Some books, like The Wind In The Willows have changed art so often that there isn't anything classic about a particular one (not even first editions) but others, like Dahl books published without Quentin Blake's art, are just awful. Eventually they'll probably "modernize" the stories too!

This kind of thing makes me want to find a PDF of the originals to share with people now that you can't buy them anymore.

I have all 3 books in Paperback (the same ones I had since I was a Kid). I was able to buy the Hardcover Treasury edition on eBay for $10, I acted now since they are out of print and the prices are getting out of contol.

If you look, you can still find them at reasonable prices, but I would get it now while it's both affordable and availiable.

Oh no! The original artwork is what made it so iconic! I can say that I don't remember many of the stories themselves, but BOY, do I remember those illustrations!

It arrived this afternoon, great illustrations. My Sons reading it at the moment.