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The Walrus
The Walrus
The Walrus Staff

Spectres and Sugar: Seven Stories to Read for Halloween

Halloween decorations, including a smiling ghost, jack-o’-lanterns, and a spider web, adorn the front of a house.

Trick or treat—give me something good to read!

To get into the Halloween spirit, why not dive into these articles and essays from The Walrus? We’ve covered everything from new trends in horror fiction to the scary side of sugar. We’ve also explored fixations on the uncanny that extend beyond October 31, from astrology to witch hunts to ghost sightings.

Here are some of those conversations.



Why Do We See Dead People?

BY PATRICIA PEARSON
Humans have always sensed the ghosts of loved ones. It’s only in the last century that we convinced ourselves this was a problem



Horror, Horror Everywhere: New Books Are Shaking the Genre to Its Core

BY DANNY JACOBS
Writers are taking spooky books to places they’ve never gone before



Your Halloween Headdress Isn’t Interesting and Neither Are You

BY DALLAS HUNT
It isn’t that hard to find a costume that doesn’t engage in cultural appropriation



My Uncle the Witch Hunter: Unearthing the Uncanny Story of John Troyer

BY ROSEMARY COUNTER
I dug into my family history and discovered a tale of supernatural evil, buried treasure, and paranoia



How I Saved My Kids from Sugar

BY YONI FREEDHOFF
The overconsumption of sugar has became a normal part of our culture. Here’s a recipe for fighting back



The Fault, Dear Reader, Is Not in Our Stars

BY CARLY LEWIS
Mental health care is pricey and inaccessible. Online astrology is rising to take its place



Why We Need a Good Villain: From Ancient Lore to Pandemic Finger Pointing

BY ANGELA MISRI
Villains have starred in our stories for eons. Is that why we want someone to blame for COVID-19?

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