October is here and, in the Northern Hemisphere, the autumn is upon us once more. Now is the season of falling leaves, of drizzling rains, of chilly mists, of bonfires, and, of course, of ghost stories and all things spooky.
Online, you’ve probably already seen people talking about “Spooky Season”, but you might be surprised to learn that the phrase dates back to 1905 (first printed in September of that year, fittingly enough in Light: A Journal of Psychical, Occult, and Mystical Research). According to grammarphobia.com, usage of the term “Spooky Season” has been steadily increasing since the 1990s, so don’t try to blame Generation Z for this one.
The turning point between October and November is, of course, the height of this season. Hallowe’en, Samhain, Hop-tu-naa, Día de los Muertos, and many other traditional festivals straddle the threshold between the two months. October becoming November marks the beginning of the season of long, dark nights; a time when, in many cultures and traditions, the spirits of the dead are believed to be abroad. For some, these are special days when departed ancestors are honoured and revered, for others, this is a time when malicious and wicked spirits must be driven away at all costs. In any case, this time of year is undisputedly the season of ghosts, in one way or another.
Anne Rice is just one of many many authors born (on 4th of October) in this season, which seems to have suited, if not coloured, their output. Clive Barker (Oct 5th), R. L. Stine (Oct 8th), Joe R. Lansdale (Oct 28th), and Bram Stoker (Nov 8th) all likewise seem very suitable members of the Spooky Season Birthday Club. Oh, and just in case you were wondering, October the 27th is National Black Cat Day here in the UK.
2022 marks the 19th year that Moore & Reppion have been writing professionally together. In that time we have worked on more than our fair share of what some might call “Spooky Season” appropriate material. Ghost stories, horror series, Weird Fiction, articles and artworks dealing with the supernatural, the occult, and with magick. All the kinds of things which are perfect for whiling away a chilly autumn evening sat by the fire, maybe sipping a mug, or glass, of something warming.
So, as the wind whistles down the chimney, the back gate groans and creaks, and the bare branches of that tree you keep meaning to talk to someone about cutting back tap intermittently on the window, here’s a little selection of some of the things we’ve worked on across the last two decades which we think you might enjoy this Hallowmas season.
TALES FROM THE LIBRARY OF THE OCCULT (Library of the Occult Records, 2021/22)
Tales from the Library of the Occult is a series of releases from Library of the Occult Records.
Strange and terrifying tales, written by John Reppion. Eerie and atmospheric soundtracks, created by artists like Dream Division, Klaus Morlock, and Blood & Dust. Gripping readings, from the likes of Matthew Holness, Kathrine Peach, and Peter Baker. Incredible cover art, created by artists like Kirill Khrol, Alisdair Wood, and more.
Released digitally, on CD, and on limited edition cassette and deluxe vinyl.
[see also: some of John’s other Greenwood stories]
THE HELLEBORE GUIDE TO OCCULT BRITAIN (Hellebore, 2021)
Exploring castles, museums and manor houses, megaliths, moors, mountains and lakes, this lavishly illustrated travel guide covers the rich history of magic and the occult in Britain and Northern Ireland and its inextricable bond with the landscape.
Delve into a world of witchcraft, ancient rituals, and occult ceremonies.
From the ancient stone circles of the Cornish moors to the wealthy manor houses of Hampshire, from the windswept headlands of Northumbria to the golden streets of Oxford, from the turbulent Scottish borderlands to the rugged Causeway Coast, this guide ventures into hundreds of locations with magical links, exploring the works of authors and creators inspired by their strange, numinous beauty; the lives of the occultists, witches, and cunning folk who inhabited them; and the legends that persist.
[see also: the individual issues of Hellebore Zine which John has contributed to]
THE OUTCAST HOURS (Solaris, 2019)
These are the stories of people who live at night: under neon and starlight, and never the light of the sun.
These are the stories of poets and police, tourists and traders; the hidden and the forbidden; the lonely and the lovers.
This is their time.
The Outcast Hours gathers over two dozen brand-new stories from award-winning writers across genres and continents, including bold new fiction from Marina Warner, Frances Hardinge, China Miéville, Sami Shah, Omar Robert Hamilton, Kuzhali Manickavel, Will Hill, Indrapramit Das, Silvia Moreno Garcia, Jeffrey Alan Love, Maha Khan Phillips, and many, many more.
GHOST STORIES OF AN ANTIQUARY, VOLUME 1 (Self Made Hero, 2016)
Admired by writers from H.P. Lovecraft to Ruth Rendell, M.R. James is the acknowledged master of the English ghost story. Disdaining gore in favour of atmosphere and suggestion, his enduring supernatural tales are masterpieces of understated horror.
Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, Volume 1 collects graphic retellings of four spine-chilling tales by the renowned medievalist and writer. At once true to their source and powerfully reimagined for a visual medium, Leah Moore and John Reppion’s subtly crafted adaptations give a new lease of life to these classic stories of vanishing children, spectral works of art and vengeance from beyond the grave. Artwork is provided by Aneke, Kit Buss, Fouad Mezher and Alisdair Wood.
GHOST STORIES OF AN ANTIQUARY, VOLUME 2 (Self Made Hero, 2017)
Curl up by the fire and enter the sinister, supernatural world of Montague Rhodes James, the master of the English ghost story.
Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, Volume 2 comprises graphic adaptations of four spine-chilling stories by M.R. James: ‘Number 13’, ‘Count Magnus’, ‘Oh, Whistle, And I’ll Come To You, My Lad’ and ‘The Treasure of Abbot Thomas’. Filled with intrigue, suspense and intellectual adventure, these captivating tales of terror plunge the reader into a world of creeping dread, where rationality is challenged and the mundane collides with the supernatural.
Leah Moore and John Reppion’s subtly crafted adaptations breathe fresh life into these stories of restless phantoms and ill-advised academic exploration. Artwork is provided by Al Davison, Abigail Larson, George Kambadais and Meghan Hetrick.
THE COMPLETE RAISE THE DEAD (Dynamite Entertainment, 2016)
Dynamite Entertainment’s wildly successful entry into the zombie horror genre is finally collected in its entirety!
The zombie infestation rages unchecked. Only a handful of survivors remain, fighting for their lives against the rising tide of undead mayhem! Will these poor souls survive the perils of an overrun city and find safe haven Alfredo Bay’s small coastal town… or has that world died along with almost everything else in this post-apocalyptic nightmare?
This gloriously gory compendium of carnage comes with a special introduction by Max Brooks, author of the New York Times bestselling Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z!
SHERLOCK HOLMES – THE LIVERPOOL DEMON (Dynamite Entertainment, 2013)
With mauled bodies appearing on Liverpool streets, rumours circulate that the culprit might be an inhuman monster known as Spring Heeled Jack.
Determined to debunk the city’s superstitions, Holmes delves into the criminal underworld, piecing together an intricate and deadly puzzle.
Meanwhile, Dr Watson witnesses the creature with his own eyes and sets out alone in pursuit. Will Holmes be able to save his dear friend from the perils beneath Liverpool?
[see also: Moore & Reppion’s other Sherlock Holmes mysteries – The Vanishing Man, The Trial of Sherlock Holmes, and more]
THE COMPLETE DRACULA (Dynamite Entertainment, 2009)
Dynamite presents the complete story of the Lord of the Undead — Dracula!
For the first time in 112 years, the original masterpiece from Bram Stoker is fully restored in this sensational graphic collection. If you thought you knew how it all began, or how it ends, you were wrong! Open this book and enjoy the real story of Dracula, as Bram Stoker had originally imagined it.
Writers John Reppion and Leah Moore are joined by painter Colton Worley for an odyssey of life, death, and the blood that flows within us all!
This adaptation features fully-painted art, done in a rich, moody style by Worley, all under covers by modern master John Cassaday! Also contains bonus material such as script pages, annotations, a cover gallery, and samplings of the original text by Bram Stoker including the lost chapter “Dracula’s Guest!