“Bone Fire” by Storm Constantine
The Mammoth Book of Halloween Stories (2018) edited by Stephen Jones
Readers unfamiliar with The Mammoth Book of Halloween Stories may prefer to read these notes only after reading the anthology.
Two teen girls participate in the traditional Halloween customs of their village, but their encounter with a mysterious boy leads to a dangerous brush with the folk-supernatural.
Setting: A rural village surrounded by ancient forests, with a focus on a specific field.
Characters: Emlie and Jenna, teenage girls; Tom, a mysterious boy.
Halloween seen as: A time of ancient rituals and encounters with the supernatural.
Style: Folkloric, atmospheric, with a focus on tradition and the power of belief.
Point of view: First person, from Emlie's perspective.
Jay
