Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (they changed the art)

[DrSpengler]

Hopefully you guys grew up with the "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" book series like I did.

Well, in 2011, publisher Harper Collins decided to celebrate the series' 30th anniversary by retiring all of the artwork by Stephen Gammell (the book's most memorable attribute) and replacing it with new pieces by Brett Helquist.

You can read a comparative analysis here. (http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/2011/12/18/scary-stories-to-tell-in-the-dark-gammell-vs-helquist/)

The Gammell editions are now out of print; these will be replacing them.

I still have my copies, but I feel sorry for the next generation of kids that'll be growing up with these highly unremarkable, sanitized editions.

[Ron]

It really sucks that they changed the art. I was going to re-buy the set for nostalgic purposes around Halloween, but it really isn't worth it. The new art is fucking terrible.

[WesReviews]

Always loved these books when I was a kid. Really glad I picked up this version at Half Price Books a while back for under $10...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BQFwUgj1L._SS500_.jpg

[Sean [The Wildcard]]

WHAT?! Why the hell would they scrap the original art with this new watered down crap? The art in the original books was what made them so memorable, much so more than the stories themselves. This makes me really happy to STILL have my three original printings of the books.

[Skye]

That sucks. The art is what made the stories so creepy when I was a kid, not the stories themselves. Hopefully I can find the other 2 (I have the original book) at a used bookstore or something on the cheap.

[WesReviews]

I always thought it'd be neat for someone like Tim Burton to do a Scary Stories movie, maybe with stop motion done in the style of the original artwork.

Such a shame they changed the artwork for the new releases.

[SlasherFreak]

These were staples in my childhood. I also love the "Scariest Stories You've Ever Heard" series.

[WesReviews]

I also really dug the Daniel Cohen books...

http://covers.openlibrary.org/b/id/6923858-L.jpg http://covers.openlibrary.org/b/id/1466286-L.jpg

http://images.betterworldbooks.com/067/Phone-Call-from-a-Ghost-9780671682422.jpg http://covers.openlibrary.org/b/id/6577012-L.jpg

http://cd.pbsstatic.com/l/47/7347/9780590457347.jpg http://cb.pbsstatic.com/l/99/4299/9780590624299.jpg

[Ron]

BLOODY FINGERSSSSSSSSSS

[nottidelterrore]

The new artwork is good. The old artwork is better.

[WesReviews]

This series is listed as being the most challenged series of books from 1990–1999[2] and seventh most challenged from 2000-2009 [3] by the American Library Association for its violence. Also there remains the problem of it being classified as a children's book, due to the surreal and nightmarish illustrations contained within.

I'd say there's your reason for the change, right there.

[Geddy Peart]

Like many of you, I grew up with the original books and fondly remember them for the cool, grotesque pictures found within the pages.

That being said, the new photos are a welcomed change.

I mean, how else are we supposed to raise the next generation of ninnies?