Seattle Culture

For Your Halloween Listening Pleasure 

Four spine-tingling short stories that go deeper than basic scares

By Sarah Stackhouse October 31, 2023

AudioStories_1600x900

This collection of audio stories features four narratives suitable for a wide audience that will raise goosebumps as well as attempt to understand the depths of our human experience. From a non-fiction exploration of generational impact to a supernatural encounter with a terrifying hat, these stories provide a listening experience that will linger in your thoughts long after Halloween has passed. So, dim the lights and press play.

Multo, by Samuel Marzioli, is a chilling short story unfolding through the lens of a Filipino man. As he begins to question whether the monster he once dreaded as a child could actually be real, the story explores the unsettling possibility that it may have resurfaced to haunt him once more. Listen here to have it read by LeVar Burton in the LeVar Burton Reads podcast.

Grandma Turned Me Into a Ghost is an episode from the Smithsonian Institution’s Sidedoor series. This essay, by Anelise Chen, examines the relationship between Chen and her Taiwanese grandmother. Chen gets real and goes deep, exploring how our families influence our individual and cultural identities and leave a lasting mark.

Ursula Vernon’s Jackalope Wives, a Hugo Award and Nebula Award-winning short story, unravels the mysteries hidden within folklore. Set in the desert, a young man and his mysterious grandmother uncover the secrets of the elusive jackalope wives. 

In The Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link, twin sisters, along with their unusual babysitter, encounter a surreal and horrific hat in their attic. Themes of loss, identity, and growing up are all present in the most strange and interesting ways. This story is scary but maintains a sense of play throughout, leaving readers both intrigued and mystified. Read by LeVar Burton in the LeVar Burton Reads podcast.

 

Follow Us

Trailblazing Women: Jean Smart

Trailblazing Women: Jean Smart

'Hacks' star reflects on her career and how growing up in Seattle shaped her

It's almost noon, and Jean Smart is present as ever during a phone call. She actually asks the first question, about whether I’m a Seattle native. “Oh, you are!” she exclaims, her voice lighting up with even more warmth when she finds out I am a fellow University of Washington alum and, like her youngest,

Dark Emotions, Lighthearted Interactions

Dark Emotions, Lighthearted Interactions

Whim W’Him presents two emotion-inducing premieres to close out the season

Last weekend, choreographer Olivier Wevers stood on the stage at Cornish Playhouse, asking the audience to drop their preconceived notions and open their hearts to art...

Abrupt Write Turn

Abrupt Write Turn

Zachary Kellian’s decision to pursue a new career nets him recognition

Zachary Kellian ditched a career he loved, as he puts it, “to live out a dream.”

Finding Place in Pictures

Finding Place in Pictures

Artist Sky Hopinka’s first solo museum exhibit in the northwest showcases his creative approach to language and identity

“I had cassette tapes and workbooks, but it was hard because I was living in Washington, and my tribal language has roots in Wisconsin,” Sky Hopinka says. Learning alone, he could listen to prerecorded Hocak phrases and practice writing letters and words, but an essential component was missing — another person to speak with. Photo