Vintage Treasures: Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge

Vintage Treasures: Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge

Dark Harvest Norman Partridge-small Dark Harvest Norman Partridge-back-small

We got, I dunno, a month or two (or six) before Halloween? But that doesn’t mean you can’t start your spooky Halloween reading a little early this year. My recommendation? Dark Harvest, by Norman Partridge.

Norman Partridge is the author of five collections of horror stories, including The Man with the Barbed-Wire Fists (2001) and Lesser Demons (2010). His short novel Dark Harvest is the tale of Sawtooth Jack, who rises from the cornfields every Halloween and relentlessly makes his way towards town, where gangs of teenage boys await their chance to face off against a creature of nightmare. It was nominated for a World Fantasy Award, and won both the International Horror Guild Award and the Bram Stoker Award for Best Long Fiction. It was also selected as one of Publishers Weekly‘s 100 Best Books of 2006.

Dark Harvest was published in hardcover by Cemetery Dance in October 2006, and reprinted by Tor Books on September 4, 2007. It is 171 pages, priced at $16.99 in trade paperback and $7.99 for the digital edition. The fabulous cover is by Jon Foster. It is still in print.

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Thomas Parker

I read this several years ago and finished it feeling not quite satisfied; the blend of Bradbury and King seemed lacking something that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. But then I discovered that couldn’t stop thinking about it; it just wouldn’t let me go. If that’s not a definition of a good book, what is?

James McGlothlin

I read this a few years ago and absolutely loved it. It has a sort Hunger Games vibe to it (if I’m remembering correctly) that makes it a creepy page turner.

This would make a great movie. I’m surprised it hasn’t been made into one yet.

Nick Ozment

I also concur with the assessment and recommendation. I read it a couple years ago and thought it ranked as one of the better Hallowe’en-themed stories I’ve read — up there with “The Bone Man” by Frederic S. Durbin.

Matthew Wuertz

Did anyone notice the author bio on the back cover? That’s priceless. I think it could only be topped by one of the following:
Norman Partridge lives.
Norman Partridge exists.

Thomas Parker

Matthew, as a California native, I can assure you that there’s really nothing else to say.

thehessiangoeshome

Read this one last year, and think it’s a great Halloween recommendation. The October Boy also reminded me of the Dean Koontz Story “The Black Pumpkin” in the October Dreams anthology, another good Halloween recommendation.
the only thing about Dark Harvest that was disappointing was i wanted some more detail about the October Boy… not WHO he is (the book reveals that) but WHY he is.
A minor quibble; this is a great one for when the leaves start to turn.
Myself, I never read SK’s IT, and think it might be time to fix that with the movie coming and all.
Mick.


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