Neil Gaiman spins a haunting and interesting tale with his short story “October in the Chair.” When I first read the title, I half expected something about a trial or someone being interrogated, but that’s not at all how this story turns out.
In the beginning of the story, the twelve months of the year (who are characters) are all sitting around a campfire, eating sausages and drinking fresh apple cider. Every month they engage in this activity, each one taking turns in “the chair” and telling a story. But this month is October’s turn in the chair, and he tells a story you won’t soon forget.
Now I won’t get into all the details for the sake of remaining unspoiled, but this is a summary of the story: A boy, called the Runt, doesn’t feel loved at home and decides to run away. On his journey, he meets a friend whose fine white hair shines “almost white in the moonlight,” and throughout a series of events, he makes a fateful decision. (Or maybe not depending on how you interpret it.) October ends his story with a cliffhanger, leaving the other months and the readers with unanswered questions and a feeling of unease. |
The concept of having the months of the year as characters is clever, though the author could develop this idea a little more. Although perhaps Gaiman is being purposely vague to add to the mystery of the story.
There are a few lines that are particularly enjoyable, like this one when the boy is deciding whether or not to run away: “He knew that if you ran away you sometimes met bad people who did bad things to you; but he had also read fairy tales, so he knew that there were kind people living out there, side by side with the monsters.”
And this one that describes the October character: “His beard was all colors, a grove of trees in autumn, deep brown and fire orange and wine red, an untrimmed tangle across the lower half of his face. His cheeks were apple red. He looked like a friend; someone you had known all your life.”
There are a few lines that are particularly enjoyable, like this one when the boy is deciding whether or not to run away: “He knew that if you ran away you sometimes met bad people who did bad things to you; but he had also read fairy tales, so he knew that there were kind people living out there, side by side with the monsters.”
And this one that describes the October character: “His beard was all colors, a grove of trees in autumn, deep brown and fire orange and wine red, an untrimmed tangle across the lower half of his face. His cheeks were apple red. He looked like a friend; someone you had known all your life.”
“October in the Chair” creates a slightly haunting but not intensely scary feeling, which is the kind of Halloween story that I do enjoy. Compared to other Halloween stories, it wasn’t as dark, but still somewhat creepy complete with graveyards, moonlight, and characters from beyond.
Overall, I would give this story a three out of five rating. Some aspects of the plot and character descriptions made the story feel somewhat like a rough draft. But on the other hand, the lack of clarity served to build the mystery. It captured the distinct and chilly October essence. If you are looking for a good story to share around the campfire, you should definitely consider “October in the Chair.” However, if you’re someone who needs answers to every question, or if you’re looking for a cozy autumn tale, this one is not for you. |