The Secrets Behind Goosebumps Books by RL Stine: An Interview with the Author
Goosebumps Books by RL Stine: A Guide for Young Horror Fans
If you are a fan of horror stories, chances are you have heard of or read some of the Goosebumps books by RL Stine. These books are among the best-selling children's books of all time, with over 400 million copies sold worldwide. They have also been adapted into a TV series, two movies, and several video games. But what makes these books so appealing to young readers? And what are the different series and genres of Goosebumps books? In this article, we will explore the history, popularity, and diversity of Goosebumps books, and give you some recommendations on which ones to read if you want to experience some spine-tingling fun.
goosebumps books by rl stine
Introduction
What are Goosebumps books?
Goosebumps books are a series of horror fiction novels written by American author RL Stine, who is also known as the "Stephen King of children's literature". The books are aimed at children aged 8 to 12, but they can also be enjoyed by older readers who like scary stories. Each book features a different plot, setting, and characters, but they all have some common elements: a twist ending, a dash of humor, and a lot of suspense. The books often involve supernatural creatures, such as ghosts, vampires, werewolves, zombies, witches, and aliens, as well as everyday situations that turn into nightmares, such as haunted houses, cursed objects, evil experiments, and creepy carnivals.
Why are Goosebumps books popular?
Goosebumps books are popular because they offer young readers a safe and fun way to explore their fears and fantasies. The books allow them to experience the thrill of being scared without being traumatized. They also stimulate their imagination and creativity by presenting them with various scenarios and challenges that they can relate to or wonder about. Moreover, the books are easy to read and engaging to follow. They have short chapters, simple language, and catchy titles. They also have colorful and eye-catching covers that attract the attention of potential readers.
How many Goosebumps books are there?
There are currently over 230 Goosebumps books published, divided into several series and sub-series. The first series, simply called Goosebumps, started in 1992 and ended in 1997, with 62 books. The second series, called Give Yourself Goosebumps, started in 1995 and ended in 2000, with 50 books. The third series, called Goosebumps Series 2000, started in 1998 and ended in 2000, with 25 books. The fourth series, called Goosebumps HorrorLand, started in 2008 and ended in 2012, with 19 books. The fifth series, called Goosebumps Most Wanted, started in 2012 and ended in 2016, with 14 books. The sixth and current series, called Goosebumps SlappyWorld, started in 2017 and is still ongoing, with 16 books so far.
The Different Series of Goosebumps Books
Original Goosebumps (1992-1997)
The original Goosebumps series is the most classic and iconic one. It contains some of the most famous and beloved titles of the franchise, such as Welcome to Dead House, Night of the Living Dummy, The Haunted Mask, One Day at HorrorLand, and The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb. These books are standalone stories that can be read in any order. They usually have a protagonist who is a normal kid who encounters something strange or terrifying in his or her life. The stories are often set in realistic locations, such as schools, neighborhoods, camps, or museums. The stories also have a twist ending that surprises or shocks the reader.
Some of the most famous titles in this series are:
Welcome to Dead House: The first book of the series introduces the reader to the world of Goosebumps. It tells the story of Amanda and Josh Benson, who move to a new house in a town called Dark Falls. They soon discover that their house is haunted by the ghosts of the previous owners, who want to kill them and take their place.
Night of the Living Dummy: The seventh book of the series introduces the reader to one of the most iconic characters of the franchise: Slappy the Dummy. It tells the story of Lindy and Kris Powell, who find a ventriloquist dummy in a dumpster. Lindy decides to keep it and name it Slappy, while Kris gets another dummy named Mr. Wood. However, they soon realize that Slappy is alive and evil, and he wants to make them his slaves.
The Haunted Mask: The eleventh book of the series is one of the most popular and memorable ones. It tells the story of Carly Beth Caldwell, who is tired of being scared by everyone. She decides to buy a scary mask from a mysterious shop for Halloween. However, she finds out that the mask is cursed and it sticks to her face. She also discovers that the mask has a mind of its own and it wants to take over her personality.
One Day at HorrorLand: The sixteenth book of the series is one of the most fun and adventurous ones. It tells the story of Lizzy Morris and her family, who get lost on their way to Zoo Gardens and end up at a theme park called HorrorLand. They think that HorrorLand is a place where they can enjoy some scary rides and attractions. However, they soon realize that HorrorLand is run by monsters who want to kill them for their amusement.
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb: The fifth book of the series is one of the most exotic and mysterious ones. It tells the story of Gabe Hassad, who visits his uncle Ben in Egypt. He gets to explore a pyramid and see a mummy's tomb. However, he also encounters a man named Ahmed, who claims to be a descendant of an ancient pharaoh. Ahmed wants to use Gabe's blood to revive the mummy and unleash a curse on the world.
Give Yourself Goosebumps (1995-2000)
Give Yourself Goosebumps is a series of choose-your-own-adventure books that let the reader decide what happens next in the story. These books are different from the original series because they have multiple endings, some good and some bad. They also have more interactive elements, such as puzzles, riddles, dice rolls, or cards. These books are more challenging and unpredictable than the original series. They often have more fantastical or sci-fi elements than horror elements.
How these books are different from the original series are:
Escape from the Carnival of Horrors: The first book of this series gives the reader a choice between going to a normal carnival or a spooky one. The spooky one turns out to be HorrorLand, where the reader has to face various dangers and traps. The reader can also find a secret passage that leads to a different adventure.
Deep in the Jungle of Doom: The eighth book of this series gives the reader a choice between going on a safari or a jungle expedition. The jungle expedition leads to a lost city where the reader has to deal with ancient curses, giant insects, and a mad scientist. The reader can also find a portal that transports them to another dimension.
Trapped in Bat Wing Hall: The seventeenth book of this series gives the reader a choice between joining a drama club or a chess club. The drama club turns out to be run by vampires who want to use the reader as their prey. The reader can also find a secret passage that leads to a haunted mansion.
The Deadly Experiments of Dr. Eeek: The fourth book of this series gives the reader a choice between visiting a science museum or a pet store. The pet store turns out to be a front for a mad scientist who wants to use the reader as his guinea pig. The reader can also find a hidden elevator that takes them to a different floor.
Night in Werewolf Woods: The fifth book of this series gives the reader a choice between going camping or staying at home. The camping trip leads to a forest where the reader has to survive the attacks of werewolves and other creatures. The reader can also find a cave that leads to a different adventure.
Goosebumps Series 2000 (1998-2000)
Goosebumps Series 2000 is a series of books that are darker and more violent than the original series. These books have more gore, death, and evil endings than the previous ones. They also have more complex and mature themes, such as genetic engineering, cybernetics, and environmental issues. These books are more suitable for older readers who want more horror and less humor.
How these books are darker and more violent than the original series are:
Cry of the Cat: The first book of this series tells the story of Allison Rogers, who accidentally runs over a black cat with her bike. She soon finds out that the cat is not dead, but rather cursed. The cat comes back to life and attacks Allison, infecting her with a virus that turns her into a cat-like creature.
Bride of the Living Dummy: The second book of this series tells the story of Jillian Zinman, who receives a ventriloquist dummy named Mary-Ellen as a gift from her cousin. She soon discovers that Mary-Ellen is possessed by Slappy the Dummy, who wants to make her his bride.
Revenge R Us: The thirteenth book of this series tells the story of Wade Brill, who is bullied by his older brother and his friends. He decides to get revenge on them by visiting a mysterious shop called Revenge R Us, where he can buy spells and curses. However, he soon realizes that the shop is run by an evil witch who has her own plans for him.
Attack of the Graveyard Ghouls: The eleventh book of this series tells the story of Spencer Kassimir, who visits an old cemetery with his class. He accidentally knocks over a tombstone and releases a horde of ghouls who can possess people's bodies. He has to find a way to stop them before they take over his town.
The Haunted Car: The twenty-first book of this series tells the story of Mitchell Moinian, who gets a new car from his dad. He soon finds out that the car is haunted by the ghost of its previous owner, who died in a car crash. The ghost wants to take Mitchell's life and drive him to his doom.
Goosebumps HorrorLand (2008-2012)
Goosebumps HorrorLand is a series of books that are connected by a common plotline involving a sinister theme park called HorrorLand. Each book has two parts: the first part is a standalone story that introduces a new protagonist and a new horror, and the second part is a continuation of the HorrorLand story that connects the protagonist with other characters from previous books. The HorrorLand story reveals that the theme park is run by a group of villains called the Menace, who want to use the protagonists for their evil schemes.
How these books are connected by a common plotline involving a sinister theme park are:
Revenge of the Living Dummy: The first book of this series tells the story of Britney Crosby, who has to deal with her cousin Ethan and his ventriloquist dummy Mr. Badboy, who is controlled by Slappy the Dummy. She and Ethan are invited to HorrorLand, where they meet other kids who have also encountered Slappy.
Creep from the Deep: The second book of this series tells the story of Billy Deep, who goes on a diving adventure with his sister Sheena and his uncle Dr. Deep. They encounter a sunken pirate ship and a ghostly crew who want to drag them to the bottom of the ocean. They also receive an invitation to HorrorLand, where they meet other kids who have also faced underwater horrors.
Monster Blood for Breakfast!: The third book of this series tells the story of Matt Daniels, who has to deal with his annoying neighbor Bradley Wormser, who likes to eat Monster Blood, a green slime that makes him grow bigger and stronger. Matt accidentally eats some Monster Blood himself and starts to experience strange side effects. He also gets an invitation to HorrorLand, where he meets other kids who have also encountered Monster Blood.
The Scream of the Haunted Mask: The fourth book of this series tells the story of Carly Beth Caldwell, who has to deal with the haunted mask that she wore on Halloween. The mask is still alive and wants to attach itself to her face again. She also gets an invitation to HorrorLand, where she meets other kids who have also faced haunted masks.
Dr. Maniac vs. Robby Schwartz: The fifth book of this series tells the story of Robby Schwartz, who likes to create comic books about a superhero named Robby and a supervillain named Dr. Maniac. He is shocked when Dr. Maniac comes to life and starts to wreak havoc in his town. He also gets an invitation to HorrorLand, where he meets other kids who have also faced comic book characters.
Goosebumps Most Wanted (2012-2016)
Goosebumps Most Wanted is a series of books that feature the most notorious villains and monsters from the previous series. These books are standalone stories that focus on one antagonist and one protagonist each. They are similar to the original series in terms of style and tone, but they have more references and connections to the previous books.
How these books feature the most notorious villains and monsters from the previous series are:
Planet of the Lawn Gnomes: The first book of this series features the lawn gnomes from Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes. It tells the story of Jay Gardener, who moves to a new town called Lawnville, where everything seems perfect. However, he soon discovers that the town is infested with evil lawn gnomes who come alive at night and cause mischief.
Son of Slappy: The second book of this series features Slappy the Dummy from Night of the Living Dummy. It tells the story of Jackson Stander, who is a good kid who always follows the rules. He finds Slappy in his attic and decides to use him for a prank on his sister Rachel. However, he soon realizes that Slappy has a mind of his own and he wants to make Jackson his son.
How I Met My Monster: The third book of this series features the monsters from I Live in Your Basement!. It tells the story of Noah Bienstock, who is afraid of everything. He hears noises coming from his basement and thinks that there is a monster living there. He decides to face his fears and confront the monster, but he finds out that there are more than one monster in his basement.
She discovers that he has created a giant dog-like creature from different animal parts. She also finds out that he has a sinister plan for his creation.
Dr. Maniac Will See You Now: The fifth book of this series features Dr. Maniac from Dr. Maniac vs. Robby Schwartz. It tells the story of Richard Dreezer, who is a fan of comic books and video games. He visits a new virtual reality arcade called Wonder World, where he can enter the worlds of his favorite games. However, he soon realizes that Dr. Maniac has taken over the arcade and he wants to make Richard his next victim.
Goosebumps SlappyWorld (2017-present)
Goosebumps SlappyWorld is the current and latest series of books that focus on Slappy the Dummy, the most iconic character of the franchise. These books are similar to the original series in terms of style and tone, but they have more humor and meta-fictional elements. They also have more involvement and narration from Slappy himself, who often breaks the fourth wall and talks to the reader.
How these books focus on Slappy the Dummy are:
Slappy Birthday to You: The first book of this series tells the story of Ian Barker, who gets Slappy as a birthday present from his dad. He thinks that Slappy is just a normal dummy, but he soon finds out that Slappy is alive and evil. Slappy starts to ruin Ian's life by causing trouble at his school, his home, and his party.
Attack of the Jack: The second book of this series tells the story of Devin and Violet O'Leary, who visit their uncle Jack in Louisiana. They find out that their uncle is a pirate who has a treasure chest full of gold coins. However, they also discover that the chest is guarded by a pirate ghost named Captain Jack, who can turn people into gold statues.
I Am Slappy's Evil Twin: The third book of this series tells the story of Luke Harrison, who finds two ventriloquist dummies in his basement: Slappy and Snappy. He thinks that Snappy is Slappy's good twin, but he soon realizes that Snappy is actually Slappy's evil twin. Snappy wants to destroy Slappy and take over the world.
Please Do Not Feed the Weirdo: The fourth book of this series tells the story of Jordan Keppler and his sister Karla, who visit a carnival with their parents. They encounter a strange man in a cage who calls himself Rocco the Rotten. He begs them to feed him some cotton candy, but they refuse. However, they accidentally drop some candy into his cage, and he transforms into a monstrous creature.
Escape from Shudder Mansion: The fifth book of this series tells the story of Riley Shiner and his friend Carter Hendricks, who are fans of horror movies and books. They visit a famous horror writer named R.L. Stine, who lives in a mansion full of creepy things. They find out that Stine has a secret: he can bring his stories to life with a magic typewriter.
The Adaptations of Goosebumps Books
The TV series (1995-1998)
The TV series is an adaptation of Goosebumps books that brought the books to life on screen. It was produced by Scholastic and aired on Fox Kids from 1995 to 1998. It had four seasons and 74 episodes, each based on one or two books from the original series or Give Yourself Goosebumps series. The TV series was faithful to the books in terms of plot, characters, and tone, but it also made some changes and additions to make it more suitable for television. For example, some episodes had different endings or twists than the books, some episodes combined elements from different books, and some episodes introduced new characters or stories that were not in the books.
How the TV series brought the books to life on screen are:
The Haunted Mask: The first episode of the TV series is based on the eleventh book of the original series. It follows Carly Beth Caldwell as she buys and wears a haunted mask for Halloween. The episode is faithful to the book, except that it adds a scene where Carly Beth scares her brother and his friends with the mask, and it changes the ending where Carly Beth manages to remove the mask by using a symbol of love.
One Day at HorrorLand: The sixteenth and seventeenth episodes of the TV series are based on the sixteenth book of the original series. They follow Lizzy Morris and her family as they visit HorrorLand and face various dangers and traps. The episodes are faithful to the book, except that they add a subplot where Lizzy's brother Luke finds a clue that leads him to a secret exit, and they change the ending where the family escapes from HorrorLand with the help of a Horror who is actually a human spy.
A Night in Terror Tower: The eighteenth and nineteenth episodes of the TV series are based on the twenty-seventh book of the original series. They follow Sue and Eddie Morris as they visit Terror Tower in London and discover that they are actually princes and princesses from medieval times who are chased by an evil executioner. The episodes are faithful to the book, except that they add a scene where Sue and Eddie meet a friendly guard who helps them escap