An anthology collection of tales of terror, with a well-crafted plot and a sting in the tale’s tail.
Feature image credit: Penguin Books Australia
It’s been two years since Caleb Finn released his first anthology of young adult horror stories: Archives of Despair. With Horror in Pleasantville – Stories from the Archives, Caleb Finn returns to the dark source of his first collection, with a fresh batch of tales and a new approach.
This time there are 15 tales, delivered in a different format but following a similar line of interconnectedness that makes the whole book a larger sum of the individual parts. Tales ranging from an undead friends’ desire for revenge, to an obsolete technology with a dark message from the future and a hall of mirrors that show something much darker than a twisted reflection, are just a few.
The method of delivery with these tales lies in its setting. This time, the tales are catalogued as files from within the Archives of the Anomaly Restriction Committee (ARC). The book opens with an email between ARC colleagues, a formal letter of confirmation of return to work from the ARC Director (containing a very clear message about the nature of the hazards of the job, even in the archiving arena) and a list of backlogged files for review. The ultimate tale wraps everything back around on itself, leading us back to the opening email and the events that preceded it.
The structure of each tale is simple, but effective. We are given the story of the incident and the post event ARC report, outlining the nature of the entity, the current state of those involved and the containment measures applied to ensure no repeat disasters. Finn even goes so far as to provide the reports in a visualisation of the record’s file format, including an image of the associated entity.
Horror in Pleasantville, while aimed at the YA market, makes for an enjoyable read, regardless of your age. For those who enjoy The X-Files, the individual stories and overarching tale have the feel of those early seasons, including the monsters of the week and the bigger picture conspiracy.
As with his previous release, Finn provides a content warning and a list of Australian and New Zealand-based helpline numbers for young people in need of support. These content inclusions demonstrate his understanding of and commitment to supporting his readers and keeping them safe from horrors both real and literary.
Reviewed by Glen Christie
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Penguin Books Australia
Released: August 2025
RRP: $17.99
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