How connected do you feel to the idea of vengeful spirits seeking justice from beyond the grave?
- I completely believe it – you reap what you sow!
- It’s an intriguing concept, but I’m not sure if I fully believe it.
- I’m more interested in the psychology behind why people believe in ghosts.
- I think it’s all superstition, nothing more.
Imagine yourself as a scholar like Edward Dunning, what lengths would you go to for knowledge, even if it meant dabbling in the occult?
- Knowledge is power, I’d take risks if it meant expanding my understanding.
- I would be cautious, but ultimately, the pursuit of knowledge is paramount.
- I’d stick to conventional methods, some things are best left undisturbed.
- I wouldn’t go anywhere near the occult, it’s too dangerous!
How prepared do you think you are to handle a haunting like the Anstruthers faced in “The Rose Garden”?
- I’d research the history, try to understand and maybe appease the spirits.
- I would try to ignore it at first, but eventually, I’d have to move!
- I’d call in experts, paranormal investigators, or even a priest.
- I’d sell the house immediately and never look back!
How do you feel about the idea that past events, especially tragedies, can leave a lasting impact on a place, as seen in many of these stories?
- Places absorb energy, I’m not surprised at all that tragedy could linger.
- It’s a chilling thought, but history does seem to repeat itself.
- I can see how a tragedy could impact a place’s atmosphere.
- I think it’s more about human perception than actual lingering energy.
What’s your favorite memory of reading ghost stories, whether it’s M.R. James or another author?
- That feeling of being completely engrossed in a spooky tale on a dark night!
- Discussing the stories with friends and trying to guess the twists.
- The way ghost stories make you question what’s real and what’s not.
- I don’t have a favorite memory, I actually don’t enjoy ghost stories.
What comes to mind when you think about inheriting an old, grand estate, like in “Mr. Humphreys and His Inheritance”?
- The potential for hidden treasures and forgotten family secrets!
- The responsibility of maintaining such a place and its history.
- The possibility of it being haunted, which is both exciting and scary!
- Mostly the legal and financial headaches that would probably come with it.
What happened in the past when you encountered something you couldn’t explain?
- I researched it until I found a logical explanation.
- I accepted it as a mystery and moved on.
- It made me believe in the supernatural more than I did before.
- I completely forgot about it until right now.
What aspect of the supernatural explored in these stories intrigues you the most?
- The idea of vengeful spirits and the consequences of past actions.
- The exploration of ancient curses and forbidden knowledge.
- The psychological effects of hauntings and the fragility of sanity.
- The blending of historical detail with supernatural elements.
If you could choose any ghost story trope to experience in real life (safely, of course), which one would you choose and why?
- A friendly ghost who just wants to communicate and tell their story.
- A haunting that leads to solving a historical mystery or finding treasure.
- A spooky, atmospheric haunting with no real danger, just chills.
- I’d rather not experience any of them in real life, thank you very much!
What is your absolute favorite ghost story trope?
- The haunted object that seems harmless but holds a dark secret
- The ghost who is searching for something they lost in life
- The vengeful spirit who will stop at nothing to get revenge
- The creepy old house with a tragic and mysterious past
What’s your idea of a truly effective ghost story? What elements are essential?
- It needs a believable setting, relatable characters, and a slow build of suspense.
- It should explore the psychological impact of fear and the unknown.
- It should have a balance of ambiguity and explanation, leaving room for interpretation.
- It must have a genuinely terrifying climax and a lingering sense of unease.
What makes you most frustrated about common ghost story cliches?
- Jump scares and special effects that rely on shock value rather than atmosphere.
- Predictable plot twists and one-dimensional characters that lack depth.
- Stories that explain everything, leaving no room for mystery or imagination.
- Ghost stories that are more funny than scary, ruining the intended mood.
Which member of a ghost-hunting team would you be?
- The skeptic who needs hard evidence before believing.
- The researcher who delves into historical records and local legends.
- The sensitive who can sense energy and communicate with spirits.
- The tech expert who operates all the recording equipment and analyzes data.
A specific situation arises, you discover an old book with a strange inscription while browsing a dusty antique shop. What do you do?
- Buy the book immediately and begin trying to decipher the inscription.
- Show it to an expert, like a rare book librarian or an antiquarian, for advice.
- Leave the book where it is, sensing it might be best left undisturbed.
- Take a picture of the inscription but resist the urge to buy the book.
You have a choice of spending a night in a supposedly haunted library or exploring a graveyard at midnight. Which do you choose?
- The library, there’s something inherently spooky about old books and silence.
- The graveyard, I’m more drawn to the history and peace of such places.
- Neither, I’d much rather stay in with a good book and a cup of tea.
What keeps you up at night about the possibility of a world beyond our own?
- The idea that our actions in this life might have consequences in the afterlife.
- The unknown nature of what awaits us after death and if we are truly alone.
- The possibility that there are forces beyond our understanding that influence our lives.
- I tend to focus on the here and now, I don’t worry about the afterlife.
How do you feel about M.R. James’s writing style, particularly his use of detailed descriptions and academic tone?
- I love it, the details create such a vivid and immersive experience.
- It’s a bit dense for me; I prefer a faster pace and more modern language.
- It adds to the authenticity and creepiness of the stories, like reading old documents.
- It doesn’t bother me either way, I’m more focused on the plot and characters.
What do you dream about when it comes to reading a collection of ghost stories?
- Finding a collection with stories that truly terrify me and keep me up at night.
- Discovering new authors with fresh takes on classic ghost story tropes.
- Reading a story so immersive it feels like I’m living it, for better or worse.
- I don’t dream about ghost stories, I prefer happier, lighter reading material.
You are at a party and someone brings up ghost stories, what do you do?
- Share my favorite ghost stories and eagerly listen to others.
- Politely listen but keep my distance, not wanting to attract any unwanted attention.
- Change the subject, I don’t want to spoil the mood with spooky tales.
- Confess that ghost stories freak me out and ask for a different topic.
Which of these eerie scenarios from More Ghost Stories would you find most unsettling to encounter?
- Discovering a Latin inscription in your home that predicts a future tragedy.
- Seeing the ghostly apparition of a former resident in your newly inherited estate.
- Hearing whispers and footsteps in an empty cathedral, as if someone is following you.
- Being pursued by a vengeful spirit after unknowingly possessing a cursed object.
When you were a kid, how did you feel about ghost stories?
- I loved them, I couldn’t get enough spooky tales!
- They scared me but also fascinated me, a thrilling mix of emotions.
- I avoided them at all costs; I was too easily frightened as a kid.
- I didn’t really encounter them much, my family wasn’t into scary stories.
What interests related to the supernatural are you most passionate about?
- Unexplained phenomena and the possibility of life beyond our planet.
- Historical mysteries and folklore, especially stories with supernatural elements.
- The psychology of fear and how our minds process the unknown.
- I’m more interested in science and concrete evidence than the supernatural.
Tell us a little about your dream ghost encounter. How would it play out?
- It would involve a friendly spirit who just wants their story heard and finds peace.
- It would be a thrilling adventure where I help a ghost solve a mystery.
- It would be a spine-chilling encounter that leaves me with a good story to tell.
- I would never want to encounter a ghost; it would be far too frightening!
What is the trickiest part about creating a truly effective ghost story?
- Finding the right balance of suspense, atmosphere, and genuine scares.
- Creating characters that are relatable and believable, even when faced with the unbelievable.
- Leaving enough to the reader’s imagination without being too vague or confusing.
- Avoiding clichés and finding fresh, original ideas in a well-established genre.
What do you think you need to be able to write a truly terrifying ghost story?
- A deep understanding of human psychology and what scares people on a primal level.
- A knack for creating a chilling atmosphere with vivid descriptions and sensory details.
- A willingness to explore dark themes and confront the unknown without shying away.
- A healthy dose of imagination and the ability to suspend disbelief, even for a little while.
What is your current biggest challenge when it comes to exploring the horror genre?
- Finding new stories that genuinely frighten me, I’ve become desensitized over time.
- Separating genuine fear from cheap jump scares and predictable horror tropes.
- Avoiding nightmares after reading or watching particularly disturbing content.
- I don’t really have any challenges, I enjoy the escapism horror provides.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the phrase “ghostly apparition”?
- A translucent figure in white, slowly drifting down a hallway.
- A pair of eyes that suddenly appear in a dark window.
- A cold spot in a room and the feeling of being watched.
- I immediately think it’s someone’s imagination playing tricks on them.
How confident are you in your ability to remain calm and rational if you encountered something truly unexplainable?
- Very confident, I’d try to document and analyze the situation.
- I’d try to be rational, but it depends on the nature of the encounter.
- I’d probably panic, I’m not good with the unknown.
- I’d deny it and try to find a logical explanation.
How do you handle nightmares or unsettling thoughts after reading a particularly scary story?
- I embrace them; it’s part of the fun of the horror genre!
- I have rituals to calm my mind, like meditation or listening to calming music.
- I distract myself with something lighthearted, like a comedy or a funny book.
- I don’t usually experience nightmares; horror doesn’t stay with me once I’m done.
How would you describe your relationship to the horror genre as a whole?
- We’re on good terms; I enjoy a good scare now and then.
- It’s complicated, it depends on the type of horror and how it’s presented.
- We have a distant relationship; I prefer other genres, but I dabble occasionally.
- We’re not on speaking terms, horror just isn’t for me.
What would you say are your top struggles right now when it comes to picking up a new book in the horror genre?
- Finding authors who can still surprise me with unique plots and characters.
- Sifting through the abundance of mediocre horror to find the hidden gems.
- Overcoming my fear that a book will be too disturbing or stay with me too long.
- I don’t have struggles, I love trying new horror books and authors!
Which of these best describes your current state when it comes to your “to-be-read” pile of horror novels?
- It’s a towering stack, I can never read them fast enough!
- It’s a manageable pile; I’m excited to dive into my next spooky read.
- It’s more of a whisper than a roar, I only have a few horror novels I’m interested in.
- It’s non-existent; I don’t really read horror novels.
Someone asks “Have you read anything scary lately?” What’s the actual answer, not just an answer like “I’m good?” that’s contextual to this quiz)?
- Yes, actually, and it was so good I couldn’t put it down…
- I’ve been meaning to, but haven’t found anything that piqued my interest yet.
- Not really my thing, but I’m open to suggestions if you have any!
- I’m too much of a scaredy-cat, I stick to lighter genres.
What do you think is missing in a lot of modern horror that you found in these older stories?
- A sense of atmosphere and slow-burning dread that modern stories often lack.
- Well-developed characters you care about, even if their fates are grim.
- A focus on psychological horror and the unseen rather than gore and special effects.
- A respect for classic ghost story traditions while still innovating within the genre.
What is your horror genre goal? To be terrified? To analyze? To enjoy the atmosphere?
- I want to feel genuinely scared, the kind of fear that stays with me.
- I enjoy analyzing the themes and techniques used to create effective horror.
- I’m here for the atmosphere, the suspense, and the creepy vibes.
- I prefer my entertainment to be lighthearted, horror isn’t really a goal for me.
What’s your go-to method for enhancing the experience of reading a ghost story?
- A dark room, a comfortable chair, and maybe a spooky ambiance playlist.
- Reading aloud with a friend, taking turns with the creepiest passages.
- Saving the story for a stormy night or a camping trip for extra atmosphere.
- I don’t really have any methods; I just read and enjoy the story.
How well do you separate fiction from reality after reading a particularly intense horror story?
- I’m good at separating fiction from reality, it doesn’t usually bother me.
- It takes a while for the story to fade, especially if it had disturbing content.
- I sometimes find myself double-checking locks or getting spooked by shadows.
- I don’t read stories like that, I prefer to keep my imagination in check.
Do you believe in ghosts or are you more skeptical of the supernatural?
- I’m a firm believer; there are too many unexplained occurrences to deny it.
- I’m open to the possibility, but I need more than anecdotal evidence.
- I’m a skeptic at heart, but I can appreciate a good ghost story.
- I don’t believe in ghosts; I think there’s always a logical explanation.