Goosebumps
Goosebumps is a series of children's horror fiction novels by American
author R. L. Stine,
published by Scholastic Publishing. The stories follow child characters, who find themselves
in scary situations, usually involving monsters and other supernatural
elements. From 1992 to 1997, sixty-two books were published under the Goosebumps umbrella title. Various spin-off series were written by
Stine: Goosebumps Series 2000, Give Yourself Goosebumps, Tales to Give You Goosebumps, Goosebumps Triple Header, Goosebumps HorrorLand, Goosebumps Most Wanted and Goosebumps SlappyWorld.[2] Another series, Goosebumps Gold, was never released. Goosebumps has spawned a television series
and merchandise, as well as a series of feature films,
starring Jack Black
as Stine.
Since
the release of its first novel, Welcome to Dead House, in July 1992, the
series has sold over 400 million books worldwide in thirty-two languages,
becoming the second-best-selling book series in history, after J.
K. Rowling's Harry
Potter. Individual books in the series
have been listed in several bestseller lists, including the New York Times
Best Seller list for children.
The
Goosebumps series falls under the children's fiction, horror and thriller
genres, although Stine characterizes the series as "scary books that are
also funny".[3] Each book features different child characters[4]
and settings.[5] The primary protagonists are middle class and can be either male or female.[6] The primary protagonists of a Goosebumps story are
often situated in a remote location or somehow isolated from typical societal
conventions. This can range anywhere from comfortable suburban areas to boarding
schools, foreign villages or campsites.[7] Books typically feature characters who either recently
moved to a new neighborhood or are sent to stay with relatives.[6]
The
books in the Goosebumps series feature similar plot structures[8]
with fictional children being involved in scary situations.[9] At his peak, Stine was known to complete these stories
extremely quickly, some of which were written in only six days.[10] The books are mostly written in first person narrative, often concluding with twist
endings.[11] They contain surreal horror,[6]
with characters encountering the strange and supernatural.[12] The author has plot devices he follows throughout his Goosebumps
books. Stine says he does not have any death in his stories, and the children
in his novels are never put into situations that would be considered too
serious.[13] He attributed the success of his books to their absence of
drugs, depravity
and violence.[14]
Inspiration and themes
According
to the documentary Tales from the Crypt: From Comic Books to Television,
R.L. Stine said that he remembered reading the popular/infamous Tales from the Crypt comic books when he was young and credited as one of his
inspirations. Books and characters in the series were inspired by books and
films. For example, the character Slappy
the Dummy was inspired by the literary
classic The Adventures of
Pinocchio.[15] Some of Stine's ideas for the books also came from real
life; Stine got the idea for the book The
Haunted Mask after his son, Matt, had a Halloween mask he had trouble getting off.[16] Stine also uses his childhood fears to help him write his
books. The author said, "Luckily, I have a great memory. As I write a
story, I can remember what it feels like to be afraid and panicky".[17] Stine states he often thinks of a title to a novel first, then
lets the title lead him to a story.[18]
Two
common themes in the series are children triumphing over evil and children
facing horrid or frightening situations and using their own wit and imagination to escape them.[19] Stine does not attempt to incorporate moral lessons into
his novels, and says his books are "strictly reading motivation".[20]
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