10 Classic Pieces Of Literature Perfect For Halloween

5. War Of The Worlds - H.G. Wells

First published in 1898 the War of the Worlds is a tale of alien invasion which has terrified generations of readers, viewers, and listeners since its release. It follows the adventures of an unnamed man and his younger brother as they seek refuge from the sudden arrival of Martians. One of the earliest examples of an apocalyptic setting, the novel sees the Earth fall completely prey to the Martians and their advanced technology. The story has been adapted into various media including a 2005 film starring Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning.

On October 30, 1938 the most popular adaptation was presented as a radio broadcast by Orson Welles in which the first two-thirds were presented as actual news bulletins. This caused many to think that the Earth was actually being invaded causing widespread panic and chaos - or so the newspapers said. The actual extremities of the event have been debated but there was an outcry following the broadcast with many complaining that the program was indeed too realistic. On October 27, 1997 - 59 years after the original broadcast - the Halloween episode of Hey Arnold premiered depicting similar events in a parody of the widespread panic.

If you're not much into reading then find yourself a copy of the old radio show read by Orson Welles. It's sure to make your Halloween both unique and incredibly creepy having stayed true to terror years after the initial release.