I’ve dropped a few names throughout the 13 DOORS articles about some monsters from the original Little Fears that will be returning in the Nightmare Edition. Even though the concept of the Kings is gone, some of the characters are still around: the Bogeyman, Titania, and Baba Yaga, namely.

As Little Fears Nightmare Edition gets closer to release, I’m refining the book to create the best horror game experience I can. I’ve devised a lot of new creatures for you to meet in Closetland but I’d like to hear which monster YOU want to see return.

There are seven monsters from the original Little Fears listed on a poll in the sidebar. Please take a few seconds to pick your favorite. I really want to hear from you on this!

The poll will run from now until Sunday, September 6th. The winning monster will take its rightful place amongst the diabolical denizens of Closetland and appear in the main book. Thank you for your vote!

Another of the 13 DOORS has opened. This time, the real world lies beyond. Discover the magic in the mundane (and the power you have over both) with Door #6: Keys to the World, exclusively at Flames Rising!

Another of the 13 DOORS has opened. Step across the threshold and have a look at the world of monsters in Door #5: Rebuilding Closetland.

Head over to Flames Rising for another exclusive preview!

A search result brought Th3rd World Studios‘ comic The Stuff of Legend to my attention. The Groovy Age of Horror had run an article linking the comic with the original Little Fears. As someone very much interested in the childhood terror genre (if it can be called a genre), I checked it out.

Newsarama has the first 20 pages up for preview. It was also a selection for Free Comic Day (in which I, shamefully, did not participate). It looks to be really good stuff. The basic premise is that a boy has been kidnapped by a monster in his closet (I daresay!) and his toys band together to rescue him. The writing is solid and the art hooked me so I’m going to hunt this one down.

Check out the pages. If you dig them, hit up your local comic shop for the issues.

The fourth door has opened to reveal Creatures in the Library. Read about some of the influences behind Little Fears Nightmare Edition and get a heaping helping of book recommendations in the process.

Head on over to Flames Rising for the latest of the 13 DOORS.

I hadn’t read any Clive Barker previous to The Thief of Always. Sure, I’d seen films based on his works and knew of his work and was around while friends talked about his work, but I hadn’t experienced it myself.

It was the summary on the back of the book that drew me. That, and the absolutely fantastic title. (The Thief of Always remains one of my favorite book titles.) I read the book in short order, which is unusual given my normally turtle-like reading pace. Barker’s fluid narrative sucked me in and kept me going, each chapter punctuated by one of his scratchy and horrific illustrations. The book looks as good as it reads.

The story is about a very bored boy who is dreading away the day when his prayers are seemingly answered by a wide-grinned man in an odd suit. The man sweeps the boy away to a very unusual house. A house where it is summer every afternoon, Trick-or-Treating every evening, and Christmas every night. The boy is enthralled, having the time of his life, but he is oblivious to the true nature of the house. As the facade begins to peel away like aged paint on a rotten cupboard, the boy begins to see there is more to this house than fun and constant celebration.

I won’t say anymore about this book. If you haven’t read it, I urge you to do so. It’s not only primo fodder for a Little Fears Nightmare Edition session but an excellent fable.

The Thief of Always pops up every once in a while as a book they’re making into a movie. They haven’t yet, to my knowledge, but I do think it would translate well to the screen.

Open the third door and take a step into the Monster Factory! The latest installment of 13 DOORS: A Preview of Little Fears Nightmare Edition is up at Flames Rising.

Go on, take a peek.