A 16-page student literary magazine published by Liverpool Hope University for October 2026. This spooky edition features Gothic and thriller reading recommendations, poetry, personal essays and Halloween folklore.
This is the October 2026 Spooky Edition of Literature Magazine, a student publication from Liverpool Hope University. It contains creative writing, poetry, essays and book reviews themed around Halloween, Gothic literature and autumn.
The magazine opens with an editorial note on how Gothic fiction and thrillers suit the October season, discussing themes of decay, shadow and mystery. It also includes a reader discretion warning for difficult or sensitive content.
A section titled 'Our October Picks' recommends classic Gothic works: The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, Beloved by Toni Morrison, and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Film recommendations include Frankenstein, The Addams Family and The Queen of Spades.
An article on 'The Origins of Halloween' traces the holiday from the Celtic festival of Samhain through medieval trick-or-treating and the Irish Jack legend. It describes lost traditions such as 'the burning of the nuts' and the use of turnips as lanterns.
The poetry section includes two poems: 'A thousand million holes' by Gabby, inspired by Robert Smith, and a poem by JC about living with bipolar disorder and contemplating death. An essay by Ryan Jenkinson titled 'To the Lighthouse' recounts a birdwatching trip to Hale Lighthouse and the discovery of common swifts.
The magazine concludes with a reviews section. The document is a complete 16-page issue containing all content described.