Today is 31 October. It is Halloween.

Well, kiddies, we made it. It is the 31st of October – Halloween!

There were a few close calls, times when I didn’t think I’d get my blog post written in time, but like a good horror movie hero, I made it to the final reel in one piece – hopelessly insane, but in one piece.

How to end the month, then? Who or what is going to see us out as we move from Halloween to All Saint’s Day? It should be something scary (natch!), simple, and a little melancholy.

W. W. Jacobs’s short story, “The Monkey’s Paw,” is a stone-cold classic of the genre. I can remember reading it in my junior high school English class, and being very taken by it. I also recall reading a lot of Edgar Allan Poe and even "Leiningen Versus the Ants," so kudos to my 7th grade English teacher!

The story is simply told: at the turn of the 20th century, an English family is visited by a friend just back from serving in India. The visitor has in his possession a souvenir from his time there: a shriveled, mummified monkey’s paw. He tells the family that it allegedly grants three wishes, but those who tempt fate through the paw’s powers are forever sorry they do so. The visitor tries to toss it onto the fire and burn it, but the paw is saved and kept by the family.

What does the family wish for? Do they get what they want?

What follows is a tale of terror and bitter irony that still sends a shiver up my spine. “The Monkey’s Paw” is a marvel of construction, simple, but with powerful moments leading up to its heartbreaking climax.

If you’re brave enough, you can read W. W. Jacobs’s short story here. You may also listen to Roslyn Hicks read the tale at HorrorBabble.

There have been quite a few movie adaptations since the story was published in 1902. Many, however, are considered lost. There is a British-made film from 1948 that doesn’t quite stick to the simplicity of the source material. More faithful adaptations have been made for TV and as short films.

It should come as no surprise, however, that my personal favorite adaptation is a radio drama. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s radio series, Nightfall, was a very late entry in the radio drama game, but then again, radio drama never quite disappeared from the air in the Great British Commonwealth the way it did in the United States. Produced from 1980-1983, the series aired 100 episodes of supernatural horror.

“The Monkey’s Paw” was the second Nightfall episode to be broadcast. It is a very creepy version with wonderful performances and terrific sound design. The chanting that is slowly potted up as the sergeant-major tells his story is so spooky and perfectly chilling that it is guaranteed to haunt your dreams.

So, for now, I bid you adieu. The past month has been a lot of fun, but it is time to say good night. So, wear a mask, enjoy the horror-thon, don't forget to watch the big giveaway afterwards, and…Happy Halloween…