We've selected and reviewed four spooky, spine-chilling reads to help you keep the dark at bay (or let it in) as we approach this Halloween season.

The Collapsing Empire begins a galaxy spanning story full of political backstabbing and shaky alliances. Scalzi's always colorful cast of characters and punchy writing kept me engaged throughout the reading experience. Needless to say, this one doesn't disappoint.

In this first book of the Fitz and Fool trilogy, Hobb returns to her most beloved character, FitzChivalry Farseer. As is typical of Hobb, the story unfolds slowly, though a suspenseful finish was a nice setup for the larger storyline to come.

Plenty happening in Fool's Quest but it still falls just short in terms of moving the story along adequately. Still, a good read that longtime Hobb fans will love.

A seventy-five year old widower, John Perry finds the Colonial Defense Force's offer of a new, youthful life intriguing. The CDF fulfills their end of the bargain, now he needs to fulfill his: ten years' commitment as a space marine, fighting the worst the universe has to offer. Funny, thoughtful, and packed with action, Old Man's War is a great read and one of Scalzi's seminal works.

An entertaining jaunt aboard a steamboat of old. The stories flow together seamlessly (a credit to the editor) and the overall story is fun and engaging.

Enough cannot be said for the narration of Tom Mison, whose voice with its captivating eloquence and English accent is a treat for the ears. His having played the role of Ichabod Crane in the Sleepy Hollow television series aside, he is the perfect narrator for this story, as he captures the time period and the story’s classic language superbly.

If you’re looking for something beyond the traditional Dickens to read this holiday season, A Lot Like Christmas may fit the bill for you. Despite a couple of the stories feeling like duds to me, I’m giving it four rockets because there are many more stories I enjoyed than not, and even a few which stand out as holiday gems.

Titus has entered the Entire before, but when he returned to our world it was by himself; his wife and daughter had stayed behind for reasons Titus does not remember. Upon his return, he makes it his mission to find them and to learn the reason they did not come back with him. The answer is both sad and bittersweet.

Slow and methodical, but full of rich characters set amidst a richer world. Dragon Haven is very typical Robin Hobb, and that's a good thing.