Top 5 Christopher Pike Books!! 🟢

[@SpongeyTheEditor]

A read a bunch of YA pike last year and my easy favorite was Midnight Club, with Chain Letter in 2nd place or so. If Spooksville gets counted, then Invasion of the No Ones can be 2nd place overall.

[@ShadysideLibrary]

Interesting.. I wasn’t a fan of the midnight club or chain letter lol. They both felt too mundane and uneventful. I like the pike books that go nuts and cross all the boundaries

[@SpongeyTheEditor]

@@ShadysideLibrary Midnight Club is the Pike that really hit me. It's so emotional and interesting and has more depth than some of the others, Chain Letter got into good stuff by the end so it got 2nd for that stuff, 2 sounds kinda dumbed down lol

[@ShadysideLibrary]

@@SpongeyTheEditor the sequel takes a supernatural twist and has a lot more sinister “tasks”. Some unique kills too

[@AmariMarvelous]

This brings me back to my childhood/teen years reading his books in the mid 90s. Back then I thought him and R.L.Stine were similar with their YA fiction in the horror/thriller genre but Christopher Pike is more descriptive and darker in tone getting more into sci-fi mix with religion with horror twisted elements that keeps you engaged. Sometimes he can go all the way out there with his themes and writing which I enjoy alot and separates himself from other writers in the same genre. One of my favorites from Christopher is "Fall Into Darkness". The Final Friends series is another great read.

[@ShadysideLibrary]

I couldn’t agree more! Those are all of the reasons he remains one of my all time favorite authors. I’ve read well over 20 of his books but none of the ones you suggested. Thanks for the recommendations!

[@GabbyRocio]

Oh wow I have not read any of these! I might have read the last one and don't remember. I'm not sure. I'm collecting his books and reading/re-reading them. I LOVED The Last Vampire/Thirst series. Currently reading Black Knight/Witch World 2. When I was growing up Midnight Club was my favorite. The Immortal really made an impression on me too. I also really love The Starlight Crystal.

[@ShadysideLibrary]

Thank you so much for the recommendations!! I love his books and hope to one day read them all!

[@wonderboy76]

My favourite is Monster (the best opening of a Pike book IMHO) but Master of Murder is my second favourite and I'm glad it made your list. He used to get asked if it was semi autobiographical but insists he's not Marvin!

[@Sunnyvalereject24]

Awesome. I bought Chain Letter 2 and The Hollow Skull because of Zack's recommendation. Will read them soon.

[@ShadysideLibrary]

@@Sunnyvalereject24 both incredible books! Especially The Hollow Skull. That one will knock your socks off

[@80sdreamwave32]

My favorite chain letter and falling in darkness

[@ShadysideLibrary]

I still need to read Fall into Darkness, I heard it’s a good one!

[@christirandazzo3769]

Loved this so much. I love hunting for these books. But you are right. Some of them are pricey.

[@ShadysideLibrary]

Thanks! It definitely took me a while to acquire the majority of his books. Now I just need to finish reading them all!

[@SebbyZero]

In my country we never got any of Pike´s books, saddly. Finding some in the wild is on my to do list!

[@ShadysideLibrary]

Dang… I’m sorry to hear that. I really hope you’re able to find some! His books are insanely entertaining to say the least!

[@Monsterblood]

I haven't read any of these yet. As for the ones I've read in recent times, I'd say Witch was probably my favorite. I do think Pike is a talented author, but I feel like I'm only ever in the mood to read his stuff once in a great while lol. Chain Letter 2 sounds the most intriguing of the ones you've listed here. I would like to eventually get his Tales of Terror books as I tend to like and collect short horror stories books, but man are they hard to find! Hopefully you can snag the 2nd one for a decent price! Also, thank you so much for the GB bookmark!!! 💪

[@ShadysideLibrary]

I’m glad you got the bookmark!! I figured if anyone needs one it’s you lol. Hope you get to some more Pike books soon! I’ll keep an eye out for tales of terror for you. It’s a little easier to find then the sequel but still tricky.

[@edlewisnoctreviews]

Hearing you talk about Whisper of Death makes me want that to be my next Christopher Pike book. And I really need to read Master of Murder. Excellent video!

[@ShadysideLibrary]

Thank you sir! Those are both incredible books and can be found for relatively cheap!

[@Juicestarr]

man i loved Christopher Pike growing up lol.. I loved Goosebumps but i felt like I was a bit more grown up when I started reading Christopher Pike lol (no disrespect to RL Stine). Loved me Spooksville and I remember loving the Last Vampire series lol

[@ShadysideLibrary]

Christopher Pike books are definitely more mature than RL Stine books… that’s why I gravitated towards them as well! Although, I did fall in love with Fear Street first :)

[@krypticcoil9540]

Awesome video! Great list. “Master of Murder” was one of my favorites too. This dude on the Pikecast didn’t like it. I can’t imagine why not, myself. Chain Letter 2 is a really good one as well. I still remember reading that one in 8th grade. I do not remember the first one at all even though I know that I did read the 1st one in 6th grade. I don’t remember it being a rip off of I know what you did last summer. But I read chain letter before that movie came out and I still haven’t read the book by Lois Duncan.

[@ShadysideLibrary]

That’s crazy that you still remember some of his books from your childhood. I would have been scared out of my mind if I read these as a kid haha! I was too busy playing video games anyways. I find both chain letter and I know what you did last summer pretty boring. I like lots of action and those just didn’t have a lot. They were kinda slow.

[@whatgrowsontrees]

I've been hiding in the shadows waiting for this video since i started reading pike--thankyou dearly bud

[@ShadysideLibrary]

Of course!! I’ve been meaning to make this video for quite some time.

[@wonderboy76]

He said Magic Fire started off very differently to what he planned. I interviewed him years ago and we talked about that one particularly.

[@ShadysideLibrary]

You interviewed him?! How?? I thought he’s never even revealed himself to the public! But yeah magic fires opening really has nothing to do with the story lol.

[@wonderboy76]

Basically I was writing for a few children's books magazines in the 90s and I was supposed to meet Pike in person at his London publisher but a strike by rail workers meant that didn't happen. Instead I got to interview him on the phone some years later. He was cool and self deprecating. We talked for about an hour.

[@mrmortman6107]

Loved this man.Ive read probably four of his books so far I'll try my best to rank the ones I read lol 4.The Midnight Club probably my least. Favorite from him so far but still really good I'll never forget these characters God willing 3.Witch This one had a fun premise got a little slow in the middle but the ending made me so sad 2.Slumber party people snowed in while stuff happens this one was exactly "batshit crazy" this one was a little sad to 1.Whispers Of Death I read this as a buddy read and I'm nowhere near a fast reader but the person I read this with I had to wait on bc I kept wanting to read more I absolutely loved this one kinda a confusing ending but still sad and very intriguing

[@ShadysideLibrary]

I agree with pretty much everything you said. I wasn’t a big fan of the midnight club or witch either. I haven’t read slumber party just yet. In fact, I haven’t read any of his point horror books, only his standalones (they tend to be more crazy). I hope you get to more soon! He’s got a lot to offer.

[@mrmortman6107]

@@ShadysideLibrary you should read Slumber Party! And I do I'm still planning on reading my first Spooksville this month.I also really wanna read Die Softly it sounds good but I enjoyed your recommendations I own a few of those

[@ShadysideLibrary]

@@mrmortman6107 I’m excited to hear your thoughts on spooksville! I’ll read slumber party this winter! And die softly sounded really good to me but it really wasn’t all that. Very convoluted and is pretty much not at all about what the back of the book says lol

[@robertcourtney4081]

I only have the last one, Master of Murder, and it's the reprint. I need to look for the rest. Fire Magic is expensive!

[@ShadysideLibrary]

A lot of the ones on my list are pretty rare and expensive unfortunately… master of murder is a great one though! He also has a bunch of other great books too. These are just my favorites

[@wonderboy76]

He's basically said he wrote Chain Letter 2 for the money! Can't blame him 😅

[@ShadysideLibrary]

I would’ve done the same lol

[@wonderboy76]

​@@ShadysideLibraryeasy money, Chain Letter was a big seller so they of course wanted another!

[@BrockStarNo5]

Great list! I have Magic Fire in my “to-read” stack. The last Pike book I read was The Midnight Club. I loved it! I wish the Netflix series could have continued… The ending of this video was hilarious! 😂 👻 ✌🏻

[@ShadysideLibrary]

Haha no editing is the best! I hope you like Magic Fire as much as I did! The Midnight club is definitely different than most of his other books.

[@fiberartsyreads]

I read Master of Murder this year and it was fun.

[@ShadysideLibrary]

That was one of the first pike books I ever read! I was hooked after that one

[@RyanRumbles434]

You should read "The Season of Passage." Long adult book but very good.

[@ShadysideLibrary]

I actually have a copy! I’ve heard nothing but good things! I’ll have to try to get to that this year!

[@RyanRumbles434]

@@ShadysideLibrary I've read them all. I run the FB page 😁Didn't realize someone was posting about Pike. I sold all mine to pay bills but rebuilding. I have my old collection in the fb photo archives of what I "did" have. I just got a new copy of Magic Fire, The Grave, Tales of Terror 1 and 2. Pretty obscure ones. Love your video btw.

[@ShadysideLibrary]

@@RyanRumbles434 Thanks so much! That’s awesome!! He’s one of my favorite authors and I have plans to eventually make my way through all of his books!!

[@ret6578]

I remember reading Master of Murder! It was a good one, and I love the cover.

[@ShadysideLibrary]

Incredible cover! And an even better book :)

[@amanda_c.]

Some of my favorites are Monster, fall into darkness, last act, and the midnight club. Whisper of death is one I’d like to get in the near future, I haven’t read that one since I was a kid

[@ShadysideLibrary]

You’re in for a treat with Whisper of Death :) I still need to read fall into darkness, and watch the movie!

[@luluanthem]

Unrelated but love the nails!

[@ShadysideLibrary]

Haha thank you :)

[@theblu-rayanddvdcollector8742]

Great video. I've not read any Christopher Pike . I have wanted to but didn't know really were to start. Also do you have the Point Horror Book MY SECRET ADMIRER by Carol Ellis ?

[@ShadysideLibrary]

Start with Monster or Master of Murder. Those are both fun and not too crazy or convoluted. My list isn’t necessarily the best books to start with, these are just my favorites. And yes I do have My Secret Admirer!

[@theblu-rayanddvdcollector8742]

@@ShadysideLibrary thanks 👍🎃

[@spidernate9573]

out of all of the christopher pike books i've got coming in from ebay, i don't have any of these ones lol

[@ShadysideLibrary]

Dang… these are definitely some of his more obscure books. I’m sure you still got some good ones though!

[@staceycoates1418]

What do you mean ripped off? It looks like the book Chain Letter came out in 1986 and the movie I know what you did last summer came out in 1997. How can you rip off something that comes out eleven years after you publish? Unless I got my date wrong and that is just the year he started publishing and they missed on the site I looked up when the book came out! And that is possible.

[@wonderboy76]

I Know What You Did Last Summer was very loosely based in concept only on a book of the same name that came out in 1973 so the idea definitely predates Chain Letter.

[@ShadysideLibrary]

I know what you did last summer is a book by Louis Duncan that came out in the 70’s.

[@staceycoates1418]

@@ShadysideLibrary Ah, I did not know that. I only knew of the movie. And since I am age wise, the target audience for Christopher Pike's books (and the movie) when they came out. I don't like scary things so other than a few of the Christopher Pike's books I never read or watched that. Thank you for correcting me.

[@andrewandrew9678]

Do you have to read Chain Letter 1 to enjoy 2?

[@ShadysideLibrary]

I mean you don’t HAVE to but the sequel will make a lot more sense and be more enjoyable having read the first in the series.