Hey, kids, let's check the calendar! It's getting closer to October and Halloween in the year 2025 -- or maybe 1936. In either case, it's a good time to talk about antifascist horror. 

Antifascism themes are common in fiction, particularly in science fiction and fantasy. Try to find a fictional dystopia that doesn't code as fascist. But antifascist horror is much more rare. Science fiction and fantasy often feature brave heroes whose triumphant victories lead their worlds to freedom, justice, equality, and new prosperity. Horror is less optimistic about the future, about human goodness, about our ability or willingness to oppose evil. 

Nevertheless, antifascist horror exists, so let's have a quick overview of the subgenre. 

It's easiest to find examples in film, and part of that is because director Guillermo del Toro really, really hates fascists. Both "The Devil's Backbone" and "Pan's Labyrinth" are set in the Spanish Civil War and feature Franco's fascist goons as the chief

^{I could go crazy on a night like tonight}

^{When summer's beginning to give up her fight}

September is both an end and a beginning

the gradual change of seasons

While others see a descent into winter, 

I have always embraced the return to school,

Is there much going on in the world? Probably not. I haven't been paying attention. In lieu of any actual noteworthy events going on, I am going to review another YA book I found at a library book sale for 50 cents.

The book in question is "What Waits in the Water", a 2017 young adult mystery/horror novel written by Kieran Scott. The book is set in contemporary times and follows a group of teenagers stuck in a "cabin in the woods" style scenario, with some adolescent melodrama