A+: 0 Books
A: 1 Book
A-: 5 Books
B+: 5 Books
B: 2 Books
B-: 1 Book
C+: 1 Book
C: 2 Books
C-: 1 Book
D: 1 Book
F: 0 Books
So no perfect book, yet no imperfect books. The strongest books averaged in the A- to B+ positions. Now to see how that counts in terms of ranking. Let's do it to it.
#19: DR. MANIAC VS. ROBBY SCHWARTZ (05)
Consensus: The weakest of HorrorLand's fare has an interesting idea involving a comic supervillain, but the constant fake-outs hurt the story. Not even the amazing character Purple Rage can really save this book from being painfully mediocre.
#18: HELP! WE HAVE STRANGE POWERS! (10)
Consensus: The most unlikable protagonists in this series, having a pair of twins who come off as bullies with superpowers isn't a fun read. Points for the ending at least as we get a solid swerve of the nerdy kids actually being more competent superheroes.
#17: REVENGE OF THE LIVING DUMMY (01)
Consensus: R.L. Stine brings Goosebumps back from hiatus with the most milquetoast Slappy offering yet. In fact Slappy does nothing until the last few chapters as we instead focus on a really, really evil young boy who somehow mastered robotics. A safe way to return, but not a wholly inspired one.
#16: THE WIZARD OF OOZE (17)
Consensus: Another comic supervillain story that's at least a little more compelling, but the story itself just seems to lack something that makes it a fun read. Doesn't help that part of this just really feels like a weak How I Learned to Fly.
#15: SLAPPY NEW YEAR! (18)
Consensus: Another Slappy offering, but a little bit better. Treads too familiar a territory for these stories, but it has a few more exciting scenes and a solid finale. I guess it's the least insufferable Slappy tale, so points for that at least.
#14: WEIRDO HALLOWEEN (16)
Consensus: It's two Goosebumps books rolled into one special edition package. The main story is fine, but feels very basic, even for Stine. Book is slightly saved with the post-Bim story involving Jonathan Chiller and his game of "who is the real Meg?"
Consensus: Feels like the most thought out Goosebumps book so far since the revival, but is super rushed and feels like it ends abruptly. Easily the book that suffers the most from how the twist structure is ruined in HorrorLand.
#12: WELCOME TO CAMP SLITHER (09)
Consensus: Another solid Camp Book with some creepy imagery and atmosphere, but much like many of the books in this series needs to rush itself to the finish line without letting anything breathe. Also Diggity Dang Doo Dang Diggity Doo Doo.
#11: CREEP FROM THE DEEP (02)
Consensus: A really good Deep Trouble sequel that does have some intrigue and even some solid horror. It's amazing that when you remove mermaids from the equation, Deep Trouble actually ends up a decent series.
#10: THE SCREAM OF THE HAUNTED MASK (03)
Consensus: Carly Beth returns to the spotlight in a solid little story that deals with how she is addicted and controlled by the mask. Could have used more of that instead of a really dull sideplot involving a ghost horse stable.
#09: THE STREETS OF PANIC PARK (12)
Consensus: The first HorrorLand arc concludes in a finale with a lot of interesting set pieces, but due to needing to rush the importance of The Menace, it just feels like a mess that might have been improved if the book was a bit longer.
#08: HEADS, YOU LOSE! (15)
Consensus: A fine time travel story with some great imagery and quite a few severed heads for added freakishness. Could have used like a lot less chapters with the protagonists pleading to be let go.
#07: MONSTER BLOOD FOR BREAKFAST! (03)
Consensus: The best Monster Blood book for multiple reasons. No Evan or the goon squad, meaning that we can just ignore old canon and make Monster Blood feel like an actual threat again. Although when Matt grows, this book gets creepy in all of the wrong ways.
#06: WHEN THE GHOST DOG HOWLS (13)
Consensus: A solid start for the second arc with a story about the consequences of wishing. Gets a bit weird mid-book, but still with some interesting scenes. Blue Kerlew Hound is a great monster for these books.
#05: LITTLE SHOP OF HAMSTERS (14)
Consensus: Perhaps the book least deserving of this top spot for the majority of the story. But when the concept of a giant hamster wrestling league is brought to the table, this book won me over and then some.
#04: WHO'S YOUR MUMMY? (06)
Consensus: Perhaps the most disturbing of the series, this book wins for the imagery alone of eating mummy guts and cats dissolving in water. I don't know how mummy books turned around so well, but this is proof positive that it's a winning idea.
#03: SAY CHEESE - AND DIE SCREAMING! (08)
Consensus: Better than the other sequel in this saga, this book makes the camera and the pictures taken feel like a real threat again. Protagonist is likable and there are some really brutal moments within involving burning eyes and arm breaking. There's also a bee head, but we won't hold that against it.
#02: THE HORROR AT CHILLER HOUSE (19)
Consensus: The finale to HorrorLand's second arc gives off a fine enough conclusion. Unlike Panic Park which had to cram in The Menace, we get enough time to learn about Jonathan Chiller's past, his motivations, and have the kids deal with a slew of dangerous obstacles. It's easily Stine's strongest go-out for any of the Goosebumps series.
#01: ESCAPE FROM HORRORLAND (11)
Consensus: The penultimate arc book gives us some of the best adventure these books have ever offered with a ton of set pieces. Also, yes, this totally earned point for the Carly Beth and Sabrina scene. Happy Pride Month everyone! Shame that the conclusion isn't as strong because the build-up really worked well.
And that's the ranking of the books themselves. Next up, we cover the covers. What was Brandon Dorman's best work for HorrorLand? find out soon.
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