Culture Goosebumps Author R.L. Stine Rewriting Series for Sensitivity Ahead of Reprinting

Comicbook.com (Archive) - March 5, 2023
by, Nicole Drum

Goosebumps is the latest franchise to undergo changes for sensitivity ahead of reprinting. According to The Sunday Times (via Deadline), author R.L. Stine has edited more than a dozen of his Goosebumps books to change references to mental health, weight, or ethnicity. According to the report, the novels have undergone more than 100 edits. Those edits include references to a character being "cheerful" rather than "plump", changing "crazy" to "silly", and completely removing references to villains making victims "slaves.

The report also lists some examples from specific titles. Notably, the reissue of 1998's Bride of the Living Dummy changes the ventriloquist dummy from knocking a girl unconscious using a "love tap" to a magic spell instead while the 1996 book Attack of the Jack-O'-Lanterns changes the description of one character, Lee, from being like "the rappers on MTV videos" to "tall and good-looking, with brown skin, dark brown eyes and a great, warm smile. He sort of struts when he walks and acts real cool."

Goosebumps is just the latest series to get sensitivity revisions. Earlier this month, it was announced that several of the books in the James Bond library will be edited to remove racist content for upcoming reprints and will also include a disclaimer noting that "This book was written at a time when terms and attitudes which might be considered offensive by modern readers were commonplace. A number of updates have been made in this edition, while keeping as close as possible to the original text and the period in which it is set."

In the U.K. Roald Dahl's works also are being republished with changes to characters' physical appearances, omissions to the text, or the inclusion of entirely new lines not written by Dahl so that the books can, as the publisher noted, "continue to be enjoyed by all today." The primary difference between the Dahl and Bond edits is that Stine is the original author of the Goosebumps books and is doing the edits himself.

Goosebumps is a series of children's horror fiction that first debuted in 1992 with the novel, Welcome to Dead House. Since then, the series has sold more than 400 million books worldwide and is the second best-selling book series in history after J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter. The series has spawned various spin-off series, a television series, and even feature films.

What do you think about Stine editing the Goosebumps series? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.

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The willingness of R.L. Stine editing his own works may be exaggerated, as this story is developing:

credit to @Jonah Hill poster for this image on page 4

@Toolbox also found an article of the author's rebuttal, page 4:

Goosebumps author sets record straight on historic edits​

The author of the famed Goosebumps series has been accused of bowing to “woke culture” after it emerged some of his hit children’s books have been “sanitised”.

Last week, Britain’s Times newspaper revealed some of RL Stine’s books had been “sanitised”, to use more inclusive language and change or omit phrases related to “mental health, weight or ethnicity”.
“Writer’s self-censoring includes changing ‘plump’ to ‘cheerful’ and ‘crazy’ to ‘silly’,” The Times reported.

It came days after the controversy over a publisher’s planned edits to some of Roald Dahl best-known books.

Other media outlets seized on the story, implying Stine was involved in the Goosebumps revisions. But that wasn’t the case, according to the author himself
Responding to outraged fans on social media, Stine has said repeatedly that the reports are wrong.

“This story is false. I have never changed a word in a Goosebumps book,” he said on Tuesday in response to a fan who pleaded with him to leave the books alone.
In another tweet, he insisted that any proposed edits had “never” been shown to him.

The Times did reference several changes to Goosebumps books – but pointed out they were made in 2018, as part of an ebook re-release. Publisher Scholastic has confirmed the older edits.
“For more than 30 years, the Goosebumps series has brought millions of kids to reading through humour with just the right amount of scary,” the statement said, according to Deadline.

“Scholastic takes its responsibility seriously to continue bringing this classic adolescent brand to each new generation. When re-issuing titles several years ago, Scholastic reviewed the text to keep the language current and avoid imagery that could negatively impact a young person’s view of themselves today, with a particular focus on mental health.”

Goosebumps accused of getting the ‘woke’ treatment​

Stine has since been embroiled in accusations of being a “sellout” and “woke”. Some even claimed he was “forced” by a “woke mob” to make the changes.
He was also accused of censorship – for changes he never made.

“Hey y’all, @RL_Stine himself is saying REPEATEDLY that he has never changed a single word of a Goosebumps book, calm down with your “Woke” terrified witch hunt good grief,” one person said on Twitter.
Just last month, people were outraged by the decision to alter some of Roald Dahl’s books to make them more inclusive.

Several of Dahl’s books, including Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and Matilda, were altered.

A Roald Dahl Story Company spokesperson told The Telegraph that it was “not unusual” to review language written years ago, likening it to updating a book’s cover and page layout.
“Our guiding principle throughout has been to maintain the storylines, characters, and the irreverence and sharp-edged spirit of the original text,” they said.

“Any changes made have been small and carefully considered.”

In the past, Dahl has been accused of antisemitism, racism and misogyny.

The late author amended Charlie and the Chocolate Factory himself back in 1973, almost a decade after it was originally published. It followed pressure due to his original description of the Oompa Loompas.
The Dahl proposal brought backlash, notably from the likes of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Queen Consort. Puffin, the publisher, then decided to give people a choice, buy the books as they were written by Dahl, or with the changes.
Shortly after, it was confirmed Ian Fleming’s James Bond books would also be revised by their publisher. The rereleases will be available in April in honour of Casino Royale‘s 70th anniversary.
The rewrites will reportedly focus on Fleming’s descriptions of characters, particularly ethnic minorities.
Prior to his death in 1964, Fleming approved changes to his novels and gave US publishers permission to tone down racial references in Live and Let Die.

 

[Jonah Hill poster]

https://twitter.com/RL_Stine/status/1632378758479982593

He says the stuff about him rewriting his works for sensitivity is bs.

I haven’t read Goosebumps in years. (To be honest, as much as I loved the series, I always thought The Hardy Boys was interesting in the mystery aspect.)

But here’s to having optimistic rainbows.

 

[Mothra1988]

View attachment 4717302

I haven’t read Goosebumps in years. (To be honest, as much as I loved the series, I always thought The Hardy Boys was interesting in the mystery aspect.)

But here’s to having optimistic rainbows.

Scholastic probably hired some rainbow hair to do it then. I don't want to be pessimistic, but I don't know what the other explanation would be other than that news site getting trolled.

 

[Watcher]

This is effectively self censorship which is not a new concept it's something authors have done since the Ancient Greeks and perhaps since the invention of writing. What's not talked about in this context though is the Goosebumps books have actually been re-edited multiple times throughout the years to remove cultural relics. A good example is some of the early books referenced Gameboys and other stuff from the 1990s. This is essentially a continuation of that and it's telling they see gender as a concept as obsolete.

 

[Miriam Margoyles]

Scholastic probably hired some rainbow hair to do it then. I don't want to be pessimistic, but I don't know what the other explanation would be other than that news site getting trolled.

I mean, have you considered that this may just be a cynical marketing ploy to get people talking about and thus drumming up sales of Goosebumps books and not, in fact, a sinister sign that the Ministry of Truth wants to deny us our God given right as free men to read It Came From Beneath The Sink!, as the founding fathers intended?

 

[Local FloRida-man]

Just read Stephen King like other children. He's not not sophisticated. I was a few years outside the Goosebumps age range when it was a thing, and never really got it because it seemed so tame. Goosebumps wasn't suspenseful, gory, funny or dark enough to satisfy someone who had grown up watching Creepshow.

Stephen King wasn't really scary either. I remember thinking alot of his horror work being really stupid as a kid. Pages of a loser bitching about his whore wife banging the divorce attorney. Wow. At least Stine's work was SUPPOSED to be weaksauce.

Kings non-horror stories were great though, especially his pulps. As for Stine, I remember really enjoying Fear Street and the choose your own adventure books.

 

[Cyborg Braphog]

Is the author of that series based in any way?

Probably not, most authors are fags.

 

[Mothra1988]

I mean, have you considered that this may just be a cynical marketing ploy to get people talking about and thus drumming up sales of Goosebumps books and not, in fact, a sinister sign that the Ministry of Truth wants to deny us our God given right as free men to read It Came From Beneath The Sink!, as the founding fathers intended?

Why are you so mad people don't like woke censorship?

 

[CharlesBarkley]

More like R. L. (((Stein))) am I right?

I remember reading these books as a kid but damned if I can remember basically anything about them. I can't say for sure that puppet never called a kid a nigger. They better leave Wayside alone, though.

Guess again, idiot. That's why Stein was so based back in the day.

 

[KelpieSelkie]

Goddammit, one of the few jews I respected has betrayed me.

I was really into these books as a kid. To be honest, I don't remember anything racy or cruel about them. The tone seemed perfectly fine for a horror series aimed at kids. It wasn't the protagonists I was interested in anyway, it was the situations and the monsters that made it worthwhile.

This shit is just going to make the original prints of the books expensive collector's items hoarded by fuckheads on Ebay.

 

[Chandelier]

I know I read every Goosebumps I could get my hands on but I'll be damned if I remember any of them. If they come for Animorphs I'm gonna riot though.

The author is already pro trans and has a troon kid. She will absolutely change them to suit modern views.

 

[Cyborg Braphog]

The author is already pro trans and has a troon kid. She will absolutely change them to suit modern views.

Oh well there's my identity crushed time to eat a bullet I guess oopsie doodles.

 

[retard strength]

Why is this suddenly happening the past two(?) months with such intensity and speed? Who is behind it? If Stine denied his own involvement and Roald obv wasn't involved, is it publishers? Scholastic for Stine and Penguin for Dahl. It wasn't a lone aggressive new diversity hire, would need to be at least 2 and in sync and with both companies bending over to let them.

How long have they been wanting then planning to do this? Or did they hit 2023 and decide to go full retard out of no where? I see articles saying Penguin is rolling back the changes after backlash but people say their updated digital copies (lmao) of the Dahl book still are the censored version. Where is this springing up from that can also put wheels on it so quickly?

e: if they try to censor hank the cowdog heads will roll in real life craft

 

[WhiskeyJack]

What a grifting bastard, wants all his original editions to skyrocket in price over night.

Well, two can play at that game; I’ll rewrite my own books to be even more politically incorrect than they already are. Then charge extra for both versions, ha!

Seriously though, I’m going to have to find my box of Goosebumps in the basement. They’ll be worth something now. And if Bruce Coville follows Stine’s lead, then I’ll really be set for life.

 

[Toolbox]

https://twitter.com/RL_Stine/status/1632378758479982593

He says the stuff about him rewriting his works for sensitivity is bs.

He doesn't say they aren't being censored though. Is he lashing out at Scholastic?

Yeah, I take back what I said about Stine. If this is happening, he's getting fucked over:

View attachment 4717274

If this article is actually just written that shit it makes it all the more pathetic. Article isn't even negative on the issue and is so short it's an obvious sign of author laziness.

And based on her author profile

And her twitter

She supports these revisions regardless. She's a Marvel obsessed, trauma focused journo with pronouns in bio. And to make her twitter activity more pathetic she's been on there since 09 but only has 283 followers.

Some of her insightful tweets.


She's also still seething about the Musk twitter buyout months after it's happened.

These are the kind of people slandering, willful or not a man on deaths door.

 

[Haramburger]

What a Jewish thing to do.

Agree, and I don't mind that because
A: He's doing it to his own work
B: it's going to smooth down the series' edges but get it into more library shelves, book fairs, & kid's hands

It's a stark contrast between this and the Roald Dahl editing recently, but I can swallow this.

So... odds on how many Goosebumps protagonists will be race swapped and made different flavors of fag? Cuz if IIRC they were all white kids ranging from 10-14 years old.

My money is on the kids from the Monster Blood tetralogy turning into what pedos call "Senior attracted Minors".

It's interesting if true, because Are You Afraid of the Dark? was pretty diverse from the get-go, in both the midnight society kids and the kids in the stories.

 

[Mothra1988]

Agree, and I don't mind that because
A: He's doing it to his own work
B: it's going to smooth down the series' edges but get it into more library shelves, book fairs, & kid's hands

It's a stark contrast between this and the Roald Dahl editing recently, but I can swallow this.

It's being done behind his back, read the whole thread before saying you love censorship.

 

[Toolbox]

It's being done behind his back, read the whole thread before saying you love censorship.

To add, an hour ago Stine tweeted this arcticle following people contacting him about this.
https://archive.is/8o5Ws

Scholastic, his publisher is the most likely canidate to blame. They underhandedly would have put these edits in his books in 2018.

The Times did reference several changes to Goosebumps books – but pointed out they were made in 2018, as part of an ebook re-release. Publisher Scholastic has confirmed the older edits.

“For more than 30 years, the Goosebumps series has brought millions of kids to reading through humour with just the right amount of scary,” the statement said, according to Deadline.

“Scholastic takes its responsibility seriously to continue bringing this classic adolescent brand to each new generation. When re-issuing titles several years ago, Scholastic reviewed the text to keep the language current and avoid imagery that could negatively impact a young person’s view of themselves today, with a particular focus on mental health.”

Having his name dragged like this, if he's completely truthful about being uninvolved can't be good for a guy nearing 80. Especially if he has to fight his publisher to change things back. If they really did this without his knowledge at all then they probably barely care about what he has to say.

 

[pwnest injun]

Omg this is horrible. I loved goosebumps as a kid and kept all my books. Fuck this hellish sensitivity garbage!

Now they're about to be worth considerably more.

 

[Haramburger]

It's being done behind his back, read the whole thread before saying you love censorship.

To be fair, I read the article and replied via page 1's reply box, but I've since updated the OP with @Jonah Hill poster 's tweet image to add additional context for anyone else replying, and this story may develop further.

You're still a niggerslut for trashcanning me, but at least I did something constructive for it bitch
EDIT: adding @Toolbox 's article too. Should limit the number of uninformed replies like mine

 

[Battlefield2142EU]

If they come for Animorphs I'm gonna riot though.

Do yourself a favor and don’t look up Animorphs on tumblr. Trannies, furries and otherkin took over the fandom.