If I get the chance to, I’m fishing out some black hair dye and getting an eyeliner pencil to do the eye-of-Horus tattoo for Death, for this Hallowe’en. 
I’d love to do Mina from League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, too.
I don’t know how literary it is, but last night I had what I (at first) thought was the perfect costume idea for my kids: Audrey and Audrey II, from Little Shop of Horrors. The kids (14 year old girl and 10 year old boy) were delighted, but then I lay awake all last night trying to figure out how the heck to create a recognizable carnivorous plant from outer space. I was finally forced to admit that I’m no Jim Henson. Also, on second thought, having my daughter dress as a sadist’s girlfriend really isn’t all that cool. Darn.
I have a friend named Sam who got a T-shirt with the cover of Green Eggs and Ham on it… and just came as “Sam I am.”
I’ve been toying with the idea of constructing a costume for an officer in the Grayson Space Navy, from the Honor Harrington books. As far as I can tell, aside from some specific patches, it’s basically a USAF uniform with the addition of cuff braids and shoulderboards. (If anyone knows of a uniform that combines the USAF color scheme with cuff braids and shoulderboards, feel free to let me know)
Green clothes, green paint, and lots of big sheets of cardstock. First, dress the kid in all green. That’s easy. Then, cut elongated circles from two of your sheets of cardstock. Cut a slit in the back of each, and roll them into shallow bowlish cones. Cut a hole in one of the bowl-shapes, near the back, big enough to fit under the kid’s armpits. Tape them together in the back, and put a hand-strap on the inside of each, so he can open and close the jaws. Maybe make a couple of big leaves, to be attached at waist level. Paint the jaws and leaves green. And coach the kid on saying “Feeeed me!” (he probably already has this part down pretty well).
If you really want to go all-out, make a big cylinder out of more cardstock, hang it around his waist, and paint it flowerpot red. But the jaws, leaves, and catchphrase should be enough.
Fun to think about, isn’t it? I appreciate the effort, but I really think I’m going to have to shelve the idea…if for no other reason than that I don’t have enough time to do it up properly.
I’m dressing up as Clark Kent this year. Does that count as a literary costume?
My older daughter is wearing blue striped pajamas and a Mickey Mouse hat to be Columbia. But that’s not very literary…
Get a yellow hat and a monkey…