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Magic Terror: 7 Tales
Welcome to another kind of terror as Peter Straub leads us into the outer reaches of the psyche. Here the master of the macabre is at his absolute best in seven exquisite tales of living, dying, and the terror that lies in between. . . .
AshputtleIsn’t It Romantic?
“CHILLING.”“SKILLFULLY CONSTRUCTED.”
–The New York Times–Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The Ghost VillageBunny Is Good Bread
Winner of a World Fantasy Award“TERRIFYING.”
“VERY, VERY SCARY.”– The Washington Post Book World
– The Philadelphia Inquirer
Porkpie HatHunger, An Introduction
“DARK TWISTS AND“BRILLIANTLY SUBVERSIVE.”
DARKER HUMOR.”– Locus
–USA Today
Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff
Winner of a Bram Stoker Award
“[A] TOUR-DE-FORCE . . . [THAT] WILL HAUNT READERS LONG AFTER THEY’VE CLOSED THE COVERS.”
–The Denver Post
“PETER STRAUB IS AN EXCELLENT WRITER. . . .
HE MAKES US FEEL THE TERROR.”
– The Philadelphia Inquirer
AshputtleIsn’t It Romantic?
“CHILLING.”“SKILLFULLY CONSTRUCTED.”
–The New York Times–Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The Ghost VillageBunny Is Good Bread
Winner of a World Fantasy Award“TERRIFYING.”
“VERY, VERY SCARY.”– The Washington Post Book World
– The Philadelphia Inquirer
Porkpie HatHunger, An Introduction
“DARK TWISTS AND“BRILLIANTLY SUBVERSIVE.”
DARKER HUMOR.”– Locus
–USA Today
Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff
Winner of a Bram Stoker Award
“[A] TOUR-DE-FORCE . . . [THAT] WILL HAUNT READERS LONG AFTER THEY’VE CLOSED THE COVERS.”
–The Denver Post
“PETER STRAUB IS AN EXCELLENT WRITER. . . .
HE MAKES US FEEL THE TERROR.”
– The Philadelphia Inquirer
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 3, 2000
81 people are currently reading
2788 people want to read
About the author
Peter Straub
260 books4,194 followersPeter Straub was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Gordon Anthony Straub and Elvena (Nilsestuen) Straub.
Straub read voraciously from an early age, but his literary interests did not please his parents; his father hoped that he would grow up to be a professional athlete, while his mother wanted him to be a Lutheran minister. He attended Milwaukee Country Day School on a scholarship, and, during his time there, began writing.
Straub earned an honors BA in English at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1965, and an MA at Columbia University a year later. He briefly taught English at Milwaukee Country Day, then moved to Dublin, Ireland, in 1969 to work on a PhD, and to start writing professionally
After mixed success with two attempts at literary mainstream novels in the mid-1970s ("Marriages" and "Under Venus"), Straub dabbled in the supernatural for the first time with "Julia" (1975). He then wrote "If You Could See Me Now" (1977), and came to widespread public attention with his fifth novel, "Ghost Story" (1979), which was a critical success and was later adapted into a 1981 film. Several horror novels followed, with growing success, including "The Talisman" and "Black House", two fantasy-horror collaborations with Straub's long-time friend and fellow author Stephen King.
In addition to his many novels, he published several works of poetry during his lifetime.
In 1966, Straub married Susan Bitker.They had two children; their daughter, Emma Straub, is also a novelist. The family lived in Dublin from 1969 to 1972, in London from 1972 to 1979, and in the New York City area from 1979 onwards.
Straub died on September 4, 2022, aged 79, from complications of a broken hip. At the time of his death, he and his wife lived in Brooklyn (New York City).
Straub read voraciously from an early age, but his literary interests did not please his parents; his father hoped that he would grow up to be a professional athlete, while his mother wanted him to be a Lutheran minister. He attended Milwaukee Country Day School on a scholarship, and, during his time there, began writing.
Straub earned an honors BA in English at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1965, and an MA at Columbia University a year later. He briefly taught English at Milwaukee Country Day, then moved to Dublin, Ireland, in 1969 to work on a PhD, and to start writing professionally
After mixed success with two attempts at literary mainstream novels in the mid-1970s ("Marriages" and "Under Venus"), Straub dabbled in the supernatural for the first time with "Julia" (1975). He then wrote "If You Could See Me Now" (1977), and came to widespread public attention with his fifth novel, "Ghost Story" (1979), which was a critical success and was later adapted into a 1981 film. Several horror novels followed, with growing success, including "The Talisman" and "Black House", two fantasy-horror collaborations with Straub's long-time friend and fellow author Stephen King.
In addition to his many novels, he published several works of poetry during his lifetime.
In 1966, Straub married Susan Bitker.They had two children; their daughter, Emma Straub, is also a novelist. The family lived in Dublin from 1969 to 1972, in London from 1972 to 1979, and in the New York City area from 1979 onwards.
Straub died on September 4, 2022, aged 79, from complications of a broken hip. At the time of his death, he and his wife lived in Brooklyn (New York City).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
October 14, 2022
One of the best horror collections I’ve read, easily up there with Night Shift and Blue World. Unlike those books however, most of the stories are a bit longer here—only 7. Of the 7, 4 of them were top notch Straub and are easily 5 star stories. The rest were good as well, and there wasn’t a dud here for me, despite one oddball, Isn’t It Romantic?, that wasn’t horror at all and read more like John Le Carre or something—one of the only, or the only, Straub story I’ve read that didn’t bear his prose style. That’s not to say it was second-rate though; it was a great spy story but felt nonetheless an odd choice to include here. Anyway, since the collection only contains 7 stories, I might as well address each one of them—I’ll give a very vague blurb about each one but will not include any spoilers.
Ashputtle: The shortest story in the collection, and one of the absolute best. This story is very disturbing, I have even awoken in the middle of the night and had this horrifying story pop into my head. It concerns a deranged kindergarten teacher who sees herself as an artist, and has some connections to the original Brothers Grimm Cinderella story. It’s written in a rambling, psychotic and brilliantly done first person style that will stick with you for a long time.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Isn’t it Romantic?: Straub’s take on the “assassins last job” story. While this isn’t one of my favorites, it’s still a fun spy story and you can tell Straub had a blast writing it, and stepping out of his normal territory. It’s written in about as straightforward a style as I have ever seen him write.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
The Ghost Village: An excellent expanded version of a story from The Throat , this story is told by Tim Underhill during his time in Vietnam, and concerns a bizarre village he and his company encountered during the war. This story stands on its own just fine.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Bunny is Good Bread: Another story intimately connected to The Blue Rose Trilogy, The Throat in particular, this story is about the horrible and disturbing childhood of Fee Bandolier. This is a deeply disturbing and brilliantly written story about child abuse, and it is not for the squeamish. It is very difficult to read at times, and I also would recommend skipping this one if you haven’t read The Throat yet. It also bears a large dedication to Straub’s friend, Stephen King.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Porkpie Hat: Another one of my very favorites, this story concerns an enigmatic jazz musician and a life-changing event that happened to him on Halloween as a child in Mississippi. More of Straub at his best, combining all the elements that make him so great into a powerful ass-kicker of a short story. Also, a perfect Halloween/October read; it’s evocative of the season and the holiday.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Hunger, an Introduction: a bizarre story written in first person from the point of view of a ghost, a man who is clearly still in denial about what a dirtbag he was. Incredibly strange, and also laugh out loud funny at times. The only story in here that I feel I don’t fully understand, I plan on revisiting it in the future to see if it clicks a little more, but still worth the read.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 3/4
Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff: Another contender for my favorite story in this collection, it is also the longest, at 100 pages. This story is about a Wall Street-Esque big-shot from a strange background, and how he handles an unfaithful spouse. There is so much more to this story, but I don’t want to spoil anything at all. Like Porkpie Hat, this is a prime example of Straub’s absolute mastery of the written word and the art of storytelling.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Overall, a brilliant collection that showcases Straub’s varied and impeccable skill as a writer. The more I read, the more I become convinced that the man could do it all.
Ashputtle: The shortest story in the collection, and one of the absolute best. This story is very disturbing, I have even awoken in the middle of the night and had this horrifying story pop into my head. It concerns a deranged kindergarten teacher who sees herself as an artist, and has some connections to the original Brothers Grimm Cinderella story. It’s written in a rambling, psychotic and brilliantly done first person style that will stick with you for a long time.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Isn’t it Romantic?: Straub’s take on the “assassins last job” story. While this isn’t one of my favorites, it’s still a fun spy story and you can tell Straub had a blast writing it, and stepping out of his normal territory. It’s written in about as straightforward a style as I have ever seen him write.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
The Ghost Village: An excellent expanded version of a story from The Throat , this story is told by Tim Underhill during his time in Vietnam, and concerns a bizarre village he and his company encountered during the war. This story stands on its own just fine.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Bunny is Good Bread: Another story intimately connected to The Blue Rose Trilogy, The Throat in particular, this story is about the horrible and disturbing childhood of Fee Bandolier. This is a deeply disturbing and brilliantly written story about child abuse, and it is not for the squeamish. It is very difficult to read at times, and I also would recommend skipping this one if you haven’t read The Throat yet. It also bears a large dedication to Straub’s friend, Stephen King.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Porkpie Hat: Another one of my very favorites, this story concerns an enigmatic jazz musician and a life-changing event that happened to him on Halloween as a child in Mississippi. More of Straub at his best, combining all the elements that make him so great into a powerful ass-kicker of a short story. Also, a perfect Halloween/October read; it’s evocative of the season and the holiday.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Hunger, an Introduction: a bizarre story written in first person from the point of view of a ghost, a man who is clearly still in denial about what a dirtbag he was. Incredibly strange, and also laugh out loud funny at times. The only story in here that I feel I don’t fully understand, I plan on revisiting it in the future to see if it clicks a little more, but still worth the read.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 3/4
Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff: Another contender for my favorite story in this collection, it is also the longest, at 100 pages. This story is about a Wall Street-Esque big-shot from a strange background, and how he handles an unfaithful spouse. There is so much more to this story, but I don’t want to spoil anything at all. Like Porkpie Hat, this is a prime example of Straub’s absolute mastery of the written word and the art of storytelling.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Overall, a brilliant collection that showcases Straub’s varied and impeccable skill as a writer. The more I read, the more I become convinced that the man could do it all.
June 17, 2024
Peter Straub, in his book of short stories "Magic Terror", pushes the envelope of the horror genre beyond what is normally "safe" territory and into realms that very few writers, horror or otherwise, seldom traverse.
His stories deal with human perversity, tragedy, and atrocity. Not exactly "fun" reads, although readers (such as myself) with a twisted perspective will appreciate the dark humor of some of the stories.
Some stand-out stories: "Ashputtle" is a truly horrifying story of an elementary school teacher with a terrible secret.
"The Ghost Village" is a frightening yet moving tale of an army platoon who encounter a deserted Vietnamese village harboring some unhappy spirits.
"Porkpie Hat" is a great story for Halloween, about a jazz musician who refuses to play gigs on Halloween night because of something he witnessed as a child.
"Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff" is a truly disgusting and hilarious story about two very unconventional hit-men.
Straub is a rare bird in the horror genre: one of those writers that transcends the genre and creates something with literary merit.
His stories deal with human perversity, tragedy, and atrocity. Not exactly "fun" reads, although readers (such as myself) with a twisted perspective will appreciate the dark humor of some of the stories.
Some stand-out stories: "Ashputtle" is a truly horrifying story of an elementary school teacher with a terrible secret.
"The Ghost Village" is a frightening yet moving tale of an army platoon who encounter a deserted Vietnamese village harboring some unhappy spirits.
"Porkpie Hat" is a great story for Halloween, about a jazz musician who refuses to play gigs on Halloween night because of something he witnessed as a child.
"Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff" is a truly disgusting and hilarious story about two very unconventional hit-men.
Straub is a rare bird in the horror genre: one of those writers that transcends the genre and creates something with literary merit.
February 25, 2014
Peter Straub is one of the best authors of all time, and this anthology is evidence enough to prove it. He writes circles around Stephen King, natch', but then again, one isn't reading King because of that man's fine style (with the exception of Misery), one reads King in order to wallow in a folksy story, pure campfire horror tale. Not so with Straub, whose depictions of twisted human psychology are so internally consistent that they make me suspect that (a) he's psychic and (b) he's been hanging around some terrible asylums or something. You believe every word these characters say.
The opening vignette alone, "Ashputtle," is well worth the price of admission. I read it through in a single gulp, while waiting for my daughter to get out of dance class, and at first I was simply enjoying the bizarre voice Straub gives to his narrator, a totally compelling mixture of self-aggrandizement and guilty whining that he revisits in the excellent "Hunger: an Introduction."
It wasn't until I finished, though, that the full meaning of the story really dawned on me. It's a classic bit of what TV Tropes calls "fridge horror," the moment after the movie or story, when you're at the refrigerator, making a sandwich, and you suddenly 'get' what actually happened. I had to race right back to the beginning of the story and read the whole thing through again, this time through the lens of that realization. Then I had to IMMEDIATELY check on my darling daughter, and I did not take my eyes off of her for the rest of the evening. I checked on her twenty times during the night. I almost could not drop her off at school the next day.
That, folks, is some good writing.
The opening vignette alone, "Ashputtle," is well worth the price of admission. I read it through in a single gulp, while waiting for my daughter to get out of dance class, and at first I was simply enjoying the bizarre voice Straub gives to his narrator, a totally compelling mixture of self-aggrandizement and guilty whining that he revisits in the excellent "Hunger: an Introduction."
It wasn't until I finished, though, that the full meaning of the story really dawned on me. It's a classic bit of what TV Tropes calls "fridge horror," the moment after the movie or story, when you're at the refrigerator, making a sandwich, and you suddenly 'get' what actually happened. I had to race right back to the beginning of the story and read the whole thing through again, this time through the lens of that realization. Then I had to IMMEDIATELY check on my darling daughter, and I did not take my eyes off of her for the rest of the evening. I checked on her twenty times during the night. I almost could not drop her off at school the next day.
That, folks, is some good writing.
May 1, 2011
A curious collection of not-so-short fiction by one of my favorite authors, Magic Terror offers 7 tales where each is unique and not two are alike.
Indeed ,there is quite a diversity of "Magic Terror"."Bunny is Good Bread" is a disturbing, but fiendishly compelling story of a psychopatic killer being born, "Ashputtle" is equally disturbing tale of a schoolteacher who is not as kind as you might have thought. There's even an espionage story titled "Isn't it Romantic?" and a small flashback to the Koko years in "The Ghost Village", which recounts an incident in an abandoned Vietnam settlement.
"Porkpie Hat" paints vidid pictures and is a complexly structured narrative: The titular Hat is a jazz musician, and from his drunken ramblings an interviewer puts together a disurbing account of one summer night in 1920's Missisipi. "Hunger, an Introduction" is a weird story which in my opinion doesn't really work, and the concludng novella "Mr. Clubb and Mr.Cuff" owes a lot to Poe's Dr.Tarr and Professor Feather, along with Melville's most famous short tale of Bartleby. Combining the two influences, Straub's longest entry in this volume reads like a black comedy, full of bizarre characters who talk and act almost like caricatures, ambiguity and gruesomeness.
To sum up, this was quite a pleasant collection, and I enjoyed it a lot. Straub's voice changes from story to story, and each of them offers an unique reading experience. If you've never read Peter Straub before, I'd recommend starting with one of his novels. If you did, then what are you waiting for? Jump right in and experience Magic Terror.
Indeed ,there is quite a diversity of "Magic Terror"."Bunny is Good Bread" is a disturbing, but fiendishly compelling story of a psychopatic killer being born, "Ashputtle" is equally disturbing tale of a schoolteacher who is not as kind as you might have thought. There's even an espionage story titled "Isn't it Romantic?" and a small flashback to the Koko years in "The Ghost Village", which recounts an incident in an abandoned Vietnam settlement.
"Porkpie Hat" paints vidid pictures and is a complexly structured narrative: The titular Hat is a jazz musician, and from his drunken ramblings an interviewer puts together a disurbing account of one summer night in 1920's Missisipi. "Hunger, an Introduction" is a weird story which in my opinion doesn't really work, and the concludng novella "Mr. Clubb and Mr.Cuff" owes a lot to Poe's Dr.Tarr and Professor Feather, along with Melville's most famous short tale of Bartleby. Combining the two influences, Straub's longest entry in this volume reads like a black comedy, full of bizarre characters who talk and act almost like caricatures, ambiguity and gruesomeness.
To sum up, this was quite a pleasant collection, and I enjoyed it a lot. Straub's voice changes from story to story, and each of them offers an unique reading experience. If you've never read Peter Straub before, I'd recommend starting with one of his novels. If you did, then what are you waiting for? Jump right in and experience Magic Terror.
December 16, 2015
I've decided that I'm giving up on this one. Officially quitting. I've read three of the seven stories, and I can't say that I was impressed by any of them.
The first story was just... weird. Like, "Let me think of as many weird things as possible and squeeze them into 18 pages with no connecting narrative and call it a story" weird. It was like a crazy dream that gives you an odd crawly feeling without knowing why. Creepy, yes. Story, no. OK I take that back... if you're adept at putting square pegs in round holes when reading, meaning if you can interpret your way through bunch of words and find a story, then there is one. But it's still not a GOOD one.
The second story was... something, but not horror, not magic, but a weak espionage-like thriller with a predictable twist. Better than the first story, but not impressive.
Third is a Vietnam story, and while it held my curiosity, I wasn't sure what the point was. *shrug*
I read a page of the fourth story, and just... gave up. Other reviews seem to indicate that a reader who sticks with it would be rewarded at the end, but life is too short to waste time on something that I'm not enjoying. I gave this book three chances to grab me, and the most it did was lay a weak hand on my arm after about 3 weeks of trying. Not a great introduction to Peter Straub. I'd expected better, honestly.
Moving on...
The first story was just... weird. Like, "Let me think of as many weird things as possible and squeeze them into 18 pages with no connecting narrative and call it a story" weird. It was like a crazy dream that gives you an odd crawly feeling without knowing why. Creepy, yes. Story, no. OK I take that back... if you're adept at putting square pegs in round holes when reading, meaning if you can interpret your way through bunch of words and find a story, then there is one. But it's still not a GOOD one.
The second story was... something, but not horror, not magic, but a weak espionage-like thriller with a predictable twist. Better than the first story, but not impressive.
Third is a Vietnam story, and while it held my curiosity, I wasn't sure what the point was. *shrug*
I read a page of the fourth story, and just... gave up. Other reviews seem to indicate that a reader who sticks with it would be rewarded at the end, but life is too short to waste time on something that I'm not enjoying. I gave this book three chances to grab me, and the most it did was lay a weak hand on my arm after about 3 weeks of trying. Not a great introduction to Peter Straub. I'd expected better, honestly.
Moving on...
February 12, 2016
Ok, I think I'm done with Straub. I've tried, but none of his work seems to come close to the glory days of his early books. This collection is only the latest amplest example of it. It's certainly not magical, although Shadowland was and it didn't help. Terror was present, intermittently and often buried under piles of unnecessary extras. This collection starts and ends with duds, and only the first of which does the reader the courtesy of brevity. In the middle it gets more interesting. There is a spy story, for example, and a very disturbing tale of the making of a serial killer. The most notable feature of these tales is their diversity, in subject and style both, you wouldn't even think they share an author. The thing they all do share is utter lack of engageability, which isn't a proper word, but you get the idea. For an overwhelming majority of it I just didn't care and turned pages primarily out of a completist's desire to finish. Tedious might be too strong of a word, something more along the lines of unexciting, slow, unimpressive. Not ruling out the possibility that these were perfectly good well written stories I just didn't like. They certainly had a lot of praise from respectable sources.
April 10, 2011
Wow, it's not often you come across such an unsatisfying collection of stories from such a gifted author. A couple of them start out ok, but by the end I'd lost all interest, despite the quality of Straub's writing. From virtually every page this book screams out it's desire to be taken seriously as "literary" horror: "literary" in the sense that it's more work than fun to read. It does have its occasional enjoyable moments, but it is overall too self-aware and lacking in the seemingly effortless brilliance of Stephen King, who is perfectly happy to be continually underestimated by those elite snobs who think books that entertain are inherently stupid. Straub's writing style is actually remarkably similar to King's (one reason perhaps why they've collaborated well together in the past), and perhaps it's for that reason that Straub tries to be more experimental in his work. Still, I'll take a good story over intellectual masturbation any day.
August 14, 2016
First, let it be said that I am in awe of Straub's wordsmithing abilities. The guy is a master of his craft and one of the more daring author's out there, never settling for "more of the same."
That being said, this collection of "short" stories was ... exhausting. Like reading a book you're forced to get through for some college class, I found myself dreading to come back to this one (as is obvious from the two months it took me to finish it).
A few of these stories I didn't care for at all, from the premise to the execution; several contained fascinating set-ups or characters, but went stale long before their endings; and one, I thought was absolutely brilliant. But judging this as an anthology or collection of stories, I'd say it left a lot to be desired.
A few notes on the 7 stories in question:
- Ashputtle: by far my favorite of the bunch (also the shortest in the book). About a kindergarten teacher going through a psychotic breakdown, I loved the innovative way this story was told. 5 stars
- Isn't It Romantic: an almost James Bond-esque spy narrative that was a tedious read, with a payoff that just wasn't worth the journey. Probably my least favorite. 1 star
- The Ghost Village: A haunting tale (sort of) regarding life in the Viet Nam war and a village where atrocities took place. Fairly unmemorable. 2 stars
- Bunny is Good Bread: Interesting concept about a young boy and his disturbed father who keeps his dying wife locked up in their house rather than bringing her in for treatment. The characterizations were brilliantly executed, but the story itself felt stagnant. 3 stars
- PorkPie Hat: I really enjoyed this one, about a Jazz lover who interviews one of the greats, who he calls "Hat," and the reasons Hat never plays on Halloween night.
"Most people will tell you growing up means you stop believing in Halloween things -- I'm telling you the reverse. You start to grow up when you understand that the stuff that scares you is part of the air you breathe."
This could have been turned into a full length novel and I would have gladly stayed along for the ride. 4 stars
- Hunger, An Introduction: What a chilling concept - that ghosts stick around because they are starving, never being able to eat. Unfortunately this one was a bit of a narrative mess. 2 stars
- Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff: This one reminded me of a Neil Gaiman story, with the two hired assassins coming off almost as mythological in nature. Quite entertaining, though with an ending that felt tacked on. 3.5 stars
That being said, this collection of "short" stories was ... exhausting. Like reading a book you're forced to get through for some college class, I found myself dreading to come back to this one (as is obvious from the two months it took me to finish it).
A few of these stories I didn't care for at all, from the premise to the execution; several contained fascinating set-ups or characters, but went stale long before their endings; and one, I thought was absolutely brilliant. But judging this as an anthology or collection of stories, I'd say it left a lot to be desired.
A few notes on the 7 stories in question:
- Ashputtle: by far my favorite of the bunch (also the shortest in the book). About a kindergarten teacher going through a psychotic breakdown, I loved the innovative way this story was told. 5 stars
- Isn't It Romantic: an almost James Bond-esque spy narrative that was a tedious read, with a payoff that just wasn't worth the journey. Probably my least favorite. 1 star
- The Ghost Village: A haunting tale (sort of) regarding life in the Viet Nam war and a village where atrocities took place. Fairly unmemorable. 2 stars
- Bunny is Good Bread: Interesting concept about a young boy and his disturbed father who keeps his dying wife locked up in their house rather than bringing her in for treatment. The characterizations were brilliantly executed, but the story itself felt stagnant. 3 stars
- PorkPie Hat: I really enjoyed this one, about a Jazz lover who interviews one of the greats, who he calls "Hat," and the reasons Hat never plays on Halloween night.
"Most people will tell you growing up means you stop believing in Halloween things -- I'm telling you the reverse. You start to grow up when you understand that the stuff that scares you is part of the air you breathe."
This could have been turned into a full length novel and I would have gladly stayed along for the ride. 4 stars
- Hunger, An Introduction: What a chilling concept - that ghosts stick around because they are starving, never being able to eat. Unfortunately this one was a bit of a narrative mess. 2 stars
- Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff: This one reminded me of a Neil Gaiman story, with the two hired assassins coming off almost as mythological in nature. Quite entertaining, though with an ending that felt tacked on. 3.5 stars
April 17, 2012
***1/2
A solid short story collection with only one dud, 'Hunger: an Introduction,' which is an unfocused rambling glimpse of a man's becoming a ghost.
This collection of 7 stories offers a series of portraits of either murderers 'in-the-making' or seasoned and happily practicing their alternative passion.
I listened to the Audiobook version. Beth MacDonald's matter-of-fact delivery of the first story was chilling. Ron McLarty's deep sonorous actorly voice brought the rest of the stories to life in a way that my internal voice could not (especially on 'Porkpie Hat' and the final story). Many thanks to Mr. McLarty.
1)'Ashputtle' - a portrait of an unexpected monster. In its references to Art it is Straub's opposite answer to Kafka's 'The Hunger Artist.' Grade: A
2) 'Isn't it Romantic?' - The cliched 'final job of a hit-man' story. Grade: B.
3) 'The Ghost Village' - An eerie mass murder and its aftermath at a small village in Vietnam during the War. This story was included, in part, in Straub's THE THROAT. Grade: B+
4) 'Bunny is Good Bread' - One of the finest (is this the correct word?) stories written about child abuse. Very disturbing and sad. If you read THE THROAT you MUST READ THIS STORY! It adds another dimension to the 'Blue Rose' killings. Grade: A+
5)'Porkpie Hat' - An enigmatic jazz musician recounts a life-changing Halloween incident that occurred when he was eleven years old. A writer has to piece together the truth. A beautiful piece of writing. Grade: A
6) 'Hunger, an Introduction - BOMB
7) 'Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff' - A story of jealousy and revenge taken to extremes. If Poe had written Melville's 'Bartleby the Scrivener' you would get this story. Grade: A-
A solid short story collection with only one dud, 'Hunger: an Introduction,' which is an unfocused rambling glimpse of a man's becoming a ghost.
This collection of 7 stories offers a series of portraits of either murderers 'in-the-making' or seasoned and happily practicing their alternative passion.
I listened to the Audiobook version. Beth MacDonald's matter-of-fact delivery of the first story was chilling. Ron McLarty's deep sonorous actorly voice brought the rest of the stories to life in a way that my internal voice could not (especially on 'Porkpie Hat' and the final story). Many thanks to Mr. McLarty.
1)'Ashputtle' - a portrait of an unexpected monster. In its references to Art it is Straub's opposite answer to Kafka's 'The Hunger Artist.' Grade: A
2) 'Isn't it Romantic?' - The cliched 'final job of a hit-man' story. Grade: B.
3) 'The Ghost Village' - An eerie mass murder and its aftermath at a small village in Vietnam during the War. This story was included, in part, in Straub's THE THROAT. Grade: B+
4) 'Bunny is Good Bread' - One of the finest (is this the correct word?) stories written about child abuse. Very disturbing and sad. If you read THE THROAT you MUST READ THIS STORY! It adds another dimension to the 'Blue Rose' killings. Grade: A+
5)'Porkpie Hat' - An enigmatic jazz musician recounts a life-changing Halloween incident that occurred when he was eleven years old. A writer has to piece together the truth. A beautiful piece of writing. Grade: A
6) 'Hunger, an Introduction - BOMB
7) 'Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff' - A story of jealousy and revenge taken to extremes. If Poe had written Melville's 'Bartleby the Scrivener' you would get this story. Grade: A-
December 5, 2016
A master at work. There were a couple of tales that didn't resonate with me, but the others all blew my mind away (especially Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff). Well worth checking out if you enjoy dark explorations of the human psyche.
October 20, 2007
Do you like the weird, the bizarre, the terrifying? Then you'll love this short story collection.
December 26, 2018
I'm not just into Peter Straub 's style - but his talent is undeniable.
He writes long paragraphs and doesn't always get to the point right away. But even if you're not crazy about him, midway through the tale you'll encounter an awareness of what he brings.
He's great, and though he's not my cup of tea all the time, I can understand why readers love him.
He writes long paragraphs and doesn't always get to the point right away. But even if you're not crazy about him, midway through the tale you'll encounter an awareness of what he brings.
He's great, and though he's not my cup of tea all the time, I can understand why readers love him.
June 26, 2013
I’m not a major fan of Peter Straub. I look at Straub as someone a little embarrassed by what he does and therefore, has to try to make his horror writing high brow literature instead of just letting the prose flow naturally. The literary flights of fancy in ASHPUTTLE made it hard to find what was otherwise a chilling story. MR. CLUB AND MR. CUFF also got bogged down in deep dictionary words that took away from the story. Straub ought to take a lesson from Stephen King and just try telling the tale.
Having said that, Straub’s style served him well in HUNGER: AN INTRODUCTION. That character was supposed to be a pompous ass and it would seem that if Straub could develop any character exceptionally well, it would be the pompous ass.
ASHPUTTLE and PORKPIE HAT are held in high regard by most reviewers. Most seem to hate, HUNGER: AN INTRODUCTION. I didn’t despise any of the stories in this collection, although I found, ISN'T IT ROMANTIC to be pedestrian and dull reading with nothing new or exciting to add to an old concept. MAGIC TERROR isn’t going to rival any of the short story collections of the masters of short fiction. But the seven tales contained within (if you can suffer Isn’t it Romantic) are worth the time to read.
Having said that, Straub’s style served him well in HUNGER: AN INTRODUCTION. That character was supposed to be a pompous ass and it would seem that if Straub could develop any character exceptionally well, it would be the pompous ass.
ASHPUTTLE and PORKPIE HAT are held in high regard by most reviewers. Most seem to hate, HUNGER: AN INTRODUCTION. I didn’t despise any of the stories in this collection, although I found, ISN'T IT ROMANTIC to be pedestrian and dull reading with nothing new or exciting to add to an old concept. MAGIC TERROR isn’t going to rival any of the short story collections of the masters of short fiction. But the seven tales contained within (if you can suffer Isn’t it Romantic) are worth the time to read.
July 26, 2017
Seven tales from a master storyteller. They didn't all work for me, some of them being lost in the exercise of writing, victims of overwrought language. But others are absolutely shining gems of plot and character, beautifully written.
The book is worth its cover price for "Mr Clubb and Mr Cuff" alone, which is one of the best novellas I've ever read. Another high point is "Porkpie Hat", a true Halloween story. The darkly disturbing "Bunny Is Good Bread" was brutal, the reading equivalent of a journey through hell. "The Ghost Village" is a masterful study of character. These four make the book a highly recommended read from me.
"Isn't It Romantic?" was a wonderful noir tale, though it held few surprises. The other two stories, "Ashputtle" and "Hunger, An Introduction" really didn't resonate with me, for the reasons I've mentioned above.
But overall this is a superb book. Straub is an amazing writer when he's on form, and this book held far more on form than off for me.
The book is worth its cover price for "Mr Clubb and Mr Cuff" alone, which is one of the best novellas I've ever read. Another high point is "Porkpie Hat", a true Halloween story. The darkly disturbing "Bunny Is Good Bread" was brutal, the reading equivalent of a journey through hell. "The Ghost Village" is a masterful study of character. These four make the book a highly recommended read from me.
"Isn't It Romantic?" was a wonderful noir tale, though it held few surprises. The other two stories, "Ashputtle" and "Hunger, An Introduction" really didn't resonate with me, for the reasons I've mentioned above.
But overall this is a superb book. Straub is an amazing writer when he's on form, and this book held far more on form than off for me.
May 29, 2014
Magic Terror contains 7 vividly rendered tales of horror, though the word "horror" doesn't do the book justice. Mr. Straub is a brilliant writer who states only what a reader needs to know...and not a word more than that. The result keeps you fixed to the pages--housework and yardwork and business be damned. I read the book a decade ago, and reread it last week. Must like the first read, a decade ago, the stories haunt me...like big, sooty ashes rising from a burn pile, free-floating and dogging me and dropping on my head. Rationally, I know they won't hurt me...the characters CANNOT come alive...but it's worrisome all the same. Brilliant writing!
Wendy Joyce
Wendy Joyce
March 6, 2016
I picked this up after I read Interior Darkness so I could read the other stories in this collection. Intense. Horrific. I would defy anyone to read "Bunny is Good Bread" without nightmares.
November 14, 2016
these books are great
March 20, 2017
Bunny is good bread, Porkpie Hat and especially Mr Clubb and Mr Cuff are so great that they more than make up for the not-so-great stories. Ashputtle was really enjoyable too
November 3, 2024
This is a truly unsettling collection of short stories, each more disturbing than the last… and the first one is very, very traumatising! I LOVED IT!
Porkpie Hat would have to be my favourite for its spooky Halloweeny-ness, but ALL of these stories are great for the spooky season.
The one dedicated to Stephen King is truly horrifying… I described it to a friend as a mix of Apt Pupil and The Library Policeman… if you know, you know. 🤢 👍🏼
Porkpie Hat would have to be my favourite for its spooky Halloweeny-ness, but ALL of these stories are great for the spooky season.
The one dedicated to Stephen King is truly horrifying… I described it to a friend as a mix of Apt Pupil and The Library Policeman… if you know, you know. 🤢 👍🏼
December 15, 2015
I usually really enjoy horror, and have enjoyed other books by Peter Straub in the past. Some of the stories in this one just left me wondering. Maybe it's just me but I didn't get it. The "horror" was in some cases just strange and weird writing that left me scratching my head. I'm still not sure what to think of this one. If I find myself enlightened after thinking about it for a few I will write a better review.
This stories in this book were just weird...strange, and weird. I have nothing against strange and weird but some of this pushed the boundaries of the weirdness I can handle. It's pretty sad that out of all 7 stories it is that image from the first that I can't get out of my head...and a most unpleasant image it is!
This stories in this book were just weird...strange, and weird. I have nothing against strange and weird but some of this pushed the boundaries of the weirdness I can handle. It's pretty sad that out of all 7 stories it is that image from the first that I can't get out of my head...and a most unpleasant image it is!
September 13, 2013
Rather boring collection . Two of the stories are taken from his novel " The Throat " , another one is completely out of place spy thriller . I was very disappointed until the last story came in turn " Mr. Clubb and Mr.Cuff " . Well that is hell of a story I have to give it to Straub . It is one of the most original and disturbing stories I have ever read !!! So strange , so primitively scary !
Another problem for me is the complicated prose of Mr.Straub though . It was a very very hard reading process , because he uses many and I mean MANY deep dictionary words , which make is little bit hard to completely sink into the stories . It is not an easy read by any means at all , especially if English is not your native language but a second one .
One again I will recommend " Mr Clubb and Mr Cuff " it blew me away !!!
Another problem for me is the complicated prose of Mr.Straub though . It was a very very hard reading process , because he uses many and I mean MANY deep dictionary words , which make is little bit hard to completely sink into the stories . It is not an easy read by any means at all , especially if English is not your native language but a second one .
One again I will recommend " Mr Clubb and Mr Cuff " it blew me away !!!
October 17, 2013
Straub is a lot like Stephen King with whom he has co-written books. He is an extremely gifted writer. Some of the stories in this book are too weird for me.
BUT the last story is an award winning classic. Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff...really a novella...is extraordinary. Get the book and read this last story.
BUT the last story is an award winning classic. Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff...really a novella...is extraordinary. Get the book and read this last story.
February 26, 2010
An amazing collection of short stories. As someone who reads in bed at night, I didn't know whether to put it down so I wouldn't have nightmares, or keep reading so the bad dreams would have endings!
June 4, 2024
le mot juste:
p23: On the covered terrace of the cement-block building directly opposite, a woman in a sweater sat behind a cash register at a display case filled with what a sign called "regional delicacies."
p58: For a couple of seconds, he was content to breath in and out, feeling all the muscles in his body relax and breathe with him.
p103: He turned into his street and saw the neat row of cement blocks bisecting the dead lawn and the concrete steps leading up to the rosebushes and the front door.
?:
p209: Customer and saleslady conferred in re the wisdom of Regency sleeves.
p291: The newspapers described the fire and eulogized Marguerite; the increasingly threatening faxes declared Chartwell, Munster, and Stout's intention to ruin me professionally and personally in the face of my continuing refusal to return the accompanying documents along with all records having reference to their client; the documents were those in question; the letters, produced by the various legal firms representing all my other cryptic gentlemen, deplored the (unspecified) circumstances necessitating their clients' universal desire for change in re financial management.
That last story was quite interesting.
p23: On the covered terrace of the cement-block building directly opposite, a woman in a sweater sat behind a cash register at a display case filled with what a sign called "regional delicacies."
p58: For a couple of seconds, he was content to breath in and out, feeling all the muscles in his body relax and breathe with him.
p103: He turned into his street and saw the neat row of cement blocks bisecting the dead lawn and the concrete steps leading up to the rosebushes and the front door.
?:
p209: Customer and saleslady conferred in re the wisdom of Regency sleeves.
p291: The newspapers described the fire and eulogized Marguerite; the increasingly threatening faxes declared Chartwell, Munster, and Stout's intention to ruin me professionally and personally in the face of my continuing refusal to return the accompanying documents along with all records having reference to their client; the documents were those in question; the letters, produced by the various legal firms representing all my other cryptic gentlemen, deplored the (unspecified) circumstances necessitating their clients' universal desire for change in re financial management.
That last story was quite interesting.
January 12, 2023
"Magic Terror is bliss for readers whose love of the eerie doesn't preclude a taste for literary elegance..." - The Washington Post
Initial Thoughts
I’m nearing the finish line of “The Great Peter Straub Read-a-thon” with only three books and one novella remaining for me. Next up it’s his short story collection…Magic Terror.
In case you didn’t know by now, I’m a huge fan of Straub and have come to think of him as the Charles Dickens of the horror genre. In a period where less is more, and less descriptive styles seem to be the order of the day, he refused to hold back and utilised some of the most descriptive and eloquent prose I’ve ever come across. Winning numerous awards, including the Bram Stoker award for lifetime achievement in 2006, he has a daring approach that crosses multiple genres and forces the reader to engage their intellect in order to figure out the plot. Patience is required, as he slowly reveals details that don’t just jump off the page and smack you in the face but require work in order to piece elements together. It certainly isn’t easy reading, but for me he’s been a joy to read and after his sad passing I’m pretty confident we won’t see anyone like him again writing those scary books that we all love.
With this book in particular I couldn’t wait. My Goodreads friend Corey Woodcock had recently read it and gave it rave reviews. Would it live up to the hype? I had a good feeling about this one!
The Stories
I’m going to give you a brief synopsis of each individual story and my thoughts after finishing them. Instead of putting them in the order they appear in the book, I’ve ranked them from best to my least favourite. That way if you wanted to dip in and read a couple you have an idea of which ones to go for. That’s assuming I have good taste, which is debatable.
Pork Pie Hat ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It was a tough call for my overall favourite, as there’s some absolutely block-busting stories here. But I think this one just about scrapes it. It’s a very moody and atmospheric tale, with a supernatural undertone, of a legendary jazz-musician that the narrator calls “Hat.” After scooping a rare interview with the guy he finds out over the course of a night why Hat never plays on Halloween.
The musician recounts how he witnessed a brutal scene in the backwoods of the Mississippi when he was just a young boy and there’s so much that this one has going for it. It’s very dark and atmospheric but captures so many elements of childhood that make for a compulsive reading experience. It certainly left me wanting more and I would love to see this turned into a full-length novel. One of the best short stories I’ve ever read for sure and worth the admission price on it’s own.
“Most people will tell you growing up means you stop believing in Halloween things — I’m telling you the reverse. You start to grow up when you understand that the stuff that scares you is part of the air you breathe.”
Mr Clubb and Mr Cuff ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A multiple award winner this one (Bram Stoker and International Horror Guild) when it was published in 1998, that made it so difficult in choosing my favourite. I absolutely love black comedy and this one is absolutely loaded with it. Straub serves up a wicked fun revenge tale of a successful stockbroker who seeks revenge on his cheating adulteress of a wife by hiring a psychotic duo to severely punish her and the object of her desire. He’s given a guarantee that their work will bring about “permanent changes which can never be undone.”
Its starts of as a comedy as you witness the pair of Mr Clubb and Mr Cuff’s unusual behaviour that had me laughing out loud at several points and really showcases the author’s sense of humour. But things get very dark very quickly when the real work starts and my jaw was left on the floor at several points. Honestly, this is some of the best stuff Straub has ever written and a must read!
"Life had not yet taught me that revenge inexorably exacts it's own revenge."
Bunny is Good Bread ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you thought the last one was dark just wait till you set your eye’s on this one. A dark and nasty little tale that ties directly into his magnificent novel ‘The Throat.’. Honestly, if you enjoyed that one then you have got to get a hold of this.
We get a snapshot of the childhood of Fielding Bandolier as he lives with a comatose mother and a psychotic father who will never win nursemaid of the year. There’s some traumatic scene’s in this one and some parts are almost painful to read, which left me with a dirty feeling after finishing it. I’m not a person that would normally sympathise with a future serial-killer, but you would have to have a heart of stone not to feel for the young boy who is trapped in horrific circumstances.
This one is dedicated to Straub’s good friend Stephen King and it really made me wondered how he viewed the great man by writing such a disturbing tale for him. I’ll have to ask Steve next time I go for a beer with him. Oh, I forgot. It’s soft drinks only for him now.
"There was no pretending about what was going on in this place. This was it. This was the last stop."
The Ghost Village ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
You know exactly what I’m going to say. Another sensational story! It’s a Vietnam story that expands on an excerpt from that epic book Koko and includes some familiar characters for those who have read the Blue Rose Trilogy. It scooped the World Fantasy Award in 1992 for best novella, so that gives you an idea of it’s quality,
It begins with an American soldier who is hellbent on getting home when he discovers a man has molested his young son. But it goes on from there to develop multiple plot threads, the main one centring around the discovery of an underground torture pit in a small, abandoned village. Straub has a definite talent for these Vietnam narratives and this one is definitely no exception as we see the horrors of war and the impact on those that are knee deep in these atrocities and often committing them. The evil that men do and all that. Its was almost impossible for me to take my eye’s off the page.
Isn't it Romantic⭐⭐⭐1/2
Straub really does mix it up in this collection and it’s never more evident than in this instalment. It’s a weird one, in that it was a very conventional and straightforward story. Not what I’ve come to expect from him.
The story follows an assassin, who’s getting out the game, on route to the Basque region of France. It’s his final job and he soon discovers the tables have turned and the hunter is soon to become the hunted. But he certainly doesn’t plan on making things easy and this one builds to a great twist of an ending. It’s really good stuff, but just not of the same calibre as the previous entries.
Hunger, An Introduction⭐⭐1/2
Another weird one but this time in it’s structure and presentation. It follows a pompous and rambling ghost who reveals the events that lead up to his death and revealing the real reason why ghosts haunt the living. He’s certainly not a likeable character and that might be one of the reasons that this one didn’t really appeal to me.
Don’t get me wrong this had the potential to be a haunting gothic tale. But it only engaged me in small parts and the ending didn’t really land for me. Decent, but certainly not a must-read.
Ashputtle⭐⭐1/2
All the praise I give Straub for assuming the intelligence of his reader and making them work was his undoing in this one for me. It’s premise is twisted, dark and certainly disturbing as we get inside the noggin of Mrs Asch, an overweight psychotic teacher who has delusions of being a fairy tale character while carrying out some unspeakable acts.
Sounds great! But I don’t think Straub give himself enough time to fully develop the narrative and the early jump from the main story to an actual fairy tale was jarring and vague. That coupled with the rambling style of the narrator made it difficult to get onboard with and as a result the sudden ending lacked the intended impact for me.
What I will say though is that my Goodreads buddy who spoke so highly of this collection loves this one and rates it as one of the strongest entries. So maybe it’s just me and I need to give it another chance. If only I did re-reads!
"Nature never gives you a chance to rest. Every animal on earth is hungry."
The Writing
You know I think Peter Straub is an all-star wordsmith. A king within the horror genre that cannot be imitated. All you need to know is that the man could straight up write with the best of them. An absolute master of the English language who could seamlessly blend genres into a cohesive narrative.
Despite being on such a high level his actual prose are very readable and provide a nice break from the standard fair you get in the horror and thriller genre. Honestly, I remember switching to a Blake Crouch novel after reading one of his novels and it just appeared bland and almost amateur in comparison. No disrespect to Crouch but he certainly doesn’t have the style and eloquence of this author. But very few do.
Final Thoughts
Although the art of the short story certainly isn’t dead, with a number of authors currently going down that route, I would say that the way Peter Straub can write them will never be seen again. This is a fantastic collection, with four of the stories being great, and I do mean great. Is it worth your time? Do you really need me to answer that? As long as you can take a more intelligent and patient approach to the scary stuff then it’s a no brainer.
I will say after finishing, the title of “Magic Terror” is a touch misleading. There’s very little magical in this one, other than the author’s prose. But what Straub does is give you people that could be sat next to you on a bus, walking past you in the street or living next door to you and show you the viciousness and evil that us humans are capable of. It’s certainly a varied collection and you won’t find one story the same. I can only commend Straub for this achievement.
It’s certainly better than the pitiful rating it has on here, so I’m going to do my best to remedy that with a five star award. An award it most certainly deserves. Next up for me is The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine and I’m starting to feel that sadness that there’s not many left for me and that after his sad passing there wont be anymore. A great loss to the literary world.
Thanks for reading and…cheers!
March 8, 2017
Magic Terror by Peter Straub is a collection of 7 short stories. I love Straub's full-length novels. His short stories often leave me hanging, confused, and irritated.
That being said, here's my brief take on each of them.
Ashputtle....wish this hadn't been first, as I wasn't that impressed. It's about a kindergarten teacher who is going nuts. 1 star
Isn't It Romantic.... could have done without this one too. Spy stories are not my favorite, no matter the writer. It left me confused. 1 star
The Ghost Village....Now this is Straub! A VietNam story reminiscent of Koko. Really good! (Glad I stuck around for this one, almost quit reading after the second story) 5 stars
Bunny is Good Bread....Strange story about a young boy's life while his father went to extreme measures to keep his dying wife alive in the bedroom. Abuse all around, but good. 4 stars
PorkPie Hat........The story of a Jazz musician who tells his Halloween story to a young English major. Very good! 5 stars
Hunger, An Introduction.......A ghost story, but surprisingly not up to much. 1 star
Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff.........Wonderful! A wealthy businessman hires two rather strange assasins to "punish" his cheating wife. Hilarious, and gorey. Excellent! 5 stars
As you can see, I either loved them or hated them, so there was really no middle ground. Straub is a wonderful writer, and I will continue to read his books, but maybe not his short stories.
Note to self....if you can't get into the story within the first 10 pages, move on.....there are better ones to come.
That being said, here's my brief take on each of them.
Ashputtle....wish this hadn't been first, as I wasn't that impressed. It's about a kindergarten teacher who is going nuts. 1 star
Isn't It Romantic.... could have done without this one too. Spy stories are not my favorite, no matter the writer. It left me confused. 1 star
The Ghost Village....Now this is Straub! A VietNam story reminiscent of Koko. Really good! (Glad I stuck around for this one, almost quit reading after the second story) 5 stars
Bunny is Good Bread....Strange story about a young boy's life while his father went to extreme measures to keep his dying wife alive in the bedroom. Abuse all around, but good. 4 stars
PorkPie Hat........The story of a Jazz musician who tells his Halloween story to a young English major. Very good! 5 stars
Hunger, An Introduction.......A ghost story, but surprisingly not up to much. 1 star
Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff.........Wonderful! A wealthy businessman hires two rather strange assasins to "punish" his cheating wife. Hilarious, and gorey. Excellent! 5 stars
As you can see, I either loved them or hated them, so there was really no middle ground. Straub is a wonderful writer, and I will continue to read his books, but maybe not his short stories.
Note to self....if you can't get into the story within the first 10 pages, move on.....there are better ones to come.
March 12, 2016
A four only because there's a pretty significant gap in quality from one story to the next. That said, they're all phenomenal in some aspect or another - they range in quality from eights to tens.
Best of the bunch is Bunny is Good Bread, which a lot of people call one of the weakest in the collection but I think is one of the best things Straub has ever written regardless of format. It doesn't necessarily stick close to a tight plot like a lot of genre shorts/novellas do, but that's not the point: Instead, the story is
Cannot say enough good about this book on the whole. It's one of my go-tos when friends ask for a short horror recommendation, both for the variety of stories and the quality of the pieces therein. They might not all be the same "strength," for lack of a better term, but even the worst piece here blows most of today's short horror fiction out of the water.
Best of the bunch is Bunny is Good Bread, which a lot of people call one of the weakest in the collection but I think is one of the best things Straub has ever written regardless of format. It doesn't necessarily stick close to a tight plot like a lot of genre shorts/novellas do, but that's not the point: Instead, the story is
Cannot say enough good about this book on the whole. It's one of my go-tos when friends ask for a short horror recommendation, both for the variety of stories and the quality of the pieces therein. They might not all be the same "strength," for lack of a better term, but even the worst piece here blows most of today's short horror fiction out of the water.
November 1, 2014
Thoroughly enjoyable collection of short fiction. I had previously read "Porkpie Hat" in a Halloween-themed short story collection by various authors and loved it so much I was compelled to purchase this book. I'm glad I did! My favorites here include "Bunny Is Good Bread" (very disturbing), "Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff" (a novella), and "Porkpie Hat" (still love it, even after a second reading). My least favorites were "Ashputtle" and "Hunger, An Introduction". "Isn't It Romantic" and "The Ghost Village" are worthy additions to the collection and definitely worth reading. Prior to this, I haven't read much Peter Straub (only Ghost Story, I believe) but I may have to pick up a couple more of his works.
March 8, 2008
Superior, literate horror from one of the great writers in any field. It starts with one of the weaker stories, but the perseverant reader will be rewarded. There's a full review at Suite101
November 10, 2008
I actually liked the last story the best, so this collection ended on a high note for me. As for some of the others, hit and miss. I liked PORKPIE HAT too...some pretty gruesome storytelling and I liked his surprise twists. You knew there was something coming but not what it was.
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