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Steel: And Other Stories
Imagine a future in which the sport of boxing has gone high-tech. Human boxers have been replaced by massive humanoid robots. And former champions of flesh-and-blood are obsolete . . . .
Richard Matheson's classic short story is now the basis for Real Steel, a gritty, white-knuckle film starring Hugh Jackman. But "Steel," which was previously filmed as a powerful episode of the original Twilight Zone television series, is just one of over a dozen unforgettable tales in this outstanding collection, which includes two new stories that have never appeared in any previous Matheson collection. Also featured is a bizarre satirical fantasy, "The Splendid Source," that was turned into an episode of The Family Guy.
Richard Matheson was recently inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. Steel demonstrates once again the full range of his legendary imagination.
Richard Matheson's classic short story is now the basis for Real Steel, a gritty, white-knuckle film starring Hugh Jackman. But "Steel," which was previously filmed as a powerful episode of the original Twilight Zone television series, is just one of over a dozen unforgettable tales in this outstanding collection, which includes two new stories that have never appeared in any previous Matheson collection. Also featured is a bizarre satirical fantasy, "The Splendid Source," that was turned into an episode of The Family Guy.
Richard Matheson was recently inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. Steel demonstrates once again the full range of his legendary imagination.
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2011
30 people are currently reading
725 people want to read
About the author
Richard Matheson
760 books4,768 followersBorn in Allendale, New Jersey to Norwegian immigrant parents, Matheson was raised in Brooklyn and graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1943. He then entered the military and spent World War II as an infantry soldier. In 1949 he earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and moved to California in 1951. He married in 1952 and has four children, three of whom (Chris, Richard Christian, and Ali Matheson) are writers of fiction and screenplays.
His first short story, "Born of Man and Woman," appeared in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1950. The tale of a monstrous child chained in its parents' cellar, it was told in the first person as the creature's diary (in poignantly non-idiomatic English) and immediately made Matheson famous. Between 1950 and 1971, Matheson produced dozens of stories, frequently blending elements of the science fiction, horror and fantasy genres.
Several of his stories, like "Third from the Sun" (1950), "Deadline" (1959) and "Button, Button" (1970) are simple sketches with twist endings; others, like "Trespass" (1953), "Being" (1954) and "Mute" (1962) explore their characters' dilemmas over twenty or thirty pages. Some tales, such as "The Funeral" (1955) and "The Doll that Does Everything" (1954) incorporate zany satirical humour at the expense of genre clichés, and are written in an hysterically overblown prose very different from Matheson's usual pared-down style. Others, like "The Test" (1954) and "Steel" (1956), portray the moral and physical struggles of ordinary people, rather than the then nearly ubiquitous scientists and superheroes, in situations which are at once futuristic and everyday. Still others, such as "Mad House" (1953), "The Curious Child" (1954) and perhaps most famously, "Duel" (1971) are tales of paranoia, in which the everyday environment of the present day becomes inexplicably alien or threatening.
He wrote a number of episodes for the American TV series The Twilight Zone, including "Steel," mentioned above and the famous "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"; adapted the works of Edgar Allan Poe for Roger Corman and Dennis Wheatley's The Devil Rides Out for Hammer Films; and scripted Steven Spielberg's first feature, the TV movie Duel, from his own short story. He also contributed a number of scripts to the Warner Brothers western series "The Lawman" between 1958 and 1962. In 1973, Matheson earned an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his teleplay for The Night Stalker, one of two TV movies written by Matheson that preceded the series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Matheson also wrote the screenplay for Fanatic (US title: Die! Die! My Darling!) starring Talullah Bankhead and Stefanie Powers.
Novels include The Shrinking Man (filmed as The Incredible Shrinking Man, again from Matheson's own screenplay), and a science fiction vampire novel, I Am Legend, which has been filmed three times under the titles The Omega Man and The Last Man on Earth and once under the original title. Other Matheson novels turned into notable films include What Dreams May Come, Stir of Echoes, Bid Time Return (as Somewhere in Time), and Hell House (as The Legend of Hell House) and the aforementioned Duel, the last three adapted and scripted by Matheson himself. Three of his short stories were filmed together as Trilogy of Terror, including "Prey" with its famous Zuni warrior doll.
In 1960, Matheson published The Beardless Warriors, a nonfantastic, autobiographical novel about teenage American soldiers in World War II.
He died at his home on June 23, 2013, at the age of 87
http://us.macmillan.com/author/richar...
His first short story, "Born of Man and Woman," appeared in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1950. The tale of a monstrous child chained in its parents' cellar, it was told in the first person as the creature's diary (in poignantly non-idiomatic English) and immediately made Matheson famous. Between 1950 and 1971, Matheson produced dozens of stories, frequently blending elements of the science fiction, horror and fantasy genres.
Several of his stories, like "Third from the Sun" (1950), "Deadline" (1959) and "Button, Button" (1970) are simple sketches with twist endings; others, like "Trespass" (1953), "Being" (1954) and "Mute" (1962) explore their characters' dilemmas over twenty or thirty pages. Some tales, such as "The Funeral" (1955) and "The Doll that Does Everything" (1954) incorporate zany satirical humour at the expense of genre clichés, and are written in an hysterically overblown prose very different from Matheson's usual pared-down style. Others, like "The Test" (1954) and "Steel" (1956), portray the moral and physical struggles of ordinary people, rather than the then nearly ubiquitous scientists and superheroes, in situations which are at once futuristic and everyday. Still others, such as "Mad House" (1953), "The Curious Child" (1954) and perhaps most famously, "Duel" (1971) are tales of paranoia, in which the everyday environment of the present day becomes inexplicably alien or threatening.
He wrote a number of episodes for the American TV series The Twilight Zone, including "Steel," mentioned above and the famous "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"; adapted the works of Edgar Allan Poe for Roger Corman and Dennis Wheatley's The Devil Rides Out for Hammer Films; and scripted Steven Spielberg's first feature, the TV movie Duel, from his own short story. He also contributed a number of scripts to the Warner Brothers western series "The Lawman" between 1958 and 1962. In 1973, Matheson earned an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his teleplay for The Night Stalker, one of two TV movies written by Matheson that preceded the series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Matheson also wrote the screenplay for Fanatic (US title: Die! Die! My Darling!) starring Talullah Bankhead and Stefanie Powers.
Novels include The Shrinking Man (filmed as The Incredible Shrinking Man, again from Matheson's own screenplay), and a science fiction vampire novel, I Am Legend, which has been filmed three times under the titles The Omega Man and The Last Man on Earth and once under the original title. Other Matheson novels turned into notable films include What Dreams May Come, Stir of Echoes, Bid Time Return (as Somewhere in Time), and Hell House (as The Legend of Hell House) and the aforementioned Duel, the last three adapted and scripted by Matheson himself. Three of his short stories were filmed together as Trilogy of Terror, including "Prey" with its famous Zuni warrior doll.
In 1960, Matheson published The Beardless Warriors, a nonfantastic, autobiographical novel about teenage American soldiers in World War II.
He died at his home on June 23, 2013, at the age of 87
http://us.macmillan.com/author/richar...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
November 27, 2017
Steel: And Other Stories is a collection of Richard Matheson tales.
Not long ago, I read The Best of Richard Matheson and experienced the great man's stories for the first time in a decade or more. My whistle had been wetted so I picked this one up at the used bookstore a few days later.
First off, there was very little overlap between the two collections, only two or three stories. Secondly, this could easily have been called The Second Best of Richard Matheson. When most of Matheson's iconic tales were in the other collection, I should have expected as much.
The stories in Steel are a mixed bag in tone, subject matter, and quality. Steel was good but not great. The Splendid Source felt like a Monty Python sketch and was one of my favorite stories in the book. There are some thought-provoking stories, like The Traveler or Lemmings. Present in many of them, however, are Richard Matheson's twist endings. The man really loved his bite-you-in-the-ass endings, didn't he?
Steel: And Other Stories was a nice way to spend a few hours but it is in no way an essential Richard Matheson read. Three out of five stars.
Not long ago, I read The Best of Richard Matheson and experienced the great man's stories for the first time in a decade or more. My whistle had been wetted so I picked this one up at the used bookstore a few days later.
First off, there was very little overlap between the two collections, only two or three stories. Secondly, this could easily have been called The Second Best of Richard Matheson. When most of Matheson's iconic tales were in the other collection, I should have expected as much.
The stories in Steel are a mixed bag in tone, subject matter, and quality. Steel was good but not great. The Splendid Source felt like a Monty Python sketch and was one of my favorite stories in the book. There are some thought-provoking stories, like The Traveler or Lemmings. Present in many of them, however, are Richard Matheson's twist endings. The man really loved his bite-you-in-the-ass endings, didn't he?
Steel: And Other Stories was a nice way to spend a few hours but it is in no way an essential Richard Matheson read. Three out of five stars.
October 22, 2014
A free download from my local library by Black Stone Audio. Narrated by Scott Brick.
Steel was good, but the book descriptions tout that this is what the movie with Hugh Jackman in it was based on. OK, but the Twilight Zone episode with Lee Marvin in it was far more accurate to the story & really fantastic.
To fit the crime is a man dying & then what he finds in the afterlife. Pretty much perfect justice. Matheson's got a mean side, no doubt.
The wedding just goes to show there's nothing to all the superstitions surrounding the institution or is there? I repeat, Matheson has a mean side.
The conqueror is sad & so true. I wonder how often it really happens that way.
Dear diary LOL! Two girls' diaries 2000 years apart. Only the year has changed.
Descent just how much change can men take? Which choice would you have made? This story asks a very hard question.
The doll that does everything there really are people like this out there. If you have kids, this is truly horrible.
The Traveler I've read a lot of time travel stories, but few have ever made several points so well. Atheistic science meets religion & faith. Beautifully done. I don't think this was a Twilight Zone, but should have been.
When day is dun Very few can look into the soul of a poet or man & lay it as bare as Matheson. Wow! Just how far can ego take a man? Worse, it was believable.
The splendid source I read an SF story, also done in the 50's I believe, about where jokes came from. That one decided it was an alien test & once our computers had figured it out, humor was gone. Scary & shocking. I wondered if anyone could top it. Matheson gave it a good run. Interesting, although I don't really agree with his basic interpretation of what jokes are for or do in this story.
Lemmings was odd. Not really sure to make of it. Felt in some ways like a haunting fragment. I'm still thinking about it.
The edge was a nightmare for a man. Was this ever a Twilight Zone? Maybe part of one? Interesting idea.
A visit to Santa Claus is another nightmare of a man's own making. It went on a bit long building the tension, but never stopped. My mind kept writing the story after Matheson was done. Very well done!
Dr. Morton's folly is fun. Matheson never comes right out and tells us who or what the man with the bad tooth is. That's left to our imagination, although it is fairly obvious. Excellent.
The window of time is a new story & quite long winded, although with an interesting message & pretty good. One of the things I always liked about Matheson was his brevity. I'm sorry he seems to have lost it.
Overall, this was a pretty good listen. There are a couple of 5 star stories, so I rounded this up from a 3.5 to 4 stars. Only a couple of stories were misses.
Steel was good, but the book descriptions tout that this is what the movie with Hugh Jackman in it was based on. OK, but the Twilight Zone episode with Lee Marvin in it was far more accurate to the story & really fantastic.
To fit the crime is a man dying & then what he finds in the afterlife. Pretty much perfect justice. Matheson's got a mean side, no doubt.
The wedding just goes to show there's nothing to all the superstitions surrounding the institution or is there? I repeat, Matheson has a mean side.
The conqueror is sad & so true. I wonder how often it really happens that way.
Dear diary LOL! Two girls' diaries 2000 years apart. Only the year has changed.
Descent just how much change can men take? Which choice would you have made? This story asks a very hard question.
The doll that does everything there really are people like this out there. If you have kids, this is truly horrible.
The Traveler I've read a lot of time travel stories, but few have ever made several points so well. Atheistic science meets religion & faith. Beautifully done. I don't think this was a Twilight Zone, but should have been.
When day is dun Very few can look into the soul of a poet or man & lay it as bare as Matheson. Wow! Just how far can ego take a man? Worse, it was believable.
The splendid source I read an SF story, also done in the 50's I believe, about where jokes came from. That one decided it was an alien test & once our computers had figured it out, humor was gone. Scary & shocking. I wondered if anyone could top it. Matheson gave it a good run. Interesting, although I don't really agree with his basic interpretation of what jokes are for or do in this story.
Lemmings was odd. Not really sure to make of it. Felt in some ways like a haunting fragment. I'm still thinking about it.
The edge was a nightmare for a man. Was this ever a Twilight Zone? Maybe part of one? Interesting idea.
A visit to Santa Claus is another nightmare of a man's own making. It went on a bit long building the tension, but never stopped. My mind kept writing the story after Matheson was done. Very well done!
Dr. Morton's folly is fun. Matheson never comes right out and tells us who or what the man with the bad tooth is. That's left to our imagination, although it is fairly obvious. Excellent.
The window of time is a new story & quite long winded, although with an interesting message & pretty good. One of the things I always liked about Matheson was his brevity. I'm sorry he seems to have lost it.
Overall, this was a pretty good listen. There are a couple of 5 star stories, so I rounded this up from a 3.5 to 4 stars. Only a couple of stories were misses.
July 9, 2013
-Imaginativo e incluso impactante en su tiempo, correcto actualmente.-
Género. Relatos.
Lo que nos cuenta. Recopilación de relatos escritos por el autor entre 1951 y 1956, conocida también como “Acero puro y otras historias” en ediciones más recientes, y que toca temas tan diversos como un inquietante embarazo sin coito, la literatura como forma de escapar a la realidad, desarrollos de negocio inesperados pero provechosos en una funeraria, el secuestro de una pareja con fines terribles, diferentes formas (y actitudes) de enfrentar el fin del mundo, soluciones desesperadas a problemas con un robot luchador antes de una pelea, la desaparición de una niña que sin embargo se sabe que está ahí mismo, una persona que repentinamente se siente totalmente desubicada, ominosas perspectivas para la tercera edad, los juguetes infantiles de última generación como posible ayuda en la educación de un niño díscolo, los efectos de las musas sobre la inspiración en circunstancias extremas, ropa con personalidad muy acusada y un niño que de mayor quiere ser vampiro.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Relatos.
Lo que nos cuenta. Recopilación de relatos escritos por el autor entre 1951 y 1956, conocida también como “Acero puro y otras historias” en ediciones más recientes, y que toca temas tan diversos como un inquietante embarazo sin coito, la literatura como forma de escapar a la realidad, desarrollos de negocio inesperados pero provechosos en una funeraria, el secuestro de una pareja con fines terribles, diferentes formas (y actitudes) de enfrentar el fin del mundo, soluciones desesperadas a problemas con un robot luchador antes de una pelea, la desaparición de una niña que sin embargo se sabe que está ahí mismo, una persona que repentinamente se siente totalmente desubicada, ominosas perspectivas para la tercera edad, los juguetes infantiles de última generación como posible ayuda en la educación de un niño díscolo, los efectos de las musas sobre la inspiración en circunstancias extremas, ropa con personalidad muy acusada y un niño que de mayor quiere ser vampiro.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
November 21, 2011
As I've said in multiple reviews centering on the works of Richard Matheson, the best news in all the recent Hollywood adaptations of his work is that much of the Matheson catalog is coming back into print, allowing readers to discover that Matheson is much, much more that the guy who wrote, "I Am Legend."
I will have to admit I was a bit surprised to find out the recently released "Real Steel" was based on a short story by Matheson. That fact alone made me want to see the movie more than any of the previews I'd seen for the film or the buzz I'd heard surrounding the film. (Honestly, it looked like little more than Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots: The Movie).
How much or how little of the original short story remains in the movie remains to be seen. But it should be interesting to see when I finally get around to seeing it (most likely when it hits DVD).
The good thing with a short story collection is that if you don't love one story, there's always another one coming up soon that may be more appealing. As a collection, "Steel" is far more hit and miss than the other Matheson collections I've read, but there are still a few gems in here. The title story is fairly well done, though it's not quite up the standards of other more solid entries in this collection. (Interestingly, it was turned into a "Twilight Zone" episode with Lee Marvin in the lead role. Fascinating to read it and then watch the episode).
In fact, several of the stories in here feel like they're ready to be translated into "Twilight Zone" episodes. Several early entries all lead up to that twist or tweak of things that linger with you after the final paragraph is read.
However, the misses in this collection outweigh the hits (see what I did there?!?) and I have to admit I was left feeling a bit less satisfied overall than I have been with previous collections. There aren't any out and out terrible stories, but there's not really a great one in here either.
I will have to admit I was a bit surprised to find out the recently released "Real Steel" was based on a short story by Matheson. That fact alone made me want to see the movie more than any of the previews I'd seen for the film or the buzz I'd heard surrounding the film. (Honestly, it looked like little more than Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots: The Movie).
How much or how little of the original short story remains in the movie remains to be seen. But it should be interesting to see when I finally get around to seeing it (most likely when it hits DVD).
The good thing with a short story collection is that if you don't love one story, there's always another one coming up soon that may be more appealing. As a collection, "Steel" is far more hit and miss than the other Matheson collections I've read, but there are still a few gems in here. The title story is fairly well done, though it's not quite up the standards of other more solid entries in this collection. (Interestingly, it was turned into a "Twilight Zone" episode with Lee Marvin in the lead role. Fascinating to read it and then watch the episode).
In fact, several of the stories in here feel like they're ready to be translated into "Twilight Zone" episodes. Several early entries all lead up to that twist or tweak of things that linger with you after the final paragraph is read.
However, the misses in this collection outweigh the hits (see what I did there?!?) and I have to admit I was left feeling a bit less satisfied overall than I have been with previous collections. There aren't any out and out terrible stories, but there's not really a great one in here either.
October 6, 2019
Matheson was one of the all-time great writers. He’s probably most famous for I Am Legend, but he also wrote numerous episodes of the Twilight Zone and his books were adapted into lots of movies. This collection is him at his best.
Steel
5 stars for the robotic retelling of the John Henry story. Despite having seen this episode of the Twilight Zone a dozen times as well as the Hugh Jackman movie a couple times, this still hits just as hard. As with the folk tale, the ambiguity of it makes it great. Yes, we can fight the machines taking our jobs (which is becoming more and more true each year) and maybe we can win temporarily, but is it just a Pyrrhic victory if we lose everything else in the process, or is it a win no matter the cost? Digs at capitalism and guys too stubborn to adapt to change are bonuses. Science Fiction.
To Fit The Crime
4 stars. Fantasy. A pretentious poet dies and discovers hell is teeming with just desserts.
The Wedding
4 stars. Fantasy. A groom with a whole truckload of crazy superstitions doesn’t see it coming. This is a quintessential Twilight Zone/O.Henry twist story.
The Conqueror
2 stars. Fiction. This was the weakest story of the bunch for me. It’s the hubris of the young writ large. That’s fine but nothing exciting.
Dear Diary
4 stars. Teens will always be discontent with their lot, nevermind if it’s 1954, 3254, or 10,054 BCE. Cute story. Science Fiction.
Descent
3 stars. Science Fiction. The story concerns two couples facing the moment when they are about to go into a massive underground bunker the day nuclear war is about to start. But what it’s really about is how we face death. This 1954 story really captures the feeling of dread we all lived with during the Cold War.
The Doll That Does Everything
3 stars. Science Fiction. Supertoys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss (filmed as A.I.: Artificial Intelligence), is the more famous version of this story, but once again Matheson was there first with this tale of parents at their wits end trying to deal with their rambunctious son. Super dark.
The Traveller
4 stars. Science Fiction. A time traveler is sent back to witness the crucifixion of Christ.
When Day Is Dun
5 stars. Science Fiction. The last man on Earth is a poet, waxing stentoriously rhapsodic about the downfall of the human race and how it is so properly fitting that he be the last chronicler of our demise. Then someone else shows up. His reaction hilarious.
The Splendid Source
5 stars. Fiction. Poses the question, “Where *do* all these dirty jokes come from?” with hilarious results. This was adapted into an episode of Family Guy, and you would never believe it was written in 1956. It’s so zippy and modern, with laugh-out-loud jump cuts.
Lemmings
3 stars. Fiction. Two friends watch masses of people walk into the ocean to drown. They discuss the idea of lemmings blindly following each other over the cliff to their doom. (An idea now discredited, but a hot topic due to the fake Disney documentary in the 1950s.) This is commentary on the human predilection to behave similarly. The eternal question every mom asks — “If your friend jumped off a cliff, would you be dumb enough to do it, too?” — is answered here. Of course we would. It’s what we do.
The Edge
2 stars. Fantasy. I’m not sure I got the point of this story about doppelgangers. Maybe it’s about imposter syndrome?
A Visit To Santa Claus
3 stars. Fiction. A psychological deep dive into a milquetoast man with bad intentions.
Dr. Morton’s Folly
3 stars. Fantasy. A dentist receives an after-hours client who likes blood a little too much. Dripping with menace, but otherwise just a solid straightforward story.
The Window Of Time
4 stars. Fantasy. Apparently written just a few years before Matheson passed away at 87, the 82-year-old protagonist travels through a magical window to 1941 to see his old Brooklyn neighborhood. Our memories are not always reliable, it turns out. Solid finish to the collection. It feels a lot like Field of Dreams.
Steel
5 stars for the robotic retelling of the John Henry story. Despite having seen this episode of the Twilight Zone a dozen times as well as the Hugh Jackman movie a couple times, this still hits just as hard. As with the folk tale, the ambiguity of it makes it great. Yes, we can fight the machines taking our jobs (which is becoming more and more true each year) and maybe we can win temporarily, but is it just a Pyrrhic victory if we lose everything else in the process, or is it a win no matter the cost? Digs at capitalism and guys too stubborn to adapt to change are bonuses. Science Fiction.
To Fit The Crime
4 stars. Fantasy. A pretentious poet dies and discovers hell is teeming with just desserts.
The Wedding
4 stars. Fantasy. A groom with a whole truckload of crazy superstitions doesn’t see it coming. This is a quintessential Twilight Zone/O.Henry twist story.
The Conqueror
2 stars. Fiction. This was the weakest story of the bunch for me. It’s the hubris of the young writ large. That’s fine but nothing exciting.
Dear Diary
4 stars. Teens will always be discontent with their lot, nevermind if it’s 1954, 3254, or 10,054 BCE. Cute story. Science Fiction.
Descent
3 stars. Science Fiction. The story concerns two couples facing the moment when they are about to go into a massive underground bunker the day nuclear war is about to start. But what it’s really about is how we face death. This 1954 story really captures the feeling of dread we all lived with during the Cold War.
The Doll That Does Everything
3 stars. Science Fiction. Supertoys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss (filmed as A.I.: Artificial Intelligence), is the more famous version of this story, but once again Matheson was there first with this tale of parents at their wits end trying to deal with their rambunctious son. Super dark.
The Traveller
4 stars. Science Fiction. A time traveler is sent back to witness the crucifixion of Christ.
When Day Is Dun
5 stars. Science Fiction. The last man on Earth is a poet, waxing stentoriously rhapsodic about the downfall of the human race and how it is so properly fitting that he be the last chronicler of our demise. Then someone else shows up. His reaction hilarious.
The Splendid Source
5 stars. Fiction. Poses the question, “Where *do* all these dirty jokes come from?” with hilarious results. This was adapted into an episode of Family Guy, and you would never believe it was written in 1956. It’s so zippy and modern, with laugh-out-loud jump cuts.
Lemmings
3 stars. Fiction. Two friends watch masses of people walk into the ocean to drown. They discuss the idea of lemmings blindly following each other over the cliff to their doom. (An idea now discredited, but a hot topic due to the fake Disney documentary in the 1950s.) This is commentary on the human predilection to behave similarly. The eternal question every mom asks — “If your friend jumped off a cliff, would you be dumb enough to do it, too?” — is answered here. Of course we would. It’s what we do.
The Edge
2 stars. Fantasy. I’m not sure I got the point of this story about doppelgangers. Maybe it’s about imposter syndrome?
A Visit To Santa Claus
3 stars. Fiction. A psychological deep dive into a milquetoast man with bad intentions.
Dr. Morton’s Folly
3 stars. Fantasy. A dentist receives an after-hours client who likes blood a little too much. Dripping with menace, but otherwise just a solid straightforward story.
The Window Of Time
4 stars. Fantasy. Apparently written just a few years before Matheson passed away at 87, the 82-year-old protagonist travels through a magical window to 1941 to see his old Brooklyn neighborhood. Our memories are not always reliable, it turns out. Solid finish to the collection. It feels a lot like Field of Dreams.
October 26, 2011
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.
Steel and Other Stories is a collection of stories written by Richard Matheson who is probably best known for his novels I am Legend and The Incredible Shrinking Man. Most were originally published in pulp magazines in the 1950s, though two are recent and have never been collected before. Each is quite short:
* "Steel" — (1956, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction) Steel Kelly, a washed-up boxer, is now living vicariously through his broken down robot fighter. If they can win the next match, Steel hopes he’ll have enough money to fix up his robot. “Steel” was the inspiration for a Twilight Zone episode and the movie Real Steel. It’s exciting and demonstrates Richard Matheson’s talent for writing men from a psychological perspective.
* "To Fit the Crime" — (1952, Fantastic) A cruel and pretentious 1950s poet dies and finds out what hell is like for cruel and pretentious 1950s poets. This one is amusing.
* "The Wedding" — (1953, Beyond Fantasy Fiction) A superstitious groom ruins his marriage before it gets started.
* "The Conqueror" — (1954, Bluebook Magazine) A young Yankee idolizes the pistol fighters out West, so he sets out to become one. I don’t normally read Westerns, but I liked this one.
* "Dear Diary" — (1954, Born of Man and Woman) A very short and penetrating story about two pessimistic women from two different eras writing entries in their diaries.
* "Descent" — (1954, If) A nuclear bomb is about to be dropped on California and the citizens are preparing to leave everything behind and descend into an underground city.
* "The Doll That Does Everything" — (1954) A destructive baby is making life miserable for his poet father and sculptor mother, so they buy him a sophisticated robot companion, hoping it will be a good influence on his behavior.
* "The Traveller" — (1954, Born of Man and Woman) Hoping to debunk the account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, a professor is sent back in time to view it. This story is intense and moving.
* "When Day Is Dun" — (1954, Fantastic Universe) The last man on Earth is a poet. Even though he has no audience, he’s compelled to write an epitaph for humanity, blaming his species for destroying the Earth. The twist ending to this story is ironic and disturbing.
* "The Splendid Source" — (1956, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction) The basis of the Family Guy episode "The Splendid Source," this story is about an eccentric millionaire who wants to trace the source of all dirty jokes. It’s really funny.
* "Lemmings" — (1958, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction) A couple of friends watch as masses of people, lemming-like, walk into the ocean and drown themselves. This is the only story I didn’t like. Fortunately, it was only a few minutes long — I believe it’s the shortest story he’s written.
* "The Edge" — (1958, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction) A creepy tale about a man who doesn’t know he has a doppelganger.
* "A Visit to Santa Claus" — (1957, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine) A horror story about a man who has hired a hitman to kill his wife while he takes his son to visit Santa Claus.
* "Dr. Morton's Folly" — (2009, Vice Magazine) Another horror story about a dentist treating a man who refuses to let him extract his left canine tooth... which is abnormally long.
* "The Window of Time" — (2010, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction) A sweet and nostalgic story about aging. I don’t know when he wrote it, but this story was published when Matheson was 84 years old, which makes it especially poignant and a beautiful ending to this collection.
I’ve read a lot of speculative fiction from the 1950s and in some ways Richard Matheson’s stories have the same sort of feel, but in other ways they seem less dated than those of, for example, Philip K. Dick and Ray Bradbury. I think that’s because Matheson doesn’t focus on space exploration, aliens, and atomic war. Instead, he uses speculative fiction to explore human psychology, especially the psychology of men, and that is a theme that just hasn’t changed much since the 1950s. Every story in Steel and Other Stories (with the exception, perhaps, of “The Splendid Source”) examines the motives, behaviors, and hidden thoughts of human beings who feel real and deep. This makes every story, even the ones with plots I wouldn’t normally care for, feel like a work of art. My favorites were “Steel,” “The Conquerer,” “The Traveller,” and "The Splendid Source."
I listened to Blackstone Audio’s version of Steel and Other Stories, which was narrated by Scott Brick. Mr. Brick seems to be the master of old SFF on audio — he has this style down right and he always does a great job. I recommend Steel and Other Stories for fans of Richard Matheson, 1950s SFF (or anyone who wants to become better educated in that genre), and anyone who likes their SFF with a focus on character (especially male) psychology.
Steel and Other Stories is a collection of stories written by Richard Matheson who is probably best known for his novels I am Legend and The Incredible Shrinking Man. Most were originally published in pulp magazines in the 1950s, though two are recent and have never been collected before. Each is quite short:
* "Steel" — (1956, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction) Steel Kelly, a washed-up boxer, is now living vicariously through his broken down robot fighter. If they can win the next match, Steel hopes he’ll have enough money to fix up his robot. “Steel” was the inspiration for a Twilight Zone episode and the movie Real Steel. It’s exciting and demonstrates Richard Matheson’s talent for writing men from a psychological perspective.
* "To Fit the Crime" — (1952, Fantastic) A cruel and pretentious 1950s poet dies and finds out what hell is like for cruel and pretentious 1950s poets. This one is amusing.
* "The Wedding" — (1953, Beyond Fantasy Fiction) A superstitious groom ruins his marriage before it gets started.
* "The Conqueror" — (1954, Bluebook Magazine) A young Yankee idolizes the pistol fighters out West, so he sets out to become one. I don’t normally read Westerns, but I liked this one.
* "Dear Diary" — (1954, Born of Man and Woman) A very short and penetrating story about two pessimistic women from two different eras writing entries in their diaries.
* "Descent" — (1954, If) A nuclear bomb is about to be dropped on California and the citizens are preparing to leave everything behind and descend into an underground city.
* "The Doll That Does Everything" — (1954) A destructive baby is making life miserable for his poet father and sculptor mother, so they buy him a sophisticated robot companion, hoping it will be a good influence on his behavior.
* "The Traveller" — (1954, Born of Man and Woman) Hoping to debunk the account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, a professor is sent back in time to view it. This story is intense and moving.
* "When Day Is Dun" — (1954, Fantastic Universe) The last man on Earth is a poet. Even though he has no audience, he’s compelled to write an epitaph for humanity, blaming his species for destroying the Earth. The twist ending to this story is ironic and disturbing.
* "The Splendid Source" — (1956, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction) The basis of the Family Guy episode "The Splendid Source," this story is about an eccentric millionaire who wants to trace the source of all dirty jokes. It’s really funny.
* "Lemmings" — (1958, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction) A couple of friends watch as masses of people, lemming-like, walk into the ocean and drown themselves. This is the only story I didn’t like. Fortunately, it was only a few minutes long — I believe it’s the shortest story he’s written.
* "The Edge" — (1958, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction) A creepy tale about a man who doesn’t know he has a doppelganger.
* "A Visit to Santa Claus" — (1957, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine) A horror story about a man who has hired a hitman to kill his wife while he takes his son to visit Santa Claus.
* "Dr. Morton's Folly" — (2009, Vice Magazine) Another horror story about a dentist treating a man who refuses to let him extract his left canine tooth... which is abnormally long.
* "The Window of Time" — (2010, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction) A sweet and nostalgic story about aging. I don’t know when he wrote it, but this story was published when Matheson was 84 years old, which makes it especially poignant and a beautiful ending to this collection.
I’ve read a lot of speculative fiction from the 1950s and in some ways Richard Matheson’s stories have the same sort of feel, but in other ways they seem less dated than those of, for example, Philip K. Dick and Ray Bradbury. I think that’s because Matheson doesn’t focus on space exploration, aliens, and atomic war. Instead, he uses speculative fiction to explore human psychology, especially the psychology of men, and that is a theme that just hasn’t changed much since the 1950s. Every story in Steel and Other Stories (with the exception, perhaps, of “The Splendid Source”) examines the motives, behaviors, and hidden thoughts of human beings who feel real and deep. This makes every story, even the ones with plots I wouldn’t normally care for, feel like a work of art. My favorites were “Steel,” “The Conquerer,” “The Traveller,” and "The Splendid Source."
I listened to Blackstone Audio’s version of Steel and Other Stories, which was narrated by Scott Brick. Mr. Brick seems to be the master of old SFF on audio — he has this style down right and he always does a great job. I recommend Steel and Other Stories for fans of Richard Matheson, 1950s SFF (or anyone who wants to become better educated in that genre), and anyone who likes their SFF with a focus on character (especially male) psychology.
April 4, 2020
“Steel: And Other Stories” is a 2011 short story collection comprising of 15 different stories with the most well-known probably being “Steel”…. Although there are a couple mediocre stories in the collection, most of them are terrific reads that any fan of Matheson will enjoy.
As with all my short story collection reviews, I rate each story individually and then calculate the average rating as the total rating for the book. But, I warn you…. Some of the reviews of each individual story includes a brief synopsis, which may or may not include a SPOILER. I write my short story reviews this way for future reference to remind me of which ones are worth the time re-reading and which ones are not. Although I do not ruin a good story by announcing any significant spoiler….. If you happen to come across one, it will be in a story that I hated and never intend on reading again. But, you can avoid potentially stumbling across a spoiler by skipping to the very bottom of the review, where it says “FINAL VERDICT”. That is where my overall review for “Steel: And Other Stories” is listed. The stories within the book include;
STEEL – This story takes place in the future during a time where androids have taken over sports. A retired, once world-class boxer, named Kelly is the manager of an old, beat-up B-2 android. When warming his B-2 up to get him ready for a big fight, the B-2 unexpectedly craps out on him. To avoid cancelling the fight and going broke, Kelly is forced to stand-in for the B-2 and pretend he’s a droid himself. What happens when a human being takes on an android? I was already familiar with this story after watching the fifth season of the “Twilight Zone”, but it was still enjoyable and a great way to start the anthology.
TO FIT THE CRIME – This story was published in 1952 and can be found in many different anthologies and short story collections. It is about an old, cranky bastard named Iverson Lord…. Iverson is on his deathbed and thrashing out to his family and doctor, who remain by his side despite all the mental abuse they are undergoing. Iverson’s dying, he knows it, and he’s not happy about it. I thought it was hilarious how he played the “blame game” and resorted to name calling and accusation against his family and doctor. You could feel the tension and panic in his dialogue. Although it is simplistic and sci-fi-ish at the end, it is very enjoyable for what it is and had a typical Matheson ending.
THE WEDDING – A hilariously (if that’s a word) twisted fellow named Frank is having what you could call, “marriage jitters”, and insists that a laundry list of superstition must be completed or he and his wife are doomed. This was a very straightforward story that, after a while, really starts to seem nuts. At first, Frank just seems a bit paranoid and wants to cover a few things to satisfy his inner demon…. But, then it turns into this tiresome frenzy. Although I enjoyed a good bulk of it, it did get rather stale after a while. The ending was also fairly predictable, if you are familiar with Matheson’s writing….
THE CONQUEROR – Mr. Riker, a young man of about twenty, arrives in Grantville by train with one thought on his mind…. To kill the quickest gunman in town. He’s on a mission to prove he’s the new badass on the block. Despite several warnings he receives from an old man, they fall upon deaf hears. Riker’s already made up his mind…. This was an awesome story. I’ve always been partial to westerns though so just because I loved it, does not mean that you will.
DEAR DIARY – Listening to a woman bitch and complain is something that I am used to…. I would rather not read about it as well. Luckily for me, this story was very short. But, I will never read this one again. THAT I can guarantee.
DESCENT – A nuclear bomb is about to wipe out everybody and everything. Two couples have decided to travel to an underground station, which other people are currently occupying in the hopes that they will survive the blast by being underground. A husband has decided to stay behind and die, in his home. He believes that a man dies in the sun (or something insane like that….). However, he insists his wife join the others for her own safety. This was a pretty good story. Keep in mind that it was written in 1954 so this will not be as entertaining to you as it was for the readers in the 50’s, since we have seen this type of story many times by now.
THE DOLL THAT DOES EVERYTHING – Ruthlen and Athene have an asshole, problem child named Gardner…. Athene believes that Gardner just needs a playmate to keep him entertained. This will allow her husband can concentrate on writing poetry and allow her to concentrate on sculpting. Soooo…. She purchases a doll from a salesman for one-thousand seven-hundred and fifty dollars. Although this doll is purchased as a baby, it can do anything…. That includes growing! At first, the “living doll” proves to be a great companion for Gardner and seems to have a very positive influence on him. However, over time, that goes down the crapper and soon enough, Ruthlen and Athena feel they have TWO problem children instead of just one. This is a Matheson classic and shouldn’t be missed. It is definitely one of the best short stories in the collection.
THE TRAVELLER – Dr. Phillips and Dr. Randall run a business called “Chrono Transposition” and have invented a time machine, invisible to the people of the time period travelled (so long as the time machines screen is not penetrated), to allow scholars to observe and confirm biblical events. Professor Paul Jairus has volunteered to enter the time machine to back to Jerusalem to witness Jesus’ crucifixion. While witnessing, first hand, what Jesus is going through he becomes erratic and the doctors become very concerned with the dangers that his actions may result in if he breaks the rules to assist him. This story was nothing what I expected and turned out to be great. One of the better ones in the collection.
WHEN DAY IS DUN – Some nutjob contemplating suicide is writing some crazy shit on a piece of wood with a nail. You can tell by his thoughts and his carvings that he’s clearly off his rocker. Once he runs into another person, who spots him and waves a friendly hello, the nutjob’s response to the gesture confirms just how insane he is. This story didn’t seem to have much of a point. I can’t say that I was overly fond of it.
THE SPLENDID SOURCE – Talbert Bean, like Mr. Riker (aka “The Conqueror”), is a man on a mission…. To find where a dirty “off color” joke originated. This was an incredibly peculiar story and one that I will probably never read again. The premise seemed foolish and beyond unrealistic.
LEMMINGS – An unexplainable odd story with a comical ending…. This was extremely short and makes you think about all the possibilities.
THE EDGE – Either Donald Marshall, while stepping into a cellar bar named “Franco’s”, has in turn stepped into a parallel universe OR he has suffered a total nervous breakdown from working too hard at his day job. It’s completely up to the reader. This was a great story. Very Twilight Zone-ish.
A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS – Ken has a plan for him and his mistress, Rita, to be together…. Perhaps live in South America with the insurance money he would receive from the death of his wife, Helen…. But first, he has to dispose of her. What’s the most traditional (and unoriginal) way of doing that? You pay a hitman to take her out, of course! There’s only one problem…. Not all hitmen are trustworthy and one evening when Ken, Helen, and their son Richard are at the mall, where the murder was planned to take place, Ken learns that fact. Although this was another great story, displaying all of the elements of tension and drama, the ending didn’t deliver for me. I had a couple ideas that would have been better for this type of build-up in my opinion. But, it was still fun to read.
DR. MORTON’S FOLLY – George Goodman has a problem…. He’s got dragon breath and is in significant pain from a decayed cavity. He shows up at Dr. Morton’s door and insists Dr. Morton relieves him of his agony and saves his tooth. Although it’s after hours and the dentist is getting ready to head home after a long, hard days work, he feels a bit of sympathy for Goodman and doesn’t want to see him in pain so he agrees to do his best to alleviate his agony. In doing so, he may have put himself in good graces with this man (or another being)…. A good deed is often times repaid. I really liked this one. It is full of suspense and keeps you guessing. It also had somewhat of an eerie ending as well.
THE WINDOW OF TIME – Richard Swanson, an eight-two year old, former television series writer, lives with his daughter Miriam and her family. Somewhat tired of feeling like a burden to them, the old man decides to leave a note on the table and abandon the house in search for a nursing home of sort…. After leaving Miriam’s house, the old man seems to have slipped into some form of time travel, taking him back to 1941. After passing stores, streets, and buildings which he recognizes, he cannot explain how or why this has happened to him. And once he sees himself, as a fifteen year old boy, that’s when things REALLY get trippy. This story was a lot like the film, “Back to the Future”. I enjoyed it for it was, but it wasn’t among my favorite Matheson stories.
FINAL VERDICT: I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. This isn’t Richard Matheson’s best collection of short stories, but it was still very entertaining. I would recommend “Steel: And Other Stories” to any “Twilight Zone” fan or science-fiction addict.
As with all my short story collection reviews, I rate each story individually and then calculate the average rating as the total rating for the book. But, I warn you…. Some of the reviews of each individual story includes a brief synopsis, which may or may not include a SPOILER. I write my short story reviews this way for future reference to remind me of which ones are worth the time re-reading and which ones are not. Although I do not ruin a good story by announcing any significant spoiler….. If you happen to come across one, it will be in a story that I hated and never intend on reading again. But, you can avoid potentially stumbling across a spoiler by skipping to the very bottom of the review, where it says “FINAL VERDICT”. That is where my overall review for “Steel: And Other Stories” is listed. The stories within the book include;
STEEL – This story takes place in the future during a time where androids have taken over sports. A retired, once world-class boxer, named Kelly is the manager of an old, beat-up B-2 android. When warming his B-2 up to get him ready for a big fight, the B-2 unexpectedly craps out on him. To avoid cancelling the fight and going broke, Kelly is forced to stand-in for the B-2 and pretend he’s a droid himself. What happens when a human being takes on an android? I was already familiar with this story after watching the fifth season of the “Twilight Zone”, but it was still enjoyable and a great way to start the anthology.
TO FIT THE CRIME – This story was published in 1952 and can be found in many different anthologies and short story collections. It is about an old, cranky bastard named Iverson Lord…. Iverson is on his deathbed and thrashing out to his family and doctor, who remain by his side despite all the mental abuse they are undergoing. Iverson’s dying, he knows it, and he’s not happy about it. I thought it was hilarious how he played the “blame game” and resorted to name calling and accusation against his family and doctor. You could feel the tension and panic in his dialogue. Although it is simplistic and sci-fi-ish at the end, it is very enjoyable for what it is and had a typical Matheson ending.
THE WEDDING – A hilariously (if that’s a word) twisted fellow named Frank is having what you could call, “marriage jitters”, and insists that a laundry list of superstition must be completed or he and his wife are doomed. This was a very straightforward story that, after a while, really starts to seem nuts. At first, Frank just seems a bit paranoid and wants to cover a few things to satisfy his inner demon…. But, then it turns into this tiresome frenzy. Although I enjoyed a good bulk of it, it did get rather stale after a while. The ending was also fairly predictable, if you are familiar with Matheson’s writing….
THE CONQUEROR – Mr. Riker, a young man of about twenty, arrives in Grantville by train with one thought on his mind…. To kill the quickest gunman in town. He’s on a mission to prove he’s the new badass on the block. Despite several warnings he receives from an old man, they fall upon deaf hears. Riker’s already made up his mind…. This was an awesome story. I’ve always been partial to westerns though so just because I loved it, does not mean that you will.
DEAR DIARY – Listening to a woman bitch and complain is something that I am used to…. I would rather not read about it as well. Luckily for me, this story was very short. But, I will never read this one again. THAT I can guarantee.
DESCENT – A nuclear bomb is about to wipe out everybody and everything. Two couples have decided to travel to an underground station, which other people are currently occupying in the hopes that they will survive the blast by being underground. A husband has decided to stay behind and die, in his home. He believes that a man dies in the sun (or something insane like that….). However, he insists his wife join the others for her own safety. This was a pretty good story. Keep in mind that it was written in 1954 so this will not be as entertaining to you as it was for the readers in the 50’s, since we have seen this type of story many times by now.
THE DOLL THAT DOES EVERYTHING – Ruthlen and Athene have an asshole, problem child named Gardner…. Athene believes that Gardner just needs a playmate to keep him entertained. This will allow her husband can concentrate on writing poetry and allow her to concentrate on sculpting. Soooo…. She purchases a doll from a salesman for one-thousand seven-hundred and fifty dollars. Although this doll is purchased as a baby, it can do anything…. That includes growing! At first, the “living doll” proves to be a great companion for Gardner and seems to have a very positive influence on him. However, over time, that goes down the crapper and soon enough, Ruthlen and Athena feel they have TWO problem children instead of just one. This is a Matheson classic and shouldn’t be missed. It is definitely one of the best short stories in the collection.
THE TRAVELLER – Dr. Phillips and Dr. Randall run a business called “Chrono Transposition” and have invented a time machine, invisible to the people of the time period travelled (so long as the time machines screen is not penetrated), to allow scholars to observe and confirm biblical events. Professor Paul Jairus has volunteered to enter the time machine to back to Jerusalem to witness Jesus’ crucifixion. While witnessing, first hand, what Jesus is going through he becomes erratic and the doctors become very concerned with the dangers that his actions may result in if he breaks the rules to assist him. This story was nothing what I expected and turned out to be great. One of the better ones in the collection.
WHEN DAY IS DUN – Some nutjob contemplating suicide is writing some crazy shit on a piece of wood with a nail. You can tell by his thoughts and his carvings that he’s clearly off his rocker. Once he runs into another person, who spots him and waves a friendly hello, the nutjob’s response to the gesture confirms just how insane he is. This story didn’t seem to have much of a point. I can’t say that I was overly fond of it.
THE SPLENDID SOURCE – Talbert Bean, like Mr. Riker (aka “The Conqueror”), is a man on a mission…. To find where a dirty “off color” joke originated. This was an incredibly peculiar story and one that I will probably never read again. The premise seemed foolish and beyond unrealistic.
LEMMINGS – An unexplainable odd story with a comical ending…. This was extremely short and makes you think about all the possibilities.
THE EDGE – Either Donald Marshall, while stepping into a cellar bar named “Franco’s”, has in turn stepped into a parallel universe OR he has suffered a total nervous breakdown from working too hard at his day job. It’s completely up to the reader. This was a great story. Very Twilight Zone-ish.
A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS – Ken has a plan for him and his mistress, Rita, to be together…. Perhaps live in South America with the insurance money he would receive from the death of his wife, Helen…. But first, he has to dispose of her. What’s the most traditional (and unoriginal) way of doing that? You pay a hitman to take her out, of course! There’s only one problem…. Not all hitmen are trustworthy and one evening when Ken, Helen, and their son Richard are at the mall, where the murder was planned to take place, Ken learns that fact. Although this was another great story, displaying all of the elements of tension and drama, the ending didn’t deliver for me. I had a couple ideas that would have been better for this type of build-up in my opinion. But, it was still fun to read.
DR. MORTON’S FOLLY – George Goodman has a problem…. He’s got dragon breath and is in significant pain from a decayed cavity. He shows up at Dr. Morton’s door and insists Dr. Morton relieves him of his agony and saves his tooth. Although it’s after hours and the dentist is getting ready to head home after a long, hard days work, he feels a bit of sympathy for Goodman and doesn’t want to see him in pain so he agrees to do his best to alleviate his agony. In doing so, he may have put himself in good graces with this man (or another being)…. A good deed is often times repaid. I really liked this one. It is full of suspense and keeps you guessing. It also had somewhat of an eerie ending as well.
THE WINDOW OF TIME – Richard Swanson, an eight-two year old, former television series writer, lives with his daughter Miriam and her family. Somewhat tired of feeling like a burden to them, the old man decides to leave a note on the table and abandon the house in search for a nursing home of sort…. After leaving Miriam’s house, the old man seems to have slipped into some form of time travel, taking him back to 1941. After passing stores, streets, and buildings which he recognizes, he cannot explain how or why this has happened to him. And once he sees himself, as a fifteen year old boy, that’s when things REALLY get trippy. This story was a lot like the film, “Back to the Future”. I enjoyed it for it was, but it wasn’t among my favorite Matheson stories.
FINAL VERDICT: I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. This isn’t Richard Matheson’s best collection of short stories, but it was still very entertaining. I would recommend “Steel: And Other Stories” to any “Twilight Zone” fan or science-fiction addict.
January 5, 2017
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. I have never read anything by Matheson before, so I was surprised to find that I actually enjoyed his style and outlook of the world. Of course, some I liked better than others, but overall, I thought they were enjoyable science fiction pieces. I really enjoyed "Steel," "The Splendid Source," and "The Traveler."
Most of these stories did tend to be depressing, so I wouldn't suggest reading it all in one go. Sprinkle it with some happy reading on the side. To be fair, Matheson does add some levity with ironic humor. These are relatively old pieces (dated from the 1950's), but they don't show their age. Instead of focusing on man's downfall from technology-related issues (as many science fiction authors from his time period do), Matheson focuses on people themselves. Whether it be how people are their own downfall, or explorations of life and people in general.
What this collection shows is that Matheson is brilliant at creating characters and situations that stick with you. He takes the reader out of his or her comfort zone and plops them down into a strange, Twilight Zone-esque environment. If you're at all a fan of science fiction, you'll love his work.
*I was given a copy from Goodreads FirstReads in exchange for my honest review.*
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
Most of these stories did tend to be depressing, so I wouldn't suggest reading it all in one go. Sprinkle it with some happy reading on the side. To be fair, Matheson does add some levity with ironic humor. These are relatively old pieces (dated from the 1950's), but they don't show their age. Instead of focusing on man's downfall from technology-related issues (as many science fiction authors from his time period do), Matheson focuses on people themselves. Whether it be how people are their own downfall, or explorations of life and people in general.
What this collection shows is that Matheson is brilliant at creating characters and situations that stick with you. He takes the reader out of his or her comfort zone and plops them down into a strange, Twilight Zone-esque environment. If you're at all a fan of science fiction, you'll love his work.
*I was given a copy from Goodreads FirstReads in exchange for my honest review.*
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
February 12, 2019
Steel was interesting. I picked up this collection because of the Real Steel movie, and this story is quite different. Both (the movie and book) are good concepts. I need to go and watch the Twilight Zone Episode as I understand this is much more ‘true’ to the book. A sad story as many in this collection are, but a good tale nonetheless. – 3/5
To fit the crime was interesting, a harsh man in life gets a very appropriate afterlife. Dark humor. You kind of have to read between the lines to appreciate this one. – 3/5
The wedding was only okay, brief, twisted, just didn’t resonate with me. – 2/5
The conqueror was an interesting period piece. Had a sadness to it, but also a brutal side. Not sure what to make of this tale. – 3/5
Dear diary was a great story about the grass always being greener. I especially like the end with Year XXX – 5/5
Descent was also intriguing and almost as relevant today as when it was written 60+ years ago. What would you do? – 2/5
The doll that does everything was a very dark but predictable tale. Sad state of affairs, but did have a dark humor to it. – 3/5
The Traveler was heart-wrenching. Regardless of your faith, you might enjoy this tale. – 4/5
When day is dun was very post-apocalyptic, a dreaded future. Very poetic, but also very dark and disturbing. – 3/5
The splendid source - the history of the dirty joke, a slow beginning, but entertaining throughout. Really grew on me as the story went on. – 4/5
Lemmings – really weird, I assume this could be taken as a morality lesson (people just follow along rather than thinking for themselves), or some such, but the story is a little too short and uninvolved for my feeble brain to pick up on the moral of the story. – 2/5
The edge is a decent into madness, a frustrating tale about knowing who you are. I wish there was more resolution to this haunting tale, it leaves too much up to the reader to “finish the story”. Would make a very creeptastic movie/show. – 4/5
A visit to Santa Claus is a stressful story, and by the end, I was dismayed with the outcome. – 3/5
Dr. Morton's folly is a creative story, reminds me a lot of Stephen King’s Popsy (yes, this story was written decades before King’s), just an unexpected turn of characters. – 3/5
The window of time - as with the previous tale, I am reminded of Stephen King, this time of 11/22/63. A window to another time, what would you change? – 4/5
To fit the crime was interesting, a harsh man in life gets a very appropriate afterlife. Dark humor. You kind of have to read between the lines to appreciate this one. – 3/5
The wedding was only okay, brief, twisted, just didn’t resonate with me. – 2/5
The conqueror was an interesting period piece. Had a sadness to it, but also a brutal side. Not sure what to make of this tale. – 3/5
Dear diary was a great story about the grass always being greener. I especially like the end with Year XXX – 5/5
Descent was also intriguing and almost as relevant today as when it was written 60+ years ago. What would you do? – 2/5
The doll that does everything was a very dark but predictable tale. Sad state of affairs, but did have a dark humor to it. – 3/5
The Traveler was heart-wrenching. Regardless of your faith, you might enjoy this tale. – 4/5
When day is dun was very post-apocalyptic, a dreaded future. Very poetic, but also very dark and disturbing. – 3/5
The splendid source - the history of the dirty joke, a slow beginning, but entertaining throughout. Really grew on me as the story went on. – 4/5
Lemmings – really weird, I assume this could be taken as a morality lesson (people just follow along rather than thinking for themselves), or some such, but the story is a little too short and uninvolved for my feeble brain to pick up on the moral of the story. – 2/5
The edge is a decent into madness, a frustrating tale about knowing who you are. I wish there was more resolution to this haunting tale, it leaves too much up to the reader to “finish the story”. Would make a very creeptastic movie/show. – 4/5
A visit to Santa Claus is a stressful story, and by the end, I was dismayed with the outcome. – 3/5
Dr. Morton's folly is a creative story, reminds me a lot of Stephen King’s Popsy (yes, this story was written decades before King’s), just an unexpected turn of characters. – 3/5
The window of time - as with the previous tale, I am reminded of Stephen King, this time of 11/22/63. A window to another time, what would you change? – 4/5
January 30, 2024
This review is just for the short story of Steel. Brilliant. One of my favorite twilight zone episodes, and the Hugh Jackman movie is decent too. But this little story is simply masterfully crafted. Something about the idea of a man going up against his own successor is just a compelling format. In today's day and age the new stuff is outdated before it hits shelves, and as I get older I can relate to just feeling outclassed. You try your hardest to hang on, and deep down you feel like you still got something to offer. But you're closer to empty then you realize. And before you know it, you're obsolete. Powerful story.
April 16, 2020
A mixed bag, as most collections of short stories are. Several very good and all worth at least reading once. This shows the reason Matheson is such an influence on so many other writers. I had seen the episode of the OS Twilight Zone based on Steel and it is taken almost verbatim from the short story. Unusual, but in this case it really worked well.
July 31, 2023
Excellent short stories! I was impressed, especially since I don't usually care for short stories.
April 29, 2015
Short stories of science-fiction.
The first one, Steel, inspired the movie Real Steel with Hugh Jackman. The story, though, is only about a man and his friend who own a robot that is rundown. The man fights in the place of the robot, secretly during one fight because his robot is too busted to fight. No son, no real plot.
The second story is called To Fit the Crime. A very unpleasant man, a poet is dying. He ends up in hell, which for him is a land of slang.
The third story is called The Wedding and it tells of a very superstitious man who makes everyone (and himself crazy) by making them follow all his bizarre demands. In the end he dies of heart failure from carrying her over the threshold and his wife (a non-believer) blames Satan.
The fourth story is called The Conqueror and is a Western about a young man who moves from the city to the West looking for a fight. He trained himself to be very fast with guns and sees the West as a romantic setting and ends up getting killed for it.
The fifth story is called Dear Diary and it is very short – just three diary entries, one from the 1950s, one from the 3900s and one from cave days. They are all from a female perspective and show that no matter what time you live in, you long for a better one.
Sixth is Descent, a tale about everyone having to go live underground because a bomb is going to be dropped and no one will be able to live on the surface anymore.
Seventh is The Doll That Does Everything, which is kind of a dark tale. A couple has a very destructive and mischievous one-year-old (not evil, mind you, just trouble). The mom is convinced that he needs a playmate and buys a robot one-year-old to help out. But their biological kid is a bad influence on the robot and it starts misbehaving. In the end, the parents decide to kill off their son and keep the robot...reprogrammed, of course, to behave. The last line tells that it lasts until the robot short-circuits in college due to a sexual encounter. A humorous ending to a dark story.
Eighth is the Traveller, a surprising religious entry into this text. A man agrees to be part of a time traveling experiment and gets transported back to Jesus' crucifixion. The man is an atheist, but he is very moved by Jesus' selflessness and gentleness. The story is strange, because it seems to convert an atheist to Christianity, and yet it seems also to be saying that there is nothing supernatural about Jesus – that he was an amazing, astonishing, selfless person, but not the son of God. Very interesting story.
Ninth is When Day is Dun, a depressing post-apocalyptic story that is very common in SF-F. A man believes he is the only survivor of the apocalypse. Fancying himself a poet, he starts writing poems about it. When another man comes up to him, the poet kills him because he thinks the man is trying to steal his stuff.
Tenth is the Splendid Source, about a man who is determined to find out where dirty jokes originate. Turns out they are from a business/agency. They end up hiring him. Kind of a 'joke' story.
Eleventh is Lemmings, a very short story about the end of the world.
Twelfth is the Edge, about a man who finds out he has/is a doppelganger – just like that one Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Thirteenth is A Visit to Santa Claus, a very dark story about a man who hires an assassin to kill his wife, near Christmas, so he can get the life insurance policy and run off with his younger lover. He plans for the hit to happen when he takes his son to visit Santa Claus. But something goes wrong (I am still not sure what) and his wife is waiting for him when he gets out.
Fourteenth is Dr. Morton's Folly, about a vampire who goes to the dentist.
Last is The Window of Time about a man who goes to a rest home only to find out that it offers him a way to travel to his past. Very sweet.
Overall, quite a wide variety of stories that I rather enjoyed.
The first one, Steel, inspired the movie Real Steel with Hugh Jackman. The story, though, is only about a man and his friend who own a robot that is rundown. The man fights in the place of the robot, secretly during one fight because his robot is too busted to fight. No son, no real plot.
The second story is called To Fit the Crime. A very unpleasant man, a poet is dying. He ends up in hell, which for him is a land of slang.
The third story is called The Wedding and it tells of a very superstitious man who makes everyone (and himself crazy) by making them follow all his bizarre demands. In the end he dies of heart failure from carrying her over the threshold and his wife (a non-believer) blames Satan.
The fourth story is called The Conqueror and is a Western about a young man who moves from the city to the West looking for a fight. He trained himself to be very fast with guns and sees the West as a romantic setting and ends up getting killed for it.
The fifth story is called Dear Diary and it is very short – just three diary entries, one from the 1950s, one from the 3900s and one from cave days. They are all from a female perspective and show that no matter what time you live in, you long for a better one.
Sixth is Descent, a tale about everyone having to go live underground because a bomb is going to be dropped and no one will be able to live on the surface anymore.
Seventh is The Doll That Does Everything, which is kind of a dark tale. A couple has a very destructive and mischievous one-year-old (not evil, mind you, just trouble). The mom is convinced that he needs a playmate and buys a robot one-year-old to help out. But their biological kid is a bad influence on the robot and it starts misbehaving. In the end, the parents decide to kill off their son and keep the robot...reprogrammed, of course, to behave. The last line tells that it lasts until the robot short-circuits in college due to a sexual encounter. A humorous ending to a dark story.
Eighth is the Traveller, a surprising religious entry into this text. A man agrees to be part of a time traveling experiment and gets transported back to Jesus' crucifixion. The man is an atheist, but he is very moved by Jesus' selflessness and gentleness. The story is strange, because it seems to convert an atheist to Christianity, and yet it seems also to be saying that there is nothing supernatural about Jesus – that he was an amazing, astonishing, selfless person, but not the son of God. Very interesting story.
Ninth is When Day is Dun, a depressing post-apocalyptic story that is very common in SF-F. A man believes he is the only survivor of the apocalypse. Fancying himself a poet, he starts writing poems about it. When another man comes up to him, the poet kills him because he thinks the man is trying to steal his stuff.
Tenth is the Splendid Source, about a man who is determined to find out where dirty jokes originate. Turns out they are from a business/agency. They end up hiring him. Kind of a 'joke' story.
Eleventh is Lemmings, a very short story about the end of the world.
Twelfth is the Edge, about a man who finds out he has/is a doppelganger – just like that one Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Thirteenth is A Visit to Santa Claus, a very dark story about a man who hires an assassin to kill his wife, near Christmas, so he can get the life insurance policy and run off with his younger lover. He plans for the hit to happen when he takes his son to visit Santa Claus. But something goes wrong (I am still not sure what) and his wife is waiting for him when he gets out.
Fourteenth is Dr. Morton's Folly, about a vampire who goes to the dentist.
Last is The Window of Time about a man who goes to a rest home only to find out that it offers him a way to travel to his past. Very sweet.
Overall, quite a wide variety of stories that I rather enjoyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2016
Like Philip K. Dick, Richard Matheson's work seems fabulous fodder for the film industry:
(Book--Film(s))
Steel--Real Steel (2011)
I Am Legend (1954)--The Last Man on Earth (1964); The Omega Man (1971); I Am Legend (2007)
The Duel--Duel (1971)
What Dreams May Come (1977)--What Dreams May Come (1998)
A Stir of Echoes (1958)--Stir of Echoes (1999)
Hell House (1971)--The Legend of Hell House (1973)
The Shrinking Man (1956)--The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
... and more.
This is probably no surprise as his screenwriting career was equally extensive, so he likely had an inside edge in terms of getting his work translated from print to screen. Matheson penned one of my favorite episodes of Star Trek, several episodes for The Twilight Zone, most notably, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet (which gave me horrible nightmares as a child--thanks, Richard), and even an episode of Family Guy (the splendid source for this episode was, naturally, the short story The Splendid Source, included in this collection), of all things. And that's just a small sample.
As has occurred before, I went to Matheson's source material in the hope that it would offer insights the film did not and probe themes the cinematic treatment touched upon but did not fully explore. For example, the possibility that the plucky, scrap-heap robot, Atom, had developed consciousness. For the second time in as many tries, I was severely disappointed.
There's no questioning Matheson's imagination. You can't have a pantheon of works of such breadth without it. But where What Dreams May Come came across as agonizingly meticulous many of these stories came across as thought orphans, or treatments of ideas that he might explore more fully later, abandoned after a single chapter.
I haven't yet read I Am Legend, yet, though I want to, but given my experiences so far I'm a bit reluctant to take that plunge.
(Book--Film(s))
Steel--Real Steel (2011)
I Am Legend (1954)--The Last Man on Earth (1964); The Omega Man (1971); I Am Legend (2007)
The Duel--Duel (1971)
What Dreams May Come (1977)--What Dreams May Come (1998)
A Stir of Echoes (1958)--Stir of Echoes (1999)
Hell House (1971)--The Legend of Hell House (1973)
The Shrinking Man (1956)--The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
... and more.
This is probably no surprise as his screenwriting career was equally extensive, so he likely had an inside edge in terms of getting his work translated from print to screen. Matheson penned one of my favorite episodes of Star Trek, several episodes for The Twilight Zone, most notably, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet (which gave me horrible nightmares as a child--thanks, Richard), and even an episode of Family Guy (the splendid source for this episode was, naturally, the short story The Splendid Source, included in this collection), of all things. And that's just a small sample.
As has occurred before, I went to Matheson's source material in the hope that it would offer insights the film did not and probe themes the cinematic treatment touched upon but did not fully explore. For example, the possibility that the plucky, scrap-heap robot, Atom, had developed consciousness. For the second time in as many tries, I was severely disappointed.
There's no questioning Matheson's imagination. You can't have a pantheon of works of such breadth without it. But where What Dreams May Come came across as agonizingly meticulous many of these stories came across as thought orphans, or treatments of ideas that he might explore more fully later, abandoned after a single chapter.
I haven't yet read I Am Legend, yet, though I want to, but given my experiences so far I'm a bit reluctant to take that plunge.
Read
April 23, 2012I've never delved into any Matheson, and so this collection of short stories has been both my introduction to his work, and a delightful surprise. The narrative styles, perspectives, and topics covered are surprisingly diverse, and despite the fact that 13 of the 15 stories were written in the 1950's, there are very few elements that feel "dated".
Standout tales for me include "To Fit The Crime", in which the cynical, hate-filled protagonist spews torrents of deliciously creative insults at everyone around him while on his deathbed, and "The Splendid Source", an exceeding fun story with several laugh-out-loud moments about one man's quest to find the source of the dirty jokes in the world (yes, this was redone in an episode of The Family Guy).
The quality here ranges from merely okay to excellent, but there are no true duds in the bunch, and this is a swift read. Recommended for anyone interested in sci-fi or weird fiction, especially if you haven't experienced Matheson's work beyond all that has been converted into visual media.
Standout tales for me include "To Fit The Crime", in which the cynical, hate-filled protagonist spews torrents of deliciously creative insults at everyone around him while on his deathbed, and "The Splendid Source", an exceeding fun story with several laugh-out-loud moments about one man's quest to find the source of the dirty jokes in the world (yes, this was redone in an episode of The Family Guy).
The quality here ranges from merely okay to excellent, but there are no true duds in the bunch, and this is a swift read. Recommended for anyone interested in sci-fi or weird fiction, especially if you haven't experienced Matheson's work beyond all that has been converted into visual media.
February 4, 2014
As with any collection of short stories, there are some good ones and some not so good ones. It is interesting to read the story Steel and the compare it to the movie Real Steel. Let's just say that they weren't very similar. I thought the collections in I Am Legend and The Box were better than this collection.
November 11, 2019
久しぶり。さすがですね。
September 14, 2020
I like Matheson.
What I liked: The title story was pretty good. I did not see the movie, but the previews I saw were radically different from the story. It was well written, but a little dated. It was written in 1956 when boxing was more popular. I am also reading it in the era of ‘Robot Wars,’ and ultimate fighting. It’s a big world and people still like live entertainment, but the idea that boxing robots could be a major part of American sports was a little hard to swallow.
I also really liked the story about the secret society that writes all of the world’s dirty jokes. It gave me a huge and unexpected laugh that probably frightened the neighbors. The very short story about the survivor of the apocalypse who spots another man and shoots him in order to be the last man on earth was also good.
The rest was forgettable. There were several stories about nuclear Armageddon. It was real in the 1950s, but generally seems stale today.
What I liked: The title story was pretty good. I did not see the movie, but the previews I saw were radically different from the story. It was well written, but a little dated. It was written in 1956 when boxing was more popular. I am also reading it in the era of ‘Robot Wars,’ and ultimate fighting. It’s a big world and people still like live entertainment, but the idea that boxing robots could be a major part of American sports was a little hard to swallow.
I also really liked the story about the secret society that writes all of the world’s dirty jokes. It gave me a huge and unexpected laugh that probably frightened the neighbors. The very short story about the survivor of the apocalypse who spots another man and shoots him in order to be the last man on earth was also good.
The rest was forgettable. There were several stories about nuclear Armageddon. It was real in the 1950s, but generally seems stale today.
January 12, 2020
This is like going into one of those bakeries that hasn't changed in 50 years. You won't find macarons or mille-feuilles in here, just plain food baked well.
Many of these stories are more than 50 years old, although that shows mostly in the slightly formal style than in the content. And don't look for diversity; the concept was mostly unknown then.
They're all very capably written, and varied in theme and tone. But I was left with a feeling like having heard Salieri's music instead of Mozart's. Salieri was good, and so is Matheson, but I just wasn't left with any need to tag any of these for future reference.
I did at least get the feeling that every story was exactly the right length and explored its topic exactly as it should have.
To return to my analogy, they're not leading edge, design-forward cookies but they're still darn good cookies.
Many of these stories are more than 50 years old, although that shows mostly in the slightly formal style than in the content. And don't look for diversity; the concept was mostly unknown then.
They're all very capably written, and varied in theme and tone. But I was left with a feeling like having heard Salieri's music instead of Mozart's. Salieri was good, and so is Matheson, but I just wasn't left with any need to tag any of these for future reference.
I did at least get the feeling that every story was exactly the right length and explored its topic exactly as it should have.
To return to my analogy, they're not leading edge, design-forward cookies but they're still darn good cookies.
June 8, 2025
I read this mainly for the short story that the sci-fi movie Real Steel (2011) was based. While that story was interesting, I was actually quite blown away by some of the other shorts that appear in this collection. Many stories were an absolutely wonderful mix of poetry interwoven into a sci-fi plot making for an intelligently thrilling flow of words and story. Richard Matheson feels like a writer’s writer. He’s not afraid to use heavy wordplay and educated phrasing when he so desires.
While some stories feel like they can easily fit into a Twilight Zone fit for the masses other stories feel more like they are more suitable for readers who enjoy the true art of word. I absolutely loved both styles, so a big thumbs up from me on this collection.
While some stories feel like they can easily fit into a Twilight Zone fit for the masses other stories feel more like they are more suitable for readers who enjoy the true art of word. I absolutely loved both styles, so a big thumbs up from me on this collection.
May 9, 2017
Enjoyed this collection a lot. Didn't realize my appreciation for Matheson. Definitely looking to read more by him.
Steel: And Other Stories
Rated (_/5)
* Steel (3/5)
* To fit the crime (4/5)
* The wedding (4/5)
* The conqueror (4/5)
* Dear diary (4/5)
* Descent (3/5)
* The doll that does everything (3/5)
* The traveller (4/5)
* When day is dun (3/5)
* The splendid source (3/5)
* Lemmings (3/5)
* The edge (3/5)
* A vist to Santa Claus (4/5)
* Dr. Morton's folly (2/5)
* The window of time. (3/5)
Steel: And Other Stories
Rated (_/5)
* Steel (3/5)
* To fit the crime (4/5)
* The wedding (4/5)
* The conqueror (4/5)
* Dear diary (4/5)
* Descent (3/5)
* The doll that does everything (3/5)
* The traveller (4/5)
* When day is dun (3/5)
* The splendid source (3/5)
* Lemmings (3/5)
* The edge (3/5)
* A vist to Santa Claus (4/5)
* Dr. Morton's folly (2/5)
* The window of time. (3/5)
October 18, 2020
Varied collection of 1950s Matheson shorts has its ups and downs but entertaining nonetheless. Although his early style generously piles on the adjectives to the point of distraction (almost sounding the poor man’s Ray Bradbury), the stories themselves display how the seeds of his clever ideas that were to blossom in the years to come. Some of these nostalgic pieces end too abruptly, some are longer than necessary.
The last two entries in the collection, from 2009, show that Matheson still has the gift of fantasy that made him one of the best contributors to the short story genre.
The last two entries in the collection, from 2009, show that Matheson still has the gift of fantasy that made him one of the best contributors to the short story genre.
July 21, 2018
Steel and Other Stories by Richard Matheson
I originally read Steel and Other Stories a few years ago and liked it.
This is a review of Steel: The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas (Audible Audio which I picked up for less than $1.
It's 30 minutes long but really well done.
The movie Real Steel was not true to the story. It would have been really cool to see Hugh Jackman whip out his Wolverine claws!
I originally read Steel and Other Stories a few years ago and liked it.
This is a review of Steel: The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas (Audible Audio which I picked up for less than $1.
It's 30 minutes long but really well done.
The movie Real Steel was not true to the story. It would have been really cool to see Hugh Jackman whip out his Wolverine claws!
March 28, 2018
An interesting array of stories. Is there any genre in which Richard Matheson has not written a landmark tale?
I keep mistaking his works for stories by other writers. For example, I mistook “Steel” for another entitled “Battling Bolto.” A story written by L. Ron Hubbard. And I thought “Duel” was written by Stephen King.
I keep mistaking his works for stories by other writers. For example, I mistook “Steel” for another entitled “Battling Bolto.” A story written by L. Ron Hubbard. And I thought “Duel” was written by Stephen King.
February 28, 2018
As a fan of "I am legend" I took on the book that seemed interesting, as I read story after story it seemed to be getting less and less interesting. I did enjoy, maybe 4 stories but again left me unsatisfied.
March 4, 2019
There is no denying the uniqueness of Matheson’s style- complex ideas presented in a simple, sometimes overly repetitive way. The multiple shots taken at whiney poets present as one of the most amusing themes.
August 4, 2025
DNF 50%
Thought it would be stories like the movie Real Steel, but it was much more of Twilight Zone episodes. While some of the stories were interesting, it did not keep me enthusiastic enough to finish all of them.
Thought it would be stories like the movie Real Steel, but it was much more of Twilight Zone episodes. While some of the stories were interesting, it did not keep me enthusiastic enough to finish all of them.
November 28, 2017
is very good book,
so excelent and beautiful im like
so excelent and beautiful im like
September 26, 2018
Great but of sci-fi, and a couple human mental state explorations.
February 13, 2019
great book, and good movie!
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