Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Master's Choice

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

by Alfred Hitchcock

27 Stories in this collection

She Fell Among Thieves by Robert Edmond Alter
The Hills Beyond Furcy by Robert G. Anderson
A gun is a Nervous Thing by Charlotte Armstrong
See How They Run by Robert Bloch
Nothing Short of Highway Robery by Lawrence Block
Puppet Show by Frederic Brown
De Mortuis by John Collier
Snowball by Ursula Curtiss
Here, Daemos! by August derleth
The Cookie Lady by Philip K. Dick
The Wager by Robert L. Fish
Scream in a Soundproof Room by Michael Gilbert
Return of Verge Likens by Davis Grubb
The Fair Chance by James Hay, Jr.
Paste a Smile on a Wall by John Keefauver
The Alarming Letters From Scottsdale by Warner Law
My Last Book by Michel and Clayre Lipman
Homicidal Hiccup by John D. MacDonald
Gone Girl by Ross MacDonald
The Interceptor by Barry N. Malzberg
Doctor's Dilemma by Harold Q. Masur
Mother by Protest by Richard Matheson
Coincidence by William F. Nolan
The Same Old grind by Bill Pronzini
Twenty-two Cents a Day by Jack Ritchie
Evil Star by Ray Russell
A Woman's Help by Henry Slesar

Genres: Short Stories, Mystery, Horror, Thriller, Crime, Anthologies, Fiction

340 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock KBE (1899-1980) was an iconic and highly influential film director and producer, who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and thriller genres.

Following a very substantial career in his native Britain in both silent films and talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood and became an American citizen with dual nationality in 1956, thus he also remained a British subject.

Hitchcock directed more than fifty feature films in a career which spanned six decades, from the silent film era, through the invention of sound films, and far into the era of colour films. For a complete list of his films, see Alfred Hitchcock filmography.

Hitchcock was among the most consistently recognizable directors to the general public, and was one of the most successful film directors during his lifetime. He continues to be one of the best known and most popular filmmakers of all time.

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting and varied collection. The lead story, "She Fell Among Thieves" is the best. The author, Robert Edmond Alter, offers to us a perfect example of a high-concept idea beautifully executed in a short-story format. Hollywood should take note: high-concept ideas don't necessarily translate into a two hour entertainment. I think Hitchcock was truly a master at selecting stories for his TV show as opposed to stories for the big screen, and a master at selecting and publishing good-to-great short stories.

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had been looking for a book to use in tutoring an ESL adult through the public library's program, Project Second Chance. As I was leaving a library branch recently, I discovered just the thing on the Friends of the Library's sale shelf.

Among the stories in Hitchcock, three were suitable for the ESL work. In "De Mortuis..." by John Collier, a man is putting the finishing touches on a section of new concrete in his basement. Two friends come to his house, discover him there and jump to conclusions about what might be under the concrete.

Next "The Wager," by Robert L. Fish, tells the story of a man willing to pay to have a small two thousand-year-old ivory carving smuggled into the country for him. For twenty thousand dollars.

In Bill Pronzini's "The Same Old Grind", Mr. Mitchell has gotten in the habit of buying his lunch at a little out-of-the-way delicatessen, most particularly because he saves so much money there. He feels sorry for old Mr. Giftholz who is clearly struggling to make ends meet. Because of the extrememly low prices, Mitchell is fairly sure Giftholz must be operating a scam or using the deli as cover for something illegal. He, Mitchell, is an independent contractor, doing 'favors' for friends--for money, of course--so he recognizes all the signs.

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed short stories, particularly those by Collier. In appreciation, I downloaded both volumes of Collier's Fancies and Goodnights to reacquaint myself with his collected work. The short story smorgasbord can also be a reminder to take another look at work by old friends.

Caveat regarding short stories: One disadvantage of ranking a story collection is that the number of stars give may give a false impression in speaking for the whole collection. So, giving this three stars for all (five stars for each of three mentioned here and two more at the same level though not for ESL, plus six more stories at four stars) may seem unfair. However since there are 27 stories, that's a solid average.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful collection of spooky AF stories, handpicked by The Master, with just a light dusting of misogyny. (Because OF COURSE the only reason a woman would be studying science is because she's carrying a Martian baby!)

For fans of hard-boiled detectives, bloodlust, murderous mothers, and yes, alien babies.

[Kyrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just over two dozen short stories chosen by Alfred Hitchcock. If you like mystery with a twist, these are really good.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad read this collection of short stories to me for nighttime reading, and even though it’s been years since the reading, I still remembered the stories. They’re good reading for something you don’t have to be too invested in, and it’s an excellent compilation of stories. They’re thrillers (not mysteries, as I usually read), and the compilation covers several genres from Western to Hardboiled Detective. Great collection.

[Woody Chandler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The problem with these anthologies is that there can be clinkers in with the ore and that was the case here. Richard Matheson's "Mother by Protest" was too long and the payoff was not worth the effort. There were plenty of good stories, though, so it was not all for naught. I may have to start digging around to see if I can find any of my old paperbacks.

[Daniel Hiland · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Master's Choice? I think not. While there are a few great tales included, this collection is not up to the standard of earlier anthologies.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closer to three and half stars, like most short story collections, there were a couple that just clunked with me.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Except for the initial story Robert Edmond Alter, I really didn't care for any of the collection. Very disappointing.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars

She Fell Among Thieves by Robert Edmond Alter ****
the Hills Beyond Furcy by Robert G. Anderson ****
A Gun is a Nervous Thing by Charlotte Armstrong ****
See How They Run by Robert Bloch ***
Nothing Short of Highway Robbery by Lawrence Block ****
Puppet Show by Fredric Brown ***
De Mortuis by John Collier ***
Snowball by Ursula Curtiss ***
Here, Daemos! by August Derleth ****
the Cookie Lady by Philip K. Dick ****
Kek Huuygens 04 the Wager by Robert L. Fish ****
Scream in a Soundproof Room by Michael Gilbert ****
Return of Verge Likens by Davis Grubb ****
the Fair Chance by James Hay Jr. ***
Paste a Smile on a Wall by John Keefauver ***
the Alarming Letters From Scottsdale by Warner Law ***
My Last Book by Michel Lipman ****
Homicidal Hiccup by John D. MacDonald ****
Lew Archer] Gone Girl by Ross Macdonald ****
the Interceptor by Barry N. Malzberg ****
Scott Jordan] Doctor's Dilemma by Harold Q. Masur ****
Mother by Protest by Richard Matheson ****
Coincidence by William F. Nolan ****
the Same Old Grind by Bill Pronzini ****
Twenty-two Cents a Day by Jack Ritchie ****
Evil Star by Ray Russell ****
A Woman's Help by Henry Slesar ****

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming collection of spooky short stories, with a trace dusting of chauvinism.
Just some light, idle reading for fans of jaded detectives, bloodlust, murderous mothers, and yes, aliens.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent collection of short stories ranging from the merely strange to the really macabre, by various writers including Richard Matheson of "Twilight Zone" fame to Robert Bloch, whose book about a horrific murder became the inspiration for the screenplay of "Psycho".

**#120 of 120 books pledged to read/review in 2016**

[Mary (Biblophile) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twenty-seven tales filled with evil, macabre, mystery and suspense.

[R.K. Goff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great collection. A really enjoyable candy book.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever, original and suspenseful; a great read.

[Belle Meade School]

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