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Roald Dahl's Short Stories #2
The Complete Short Stories: Volume Two 1954-1988
The Complete Short Stories of Roald Dahl in the second of two unsettling and sinister volumes.
'Dahl finds the child in the adult and the adult in the child and, with a little smile, he sticks the knife in both' Anthony Horowitz, from his introduction
Roald Dahl is one of the world's most popular writers, equally at home writing for both children and adults. In this, the second of two volumes chronologically collecting all his published adult short stories, we experience Dahl's dark and powerful imagination in full flight in 28 stories written between 1954 and 1988 (including eight tales which are not available in any other printed edition).
Here, in 'Parson's Pleasure', a piece of furniture is the subject of a deceitful bargain; in 'William and Mary', a wife revenges herself on her dead husband; and in 'Royal Jelly' some new parents find an unusual and unsettling way to give their newborn its start in life.
Whether you're young or old, once you've stepped into the brilliant, troubling world of Roald Dahl, you'll never be the same again.
'One of the most widely read and influential writers of our generation' The Times
'The absolute master of the twist in the tale' Observer
Look out for Volume One, introduced by Charlie Higson.
Roald Dahl, the brilliant and worldwide acclaimed author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and many more classics for children, also wrote scores of short stories for adults. These delightfully disturbing tales have often been filmed and were most recently the inspiration for the West End play, Roald Dahl's Twisted Tales by Jeremy Dyson. Roald Dahl's stories continue to make readers shiver today.
'Dahl finds the child in the adult and the adult in the child and, with a little smile, he sticks the knife in both' Anthony Horowitz, from his introduction
Roald Dahl is one of the world's most popular writers, equally at home writing for both children and adults. In this, the second of two volumes chronologically collecting all his published adult short stories, we experience Dahl's dark and powerful imagination in full flight in 28 stories written between 1954 and 1988 (including eight tales which are not available in any other printed edition).
Here, in 'Parson's Pleasure', a piece of furniture is the subject of a deceitful bargain; in 'William and Mary', a wife revenges herself on her dead husband; and in 'Royal Jelly' some new parents find an unusual and unsettling way to give their newborn its start in life.
Whether you're young or old, once you've stepped into the brilliant, troubling world of Roald Dahl, you'll never be the same again.
'One of the most widely read and influential writers of our generation' The Times
'The absolute master of the twist in the tale' Observer
Look out for Volume One, introduced by Charlie Higson.
Roald Dahl, the brilliant and worldwide acclaimed author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and many more classics for children, also wrote scores of short stories for adults. These delightfully disturbing tales have often been filmed and were most recently the inspiration for the West End play, Roald Dahl's Twisted Tales by Jeremy Dyson. Roald Dahl's stories continue to make readers shiver today.
802 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2012
144 people are currently reading
940 people want to read
About the author
Roald Dahl
1,472 books26.6k followersRoald Dahl was a beloved British author, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter pilot, best known for his enchanting and often darkly humorous children's books that have captivated generations of readers around the world. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led a life marked by adventure, tragedy, creativity, and enduring literary success. His vivid imagination and distinctive storytelling style have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors in modern literature.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
April 10, 2021
When I was in sixth grade we had a teacher who taught us to line dance and to think for ourselves. She would also read us stories by Road Dahl. Not his famous children's stories, mind you. No, she read us his short stories written for adults. Every week we listened to detailed descriptions of: boy slowly peeling scab off knee, boy being lured into taxidermist's den, boy being slaughtered and turned into human sausage, etc. You can imagine how horrified and excited a group of 11-year-olds we were! I was so enraptured in fact I even started writing my own tales of the macabre and reading them out loud to the class. I also became an insomniac that year.
Three decades later these stories are as vivid as ever. The scab-peeling episode still works its charms. The boy-sausage remains one of the most disturbing things I've ever read. This book is full of such wonders. Be warned though: some of the stories in this volume are unbearably cruel (I had to skip one called "the Swan”); others, bordering on the misogynistic, not to say the misanthropic, would probably fail to find a publisher today, and for good reason. But I don't know many writers who can grab you from the first sentence and not let go until you've finished the last word of the story. Dahl pulls off this feat in almost every one of the 55 tales found in the two volumes of his Complete Short Stories.
If ingenious plots and unexpected endings are your thing, there's no better place to find them than here. Don't expect too much kindness from Mr Dahl, though — the man must have had more than his fair share of demons to exorcise.
Now I wonder what that 11-year-old boy is up to right now…
Three decades later these stories are as vivid as ever. The scab-peeling episode still works its charms. The boy-sausage remains one of the most disturbing things I've ever read. This book is full of such wonders. Be warned though: some of the stories in this volume are unbearably cruel (I had to skip one called "the Swan”); others, bordering on the misogynistic, not to say the misanthropic, would probably fail to find a publisher today, and for good reason. But I don't know many writers who can grab you from the first sentence and not let go until you've finished the last word of the story. Dahl pulls off this feat in almost every one of the 55 tales found in the two volumes of his Complete Short Stories.
If ingenious plots and unexpected endings are your thing, there's no better place to find them than here. Don't expect too much kindness from Mr Dahl, though — the man must have had more than his fair share of demons to exorcise.
Now I wonder what that 11-year-old boy is up to right now…
November 7, 2022
At home, we had a white hardcover collection of all of Roald Dahl's short stories in Dutch. When I was about ten, I took this book with me on our summer holiday, where I devoured it.
According to my parents, I couldn't stop talking about it.
It's been fifteen years, and I figured I'd try and read these stories in English. I've found that they made such a huge impression on me that I remembered every single one of them, some by title alone, others within one or two pages (which did make me a little sad; I'd hoped to experience some of them as if it was the first time again).
I also think they're absolutely brilliant. Of course, that's no doubt because little 10yo Geertje had read absolutely nothing like these short stories, but it's also in part because Dahl is a master of the short-story form.
According to my parents, I couldn't stop talking about it.
It's been fifteen years, and I figured I'd try and read these stories in English. I've found that they made such a huge impression on me that I remembered every single one of them, some by title alone, others within one or two pages (which did make me a little sad; I'd hoped to experience some of them as if it was the first time again).
I also think they're absolutely brilliant. Of course, that's no doubt because little 10yo Geertje had read absolutely nothing like these short stories, but it's also in part because Dahl is a master of the short-story form.
September 4, 2018
This volume has twenty-eight short stories written over a period of thirty-five years. The twists and themes are to me more recognisably Dahlesque than in the first volume which contains his earlier writings (a lot of them pilot and war related).
All the stories are curious in their own way. Some of them are predictable, yet delicious disasters like Mrs Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat, The Great Switcheroo, The Hitch-hiker. Others are disturbing thought experiments (William and Mary), or disturbing and weirdly inexplicable (Pig), or disturbing and almost unbearable, but ultimately wonderful (The Swan). Some are uplifting, but I won’t reveal which ones—let that be a surprise! This collection also includes Lucky Break, where Dahl explains how he got into writing.
The most memorable of stories is the first concerning Uncle Oswald’s exploits, unimaginatively named The Visitor. It was initially published in a 1965 issue of Playboy, but I’d read it in some random collection of tales and it stuck with me. When I think Dahl, I think Uncle Oswald trundling along in his car through the desert towards a castle and an adventure that will have consequences never to be erased. If you want to read a single story—let it be this one.
All the stories are curious in their own way. Some of them are predictable, yet delicious disasters like Mrs Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat, The Great Switcheroo, The Hitch-hiker. Others are disturbing thought experiments (William and Mary), or disturbing and weirdly inexplicable (Pig), or disturbing and almost unbearable, but ultimately wonderful (The Swan). Some are uplifting, but I won’t reveal which ones—let that be a surprise! This collection also includes Lucky Break, where Dahl explains how he got into writing.
The most memorable of stories is the first concerning Uncle Oswald’s exploits, unimaginatively named The Visitor. It was initially published in a 1965 issue of Playboy, but I’d read it in some random collection of tales and it stuck with me. When I think Dahl, I think Uncle Oswald trundling along in his car through the desert towards a castle and an adventure that will have consequences never to be erased. If you want to read a single story—let it be this one.
April 15, 2020
Dahl’s short stories not written for children (which are also fantastic in their own right ) are wickedly good. So good you’d savour them like a honeyed truffles long after they are done with. Incredible plotting , quirky characters , wicked sense of humour, unexpected endings ... most of them get etched forever in the mind on first read.
March 5, 2021
Keskimäärin ihan viihdyttäviä novelleja. Parhaiten mieleen jäivät kovan onnen ketku Claudista kertovat tarinat. Sen sijaan kaikissa vanhemmissa Playboyssa julkaistuissa veijarinovelleissa olennaisena juonielementtinä oli jonkin sortin raiskaus, mikä ei tietenkään genressään ole mitään poikkeuksellista, mutta teki kokoelman lukemisesta vähän nihkeää.
October 1, 2015
For this reading list: Gifts & Guilty
Better than Volume One - a bit more punchy - but I'm just not a massive fan of short stories.
Better than Volume One - a bit more punchy - but I'm just not a massive fan of short stories.
September 15, 2019
Lovely, though slightly morbid, as always expected of Roald Dahl.
September 20, 2023
My favourite stories, in chronological order (the winners marked with *):
The Way Up To Heaven
Parson's Pleasure*
Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat
William and Mary
Georgy Porgy
The Visitor*
The Great Switcheroo
Bitch
Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life
The Hitch-hiker
The Swan
Princess Mammalia
The Way Up To Heaven
Parson's Pleasure*
Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat
William and Mary
Georgy Porgy
The Visitor*
The Great Switcheroo
Bitch
Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life
The Hitch-hiker
The Swan
Princess Mammalia
July 9, 2017
Preferred the stories in Volume 1 but these are great too. Great twist at the end of each one.
March 3, 2017
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this collection (and I might be awaiting even more collections of his in the post that I snapped up online. Don't judge me!!)
Dahl is one of those children's writers that you can actually go back to without any shred of shame and legitimately say with a straight face, yeah the man knew his craft. Yes I still like to read a Goosebumps every once in a while or pick up a Nancy Drew if I find it, but unlike the cringe one feels at the subpar writing or the realization that these stories are not as epic as one remembers them, Dahl I find is among the esteemed ranks of those timeless children's authors (if a bit vulgar) you can still thoroughly enjoy as an adult! I can still laugh at Wonka's antics or cheer when Aunt Sponge and Spiker get their comeuppance or wish that the cigar smoking Norwegian Grandma is my own. Adult quibbles of morals notwithstanding.
So you could imagine my elation when a younger teenaged me discovered that Roald Dahl was revered in England as both a children's author AND an adult author, though quite risque. Of course, once I found all the compilations my collections started mounting lol!
With the straightforwardness of say an Orwell novel, Dahl conjures up decadent tales of English life and politeness. With sneering sarcastic objection not unlike Wilde, but with endings or undercurrents more at home in Goosebumps, these tales are like if Jamie Rix decided to write a traditional English comedy of manners. But with the signature offbeat, quirky and often times macabre sense of humor that is all Dahl.
The introduction by Anthony Horowitz probably worships Dahl more than even this review! But is still cool to read all the same.
A young man finds himself in the thrall of a peculiar landlady, a lady decides to revenge herself upon her dead husband, a piece of furniture becomes entangled in a nefarious bargain and dear old Uncle Oswald pops up now and again to have a sordid sexcapade.
As with all collections of short stories some are awesome, some are okay and some left me slightly disappointed. But that's just how short story collections are so all in all a must have for any Dahl fan. I must admit that while I haven't read part 1 very much, I do prefer part 2. (Though in defense of the stories in Part 1, never has a pompous sounding wine taste testing been so unequivocally gripping, and with such stakes!!) Perhaps that's just a sign that Dahl grew as an author as he went, which is perfectly reasonable.
As for sexism, racism blah blah etc etc.
Look, if I had to agree with every book or author I read in order to enjoy them, my reading library would consist of like 5 books. Life is messy, authors are people and as such are prone to strengths and weaknesses. Dahl lived in a completely different time, he grew up with completely different expectations and standards of what was considered appropriate.
At the end of the day, I don't think I have to agree with every one of his views to be a fan of his. And I will remain a hardcore Dahlian for the rest of my life.
Onto My Uncle Oswald!!
Dahl is one of those children's writers that you can actually go back to without any shred of shame and legitimately say with a straight face, yeah the man knew his craft. Yes I still like to read a Goosebumps every once in a while or pick up a Nancy Drew if I find it, but unlike the cringe one feels at the subpar writing or the realization that these stories are not as epic as one remembers them, Dahl I find is among the esteemed ranks of those timeless children's authors (if a bit vulgar) you can still thoroughly enjoy as an adult! I can still laugh at Wonka's antics or cheer when Aunt Sponge and Spiker get their comeuppance or wish that the cigar smoking Norwegian Grandma is my own. Adult quibbles of morals notwithstanding.
So you could imagine my elation when a younger teenaged me discovered that Roald Dahl was revered in England as both a children's author AND an adult author, though quite risque. Of course, once I found all the compilations my collections started mounting lol!
With the straightforwardness of say an Orwell novel, Dahl conjures up decadent tales of English life and politeness. With sneering sarcastic objection not unlike Wilde, but with endings or undercurrents more at home in Goosebumps, these tales are like if Jamie Rix decided to write a traditional English comedy of manners. But with the signature offbeat, quirky and often times macabre sense of humor that is all Dahl.
The introduction by Anthony Horowitz probably worships Dahl more than even this review! But is still cool to read all the same.
A young man finds himself in the thrall of a peculiar landlady, a lady decides to revenge herself upon her dead husband, a piece of furniture becomes entangled in a nefarious bargain and dear old Uncle Oswald pops up now and again to have a sordid sexcapade.
As with all collections of short stories some are awesome, some are okay and some left me slightly disappointed. But that's just how short story collections are so all in all a must have for any Dahl fan. I must admit that while I haven't read part 1 very much, I do prefer part 2. (Though in defense of the stories in Part 1, never has a pompous sounding wine taste testing been so unequivocally gripping, and with such stakes!!) Perhaps that's just a sign that Dahl grew as an author as he went, which is perfectly reasonable.
As for sexism, racism blah blah etc etc.
Look, if I had to agree with every book or author I read in order to enjoy them, my reading library would consist of like 5 books. Life is messy, authors are people and as such are prone to strengths and weaknesses. Dahl lived in a completely different time, he grew up with completely different expectations and standards of what was considered appropriate.
At the end of the day, I don't think I have to agree with every one of his views to be a fan of his. And I will remain a hardcore Dahlian for the rest of my life.
Onto My Uncle Oswald!!
March 14, 2021
I am continually surprised by how wonderfully Roald Dahl can spin an uncanny tale. Every time I read one of his stories I am torn between amusement, anxiety, and sorrow. Dahl gives the reader just enough detail to construct the fictional gallows and lead the poor character to the noose; but the reader's imagination is left to decide the final execution. Dahl is a writer you really can enjoy throughout a lifetime and it is a pleasure to find so many of his greatest short stories collected.
January 22, 2018
La mayoría de los cuentos que aparecen en este tomo son sumamente entretenidos. Adoro la imaginación de Roald Dahl. Tiene el espíritu del cuento de hadas de los hermanos Grimm. A ratos es horroroso, pero en la siguiente pagina te estas riendo.
Este es el lado supuestamente adulto de Dahl, famoso por sus cuentos para niños; pero en ningún momento pierde ese humor y ocurrencia que poseen sus cuentos infantiles.
Este es el lado supuestamente adulto de Dahl, famoso por sus cuentos para niños; pero en ningún momento pierde ese humor y ocurrencia que poseen sus cuentos infantiles.
August 21, 2020
Roald Dahl is the 20th Century Charles Dickens. He is the master of storytelling, penning books for children and adults the majority of which have all becoming classics. As Anthony Horowitz says in the Introduction of this book, “Dahl finds the child in the adult and the adult in the child and, with a little smile, he sticks the knife in both.”
This book, the second in a two-volume collection of every single adult short story he ever wrote, is one of my most treasured books on my whole shelf. It is better than Volume One, which contains lots of dull and repetitive (if well-written) war stories. THIS volume however, containing every short story he wrote between 1954 and 1988, is home to some serious masterpieces, some of which have stayed with me for years. Believe me when I say that Roald Dahl’s adult fiction is just as satisfying as his children’s fiction, as is finally finishing every story in this collection.
Quick list of my personal favourites:
The Way Up to Heaven
The Champion of the World
The Landlady - masterpiece!
The Last Act
The Great Switcheroo
The Hitch-hiker
The Swan
Lucky Break
The Umbrella Man
The Princess and the Poacher
Princess Mammalia
The Bookseller
The Surgeon
Ultimate favourites from that list: The Way Up to Heaven, The Landlady, and The Swan.
In terms of ones that I liked less...
I am yet to read a bad Roald Dahl story. Some of them are fantastic and stick in your memory for life, and others are just good in the time you’re reading them...and that’s okay. The Butler I remember being slightly mediocre. The ‘Uncle Oswald’ stories, The Visitor and Bitch did not live up to the hype: I don’t dislike Oswald as a character...the stories themselves were just annoying.
Parson’s Pleasure was wonderful, with an ending to remember, but not one of my favourites. Royal Jelly was a creepy little horror story that leaves a bitter aftertaste, albeit intentionally. William and Mary was memorable and satisfying, just not a favourite.
And as for Pig, which everyone seems to adore, I did not join in on the hype. Maybe it needs a reread; maybe I just didn’t get it...
But as I’ve said, the vast majority of stories here, even some of the less memorable ones, are utter classics. You will not regret buying this!
This book, the second in a two-volume collection of every single adult short story he ever wrote, is one of my most treasured books on my whole shelf. It is better than Volume One, which contains lots of dull and repetitive (if well-written) war stories. THIS volume however, containing every short story he wrote between 1954 and 1988, is home to some serious masterpieces, some of which have stayed with me for years. Believe me when I say that Roald Dahl’s adult fiction is just as satisfying as his children’s fiction, as is finally finishing every story in this collection.
Quick list of my personal favourites:
The Way Up to Heaven
The Champion of the World
The Landlady - masterpiece!
The Last Act
The Great Switcheroo
The Hitch-hiker
The Swan
Lucky Break
The Umbrella Man
The Princess and the Poacher
Princess Mammalia
The Bookseller
The Surgeon
Ultimate favourites from that list: The Way Up to Heaven, The Landlady, and The Swan.
In terms of ones that I liked less...
I am yet to read a bad Roald Dahl story. Some of them are fantastic and stick in your memory for life, and others are just good in the time you’re reading them...and that’s okay. The Butler I remember being slightly mediocre. The ‘Uncle Oswald’ stories, The Visitor and Bitch did not live up to the hype: I don’t dislike Oswald as a character...the stories themselves were just annoying.
Parson’s Pleasure was wonderful, with an ending to remember, but not one of my favourites. Royal Jelly was a creepy little horror story that leaves a bitter aftertaste, albeit intentionally. William and Mary was memorable and satisfying, just not a favourite.
And as for Pig, which everyone seems to adore, I did not join in on the hype. Maybe it needs a reread; maybe I just didn’t get it...
But as I’ve said, the vast majority of stories here, even some of the less memorable ones, are utter classics. You will not regret buying this!
April 10, 2023
I decided to read The Complete Short Stories Volume Two as Cat from my Bookclub picked "Kiss, Kiss" for our April choice, which is part of this collection. Volume Two contains the latter of Dahl's work, and it was very interesting to see the stark contrast between his stories.
The "Kiss, Kiss" collection was the clear winner for me. The Way up to Heaven had a good dose of serves you right. William and Mary was a tad bit gruesome in the descriptions, but I enjoyed the ending. Parson's Pleasure was some good natured fun in his comeuppance. Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat had a fantastic twist ending. Genesis and Catastrophe made me think "what if..."
"Over to You" was the hardest to read out of the collection in my opinion. These stories didn't necessarily have a twist, but were longer stories sharing his experience in the war and being a pilot.
"Switch Bitch" was four short stories published in Playboy magazine, all revolving around sex in some way. I can see why these stories would be in Playboy... one of them involves swapping wives which I assume is titillating to some men. At first I absolutely detested The Great Switcharoo for the rape by deception aspect, however it was made a bit more palatable by the ending. (A very much AHA TAKE THAT! moment) Not to completely excuse what happened, but gosh it felt good to see that ending. The other stories had a similar vain. At least Dahl tried to increase the Playboy reader's moral compass!
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the short story format. If something wasn't to my taste it was over quickly at least. I look forward to reading his earlier works in Volume One and seeing how much he changed as a writer. I read his children's books numerous times in my youth, and he is still one of my favourite authors to this day.
The "Kiss, Kiss" collection was the clear winner for me. The Way up to Heaven had a good dose of serves you right. William and Mary was a tad bit gruesome in the descriptions, but I enjoyed the ending. Parson's Pleasure was some good natured fun in his comeuppance. Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat had a fantastic twist ending. Genesis and Catastrophe made me think "what if..."
"Over to You" was the hardest to read out of the collection in my opinion. These stories didn't necessarily have a twist, but were longer stories sharing his experience in the war and being a pilot.
"Switch Bitch" was four short stories published in Playboy magazine, all revolving around sex in some way. I can see why these stories would be in Playboy... one of them involves swapping wives which I assume is titillating to some men. At first I absolutely detested The Great Switcharoo for the rape by deception aspect, however it was made a bit more palatable by the ending. (A very much AHA TAKE THAT! moment) Not to completely excuse what happened, but gosh it felt good to see that ending. The other stories had a similar vain. At least Dahl tried to increase the Playboy reader's moral compass!
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the short story format. If something wasn't to my taste it was over quickly at least. I look forward to reading his earlier works in Volume One and seeing how much he changed as a writer. I read his children's books numerous times in my youth, and he is still one of my favourite authors to this day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2025
Unlike the first volume, which suffered from a number of repetitive wartime stories written for the slicks before Roald Dahl became ROALD DAHL, this is a particularly stunning volume of beautifully wicked and freaky tales for adults. Wild sex escapades with parakeets, an alarming story depicting Hitler's birth. And all with that keen Dahl eye over the telling detail that reveals how easily humans become twisted from behavioral angst. I was not so much a fan of the thinly veiled biographical Henry Sugar stuff. Dahl was at his best when he stared clearly and weirdly at some of our most uncomfortable foibles. His prose was workmanlike, but his imagination is what made him a remarkable writer (if a terrible man in his personal life). I don't know if these stories are taught or read anymore, but they contain all the morsels to build the most unsettling yet beautiful cathedral imaginable.
July 23, 2025
Roald Dahl's short stories is a mix of stories that are just very problematic at times. He can write an old married couple very well and I envy how he had a career writing 1 short story a year. I wish Stephen King wrote more like this, they are both problematic authors, but at least with Roald Dahl he is a product of his time and Stephen King goes a bit too weird and grotesque.
Ultimately, this volume showcases Dahl's unique literary genius, even as it forces a confrontation with the less savory aspects of his work. It’s a compelling read for those willing to engage with a truly talented, yet undeniably complex, author.
Ultimately, this volume showcases Dahl's unique literary genius, even as it forces a confrontation with the less savory aspects of his work. It’s a compelling read for those willing to engage with a truly talented, yet undeniably complex, author.
February 18, 2020
The second volume of the complete short stories is a thicker book than the first, containing 28 stories in total. The majority of the 28 are brilliant, surprising and original. Some are unforgettable. All have the trademark Dahlesque weirdness about them. There were a few I didn't much care for (hence three stars rather than five) and these were the ones concerning Uncle Oswald, originally published in Playboy magazine, and now rather dated (possibly even offensive) in their portrayal of gender relations.
March 9, 2024
I found it really difficult to judge where to put this as I found the highs higher and the lows lower in this collection than volume one. In the end I enjoyed so much “Lucky Break: How I Became a Writer” it nearly knocked it up a star.
A lot of these stories were off-puttingly dark for me. Whilst I enjoy seeing villains brought low, a lot of the what occurs felt a bit cruel, vindictive and often hit blameless people.
I do think Roald Dahl does have an brilliant imagination, if a very disturbing one.
Highlights
1. Lucky Break
2. Parson’s Pleasure
3. The Visitor
4. The Surgeon
A lot of these stories were off-puttingly dark for me. Whilst I enjoy seeing villains brought low, a lot of the what occurs felt a bit cruel, vindictive and often hit blameless people.
I do think Roald Dahl does have an brilliant imagination, if a very disturbing one.
Highlights
1. Lucky Break
2. Parson’s Pleasure
3. The Visitor
4. The Surgeon
December 27, 2019
I always love Roald Dahl. I wish the stories were more evenly distributed between the volumes - this book is very fat. Overall, the stories from this volume are longer and more revengeful and lusty. I would definitely start with volume 1 if you’re new to Dahl. But it’s fantastic to have the entire collection, and some of my favorite stories are in this copy. See:
Royal Jelly
The Landlady
The Umbrella Man
Parson’s Pleasure
The Bookseller
The Butler
William & Mary
The Surgeon
Royal Jelly
The Landlady
The Umbrella Man
Parson’s Pleasure
The Bookseller
The Butler
William & Mary
The Surgeon
March 29, 2020
As with most short story collections, I enjoyed some stories more than the others. I enjoyed the stories in the first half a bit more than those in the second, as those are the ones with the dark humor and suspense which is what I enjoy in Roald Dahl's short stories. Some of the other stories were a bit too long for me, though. Also, Uncle Oswald is quite the unsavory character. I suppose I will avoid the standalone novel based around him.
August 25, 2023
Well that was a journey.
Some of these stories are now classics and as fresh as ever but some have aged very badly. I suppose it’s now necessary to mention that ‘they contain outdated attitudes’ but, if they’re still funny/clever, I don’t mind that: they were written a long time ago.
I found some, however, unfunny after the passage of time. ‘Bitch’, for example, had a 1970s ‘dirty old man’ vibe. On balance though, great fun.
Some of these stories are now classics and as fresh as ever but some have aged very badly. I suppose it’s now necessary to mention that ‘they contain outdated attitudes’ but, if they’re still funny/clever, I don’t mind that: they were written a long time ago.
I found some, however, unfunny after the passage of time. ‘Bitch’, for example, had a 1970s ‘dirty old man’ vibe. On balance though, great fun.
February 4, 2020
I love Roald Dahl’s wicked imagination and the way he unravels his stories. I felt as he got older, however, he lost the razor-sharp wit of his earlier material. The endings became a little more predictable and not so much of a surprise. Nevertheless I tore through the 800 pages and was never bored ... cant say that about too many authors.
July 25, 2020
TW: rape
Some fun twists.
Many stories however have a unpleasant Dirty Old Man flair to them. The one where two men conspire to sleep with each other's wives without the women's knowledge and therefore consent is hugely problematic and shouldn't be published without context, as it is done in the introduction for another story called 'Bitch'.
Some fun twists.
Many stories however have a unpleasant Dirty Old Man flair to them. The one where two men conspire to sleep with each other's wives without the women's knowledge and therefore consent is hugely problematic and shouldn't be published without context, as it is done in the introduction for another story called 'Bitch'.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2021
i adore his fiction so much. read the little memoir-ish story towards the end and i realised there were actually so many little easter eggs!! like the black mambas that he saw in africa—ref. the snake milking cow story in volume 1.
his stories are emblematic of 恶有恶报，善有善报 😌 you can always trust in roald dahl to give the bad guys their comeuppance and the nice yogis and doctors their reward 🌟
his stories are emblematic of 恶有恶报，善有善报 😌 you can always trust in roald dahl to give the bad guys their comeuppance and the nice yogis and doctors their reward 🌟
May 10, 2024
Aside from being a bestselling author of children's fiction, Dahl was also acclaimed for his work in adult fare, particular in the suspense and horror genres, and the two volumes comprising his complete short stories amply showcases his ability to unsettle and frighten. A must-read for those who love their dark fiction on the macabre side.
April 5, 2024
If you’re looking to only read one volume (hello page numbers, lol), I’d recommend reading Volume 2.
Volume 1 had a lot of war inspired stories, while Volume 2 has the eerie twist that most people anticipate with Dahl’s stories.
Volume 1 had a lot of war inspired stories, while Volume 2 has the eerie twist that most people anticipate with Dahl’s stories.
August 19, 2018
Deze verhalen zijn nog beter dan in het eerste deel van de verzamelbundels. Zeker het lezen waard
March 13, 2020
Expect the unexpected
December 1, 2020
The only thing wrong with this book is that it’s only 800 pages. Roald Dahl is the master of the short story. A must read for anyone who likes superb fiction with a twist at the end.
February 2, 2021
Don't binge these after reading Volume One! It's just too much of Roald Dahl in one go.
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