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Completely Unexpected Tales
Take a pinch of unease. Stir in a dollop of the macabre and the outrageous and mix it with wit, skill, and very black humour
What do you have?
Roald Dahl at his brilliant, hypnotizing best
Here in one volume, Tales of the Unexpected and More Tales of the Unexpected - a darkly bitter souffle with a sting at the centre.
What do you have?
Roald Dahl at his brilliant, hypnotizing best
Here in one volume, Tales of the Unexpected and More Tales of the Unexpected - a darkly bitter souffle with a sting at the centre.
405 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
About the author
Roald Dahl
1,553 books27.5k 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 92 reviews
November 16, 2009
This fine, darkly funny, collection by Roald Dahl contains all the stories previously published in the two volumes "Tales of the Unexpected" and "More Tales of the Unexpected". The back cover of my edition describes it as a "superb compendium of vengeance, surprise, and dark delight" and that's as good a characterization as any I can come up with. Continuing with my shameless plagiarization of the cover blurb, it describes the recipe for a typical Dahl tale:
Take a pinch of unease. Stir in a large dollop of the macabre, add a generous helping of dark and stylish wit, and garnish with the bizarre
Again, that gives you a pretty good sense of what you will find in this terrific collection of 25 stories. Though it perhaps fails to convey just how funny they are. Not to mention well-constructed and well-written. Dahl has a particular knack for knowing just which detail to include - and just as important - knowing what to leave out. Many of the best stories in tbis book stop just on the threshold of the truly dark, because the author knows that it's far more effective to leave the details unfold and reverberate in the reader's imagination.
These tales may remind some readers of the stories of Patricia Highsmith. My sense is that they are not as dark as Highsmith's, nor meant to be, because where one feels that Highsmith's misanthropism ran through to the bone, Dahl's is worn lighter. You can almost feel him winking to the reader, as one nasty character after another meets a suitably macabre fate "it's only a yarn, chum". I suspect Dahl actually liked other people quite a bit more than Highsmith. Upon reflection, a better comparison for these tales might be the stories of Saki (H.H. Munro).
Either way, it's a hugely enjoyable, often hilarious collection, which I consider the best of Dahl's work. (I may be one of the few people on the planet who doesn't "get" Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , which I find excessively weird, both the book and - pace, Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp fans - both film versions. And some of Dahl's other work, e.g. the frankly misogynistic "My Uncle Oswald", doesn't do it for me either. Though you gotta love "Matilda", and I've never read the story on which the "Fantastic Mr Fox" movie is based).
Almost all of these stories have been adapted for TV, by directors ranging from Hitchcock to Tarantino. Even if you've seen the series "Tales of the Unexpected", the stories themselves are well worth reading. My personal favorite is probably the little old lady taxidermy story, though the one about Liszt reincarnated as a kitty has to be a close runner-up. Or "Royal Jelly". Or "Lamb to the Slaughter". or "Parson's Pleasure". But this way madness lies, because really, there's not a dud in the bunch.
Take a pinch of unease. Stir in a large dollop of the macabre, add a generous helping of dark and stylish wit, and garnish with the bizarre
Again, that gives you a pretty good sense of what you will find in this terrific collection of 25 stories. Though it perhaps fails to convey just how funny they are. Not to mention well-constructed and well-written. Dahl has a particular knack for knowing just which detail to include - and just as important - knowing what to leave out. Many of the best stories in tbis book stop just on the threshold of the truly dark, because the author knows that it's far more effective to leave the details unfold and reverberate in the reader's imagination.
These tales may remind some readers of the stories of Patricia Highsmith. My sense is that they are not as dark as Highsmith's, nor meant to be, because where one feels that Highsmith's misanthropism ran through to the bone, Dahl's is worn lighter. You can almost feel him winking to the reader, as one nasty character after another meets a suitably macabre fate "it's only a yarn, chum". I suspect Dahl actually liked other people quite a bit more than Highsmith. Upon reflection, a better comparison for these tales might be the stories of Saki (H.H. Munro).
Either way, it's a hugely enjoyable, often hilarious collection, which I consider the best of Dahl's work. (I may be one of the few people on the planet who doesn't "get" Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , which I find excessively weird, both the book and - pace, Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp fans - both film versions. And some of Dahl's other work, e.g. the frankly misogynistic "My Uncle Oswald", doesn't do it for me either. Though you gotta love "Matilda", and I've never read the story on which the "Fantastic Mr Fox" movie is based).
Almost all of these stories have been adapted for TV, by directors ranging from Hitchcock to Tarantino. Even if you've seen the series "Tales of the Unexpected", the stories themselves are well worth reading. My personal favorite is probably the little old lady taxidermy story, though the one about Liszt reincarnated as a kitty has to be a close runner-up. Or "Royal Jelly". Or "Lamb to the Slaughter". or "Parson's Pleasure". But this way madness lies, because really, there's not a dud in the bunch.
May 1, 2020
He's really good at writing stories, is Mr Dahl. He's proper practiced at it. His prose flows like fine wine.
Erm.
Yeah.
Not sure what more to say about the book. Best if I talk about me instead, right?
I bought this book because:
- I like complete collections of things
- I read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was a kid and I enjoyed it
- I watched Tales of the Unexpected on telly and it was a good show.
I read this book because
- I had 15 short story books on my shelf and I put them all together and said I would read them one after the other
- I write mostly short stories (and a few novels) myself and thought that reading a few would help me
- I just finished an Masters in Creative Writing and the assignments all involved short stories and so I collected this set of 15 collections and so I have to do something with them now.
I enjoyed this book because:
- I like twists in the tale (and for a long time thought that it was the only proper way to end a story)
- I felt like enjoying it.
I'm glad this book is over because:
- I'm ready to go onto the next book now
- I get bored with the same style over and over.
Enough about me? Then go away and read the book yourself and tell me what you thought. Enjoy.
Erm.
Yeah.
Not sure what more to say about the book. Best if I talk about me instead, right?
I bought this book because:
- I like complete collections of things
- I read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was a kid and I enjoyed it
- I watched Tales of the Unexpected on telly and it was a good show.
I read this book because
- I had 15 short story books on my shelf and I put them all together and said I would read them one after the other
- I write mostly short stories (and a few novels) myself and thought that reading a few would help me
- I just finished an Masters in Creative Writing and the assignments all involved short stories and so I collected this set of 15 collections and so I have to do something with them now.
I enjoyed this book because:
- I like twists in the tale (and for a long time thought that it was the only proper way to end a story)
- I felt like enjoying it.
I'm glad this book is over because:
- I'm ready to go onto the next book now
- I get bored with the same style over and over.
Enough about me? Then go away and read the book yourself and tell me what you thought. Enjoy.
April 8, 2022
Some stories better than others. rtc
August 5, 2021
Roald Dahl is one of the only writers who I feel truly understands dark humor.
There is an art to making macabre, sadistic, murderous tales funny. He gets it.
There is an art to making macabre, sadistic, murderous tales funny. He gets it.
July 6, 2022
Ha sido una experiencia oscura, creepy, divertida y fresca. No suelo ser muy fan de las historias cortas, pero esta colección me ha tenido queriendo leer capítulo tras capítulo. Algunas son mejores que otras y no todas son completamente inesperadas pero, en general, muy recomendable.
August 15, 2019
A reading offer I couldn't refuse...
Contrary to the title, not all of the short story endings where that unexpected, yet all of them aroused my curiosity from the very first lines. Dahl's fluent prose makes you want to continue to see what's next, even if in some of the stories really not that much is happening. Some stories would have benefited from being shortened though.
I particularly enjoyed the tales that played around with the concept (and many pleasures - or see it seems) of vengeance. Homo homini lupus, yet with a subdued smile.
Contrary to the title, not all of the short story endings where that unexpected, yet all of them aroused my curiosity from the very first lines. Dahl's fluent prose makes you want to continue to see what's next, even if in some of the stories really not that much is happening. Some stories would have benefited from being shortened though.
I particularly enjoyed the tales that played around with the concept (and many pleasures - or see it seems) of vengeance. Homo homini lupus, yet with a subdued smile.
December 23, 2021
It's not the kind of book I'd normally go for, but I'm glad I did for this one. It is exactly what the title says, i.e. completely unexpected and every so often after finishing reading a story, I couldn't help but wonder how on earth could anybody have come up with such an idea. An absolutely terrific read.
June 8, 2026
Esta fue la última LC del club The Cup of Tea ☕✨🌼.
No estuvo mal pero tampoco fue algo tremendamente disfrutable. El año pasado ya leímos a Roald Dahl en el club y este año hemos seguido con sus cuentos completos pero no me termina de enganchar en el formato relato…
Tendré que ver qué tal sus cuentos y novelas 👍🏻.
No estuvo mal pero tampoco fue algo tremendamente disfrutable. El año pasado ya leímos a Roald Dahl en el club y este año hemos seguido con sus cuentos completos pero no me termina de enganchar en el formato relato…
Tendré que ver qué tal sus cuentos y novelas 👍🏻.
December 29, 2022
A guide book on how not to be married. Bizarre, macabre and entertaining short stories which have aged badly since the 50s when they were published.
July 10, 2024
5 st*rs.
Still my favourite collection of short stories (not that that's much competition)!
Nostalgia FTW.
Still my favourite collection of short stories (not that that's much competition)!
Nostalgia FTW.
February 6, 2025
I am not a fan of Roald Dahl's children's books. But I am a belated fan of his other writings, after going on a pandemic-triggered online buying and reading spree of his Penguin series--Cruelty, Lust, War, to name a few--all selling for a ditty on Big Bad Wolf. Since then, I have snatched up every Dahl book, for as long as it's not his children's books, that comes my way.
As a result of that gluttony, almost all of his Complete Unexpected Tales fall short of unexpected, let alone complete, as I have already read most of them, sparking recognition from the title's get-go or midway through the story. Yet, this has not diluted my relish at rereading each one. Dahl is a master storyteller, and this anthology is merely a delightful sampling of his children's books, for adults.
Three and a half stars.
As a result of that gluttony, almost all of his Complete Unexpected Tales fall short of unexpected, let alone complete, as I have already read most of them, sparking recognition from the title's get-go or midway through the story. Yet, this has not diluted my relish at rereading each one. Dahl is a master storyteller, and this anthology is merely a delightful sampling of his children's books, for adults.
Three and a half stars.
May 9, 2011
I love short stories, especially with a good little twist st the end. When I was a child I was a HUGE Roald Dahl fan – I had every book he had written for children, and as I got older, I started to read his books for adults. I read Kiss, Kiss and Tales of the Unexpected years ago, and decided to pick this up at my local bookshop a few weeks ago.
There are 25 short stories, filled with bizarre death, strange experiments, tattoos, odd relationships and weird characters – most of them disguised by the ordinary day to day life, which makes the twists even more strange.
Some of these stories I could remember before I even picked up the book – 2 in particular – William and Mary and Royal Jelly. I am not going to describe any of these stories in detail because they are so good to read unspoiled. These two were particularly creepy, and for some reason had stuck in my head for a good 15 years.
Many of the others I remembered in part and was still startled by the ending – some I could remember once I started reading. All in all though I really enjoyed reading these stories despite having read them before (albeit 15 years ago!)
All of these stories have that lovely little twist of the macabre that Roald Dahl writes so well. His books remind me of childhood as they were such a huge part, and his stories for adults have not been a disappointment at all. His style is brilliant, easy to read but so descriptive, I can see the places in my head, I know what the characters look like – and he slowly leads you in engrossed to the very end.
These stories are very entertaining – and there’s a lot of black comedy in these too. I’m keen to find some more Roald Dahl stories written for adults so hopefully I’ll be reviewing more in the future. Go out and buy this book – it’s not for the faint hearted but it’s very good!
There are 25 short stories, filled with bizarre death, strange experiments, tattoos, odd relationships and weird characters – most of them disguised by the ordinary day to day life, which makes the twists even more strange.
Some of these stories I could remember before I even picked up the book – 2 in particular – William and Mary and Royal Jelly. I am not going to describe any of these stories in detail because they are so good to read unspoiled. These two were particularly creepy, and for some reason had stuck in my head for a good 15 years.
Many of the others I remembered in part and was still startled by the ending – some I could remember once I started reading. All in all though I really enjoyed reading these stories despite having read them before (albeit 15 years ago!)
All of these stories have that lovely little twist of the macabre that Roald Dahl writes so well. His books remind me of childhood as they were such a huge part, and his stories for adults have not been a disappointment at all. His style is brilliant, easy to read but so descriptive, I can see the places in my head, I know what the characters look like – and he slowly leads you in engrossed to the very end.
These stories are very entertaining – and there’s a lot of black comedy in these too. I’m keen to find some more Roald Dahl stories written for adults so hopefully I’ll be reviewing more in the future. Go out and buy this book – it’s not for the faint hearted but it’s very good!
February 1, 2014
This volume collects two books of Dahl's short stories for adults, and they are pretty much all corkers. I wasn't hugely familiar with his writing for adults, so came into this quite fresh, and I really enjoyed it. Each story is really well crafted and almost all of them have a really neat (often rather nasty) twist that turns the knife in a really pleasurable way for the reader (if often not for the protagonist).
I would say that the first book, Tales of the Unexpected is somewhat better than the second (More Tales of the Unexpected), with more stories and more interesting twists but there are very few misses throughout this whole collection.
It's difficult to pick out highlights in the collection, but the first and last stories stand out for me. Taste is about an overconfident father who's willing to bet his daughter's hand in marriage over something he shouldn't. The Butler brings us very neatly back to a similar theme regarding palate. Other highlights include William and Mary, which is one of the very few stories in the collection that contains a fantastic element; the incredibly creepy Royal Jelly about a man trying to do the best for his newborn child; and The Landlady, whose titular lady is just too good to be true.
A marvellous collection, if you only know Dahl from his (also marvellous) children's fiction, these stories will make you look at him in a whole new light.
I would say that the first book, Tales of the Unexpected is somewhat better than the second (More Tales of the Unexpected), with more stories and more interesting twists but there are very few misses throughout this whole collection.
It's difficult to pick out highlights in the collection, but the first and last stories stand out for me. Taste is about an overconfident father who's willing to bet his daughter's hand in marriage over something he shouldn't. The Butler brings us very neatly back to a similar theme regarding palate. Other highlights include William and Mary, which is one of the very few stories in the collection that contains a fantastic element; the incredibly creepy Royal Jelly about a man trying to do the best for his newborn child; and The Landlady, whose titular lady is just too good to be true.
A marvellous collection, if you only know Dahl from his (also marvellous) children's fiction, these stories will make you look at him in a whole new light.
Read
August 6, 2011This anthology of Roald Dahl’s series of short stories, so memorably made into a popular television series in the 1980s, “Tales of the Unexpected” is a new compilation of those stories, written over many years. I had read each of them in one or other of their previous guises, and also seen a fair number of the televisual representations of them at the time.
Reading them again, some 30 years after first airing was, for me, most certainly not a case of familiarity breeding contempt. They had not lost any of their most enjoyable features. Although revisiting them, they still held that thrill which, often on the last page or at the last sentence of the story, the twist in the tale revealed itself anew, as if for the first time. Of course, I had remembered the basic plot in such famous stories as “Royal Jelly” or “Parson’s Pleasure”, but it was the beautifully written details that I had completely forgotten. Other stories such as “Galloping Foxley” and “Mr. Bottibol” I had completely forgotten, so was in effect reading them afresh. Either was, the stories were thoroughly enjoyed in every aspect, and I cannot speak too highly of Mr. Dahl’s ingenuity.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book (or any of the stories within, in whatever format their latest publishing guise takes) to anyone who enjoys a relaxing good read, but especially to those of us (who doesn’t?) enjoy a twist in the tail!
October 19, 2016
Since these are short stories I took my time reading individual stories when I felt like picking up something short.
I love Dahl's books for younger audiences and I was really looking forward to his signature whimsical humor (or "humour" since he's British). While it is present I found his writing for adults often contains a savage humor that's rather startling. Some of his writing contain social critique (Pig, the title of a story) and make me think. Some of it was rather macabre. Overall I can't say it is nearly as good as Charlie and Chocolate Factory/Great Glass Elevator of other books for younger audiences though some individual stories were very good.
The Butler made me laugh a bit at the end. I could see that story made into a fun little movie.
I love Dahl's books for younger audiences and I was really looking forward to his signature whimsical humor (or "humour" since he's British). While it is present I found his writing for adults often contains a savage humor that's rather startling. Some of his writing contain social critique (Pig, the title of a story) and make me think. Some of it was rather macabre. Overall I can't say it is nearly as good as Charlie and Chocolate Factory/Great Glass Elevator of other books for younger audiences though some individual stories were very good.
The Butler made me laugh a bit at the end. I could see that story made into a fun little movie.
October 20, 2007
http://nhw.livejournal.com/1070927.html
This volume combines the short story collections Tales of the Unexpected and More Tales of the Unexpected - I must have read the latter some time, but a lot of the stories in the former were new to me, eg the one with the disembodied brain which I think I would certainly have remembered. They are all real masterpieces, and actually reading them all at one go is probably not the best way to enjoy them - they are best piece by piece.
This volume combines the short story collections Tales of the Unexpected and More Tales of the Unexpected - I must have read the latter some time, but a lot of the stories in the former were new to me, eg the one with the disembodied brain which I think I would certainly have remembered. They are all real masterpieces, and actually reading them all at one go is probably not the best way to enjoy them - they are best piece by piece.
June 29, 2008
Funny, ironic, entertaining, mean, sad and sometimes sadistic, with a twist of shocking surprises just around the corner before each of the short stories ends. Well, the title has said it all. Read it and be ready to be unexpectedly flabbergasted by Dahl's tales.
July 20, 2007
Dahl compiled a handful of stories that all sort of feeling like the punchlines to old jokes. They are twisted and at times creepy, but not dark. A tad monotonous; I wished it better than it was.
August 4, 2007
almost a four star book, some stories are better than others
July 1, 2008
Delightfully dark collection of tales from the master of literary misdirection.
January 9, 2009
beautiful stories. i really like dahl's stories for older audiences.
May 18, 2010
Gloriously grim, and adult.
May 29, 2015
The first set of tales is masterful, well told, full of detail and with a (large) touch of sadism and some humour. The second collection is less surprising but still a joy to read.
July 29, 2015
Fantastic, macabre short stories. The one about the pilot in the Second World War was particularly heart-rending.
January 1, 2017
A collection of what must be all of Roald Dahl's stories. Good to have them all in one book!
November 5, 2023
Read in 2023: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
From Tales of the Unexpected
-Taste: ⭐️⭐️.5
-Lamb to the Slaughter: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Man from the South: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
-My Lady Love, My Dove: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Dip in the Pool: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Galloping Foxley: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Skin: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Neck: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Nunc Dimittis: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-The Landlady: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
-William and Mary: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
-The Way Up to Heaven: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Parson's Pleasure: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Royal Jelly: ⭐️⭐️.5
-Edward the Conqueror: ⭐️⭐️
-The Sound Machine: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Georgy Porgy: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
-The Hitchhiker: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Poison: ⭐️⭐️
-The Boy Who Talked with Animals: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-The Umbrella Man: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Genesis and Catastrophe: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-The Butler: ⭐️⭐️
From More Tales Of The Unexpected
- Poison: ⭐️⭐️
- The Sound Machine: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Georgy Porgy: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Genesis and Catastrophe: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- The Hitchhiker: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- The Umbrella Man: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Mr Botibol: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Vengeance Is Mine Inc.: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- The Butler: ⭐️⭐️
From Tales of the Unexpected
-Taste: ⭐️⭐️.5
-Lamb to the Slaughter: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Man from the South: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
-My Lady Love, My Dove: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Dip in the Pool: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Galloping Foxley: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Skin: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Neck: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Nunc Dimittis: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-The Landlady: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
-William and Mary: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
-The Way Up to Heaven: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Parson's Pleasure: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Royal Jelly: ⭐️⭐️.5
-Edward the Conqueror: ⭐️⭐️
-The Sound Machine: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Georgy Porgy: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
-The Hitchhiker: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Poison: ⭐️⭐️
-The Boy Who Talked with Animals: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-The Umbrella Man: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Genesis and Catastrophe: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-The Butler: ⭐️⭐️
From More Tales Of The Unexpected
- Poison: ⭐️⭐️
- The Sound Machine: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Georgy Porgy: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Genesis and Catastrophe: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- The Hitchhiker: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- The Umbrella Man: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Mr Botibol: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Vengeance Is Mine Inc.: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- The Butler: ⭐️⭐️
March 12, 2021
An immensely pleasing read - and that from someone who generally prefers long-winded novels to the sweet short-story. Not to say that I don't enjoy the occasional short story here and there, but reading a whole collection cover to cover without ever getting even the least bit bored - that must be the mastery of Roald Dahl.
Some of the short-stories I already knew, I must admit. Especially Lamb to the Slaughter which was once related to me by my mother and upon which I then one day stumbled in a collection of Dahl's work. All of them, as I'm sure no one need tell you, eerily uncanny and yet satisfyingly gruesome.
My favourite stories in this collection include:
Lamb to the Slaughter
Dip in the Pool
Neck
The Way Up to Heaven
Nunc Dimittis
The Sound Machine
Some of the short-stories I already knew, I must admit. Especially Lamb to the Slaughter which was once related to me by my mother and upon which I then one day stumbled in a collection of Dahl's work. All of them, as I'm sure no one need tell you, eerily uncanny and yet satisfyingly gruesome.
My favourite stories in this collection include:
Lamb to the Slaughter
Dip in the Pool
Neck
The Way Up to Heaven
Nunc Dimittis
The Sound Machine
November 27, 2020
I really enjoyed this book of short stories. They all had an unexpected twist to them towards the end that made each story very satisfying to read. I enjoyed some more than others but overall it was a delightful experience. My favourites include “Lamb to the Slaughter”, “Mrs Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat” and “The Umbrella Man”. Dahl’s storytelling is so wonderful that with each story I could really visualize the plot. His writing has a vintage feel yet emanates familiarity. I would definitely read some of the stories again!
June 27, 2023
6.5/10! The beginning of this book started off very exciting and filled with twists, which left me thinking the rest of the book would be like this. Some of the short stories were great (especially the murder included ones!). However, some of them just didn’t grasp me from the beginning and I decided to skip them. This meant I missed out on a few because I didn’t like the start. I think with stories as short as about six pages, the beginning and middle need to hook you in, and as these stories all included twists, I missed a lot of them. This book was 50/50 for me because of these reasons.
January 22, 2026
I read this book in high school. It was one of the few books I had picked up from my dad's library to read for the summer. I've recently been trying to purchase the same editions of those books - the ones I can remember reading at the time - and read them the way I would then.
It's a collection of short stories by Roald Dahl. Famously known for his children's literature, his works for adults carry the deep torture and trauma he went through as a kid and later on in the army. His short stories are fictional, but you can understand the edge that his past gave him in the way he writes. They're dark comedy and can be triggering for some people. Not exactly your beach read but enjoyable nonetheless. I recommend getting the 1980s edition like I did for added melancholy of the past.
It's a collection of short stories by Roald Dahl. Famously known for his children's literature, his works for adults carry the deep torture and trauma he went through as a kid and later on in the army. His short stories are fictional, but you can understand the edge that his past gave him in the way he writes. They're dark comedy and can be triggering for some people. Not exactly your beach read but enjoyable nonetheless. I recommend getting the 1980s edition like I did for added melancholy of the past.
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