Enoch

by Robert Bloch

"He wants me to kill people for him. Enoch. The thing that lives on the top of my head. I can't see him. I can't catch him. I can only feel him, and hear him, and obey him..."

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Audiobook, Fantasy

8 pages, ebook

First published September 1, 1946

About the author

Robert Albert Bloch was a prolific American writer. He was the son of Raphael "Ray" Bloch (1884, Chicago-1952, Chicago), a bank cashier, and his wife Stella Loeb (1880, Attica, Indiana-1944, Milwaukee, WI), a social worker, both of German-Jewish descent.

Bloch wrote hundreds of short stories and over twenty novels, usually crime fiction, science fiction, and, perhaps most influentially, horror fiction (Psycho). He was one of the youngest members of the Lovecraft Circle; Lovecraft was Bloch's mentor and one of the first to seriously encourage his talent.

He was a contributor to pulp magazines such as Weird Tales in his early career, and was also a prolific screenwriter. He was the recipient of the Hugo Award (for his story "That Hell-Bound Train"), the Bram Stoker Award, and the World Fantasy Award. He served a term as president of the Mystery Writers of America.

Robert Bloch was also a major contributor to science fiction fanzines and fandom in general. In the 1940s, he created the humorous character Lefty Feep in a story for Fantastic Adventures. He also worked for a time in local vaudeville, and tried to break into writing for nationally-known performers. He was a good friend of the science fiction writer Stanley G. Weinbaum. In the 1960's, he wrote 3 stories for Star Trek.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this nasty story we learn why Seth sometimes has to kill people. His latest kill, a girl, gets him arrested. But it is something else that drives him to those terrible deeds: Enoch. Is it real of just the fantasy of a madman. Who might Enoch be? Read the story and find out. Absolute gem directly out of the Twilight Zone. Really recommended!

[Juna Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Desarrollas una relación tóxica con un demonio bíblico con problemas de ira que se te mete en la cabeza y te obliga a matar a gente

[Kaitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastically messed-up, creepy short story.

[maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 this is freaky it reminds me of when you think there's a spider on you but it's just hair or whatever. also like surprise! he's not mentally ill!!

[macintosh2000 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A take on the "crazy guy does crazy things" story that Bloch puts his own spin on. The twist at the end isn't new but it's done incredibly well. The character of Enoch is so creepy and well-developed as well, it just makes your skin crawl.

Grade: A
Recommended for: Any short horror fans

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not many stories scare me so much that I can remember every point plot a month later. This one does. A new explanation for mass murderers is offered.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published in Weird
Tales in 1946. Then re-printed
in Fiends and Creatures in 1975.

I am not somebody who normally
reads scary/horror short stories
in general. However, I did read
this and I think it is one of the
best scary short stories I have
ever read.

I would also say it is one of the
best short stories I have ever
read and I have read a ton of short
stories in general.