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Czas zamykania
"Czas zamykania" to historie zrodzone przez mistrza grozy, którego sam Stephen King określił mianem prawdopodobnie najstraszniejszego faceta w Ameryce.
Światy, jakie kreuje Jack Ketchum pełne są mroku i tajemnicy. Bijący od nich realizm potęguje wrażenie niesamowitości i wywołuje strach. Strach, przed którym na próżno szukać drogi ucieczki.
To dziewiętnaście przerażających opowiadań, które doprowadzą Was na skraj mrocznej przepaści, która kryć może dosłownie wszystko.
Światy, jakie kreuje Jack Ketchum pełne są mroku i tajemnicy. Bijący od nich realizm potęguje wrażenie niesamowitości i wywołuje strach. Strach, przed którym na próżno szukać drogi ucieczki.
To dziewiętnaście przerażających opowiadań, które doprowadzą Was na skraj mrocznej przepaści, która kryć może dosłownie wszystko.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
16 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
About the author
Jack Ketchum
199 books2,975 followersDallas William Mayr, better known by his pen name Jack Ketchum, was an American horror fiction author. He was the recipient of four Bram Stoker Awards and three further nominations. His novels included Off Season, Offspring, and Red, which were adapted to film. In 2011, Ketchum received the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award for outstanding contribution to the horror genre.
A onetime actor, teacher, literary agent, lumber salesman, and soda jerk, Ketchum credited his childhood love of Elvis Presley, dinosaurs, and horror for getting him through his formative years. He began making up stories at a young age and explained that he spent much time in his room, or in the woods near his house, down by the brook: "[m]y interests [were] books, comics, movies, rock 'n roll, show tunes, TV, dinosaurs [...] pretty much any activity that didn't demand too much socializing, or where I could easily walk away from socializing." He would make up stories using his plastic soldiers, knights, and dinosaurs as the characters.
Later, in his teen years, Ketchum was befriended by Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, who became his mentor.
Ketchum worked many different jobs before completing his first novel (1980's controversial Off Season), including acting as agent for novelist Henry Miller at Scott Meredith Literary Agency.
His decision to eventually concentrate on novel writing was partly fueled by a preference for work that offered stability and longevity.
Ketchum died of cancer on January 24, 2018, in New York City at the age of 71.
A onetime actor, teacher, literary agent, lumber salesman, and soda jerk, Ketchum credited his childhood love of Elvis Presley, dinosaurs, and horror for getting him through his formative years. He began making up stories at a young age and explained that he spent much time in his room, or in the woods near his house, down by the brook: "[m]y interests [were] books, comics, movies, rock 'n roll, show tunes, TV, dinosaurs [...] pretty much any activity that didn't demand too much socializing, or where I could easily walk away from socializing." He would make up stories using his plastic soldiers, knights, and dinosaurs as the characters.
Later, in his teen years, Ketchum was befriended by Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, who became his mentor.
Ketchum worked many different jobs before completing his first novel (1980's controversial Off Season), including acting as agent for novelist Henry Miller at Scott Meredith Literary Agency.
His decision to eventually concentrate on novel writing was partly fueled by a preference for work that offered stability and longevity.
Ketchum died of cancer on January 24, 2018, in New York City at the age of 71.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 28, 2018
Broken down story by story:
1. ‘Returns’ - 5 stars
2. ‘Damned if You Do’ - 4 stars
3. ‘Station 2’ - 4 stars
4. ‘Elusive’ - 5 stars
5. ‘Papa’ - 4 stars
6. ‘The Fountain’ - 5 stars
7. ‘Do You Love Your Wife?’ - 5 stars
8. ‘At Home With the VCR’ - 2 stars
9. ‘Those Rockports Won’t Get You Into Heaven’ - 4 stars
10. ‘Olivia: A Monologue’ - 5 stars
11. ‘Brave Girl’ - 5 stars
12. ‘Honor System’ - 5 stars
13. ‘Lighten Up’ - 2 stars
14. ‘Hotline’ - 4 stars
15. ‘Monster’ - 5 stars
16. ‘Consensual’ - 5 stars
17. ‘Seascape’ - 4 stars
18. ‘Snarl, Hiss, Spit, Stalk’ - 3 stars
19. ‘Closing Time’ - 5 stars
Average mark: 4.26 stars, rounded down to 4.
1. ‘Returns’ - 5 stars
2. ‘Damned if You Do’ - 4 stars
3. ‘Station 2’ - 4 stars
4. ‘Elusive’ - 5 stars
5. ‘Papa’ - 4 stars
6. ‘The Fountain’ - 5 stars
7. ‘Do You Love Your Wife?’ - 5 stars
8. ‘At Home With the VCR’ - 2 stars
9. ‘Those Rockports Won’t Get You Into Heaven’ - 4 stars
10. ‘Olivia: A Monologue’ - 5 stars
11. ‘Brave Girl’ - 5 stars
12. ‘Honor System’ - 5 stars
13. ‘Lighten Up’ - 2 stars
14. ‘Hotline’ - 4 stars
15. ‘Monster’ - 5 stars
16. ‘Consensual’ - 5 stars
17. ‘Seascape’ - 4 stars
18. ‘Snarl, Hiss, Spit, Stalk’ - 3 stars
19. ‘Closing Time’ - 5 stars
Average mark: 4.26 stars, rounded down to 4.
June 25, 2014
Ketchum's leisure horror published Peaceable Kingdom remains one of my favorite short story collections, yet somehow I managed to not read Closing Time and Other Stories until now. I have to say this one wasn't quite as good, but then again Kingdom set an almost impossibly high bar. Here, once again Ketchum does what he does best, turns out these short, brutal, brutally human slices of life as viewed from a skewered angle of a dark dark place. Black humor, irony and wit are at work to warp even the most innocent concepts (as told by author in brief afterwords accompanying each story) into something uniquely Ketchumesque. And always, always there are these great awesomely authentic characters that the author particularly excels at creating. Really strong collection. Highly recommended.
May 20, 2022
Ketchum is classic. The first story in here was like taking a literal punch in the gut. In all seriousness, I had to pause it because I was still feeling from the first story. Trust me when I say it's hard for me to get the feels. What can I say? I have a weak spot for pets. I adored how each story ended with a personal note from the author as to how and what influenced him to write each story. It's been a while since I've read Ketchum, but I'm sure I've read some of these before (many many many moons ago). Also, I saw how NYC, cigarettes, and Greek restaurants influenced his work
February 8, 2018
One of the greatest things about anything Jack Ketchum writes is the fact the monsters are us. While some horror writers focus on werewolves and vampires and creatures, Ketchum always knew what the real monsters are... They're you're next-door neighbour, they are the person lying next to you every night in bed, they're the people you share the train to work in the morning with every day.
That's why Ketchum's celebrated collection, CLOSING TIME, is a needed read for both old and new fans. It's a great introduction to Ketchum but it's also a great reminder, for those of us who have read him for years, just how frightening the man could make the morning commute or having a drink at your favourite bar.
The tales in CLOSING TIME may not put much faith in humanity, but they certainly put the human in the monsters.
That's why Ketchum's celebrated collection, CLOSING TIME, is a needed read for both old and new fans. It's a great introduction to Ketchum but it's also a great reminder, for those of us who have read him for years, just how frightening the man could make the morning commute or having a drink at your favourite bar.
The tales in CLOSING TIME may not put much faith in humanity, but they certainly put the human in the monsters.
April 14, 2014
As with Ketchum's other short story collections, CLOSING TIME is entertaining enough, but not really worth your hard-earned money. About a third of the book (including the titular novella) is material already available in other collections, and three of the stories feature Ketchum writing about his former pets--a subject of no interest to me whatsoever. The last thing I want from Ketchum is another damn cat story.
A few of the pieces were really good. "Elusive" and "Honor System" were two stories with very intriguing premises (though lacking somewhat in terms of resolution). "Consensual" was fun in a nasty sort of way. And "Closing Time" was a nice effort, though I'd read it before.
A few of the pieces were really good. "Elusive" and "Honor System" were two stories with very intriguing premises (though lacking somewhat in terms of resolution). "Consensual" was fun in a nasty sort of way. And "Closing Time" was a nice effort, though I'd read it before.
December 11, 2022
Bardzo nierówne opowiadania. W tym zbiorze znajdziemy zarówno perełki 💎 jak i zwykły chłam 💩 Przyznam, że ta książka nieco mnie rozczarowała. Nie jest to Ketchum znany nam chociażby z dzieła „Dziewczyna z sąsiedztwa”, ale uładzony, wręcz nudny pisarz.
July 28, 2024
4.6/5... loved the variety of genres within horror here and most (looking at you, "consensual", were soo satisfying)
April 26, 2022
Love Jack Ketchum but this collection was just OK, not great. I'd previously read the title story, Closing Time, in another collection (Peaceable Kingdom). It was one of the highlights here, along with "Monster".
August 24, 2014
18 opowiadań z gatunku low fantasy i jedno dark fantasy, opatrzone komentarzami autora, w jakich okolicznościach powstawały. Przewijają się w nich podobne motywy, przez co widać, że autor lubi koty, obraca się w środowisku malarzy i pisarzy nowojorskich, przesiaduje dużo w knajpach i wie sporo o fachu barmana oraz interesuje go tematyka zawierania związków i rozstań, a wszystko w lekkim klimacie, pełnym amerykańskiego optymizmu. Opowiadania czyta się lekko i szybko, bo nie mają zbyt skomplikowanej fabuły, jeden fragment jest natomiast świetny - trzeba pochwalić autora za sugestywne zbudowanie mrocznego klimatu nocnej jazdy po autostradzie w opowiadaniu "Na słowo honoru". Dobra książka do pociągu.
November 28, 2012
川を渡って は最高ですね。
そんな馬鹿なって話ですが、ある意味ロマンチックで
甘いストーりーです。どこが？ってくらい
ぐっちゃぐっちゃの、クレージーな話ですが。
さすがです。
そんな馬鹿なって話ですが、ある意味ロマンチックで
甘いストーりーです。どこが？ってくらい
ぐっちゃぐっちゃの、クレージーな話ですが。
さすがです。
June 11, 2025
I think I have matured as a reader because the writers I enjoyed reading most in my 20s now feel rather stale and dated. I liked reading stories that felt like gut punch. Of all the genre writers I read, I liked Jack Ketchum best because he wrote how I did -- usually taking a real person and event (Sylvia Likens, Howard Unruh, his own pseudonym) and spinning it to fiction.
When I was buying high-priced, small press, autographed horror collections in the early 2000s it felt like there was some quality and craftsmanship in them. Now these stories feel dated, and seem to tread familiar ground. I have a theory that writers put out their best, strongest material first -- usually that is the stuff that you have been ruminating on the longest and feel most strongly about, then as you age, you revisit themes, and begin to repeat yourself. It also seems like editors call on you to write on specific themes for their anthologies, then the business of writing comes in to play. Stories are issued and reissued, ahem, like Closing Time.
Maybe a part of it is that horror and true crime are ubiquitous these days that nothing has the power to shock. When I first read The Girl Next Door, I didn't realize it was based on Sylvia Likens' murder, but now, all these years later there is a mainstream movie about the case. (And God only knows how many times it's been discussed on podcasts.) You can easily Google the book and discover its true life origins. I can remember stumbling across the botched execution of Black Jack Ketchum and it dawning on me where JK got his pseudonym.
Anyway, some okay stories in here, some I'd read before, some just mediocre. Rest in peace JK and thanks for the inspiration.
When I was buying high-priced, small press, autographed horror collections in the early 2000s it felt like there was some quality and craftsmanship in them. Now these stories feel dated, and seem to tread familiar ground. I have a theory that writers put out their best, strongest material first -- usually that is the stuff that you have been ruminating on the longest and feel most strongly about, then as you age, you revisit themes, and begin to repeat yourself. It also seems like editors call on you to write on specific themes for their anthologies, then the business of writing comes in to play. Stories are issued and reissued, ahem, like Closing Time.
Maybe a part of it is that horror and true crime are ubiquitous these days that nothing has the power to shock. When I first read The Girl Next Door, I didn't realize it was based on Sylvia Likens' murder, but now, all these years later there is a mainstream movie about the case. (And God only knows how many times it's been discussed on podcasts.) You can easily Google the book and discover its true life origins. I can remember stumbling across the botched execution of Black Jack Ketchum and it dawning on me where JK got his pseudonym.
Anyway, some okay stories in here, some I'd read before, some just mediocre. Rest in peace JK and thanks for the inspiration.
November 7, 2020
Dark and brutal slices of life, most the length of a leisurely cigarette or two until they’re stubbed out in the ashtray. “Returns” is an excellent story about how cats are awesome even when they’re just staring at ghosts in the corner. “Honor System” was a delightfully subtle ghost story about a purgatory of being trapped between. I wasn’t expecting a story titled “Monster” to be a touching narrative about doggos. “Consensual” manages to pull off both the erotic combined with visceral body horror. It doesn’t quite manage to stick the landing, but the craftsmanship of the run up to that end is rather noteworthy.
Finishing up this collection is the eponymous and Stoker winning “Closing Time.” This novella is a relentlessly bleak reflection of the New York City that was still trying to clear the ashes of 9/11 from its eyes. Supremely uncomfortable, but worth trying to stare this one down.
Finishing up this collection is the eponymous and Stoker winning “Closing Time.” This novella is a relentlessly bleak reflection of the New York City that was still trying to clear the ashes of 9/11 from its eyes. Supremely uncomfortable, but worth trying to stare this one down.
July 26, 2024
A showcase for Jack Ketchum’s writing skills
It is difficult to classify this collection of Jack Ketchum short stories as pure horror. Yes, there are very effective and disturbing instances of gore and violence that Ketchum is known for, but these tales are also fascinating insights into the psyches of a large cast of diverse characters in a range of diverse situations. They really show off Ketchum’s skill for writing humour (‘At Home With The VCR’), unexpected twists (‘Damned If You Do’, ‘Brave Girl’), horror (‘Station Two’) and mixes of genres (‘Hotline’). There is even one story (‘Returns’) that is extremely moving, which is perhaps an uncommon and unusual adjective to describe his prose.
In conclusion, I fully recommend this book if you are looking for exceptionally well-written dark tales. This work is a reminder and a testament to Jack Ketchum’s skill as a writer.
It is difficult to classify this collection of Jack Ketchum short stories as pure horror. Yes, there are very effective and disturbing instances of gore and violence that Ketchum is known for, but these tales are also fascinating insights into the psyches of a large cast of diverse characters in a range of diverse situations. They really show off Ketchum’s skill for writing humour (‘At Home With The VCR’), unexpected twists (‘Damned If You Do’, ‘Brave Girl’), horror (‘Station Two’) and mixes of genres (‘Hotline’). There is even one story (‘Returns’) that is extremely moving, which is perhaps an uncommon and unusual adjective to describe his prose.
In conclusion, I fully recommend this book if you are looking for exceptionally well-written dark tales. This work is a reminder and a testament to Jack Ketchum’s skill as a writer.
November 5, 2023
It's all good, it's all worthwhile, but none of it carries quite the same punch as the material in Peaceable Kingdom. There are a few expections--the searing power of the title story, the sick-joke punchline of "Consensual," the creepy but touching "Honor System"--and again, none of the stories are of poor quality in themselves, but there's just not as much of an 'oomph' factor to either the horror or the emotional heft that there was in the prior collection.
May 14, 2025
Since most of these stories are from the end of Ketchum's career, they're a bit more experimental than his other work. I liked them anyway, but it wasn't what I expected when I picked this one up. If you're already a fan, this is worth reading, but if you're new to his work this won't be what converts you.
May 8, 2017
Break Time Terror
Some very short stories great for a quick read when your coffee or lunch break. Not what I expected from JK these are quite subtle from his pen. Yes they are disturbing in a way that gets under your skin.
Some very short stories great for a quick read when your coffee or lunch break. Not what I expected from JK these are quite subtle from his pen. Yes they are disturbing in a way that gets under your skin.
September 12, 2020
3-3.5 stars.
I like the way Jack Ketchum writes psychological torture scenes (“The Girl Next Door”), which is why the last story in this collection was my favorite. The rest of the stories were okay, none really exciting me. I would still consider Ketchum a superb writer.
I like the way Jack Ketchum writes psychological torture scenes (“The Girl Next Door”), which is why the last story in this collection was my favorite. The rest of the stories were okay, none really exciting me. I would still consider Ketchum a superb writer.
May 1, 2022
Amazing collection of stories, and I really enjoyed the author's notes following each one. Some were quite touching, and almost all of them were quite brutal in various ways (as you'd expect from Ketchum).
August 15, 2022
These stories make me think of the stretching portraits in The Haunted Mansion. They start out innocently enough and then turn to something more sinister at the end.
First story and last story are both a good gut punch. I will definitely be thinking about them for a long time coming.
First story and last story are both a good gut punch. I will definitely be thinking about them for a long time coming.
July 9, 2017
More a 4.5 really, with some horror and a few others of multiple genres. All written as he writes everything, brilliant and realistic.
January 30, 2020
My first proper exposure to Ketchum. Some satisfying. Others not so much. I do love his style though. To the point and in your face.
February 3, 2020
A great collection of flash fiction and stories inspired by real events
Well narrated and perfect for Ketchum fans
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
Well narrated and perfect for Ketchum fans
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
September 8, 2022
iirc the first story was maybe 7 pages, yet evoked more emotion than entire novels ive read. ketchum is a master of terse prose.
February 5, 2024
A nice collection of stories. I thought Ketchum was a horror writer only, but this novel proves me wrong. One story does have some ghosts in it thou.
July 22, 2024
I got out of the collection exactly what I wanted. I had seen the stories individually sold by collectors in the form of Chap Books. If you are a fan of Ketchum then this is recommended.
October 17, 2025
Series of short stories, all dealing with the pain of loss. No monsters or supernatural here.
Perhaps not my cup of tea.
Jeff McIntosh
Perhaps not my cup of tea.
Jeff McIntosh
January 6, 2026
I do love me some Ketchum and these stories do not disappoint.
January 27, 2016
As a huge fan of Peaceable Kingdom I was looking forward to reading this book immensely, but then as Ketchum himself has said, he has a way of confounding his fans and heading off in new and surprising directions and in this book he certainly delivers on that premise. Its not the stories aren't good, they are, and they are all well written but having loved the first story in the book "Returns" about decaying relationship and the real meaning of love and loss it became apparent that this is not the book of short sharp horror shocks I had expected but languid reflective tales of human life and loss, and whilst interesting and lovely in themselves I'd geared myself up for some gritty horror.
There is a nice touch in that each story ends with a short piece from Jack that explains the background and context that lead to each tale. So, well worth a read, but set your expectations accordingly.
There is a nice touch in that each story ends with a short piece from Jack that explains the background and context that lead to each tale. So, well worth a read, but set your expectations accordingly.
Want to read
August 28, 2011Stephen King recommended author. He says: "Who's the scariest guy in America? Probably Jack Ketchum."
and
"He is, quite simply, one of the best in the business, on par with Clive Barker, James Ellroy, and Thomas Harris."
and
“Ketchum has become a kind of hero to those of us who write tales of horror and suspense. He is, quite simply, one of the best in the business.”
and
"He is, quite simply, one of the best in the business, on par with Clive Barker, James Ellroy, and Thomas Harris."
and
“Ketchum has become a kind of hero to those of us who write tales of horror and suspense. He is, quite simply, one of the best in the business.”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews