What do you think?
Rate this book
Rod Serling's Twilight Zone Revisited
stories based on the TV series
CONTENTS
Two Live Ghosts
The Edge of Doom
The Fiery Spell
The Ghost of The Dixie Bell
The Purple Testament
The Ghost Train
Beyond The Rim
The 16-Millimeter Shrine
The Ghost of Jolly Roger
The House on the Island
The Man In The Bottle
The Mirror Image
The Man Who Dropped By
CONTENTS
Two Live Ghosts
The Edge of Doom
The Fiery Spell
The Ghost of The Dixie Bell
The Purple Testament
The Ghost Train
Beyond The Rim
The 16-Millimeter Shrine
The Ghost of Jolly Roger
The House on the Island
The Man In The Bottle
The Mirror Image
The Man Who Dropped By
189 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
1 person is currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Walter B. Gibson
636 books85 followersWalter Brown Gibson (September 12, 1897-December 6, 1985) was an American author and professional magician best known for his work on the pulp fiction character The Shadow. Gibson, under the pen-name Maxwell Grant, wrote "more than 300 novel-length" Shadow stories, writing up to "10,000 words a day" to satisfy public demand during the character's golden age in the 1930s and 1940s.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 5, 2023
This is a collection of nine stories adapted by Walter Gibson (who was one of the best-selling authors in history under his Maxwell Grant pseudonym...he knew what evil lives in the hearts of men, not to mention that the weed of crime bears bitter fruit!) from story ideas by Rod Serling. The title is a tad misleading, I think, because only three or four of the entries are adapted from TZ episodes, and the majority are typical ghost stories, which doesn't reflect the full thematic range of Twilight Zone episodes. They're written for younger readers, and I believe they've held up quite well over the last sixty years. I remember getting my copy at my fourth-grade book fair... Dee-doo-doo-doo, dee-doo-doo-doo...
July 6, 2021
"Rod Serling's Twilight Zone Revisited" is a follow up to the book published a year earlier (1963) "Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone" also adapted by Walter B. Gibson. In some ways this book is more like the Twilight Zone TV series, as five stories ("The Purple Testament", "Beyond the Rim", "The 16 millimeter Shrine", "The Man in the Bottle" and "Mirror Image") are adapted from the TV series. The earlier book only had three. The other eight stories are mainly ghost stories. I would have rated the book higher but some of these other stories were rather too long to be very effective. A couple of the other stories were quite good, such as "The Fiery Spell" and "The House on the Island". The stories adapted from the series were all excellent. In the days before VHS and DVD's, having these stories were the only way to relive these great tales. Also of note were the illustrations before each story, very effective for the young readers this book was targeting. I received the book as a Christmas present in 1964 and enjoyed it then. Nearly sixty years later I still enjoy it.
February 25, 2015
Rod Serling's Twilight Zone Revisited is a collection of thirteen stories either based on Twilight Zone episodes or new stories written in the style of the television series. As far as I can tell, five of the short stories aired as actual episodes. And it is not entirely clear where the others came from. The title page reads "adapted by Walter B. Gibson" but nothing in the book explains what he adapted these stories from....episode suggestions and outlines that didn't make the cut? I'm just not sure.
The collection takes me back to elementary school. The edition itself reminds me of the large school-binding editions of Alfred Hitchcock sponsored collections like "Stories to Read with the Light On," etc. with very elementary school style illustrations. It gives me a nice feeling of nostalgia--but I can't say that the book as a whole does a whole lot for me. Most of the stories are written in a rather pedestrian, just-the-facts-ma'am fashion--not a lot of frills, not a lot of description and explanation. The best of the stories provide a bit more background and window-dressing--not necessarily explaining everything about the odd things that happen (after all, it wouldn't be the Twilight Zone if we understood it entirely), but making the experiences of the characters a bit more believable.
That doesn't necessarily mean that the best stories are those I've identified as airing on television. While those stories are stronger than the majority, the strongest stories seem to be "new" (whatever that might mean) and feature ghosts or characters rooted firmly in the past. There are two men who survive the Civil War only to head west and inadvertently wind up involved in one of the largest Indian/Army battles ever waged. There is a reporter from the 1960s who is sent to write about a ski-jumping contest on Iron Mountain who interacts with ghosts from the turn-of-the-century. There's ghostly riverboat pilot who takes revenge on the man who sent him to a watery grave. And there is the house on an island haunted by the ghost of woman who murdered several patrons of the inn (as it was in the days of river steamboats) and who tries to add one more to her tally.
Overall--this is a book that I would have thoroughly enjoyed when I was in elementary school. Reading it now, it was a fairly good, light read with a mixture of highly interesting historically based/ghost stories and other somewhat entertaining stories about premonitions, genies, and various unexplainable circumstances. ★★ and a 1/4.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
The collection takes me back to elementary school. The edition itself reminds me of the large school-binding editions of Alfred Hitchcock sponsored collections like "Stories to Read with the Light On," etc. with very elementary school style illustrations. It gives me a nice feeling of nostalgia--but I can't say that the book as a whole does a whole lot for me. Most of the stories are written in a rather pedestrian, just-the-facts-ma'am fashion--not a lot of frills, not a lot of description and explanation. The best of the stories provide a bit more background and window-dressing--not necessarily explaining everything about the odd things that happen (after all, it wouldn't be the Twilight Zone if we understood it entirely), but making the experiences of the characters a bit more believable.
That doesn't necessarily mean that the best stories are those I've identified as airing on television. While those stories are stronger than the majority, the strongest stories seem to be "new" (whatever that might mean) and feature ghosts or characters rooted firmly in the past. There are two men who survive the Civil War only to head west and inadvertently wind up involved in one of the largest Indian/Army battles ever waged. There is a reporter from the 1960s who is sent to write about a ski-jumping contest on Iron Mountain who interacts with ghosts from the turn-of-the-century. There's ghostly riverboat pilot who takes revenge on the man who sent him to a watery grave. And there is the house on an island haunted by the ghost of woman who murdered several patrons of the inn (as it was in the days of river steamboats) and who tries to add one more to her tally.
Overall--this is a book that I would have thoroughly enjoyed when I was in elementary school. Reading it now, it was a fairly good, light read with a mixture of highly interesting historically based/ghost stories and other somewhat entertaining stories about premonitions, genies, and various unexplainable circumstances. ★★ and a 1/4.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
December 20, 2016
In this anthology of nine tales that extend the eerie and wondrous universe known as the Twilight Zone, it was challenging for me to choose a favorite. I enjoyed every one of them.
Of the nine, seven were ghost stories, one a time travel tale called "Beyond the Rim," that was produced for the TV series as "100 Yards Beyond the Rim", and another about a genie in a bottle (called, appropriately, "Man in a Bottle"). The latter was also an episode of the show, but one that leaned close enough toward cliché as to be predictable. "The Purple Testament" and "The Mirror Image" were also memorable episodes of the series. The best of the stories from the book are summarized below.
In "Two Live Ghosts", Jeff Tupper and Hank Merchand are a pair of adventurous prospectors mining the Black Mountains after the Civil War. They soon find themselves caught up in a battle between the U.S. Calvary and the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes, but not before witnessing a bizarre and mystical ritual of a medicine man who beckons the spirits of ancient warriors…
“Silent” John Moreland is one of the best riverboat pilots on the Mississippi. He seems to have an uncanny ability to sense what’s happening miles ahead on the great river. One thing Silent John doesn’t tolerate on board the Dixie Belle is gambling. Shortly after ordering a renowned card sharp off of the boat, the Dixie Belle collides with another vessel and Moreland is found dead in the pilothouse. At the same time, Moreland’s brother and sister each have a vision of their late brother in which "The Ghost of the Dixie Belle" tries to convey a message…
In "The Purple Testament", Lieutenant Hugh Fitzgerald is among US forces fighting the Japanese on the Philippine Islands. During one particularly grueling battle, Fitzgerald manifests the ability to predict which of the men will die next…
Traveling to upstate New York during a fierce snowstorm, sports reporter Peter Dunning and photographer Bert Carey encounter an obsolete steam locomotive, painted white, and a strange young woman who pleads for help in getting home to her sick father, only to disappear into the storm after Pete drops her off. Determined to capture evidence, Pete sets off alone with a camera during the next snowstorm to find the truth about "The Ghost Train"…
In the autumn of 1847, pioneer Christopher Horn leads several families, including his own, across the country to California only to run out of water in the New Mexico desert. Worse, Horn’s son is ill with fever. Many in his caravan are growing restive and threaten to turn back until Horn decides to travel alone to the rim of the desert in search of water. What Horn finds "Beyond the Rim" is more than he can handle…
During WWII, U.N. forces occupy Fort Defiance in Cape Regal overlooking Hangman’s Bay, once governed by reformed pirate Roger Crisp in the 1600s. A ruthless executioner of pirates, Crisp had come to be known as Jolly Roger for his gaunt appearance and demonic grin. Now, U.N. soldiers report unusual experiences and apparitions in the Fort leading to speculation as to the existence of "The Ghost of Jolly Roger".
It’s late night in a city bus terminal when Millicent Barnes, while waiting for the last bus to Cortland, begins experiencing episodes of confusion and possible hallucinations. Her luggage seems to move about on its own and she sees a doppelganger behind her in reflective surfaces. Is it possible that Millicent is being taunted by "The Mirror Image"?
In the old Abington Arms apartment complex, Wilfred Laraby is everyone’s friend, always willing to lend whatever help is needed, financial or otherwise. He enjoys randomly visiting his neighbors living on the floors below his penthouse suite—to the chagrin of stamp collector and master counterfeiter Milton Casper who tries to elude Wilfred only to find himself in an awkward confrontation with "The Man Who Dropped By".
Of the nine, seven were ghost stories, one a time travel tale called "Beyond the Rim," that was produced for the TV series as "100 Yards Beyond the Rim", and another about a genie in a bottle (called, appropriately, "Man in a Bottle"). The latter was also an episode of the show, but one that leaned close enough toward cliché as to be predictable. "The Purple Testament" and "The Mirror Image" were also memorable episodes of the series. The best of the stories from the book are summarized below.
In "Two Live Ghosts", Jeff Tupper and Hank Merchand are a pair of adventurous prospectors mining the Black Mountains after the Civil War. They soon find themselves caught up in a battle between the U.S. Calvary and the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes, but not before witnessing a bizarre and mystical ritual of a medicine man who beckons the spirits of ancient warriors…
“Silent” John Moreland is one of the best riverboat pilots on the Mississippi. He seems to have an uncanny ability to sense what’s happening miles ahead on the great river. One thing Silent John doesn’t tolerate on board the Dixie Belle is gambling. Shortly after ordering a renowned card sharp off of the boat, the Dixie Belle collides with another vessel and Moreland is found dead in the pilothouse. At the same time, Moreland’s brother and sister each have a vision of their late brother in which "The Ghost of the Dixie Belle" tries to convey a message…
In "The Purple Testament", Lieutenant Hugh Fitzgerald is among US forces fighting the Japanese on the Philippine Islands. During one particularly grueling battle, Fitzgerald manifests the ability to predict which of the men will die next…
Traveling to upstate New York during a fierce snowstorm, sports reporter Peter Dunning and photographer Bert Carey encounter an obsolete steam locomotive, painted white, and a strange young woman who pleads for help in getting home to her sick father, only to disappear into the storm after Pete drops her off. Determined to capture evidence, Pete sets off alone with a camera during the next snowstorm to find the truth about "The Ghost Train"…
In the autumn of 1847, pioneer Christopher Horn leads several families, including his own, across the country to California only to run out of water in the New Mexico desert. Worse, Horn’s son is ill with fever. Many in his caravan are growing restive and threaten to turn back until Horn decides to travel alone to the rim of the desert in search of water. What Horn finds "Beyond the Rim" is more than he can handle…
During WWII, U.N. forces occupy Fort Defiance in Cape Regal overlooking Hangman’s Bay, once governed by reformed pirate Roger Crisp in the 1600s. A ruthless executioner of pirates, Crisp had come to be known as Jolly Roger for his gaunt appearance and demonic grin. Now, U.N. soldiers report unusual experiences and apparitions in the Fort leading to speculation as to the existence of "The Ghost of Jolly Roger".
It’s late night in a city bus terminal when Millicent Barnes, while waiting for the last bus to Cortland, begins experiencing episodes of confusion and possible hallucinations. Her luggage seems to move about on its own and she sees a doppelganger behind her in reflective surfaces. Is it possible that Millicent is being taunted by "The Mirror Image"?
In the old Abington Arms apartment complex, Wilfred Laraby is everyone’s friend, always willing to lend whatever help is needed, financial or otherwise. He enjoys randomly visiting his neighbors living on the floors below his penthouse suite—to the chagrin of stamp collector and master counterfeiter Milton Casper who tries to elude Wilfred only to find himself in an awkward confrontation with "The Man Who Dropped By".
June 26, 2016
Some of the adaptations in this book are written better than others. Some of the stories are ones that were made into episodes of the Twilight Zone, while others are not. Like most short story compilations, the variety of talent and interest each story holds varies wildly from one to the next. However, I enjoyed making an afternoon of reading these. I felt connected again to the Twilight Zone in a way that I had been missing for quite some time. You don't know what you're missing sometimes until you get it again.
Here are the stories I thought were best in this volume:
"The Ghost Train"
"The Man in the Bottle"
"The Man Who Dropped By"
Here are the stories I thought were best in this volume:
"The Ghost Train"
"The Man in the Bottle"
"The Man Who Dropped By"
July 21, 2008
A nice mix of original stories and those based on the series. By the creator of The Shadow.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews