The Resort

by Sol Stein

Cliffhaven-Magnificent new resort near Big Sur. Surrounded by redwoods. Guarded by Oceanside cliffs. Protected from prying eyes. By reservation only.Cliffhaven-Founded by a man with very special interests, catering to a very special clientele.Margaret and Henry Brown, vacationing New Yorkers innocently driving down the sea-washed coast of California, are just the right sort of people.Cliffhaven-It has a spectacular entrance, a three-star restaurant, lavish accommodations-and no exit!"This novel should do for California vacation retreats what jaws did for swimming in the Atlantic."-Los Angeles Times Book Review"A thrilling nightmare A Dante's Inferno more than fulfills the remark "I read it all in one nail-biting session."-Eli Wallach"Not only a thriller a parable and a warning to all who say 'It can't happen here.'"-Jewish Post and Opinion

Genres: Horror

302 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1981

About the author

Sol Stein was a best-selling novelist and the publisher of works by James Baldwin and Che Guevara. He also worked with David Frost, Jack Higgins, Elia Kazan, Dylan Thomas, and W.H. Auden.

Stein and Baldwin met as students at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, where they worked on the literary magazine.

Stein served in the Army during World War II. In 1949 he received a master’s degree in English literature from Columbia University.

In the 1950s Stein worked at Voice of America, wrote plays, and moved into publishing. He established his own publishing company, Stein & Day, in 1962 with his then-wife. Stein used other publishers for his own novels so he would not be competing with the authors that Stein & Day published.

Stein & Day closed after 27 years, and Stein wrote the nonfiction A Feast for Lawyers as a result of the bankruptcy.

Stein went on to write books about writing, and he taught in colleges. He also helped create WritePro, software to teach fiction writing to its users.

Reviews

[Grady Hendrix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evil Nazis are funding their secret Fourth Reich by luring Jewish people to their resort with coupons and then enslaving them and forcing them to grow marijuana. Their Fourth Reich is located in Texas.

[Peter]

I finished this book after about 10% (free reading sample). It wasn't my cup of coffee. I don't want to prevent anyone from reading it so I don't give any rating!

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trashy and offensive in a 70s drive in movie kind of way.

[Robert Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disturbingly current in its subject matter of racial biases. This was unlike most of Stein’s novels…but then, he’s written on a variety of different subjects and in various genres and styles.

This one is a thriller in every sense of the word. It centered around one twisted individual’s desire to stop Jews from propagating. It begins with Margaret and Henry Brown on vacation in California. After visiting their son, Stanley, at University, they decide to drive down the California coast. After staying the night at one hotel, the desk clerk recommends their next stop should be Cliffhaven, a magnificent new resort with a five star resteraunt. Only after Henry and Margaret check in, they find the door to their room has been locked and they aren’t allowed to leave.

I found this book originally in paperback in a used book store. And there’s a review on the back that says everything : “Not only a thriller…a parable and a warning to all who say ‘It can’t happen here.’”

[Chris Cantor · Rating 2 out of 5]

At one level a good easy to read thriller, at another thoroughly offensive. Effectively it's Auschwitz in a mysterious resort in California, with appalling things happening to the Jews held captive. The way its written we readers are meant to be both entertained and appalled. I was appalled at two levels, one as the writer intended - i.e. by the mistreatment of Jews - but I was also appalled by the way it was written to be thrilling.

[Ryan Croke · Rating 2 out of 5]

First 80 pages or so were promising but then it took a turn. Apparently, marijuana is a mind control drug. And, as it turns out, when you are in a concentration camp, you can still get horny and get angry at your wife for not wanting to get down.

[Mikepottz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deranged, disturbed and evil guy wants to eradicate the jewish population and builds resort in california to hold and not let go any jewish people who stay at the resort. Chilling story.

[Colby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Troubling!

[Mysticpt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Francine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probably should not have read this book when I did...it gave me nightmares.

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

PB-B @ 1981, 8/90. Novel about Jewish persecution in America. Good.