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Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Strašidlá na dobrú noc
According to the American College Dictionary, terror "implies an intense fear which is somewhat prolonged and may refer to imagined or future dangers." When Alfred Hitchcock chooses stories to arouse terror, he is meticulously faithful to this definition.
Does a haunted house frighten you? A contest between a man and a rat? Possession? Witchcraft? Does your blood chill when you think of someone being deliberately driven mad? How about a man who becomes half man, half fly? How about a tree that screams when you cut it down? Or a room that shrieks when no one is in it?
Alfred Hitchcock has chosen twenty-one stories, two novelettes, and a complete novel guaranteed to terrify most normal people and even some abnormal ones. As everyone knows, he is a specialist in the macabre and bizarre. Askes to explain his approach to fictional crime, he wrote:
"The blunt instrument, the gang murder, the paid assassin have always seemed to me positively indelicate. Murder is a fine art and needs the embellishment of a sophisticated imagination. The true aficionado prefers to have his nerves ruffled by the implied thread--the Borgias rather than the Syndicate. What is more delightful than a domestic crime, when it is executed with subtlety and imagination? I leave to other more pedestrian talents materials based on newspaper accounts. True crimes, ugh! Alas, most of them are dull and give no evidence of the careful planning and loving thought that should go into any human activity as rewarding as murder."
Does a haunted house frighten you? A contest between a man and a rat? Possession? Witchcraft? Does your blood chill when you think of someone being deliberately driven mad? How about a man who becomes half man, half fly? How about a tree that screams when you cut it down? Or a room that shrieks when no one is in it?
Alfred Hitchcock has chosen twenty-one stories, two novelettes, and a complete novel guaranteed to terrify most normal people and even some abnormal ones. As everyone knows, he is a specialist in the macabre and bizarre. Askes to explain his approach to fictional crime, he wrote:
"The blunt instrument, the gang murder, the paid assassin have always seemed to me positively indelicate. Murder is a fine art and needs the embellishment of a sophisticated imagination. The true aficionado prefers to have his nerves ruffled by the implied thread--the Borgias rather than the Syndicate. What is more delightful than a domestic crime, when it is executed with subtlety and imagination? I leave to other more pedestrian talents materials based on newspaper accounts. True crimes, ugh! Alas, most of them are dull and give no evidence of the careful planning and loving thought that should go into any human activity as rewarding as murder."
584 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1961
28 people are currently reading
604 people want to read
About the author
Alfred Hitchcock
1,145 books774 followersSir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock KBE (1899-1980) was an iconic and highly influential film director and producer, who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and thriller genres.
Following a very substantial career in his native Britain in both silent films and talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood and became an American citizen with dual nationality in 1956, thus he also remained a British subject.
Hitchcock directed more than fifty feature films in a career which spanned six decades, from the silent film era, through the invention of sound films, and far into the era of colour films. For a complete list of his films, see Alfred Hitchcock filmography.
Hitchcock was among the most consistently recognizable directors to the general public, and was one of the most successful film directors during his lifetime. He continues to be one of the best known and most popular filmmakers of all time.
Following a very substantial career in his native Britain in both silent films and talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood and became an American citizen with dual nationality in 1956, thus he also remained a British subject.
Hitchcock directed more than fifty feature films in a career which spanned six decades, from the silent film era, through the invention of sound films, and far into the era of colour films. For a complete list of his films, see Alfred Hitchcock filmography.
Hitchcock was among the most consistently recognizable directors to the general public, and was one of the most successful film directors during his lifetime. He continues to be one of the best known and most popular filmmakers of all time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 5, 2020
Note, April 5, 2020: I just edited this review to delete part of one sentence, because it stated an interpretation of one story which, on reflection, I'm not sure has a valid basis.
Like the Hitchcock-edited anthology I reviewed earlier (Alfred Hitchcock Presents Stories That Scared Even Me), this is a collection I read as a kid --and recently re-visited, through the magic of interlibrary loan! The same general comments I made about the other one apply to this book also. In their tone, the stories range from the staid propriety of the classic British ghost story tradition to the gritty noir voice of stories like Edward L. Perry's "The Mugging" and Henry Slesar's "A Cry From the Penthouse."
Overall, the quality of the selections here is more consistent than in the previously-reviewed collection; only one of the stories here is implausible and unappealing. That one is Jerome Bixby's "It's a Good Life" --despite its inclusion in the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. But the rest are artistically successful; Collier's "Evening Primrose" and Philip MacDonald's "Our Feathered Friends" (which is conceptually similar to the Hitchcock movie The Birds-- and equally unexplained) are ultimately implausible, too, but the narrative force and atmosphere operate strongly enough to carry the reader along anyway. A number of these stories also remained branded on my brain across more than forty years, including supernatural stories like "The Ash Tree," a perfect example of M. R. James' style, John B. L. Goodwin's "The Cocoon," and "The Whistling Room," probably Hodgson's most-often anthologized story featuring his Carnacki, the "ghost-finder" (though the denouement of that one does employ a very unconvincing deus ex machina); Cyril Humes' "Told for the Truth" and Margaret Ronan's "Finger! Finger!" --which are thematically similar, respectively, to H.P. Lovecraft's "White Ape" and "The Thing on the Doorstep," but which have a style and emotional effect all their own-- and another sci-fi gem, Gouverneur Morris' "Back There in the Grass;" and such descriptive fiction works as Waugh's "The Man Who Liked Dickens," "The Mugging," Brett Halliday's "Pieces of Silver," and Ray Bradbury's "The Whole Town's Sleeping." (While the latter was apparently originally a stand-alone story, however, it was later incorporated as a chapter in Bradbury's Dandelion Wine-- and in that context, the outcome is dramatically different from what the reader here will assume.)
With the advantage of a more adult perspective in my second reading, I found a new appreciation of several works I'd either forgotten or not remembered in their full richness, such as "The Second Night Out" by pulp ghost story master Frank Belknap Long, and especially "Vintage Season," by C. L. Moore, one of science fiction's great voices. That work in particular has layers of ethical content, irony, and character interaction that, as a twelve year-old or so kid, I just couldn't fully appreciate! Millar's novel also engaged me with a page-turning curiosity it didn't possess the first time (and the setting in Totonto, Canada also adds a fresh note) --though its noir mentality, which responds to human evil with the jaded bleakness of a despairing existential pessimism, detracts from its appeal and literary quality. Altogether, a heartily recommended collection!
Like the Hitchcock-edited anthology I reviewed earlier (Alfred Hitchcock Presents Stories That Scared Even Me), this is a collection I read as a kid --and recently re-visited, through the magic of interlibrary loan! The same general comments I made about the other one apply to this book also. In their tone, the stories range from the staid propriety of the classic British ghost story tradition to the gritty noir voice of stories like Edward L. Perry's "The Mugging" and Henry Slesar's "A Cry From the Penthouse."
Overall, the quality of the selections here is more consistent than in the previously-reviewed collection; only one of the stories here is implausible and unappealing. That one is Jerome Bixby's "It's a Good Life" --despite its inclusion in the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. But the rest are artistically successful; Collier's "Evening Primrose" and Philip MacDonald's "Our Feathered Friends" (which is conceptually similar to the Hitchcock movie The Birds-- and equally unexplained) are ultimately implausible, too, but the narrative force and atmosphere operate strongly enough to carry the reader along anyway. A number of these stories also remained branded on my brain across more than forty years, including supernatural stories like "The Ash Tree," a perfect example of M. R. James' style, John B. L. Goodwin's "The Cocoon," and "The Whistling Room," probably Hodgson's most-often anthologized story featuring his Carnacki, the "ghost-finder" (though the denouement of that one does employ a very unconvincing deus ex machina); Cyril Humes' "Told for the Truth" and Margaret Ronan's "Finger! Finger!" --which are thematically similar, respectively, to H.P. Lovecraft's "White Ape" and "The Thing on the Doorstep," but which have a style and emotional effect all their own-- and another sci-fi gem, Gouverneur Morris' "Back There in the Grass;" and such descriptive fiction works as Waugh's "The Man Who Liked Dickens," "The Mugging," Brett Halliday's "Pieces of Silver," and Ray Bradbury's "The Whole Town's Sleeping." (While the latter was apparently originally a stand-alone story, however, it was later incorporated as a chapter in Bradbury's Dandelion Wine-- and in that context, the outcome is dramatically different from what the reader here will assume.)
With the advantage of a more adult perspective in my second reading, I found a new appreciation of several works I'd either forgotten or not remembered in their full richness, such as "The Second Night Out" by pulp ghost story master Frank Belknap Long, and especially "Vintage Season," by C. L. Moore, one of science fiction's great voices. That work in particular has layers of ethical content, irony, and character interaction that, as a twelve year-old or so kid, I just couldn't fully appreciate! Millar's novel also engaged me with a page-turning curiosity it didn't possess the first time (and the setting in Totonto, Canada also adds a fresh note) --though its noir mentality, which responds to human evil with the jaded bleakness of a despairing existential pessimism, detracts from its appeal and literary quality. Altogether, a heartily recommended collection!
January 20, 2021
This is the first “Alfred Hitchcock” anthology that I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey; there was a colorful mosaic of suspense, mystery, and horror tales that were generally well-written and entertaining. The overall voice of this compilation was a bit dated but endearing; published in 1961, the threat and memory of war is the pervasive horror. The gentlemen are resourceful alcoholics and the damsels are suitably distressed. Generally, this collection was well-worth the time.
My “top three” favorite stories were
“It’s a Good Life” by Jerome Bixby
“The Ash Tree” by M.R. James
“The Whole Town’s Sleeping” by Ray Bradbury (of course)
My “top three” favorite stories were
“It’s a Good Life” by Jerome Bixby
“The Ash Tree” by M.R. James
“The Whole Town’s Sleeping” by Ray Bradbury (of course)
July 13, 2016
This is one of a number of anthologies issued in the 1960s under Alfred Hitchcock's name, though they were actually ghost-edited by Robert Arthur (who is probably best known as the author of the Three Investigators series for young readers.) The stories of the macabre included here are a good mix of genres, from realistic suspense to the supernatural and fantastic to science fiction. I enjoyed most everything and here are a few of the most memorable ones:
"The Fly" by George Langelaan: The invention of teleportation technology becomes a scientist's nightmare when a wayward insect enters the equation.
"It's a Good Life" by Jerome Bixby: A young boy holds a small town in thrall, cut off from the rest of the world, with his seemingly limitless power to manipulate reality.
"The Whole Town's Sleeping" by Ray Bradbury: A group of lady friends navigates their quiet suburban town where there lurks a killer...who could be anyone.
"Pieces of Silver" by Brett Halliday: A pompous American looking for oil in Mexico treats the locals poorly and receives his comeuppance.
"The Whistling Room" by William Hope Hodgson: Carnacki, the psychic detective, investigates the case of an upstairs room that wails without an occupant.
"The Fly" by George Langelaan: The invention of teleportation technology becomes a scientist's nightmare when a wayward insect enters the equation.
"It's a Good Life" by Jerome Bixby: A young boy holds a small town in thrall, cut off from the rest of the world, with his seemingly limitless power to manipulate reality.
"The Whole Town's Sleeping" by Ray Bradbury: A group of lady friends navigates their quiet suburban town where there lurks a killer...who could be anyone.
"Pieces of Silver" by Brett Halliday: A pompous American looking for oil in Mexico treats the locals poorly and receives his comeuppance.
"The Whistling Room" by William Hope Hodgson: Carnacki, the psychic detective, investigates the case of an upstairs room that wails without an occupant.
February 22, 2012
I couldn't sleep well for years after I read these as a kid.
August 4, 2015
This collection has "The Fly" from 1957. Based on what little I know/understand about quantum physics/transportation/etc., this short story is oddly right on target. A good and varied collection.
December 17, 2015
Mostly mediocre stories with a few good ones. (The good ones can be found in other anthologies.)
August 11, 2017
This is actually a review of 12 Stories for Late at Night, which is the paperback edition that reprints part of, but not ALL of, the hardcover Stories for Late at Night. I know. It's confusing. The paperback More Stories for Late at Night contains the remainder of stories from the hardcover, but I'll be reviewing that one separately.
This one is a bit different in that the majority of stories fall to one degree or another in the "horror" genre, many of them classics. It's a nice change of pace and I enjoyed it. The stories are culled from a variety of sources ranging from Story Magazine to Astounding Science Fiction to various single author collections. I'm not sure why the shift in focus happened in this volume (I've long since given up trying to make sense of the chronology and editorship of the AH anthologies) but I'll take it.
"Death is a Dream" by Robert Arthur is a very good story exploring the obsession many suspense writers had in the late 50s-early 60s with psycho-analysis: under hypnosis, a man's alternate, murderous personality emerges.
I used to really love Ray Bradbury, but as an adult I have a hard time with him; the florid prose and leisurely pace and nostalgia-laced passages do me right in. Having said that, "The Whole Town's Sleeping" is still a good story, about a woman fearing for her life from a serial killer on her long, lonely walk home.
I've read John Collier's "Evening Primrose" several times now, and still love it. A disaffected poet decides to retreat from the world and live in a department store, only to discover an entire community of outsiders already there.
John B.L. Goodwin's "The Cocoon" is a creepy little number about a weird kid obsessed with an insect specimen, until the horrid thing emerges from its cocoon.
"Vintage Season" by C.L. Moore is a novella-length tale in which a man is increasingly alarmed by the strange, unearthly behavior of some visitors renting his old house. It's a nicely unsettling one, and it's more than halfway through before you realize it's actually a soft science fiction story. Well done.
M.R. James' "The Ash Tree" is another one I'd read a couple times before: a land baron falls victim to the curse a witch had put on his family many generations earlier. The ending is actually quite skin-crawling and effective.
In "Side Bet" by Will F. Jenkins, a man stranded on a rocky island fights for resources and life against the only other occupant of the island: a big ship rat. Excellent story.
Frank Belknap Long's "Second Night Out" is a strange, dream-like tale about a fellow on a cruise ship and the horrible monkey-faced thing he faces on deck late at night.
In "Our Feathered Friends" by Philip MacDonald, a young couple are seduced by the ethereal song of birds in the forest, but the birds ain't exactly peaceful. Nice premise, but probably the weakest story in this collection, basically because MacDonald's style is difficult and overwrought.
"Back There in the Grass" by Gouverneur Morris is the oldest story in this collection, dating from 1912, and despite it's blatant racism (sadly so typical of the time) is actually a very good and strange one. On a South Seas island, a man captures a, well, a miniature woman (!!!) who falls in love with him in her savage way. I feel like I should say more about this one, but damned if I know what.
Robert Trout's "D-Day" is some nice Cold War fear about the destruction of major American cities, presented as a radio newscast.
"The Man Who Liked Dickens" by Evelyn Waugh wraps things up. Like the Morris story, it involves white men in the jungle, and again is marred somewhat by casual racism, but still quite good. A man lost in the jungles is rescued by a strange loner who nurses him back to health and then prevents him from ever leaving, so that he can read to him.
Highlights: "Evening Primrose", "Vintage Season", "Side Bet", "The Man Who Liked Dickens".
This one is a bit different in that the majority of stories fall to one degree or another in the "horror" genre, many of them classics. It's a nice change of pace and I enjoyed it. The stories are culled from a variety of sources ranging from Story Magazine to Astounding Science Fiction to various single author collections. I'm not sure why the shift in focus happened in this volume (I've long since given up trying to make sense of the chronology and editorship of the AH anthologies) but I'll take it.
"Death is a Dream" by Robert Arthur is a very good story exploring the obsession many suspense writers had in the late 50s-early 60s with psycho-analysis: under hypnosis, a man's alternate, murderous personality emerges.
I used to really love Ray Bradbury, but as an adult I have a hard time with him; the florid prose and leisurely pace and nostalgia-laced passages do me right in. Having said that, "The Whole Town's Sleeping" is still a good story, about a woman fearing for her life from a serial killer on her long, lonely walk home.
I've read John Collier's "Evening Primrose" several times now, and still love it. A disaffected poet decides to retreat from the world and live in a department store, only to discover an entire community of outsiders already there.
John B.L. Goodwin's "The Cocoon" is a creepy little number about a weird kid obsessed with an insect specimen, until the horrid thing emerges from its cocoon.
"Vintage Season" by C.L. Moore is a novella-length tale in which a man is increasingly alarmed by the strange, unearthly behavior of some visitors renting his old house. It's a nicely unsettling one, and it's more than halfway through before you realize it's actually a soft science fiction story. Well done.
M.R. James' "The Ash Tree" is another one I'd read a couple times before: a land baron falls victim to the curse a witch had put on his family many generations earlier. The ending is actually quite skin-crawling and effective.
In "Side Bet" by Will F. Jenkins, a man stranded on a rocky island fights for resources and life against the only other occupant of the island: a big ship rat. Excellent story.
Frank Belknap Long's "Second Night Out" is a strange, dream-like tale about a fellow on a cruise ship and the horrible monkey-faced thing he faces on deck late at night.
In "Our Feathered Friends" by Philip MacDonald, a young couple are seduced by the ethereal song of birds in the forest, but the birds ain't exactly peaceful. Nice premise, but probably the weakest story in this collection, basically because MacDonald's style is difficult and overwrought.
"Back There in the Grass" by Gouverneur Morris is the oldest story in this collection, dating from 1912, and despite it's blatant racism (sadly so typical of the time) is actually a very good and strange one. On a South Seas island, a man captures a, well, a miniature woman (!!!) who falls in love with him in her savage way. I feel like I should say more about this one, but damned if I know what.
Robert Trout's "D-Day" is some nice Cold War fear about the destruction of major American cities, presented as a radio newscast.
"The Man Who Liked Dickens" by Evelyn Waugh wraps things up. Like the Morris story, it involves white men in the jungle, and again is marred somewhat by casual racism, but still quite good. A man lost in the jungles is rescued by a strange loner who nurses him back to health and then prevents him from ever leaving, so that he can read to him.
Highlights: "Evening Primrose", "Vintage Season", "Side Bet", "The Man Who Liked Dickens".
May 1, 2012
One of my oldest books, handed down by my parents. "It's A Good Life" - CREEPY WITH A CAPITAL "C"
May 2, 2017
This review is of the paperback version which has half the stories and is called Alfred Hitchcock Presents 12 Stories For Late At Night. The hardcover version has 24 stories. I loved the paperback so much that I'm looking forward to tracking down the hardcover version. The best thing about the book (and I think it's the most important consideration for anthologies) is that the story selection is consistently high quality. I am actually completely unable to pick a favorite because they are so strong. My least favorite was "D-Day," but it is clever and worth reading. The opening story "Death Is A Dream" was just okay because I found it a bit predictable. Other than that, the stories are consistently strong. Only one story was about novella length - "Vintage Season" - but I enjoyed it so much I didn't mind the length. Other than that, the stories are a really nice length to enjoy one at a time as I did. The only story I think I had read before was "Second Night Out" under a different title of "The Black, Dead Thing." In conclusion, I enjoyed the different writing styles unified by a fairly consistent tone where the stories built to a greatly anticipated climax.
November 12, 2015
I'm a fan of Hitchcock's suspense so this one caught my eye at the library. Many of these stories were featured in Collier's and other periodicals of the first half of the twentieth century. The darker ones I skipped, but I found the prose of some of these forgotten writers really outstanding. "Pieces of Silver" was exceptional, and I enjoyed the exacting detail and ending of "Side Bet" by Will Jenkins. And Catherine Moore, where have you been all my life? The smoothness of C. L. Moore's style was incentive to order an entire anthology of her work.
July 20, 2015
My favorites were: A Cry From the Penthouse, The Iron Gates, Vintage Season and of course....The Fly.
March 8, 2015
Years later, the cover and its contents still send chills down my spine!
December 27, 2019
4½ stars
_____
as with the previous volume i'd read, 'Stories That Scared Even Me', i really enjoyed this collection of tales overall and would definitely read it again.
published in 1961, this volume contains the following, in order -
Stories:
Death is a Dream - Robert Arthur
a man's recurring nightmare spoils the honeymoon phase
whilst you can see the end coming, the details are still intriguing and make for a good story.
It's a Good Life - Jerome Bixby
an isolated town - and the child who controls it
if you've seen the Twilight Zone episode of the same name, you'll be familiar with this one. a few changes in the details, but whether on-screen or off, a terrifying concept it remains.
The Whole Town's Sleeping - Ray Bradbury
a lonely killer stalks the women of a small town - or does he?
Bradbury is one of my favourites, and he doesn't disappoint in this captivating story.
Lady's Man - Ruth Chatterton
a night in the English countryside surrounded by fame - what could go wrong?
one of my least favourite stories in the book. i think it's because i found it too unbelievable for something meant to seem as though it really occurred.
Evening Primrose - John Collier
night life in a department store
another i didn't care for; it was a bit too odd, even for me.
The Sound Machine - Roald Dahl
a man invents a machine to help him hear the inaudible - but at what cost?
i particularly enjoyed this one. it was unsettling in a profound way, causing one to consider the more obscure consequences of attempting to 'play God' with technology.
The Cocoon - John B L Goodwin
a neglected child collects insects and captures a new species
as with Dahl's story, there's an element of 'playing God' here, too; however, the consequences of this one were terrifying in an altogether different way. another of my favourites.
Novelette 1:
Vintage Season - C L Moore
for this landlord, there's something odd and other-worldly about the new tenants
the storytelling was ace, with a very solid build-up; unfortunately, the climax left a bit to be desired. still, it was an especially fun read up to the conclusion.
Stories:
Pieces of Silver - Brett Halliday
an obnoxious American vs Mexican natives, and the consequences of arrogance
the story was made worthwhile by its conclusion. it felt long when i was reading it, but the ending was fab.
The Whistling Room - William Hope Hodgson
within the castle walls lies a room of terror
a fair story, but not terribly memorable for me. it had some good moments but fell a bit flat.
Told for the Truth - Cyril Hume
a new acquaintance tells the story of his childhood friend's engagement to a peculiar woman
the story itself was bizarre, but easy to get pulled into - in spite of knowing it's a lie. the ending did make me chuckle, though. XD
The Ash Tree - M R James
a curse befalls a family for generations
i really enjoyed this story. it was engaging and curious, and i liked how the different time periods were included and written.
Side Bet - Will F Jenkins
a man washes up on an island and finds himself competing with a rat to survive
the writing was excellent; if you've ever wondered how it might feel to be the sole survivor of a shipwreck with almost nothing at your disposal, this story describes it with startling clarity.
Second Night Out - Frank Belknap Long
something wicked lurks in the shadows of a ship at sea
a very strange concept for the villain, but it was a pretty good story nonetheless.
Our Feathered Friends - Philip MacDonald
a travelling couple takes a break from driving and finds themselves in a nightmare
i certainly wouldn't be surprised if this one later inspired both Daphne du Maurier and Hitchcock. unnerving and creepy, this was a great addition to the book.
Novelette 2:
The Fly - George Langelaan
a scientist's secret experiment takes a horrifying turn
if you've seen the film, you'll understand the general idea; however, some of the details are quite different in the book, and i enjoyed reading what inspired the screen version.
Stories:
Back There in the Grass - Gouverneur Morris
a man, a friend, an idol, a fiancée - and the consequences of going where one shouldn't
this quirky little tale had a very creepy feel, though I'm still not sure how i feel about it.
The Mugging - Edward L Perry
proof that crime doesn't pay, but it does carry a steep cost
ah, the dangers of being an impressionable teen-ager. the style of this one put me right in the story: dated, but believable for the time, and i do love anachronisms.
Finger! Finger! - Margaret Ronan
being a servant to a horrible old woman is a terrible idea - in more ways than one
this was another odd story. could kind of see it coming, though i thought the solution to the problem was interesting.
A Cry from the Penthouse - Henry Slesar
a man tries collecting on a debt and gets more than he bargained for
not necessarily scary, but a thoroughly enjoyable tale nonetheless. some ingenuity in this one, and the ending was fantastic.
The People Next Door - Pauline C Smith
a woman in recovery discovers it's not always best to meet the neighbours
sort of like Rear Window in reverse. not bad.
D-Day - Robert Trout
breaking news! what on earth is happening?
an intriguing format and an intriguing story.
The Man Who Liked Dickens - Evelyn Waugh
lost and alone in the jungle, a man stumbled upon salvation...or so he thought
a truly scary story by the brilliant Waugh, this one will leave you feeling highly unsettled - and maybe even determined to avoid the Amazon.
Novel:
The Iron Gates - Margaret Millar
a death, a disappearance, a cache of secrets, and a whole host of suspects turn an affluent family upside down
the author writes extremely well, and i was kept guessing for one of the two large mysteries up until the end.
i did like the other Hitchcock anthology a bit better, but the stories i liked in this volume still make for a truly excellent collection. i'll definitely seek out more!
_____
as with the previous volume i'd read, 'Stories That Scared Even Me', i really enjoyed this collection of tales overall and would definitely read it again.
published in 1961, this volume contains the following, in order -
Stories:
Death is a Dream - Robert Arthur
a man's recurring nightmare spoils the honeymoon phase
whilst you can see the end coming, the details are still intriguing and make for a good story.
It's a Good Life - Jerome Bixby
an isolated town - and the child who controls it
if you've seen the Twilight Zone episode of the same name, you'll be familiar with this one. a few changes in the details, but whether on-screen or off, a terrifying concept it remains.
The Whole Town's Sleeping - Ray Bradbury
a lonely killer stalks the women of a small town - or does he?
Bradbury is one of my favourites, and he doesn't disappoint in this captivating story.
Lady's Man - Ruth Chatterton
a night in the English countryside surrounded by fame - what could go wrong?
one of my least favourite stories in the book. i think it's because i found it too unbelievable for something meant to seem as though it really occurred.
Evening Primrose - John Collier
night life in a department store
another i didn't care for; it was a bit too odd, even for me.
The Sound Machine - Roald Dahl
a man invents a machine to help him hear the inaudible - but at what cost?
i particularly enjoyed this one. it was unsettling in a profound way, causing one to consider the more obscure consequences of attempting to 'play God' with technology.
The Cocoon - John B L Goodwin
a neglected child collects insects and captures a new species
as with Dahl's story, there's an element of 'playing God' here, too; however, the consequences of this one were terrifying in an altogether different way. another of my favourites.
Novelette 1:
Vintage Season - C L Moore
for this landlord, there's something odd and other-worldly about the new tenants
the storytelling was ace, with a very solid build-up; unfortunately, the climax left a bit to be desired. still, it was an especially fun read up to the conclusion.
Stories:
Pieces of Silver - Brett Halliday
an obnoxious American vs Mexican natives, and the consequences of arrogance
the story was made worthwhile by its conclusion. it felt long when i was reading it, but the ending was fab.
The Whistling Room - William Hope Hodgson
within the castle walls lies a room of terror
a fair story, but not terribly memorable for me. it had some good moments but fell a bit flat.
Told for the Truth - Cyril Hume
a new acquaintance tells the story of his childhood friend's engagement to a peculiar woman
the story itself was bizarre, but easy to get pulled into - in spite of knowing it's a lie. the ending did make me chuckle, though. XD
The Ash Tree - M R James
a curse befalls a family for generations
i really enjoyed this story. it was engaging and curious, and i liked how the different time periods were included and written.
Side Bet - Will F Jenkins
a man washes up on an island and finds himself competing with a rat to survive
the writing was excellent; if you've ever wondered how it might feel to be the sole survivor of a shipwreck with almost nothing at your disposal, this story describes it with startling clarity.
Second Night Out - Frank Belknap Long
something wicked lurks in the shadows of a ship at sea
a very strange concept for the villain, but it was a pretty good story nonetheless.
Our Feathered Friends - Philip MacDonald
a travelling couple takes a break from driving and finds themselves in a nightmare
i certainly wouldn't be surprised if this one later inspired both Daphne du Maurier and Hitchcock. unnerving and creepy, this was a great addition to the book.
Novelette 2:
The Fly - George Langelaan
a scientist's secret experiment takes a horrifying turn
if you've seen the film, you'll understand the general idea; however, some of the details are quite different in the book, and i enjoyed reading what inspired the screen version.
Stories:
Back There in the Grass - Gouverneur Morris
a man, a friend, an idol, a fiancée - and the consequences of going where one shouldn't
this quirky little tale had a very creepy feel, though I'm still not sure how i feel about it.
The Mugging - Edward L Perry
proof that crime doesn't pay, but it does carry a steep cost
ah, the dangers of being an impressionable teen-ager. the style of this one put me right in the story: dated, but believable for the time, and i do love anachronisms.
Finger! Finger! - Margaret Ronan
being a servant to a horrible old woman is a terrible idea - in more ways than one
this was another odd story. could kind of see it coming, though i thought the solution to the problem was interesting.
A Cry from the Penthouse - Henry Slesar
a man tries collecting on a debt and gets more than he bargained for
not necessarily scary, but a thoroughly enjoyable tale nonetheless. some ingenuity in this one, and the ending was fantastic.
The People Next Door - Pauline C Smith
a woman in recovery discovers it's not always best to meet the neighbours
sort of like Rear Window in reverse. not bad.
D-Day - Robert Trout
breaking news! what on earth is happening?
an intriguing format and an intriguing story.
The Man Who Liked Dickens - Evelyn Waugh
lost and alone in the jungle, a man stumbled upon salvation...or so he thought
a truly scary story by the brilliant Waugh, this one will leave you feeling highly unsettled - and maybe even determined to avoid the Amazon.
Novel:
The Iron Gates - Margaret Millar
a death, a disappearance, a cache of secrets, and a whole host of suspects turn an affluent family upside down
the author writes extremely well, and i was kept guessing for one of the two large mysteries up until the end.
i did like the other Hitchcock anthology a bit better, but the stories i liked in this volume still make for a truly excellent collection. i'll definitely seek out more!
May 18, 2016
I found this in my family bookshelf, probably when I was in 3rd grade. Being around 10 or 11 years old and a fan of scary movies, the cover grabbed my attention right away. Alfred's carrying his own head(s)! Cool! I've never been a big fan of reading books (comics were much more interesting), but I made myself read some of the shorter stories in this one. By far, my favorite is still Roald Dahl's The Sound Machine. It's the only story I've ever read that physically sent chills up my spine. To this day, I complain about people murdering trees for xmas instead of buying superior fake trees, and always hope the trees will fight back, proving the story to be true.
Many of the others I tried to read, but they were too dry and wordy for my taste. Still, it's hard to beat this book for its dust cover art. Sadly, mine got damage and lost at some point, so I only have the salmon colored hard cover to look at.
Many of the others I tried to read, but they were too dry and wordy for my taste. Still, it's hard to beat this book for its dust cover art. Sadly, mine got damage and lost at some point, so I only have the salmon colored hard cover to look at.
May 1, 2024
I finally finished this book on the last day of April 2024 in Palm Springs. Some were good, some were not. The book consisted of twenty-one short stories, two novelettes (VINTAGE SEASON by C.L. Moore & THE FLY by Goerge Langelaan) and one novel (THE IRON GATES by Margaret Millar).
The novelettes and the one novel were better than the stories. THE FLY was chilling, and I confirmed that it was the basis for three films including the scary one I saw in 1986 called THE FLY starring Jeffrey Goldblum and Geena Davis. The short story, OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS by Philip MacDonald was very much like Hitchcock’s film, THE BIRDS, but I came to learn that Hitchcock was inspired by a real-life event in Monterey, CA in 1961 and a short story by Daphne Du Marier in 1952 (also titled THE BIRDS).
Some of the short stories were by prominent authors like Ray Bradbury (The Whole Town’s Sleeping) and Roald Dahl (The Sound Machine). I love reading old books and the old writing styles. It takes me back in time. Sometimes they use words that we rarely hear anymore, and I relish that.
I must admit that the final hurrah was the novel, THE IRON GATES, which kept me riveted. I thought it would make a great film. In fact, after WWII I learned that Warner Bros. acquired the rights and were going to do a film adaptation with Bette Davis or Barbara Stanwyck as the lead role, but it never materialized. Too bad. THE IRON GATES was the best part of this book—I didn’t even get any lines that impacted me in many of the stories and only one or two in others. I think my favorite short story was by Ruth Chatterton called LADY’s MAN.
Here are the lines that captured me during this 469-page journey:
IT’S A GOOD LIFE by Jerome Bixby:
“It’s nice to be able to have something around you’ve never seen before and know that something you've given somebody else is making them happy...that’s a real good thing.”
THE WHOLE TOWN’S SLEEPING by Ray Bradbury
“Sometimes I think people want to die.”
LADY’S MAN by Ruth Chatterton – I loved this story because it took me into a personal visit into Noel Coward’s life. It inspired me to purchase his autobiography, PRESENT INDICATIVE, published in 1937:
Then came a nasty little savory of cold scrambled eggs on a bit of soggy toast, topped by a limp anchovy. I sneered at that little horror and left it untouched on my plate.
“Then I think I’ll toddle off. Goodnight darling. Pleasant dreams.”
“Make it a martini—I need something that will give me that ‘I don’t care’ feeling.”
EVENING PRIMROSE by John Collier
My eyes were trying to tell me something that my brain refused to believe.
“It’s deeper than that. I’m done for. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep. I can't write, man, I can’t even write...it’s LOVE.”
VINTAGE SEASON by C.L. Moore
A look flashed between the two, and for an instant held—and that instant was timeless. It was an extraordinary pause in which a great deal of wordless interplay took place in the space of a second.
He began to feel better. The flesh settled on his bones again, and the warm clothing of temporal assurance settled upon his flesh, and he was no longer naked and in the vortex of unstable time.
PIECES OF SILVER by Brett Halliday
“After lunch is the siesta hour. They have a saying down here that only mad dogs and gringo fools venture into the sun during siesta.”
The tango is the dance of youth, you comprehend, the dance of courtship.
SECOND NIGHT OUT by Frank Belknap Long
Sea-sickness, unlike all other major afflictions, is a disease of the individual. Not two people are ever afflicted with precisely the same symptoms.
THE FLY by George Langelaan
After all, a bet was but a contract between a fool and a swindler, even if it turned out to be a toss-up as to which was which.
Women know things that men only supposed by reasoning and deduction; it is a form of knowledge very rarely accessible to them and which they disparagingly call intuition.
BACK THERE IN THE GRASS by Gouverneur Morris
Well, there’s nothing so good for the blues as putting things in order.
THE IRON GATES by Margaret Millar
“I’ve seen him at the office simply oozing quiet charm, and when he gets home, he howls.”
“I expect Freud would say that you find only the things you really want to find.”
“I loathe oysters. Unless they’re covered with something and fried.”
“Life is an endless procession of faces for me. I am always trying to match them up.”
“You can’t know everything about a person.”
“That’s true. But in fifteen years you get a fairly accurate impression, you can anticipate reactions.”
“People should be allowed a certain freedom of movement. They shouldn’t get the feeling that they are constantly required to be some place at some specific time. They should have certain periods when nothing whatever is expected from them.”
“People aren’t always capable of making sense. There are forces—forces in the mind. See, it’s like a jungle, the mind, dark and thick, with a million little paths that the light never reaches. You never know the paths are there until something pops out of one of them.”
He seemed to be moving through a nightmare, without the power to wake up and without the strength to protect himself against the dim shapes of danger.
“I talk the way I want to. I don’t fake things.”
“The beautiful consistency and order of things...it’s what I miss in the real world, some kind of pattern that doesn’t change.”
“I can’t sleep.”
“You’re trying too hard. Just close your eyes and think of something nice and soothing, like rain or grass waving or trees.”
I always say there’s practically nothing the matter with anybody that one hundred deep breaths won’t cure.
Adults are so stupid about hiding things from children.
“In the meantime, don’t worry too much. We and our troubles aren’t so important as we think.”
“Very peaceful. Morphine is a peaceful death. You go to sleep, you dream, you never know where the dream ends.”
The novelettes and the one novel were better than the stories. THE FLY was chilling, and I confirmed that it was the basis for three films including the scary one I saw in 1986 called THE FLY starring Jeffrey Goldblum and Geena Davis. The short story, OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS by Philip MacDonald was very much like Hitchcock’s film, THE BIRDS, but I came to learn that Hitchcock was inspired by a real-life event in Monterey, CA in 1961 and a short story by Daphne Du Marier in 1952 (also titled THE BIRDS).
Some of the short stories were by prominent authors like Ray Bradbury (The Whole Town’s Sleeping) and Roald Dahl (The Sound Machine). I love reading old books and the old writing styles. It takes me back in time. Sometimes they use words that we rarely hear anymore, and I relish that.
I must admit that the final hurrah was the novel, THE IRON GATES, which kept me riveted. I thought it would make a great film. In fact, after WWII I learned that Warner Bros. acquired the rights and were going to do a film adaptation with Bette Davis or Barbara Stanwyck as the lead role, but it never materialized. Too bad. THE IRON GATES was the best part of this book—I didn’t even get any lines that impacted me in many of the stories and only one or two in others. I think my favorite short story was by Ruth Chatterton called LADY’s MAN.
Here are the lines that captured me during this 469-page journey:
IT’S A GOOD LIFE by Jerome Bixby:
“It’s nice to be able to have something around you’ve never seen before and know that something you've given somebody else is making them happy...that’s a real good thing.”
THE WHOLE TOWN’S SLEEPING by Ray Bradbury
“Sometimes I think people want to die.”
LADY’S MAN by Ruth Chatterton – I loved this story because it took me into a personal visit into Noel Coward’s life. It inspired me to purchase his autobiography, PRESENT INDICATIVE, published in 1937:
Then came a nasty little savory of cold scrambled eggs on a bit of soggy toast, topped by a limp anchovy. I sneered at that little horror and left it untouched on my plate.
“Then I think I’ll toddle off. Goodnight darling. Pleasant dreams.”
“Make it a martini—I need something that will give me that ‘I don’t care’ feeling.”
EVENING PRIMROSE by John Collier
My eyes were trying to tell me something that my brain refused to believe.
“It’s deeper than that. I’m done for. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep. I can't write, man, I can’t even write...it’s LOVE.”
VINTAGE SEASON by C.L. Moore
A look flashed between the two, and for an instant held—and that instant was timeless. It was an extraordinary pause in which a great deal of wordless interplay took place in the space of a second.
He began to feel better. The flesh settled on his bones again, and the warm clothing of temporal assurance settled upon his flesh, and he was no longer naked and in the vortex of unstable time.
PIECES OF SILVER by Brett Halliday
“After lunch is the siesta hour. They have a saying down here that only mad dogs and gringo fools venture into the sun during siesta.”
The tango is the dance of youth, you comprehend, the dance of courtship.
SECOND NIGHT OUT by Frank Belknap Long
Sea-sickness, unlike all other major afflictions, is a disease of the individual. Not two people are ever afflicted with precisely the same symptoms.
THE FLY by George Langelaan
After all, a bet was but a contract between a fool and a swindler, even if it turned out to be a toss-up as to which was which.
Women know things that men only supposed by reasoning and deduction; it is a form of knowledge very rarely accessible to them and which they disparagingly call intuition.
BACK THERE IN THE GRASS by Gouverneur Morris
Well, there’s nothing so good for the blues as putting things in order.
THE IRON GATES by Margaret Millar
“I’ve seen him at the office simply oozing quiet charm, and when he gets home, he howls.”
“I expect Freud would say that you find only the things you really want to find.”
“I loathe oysters. Unless they’re covered with something and fried.”
“Life is an endless procession of faces for me. I am always trying to match them up.”
“You can’t know everything about a person.”
“That’s true. But in fifteen years you get a fairly accurate impression, you can anticipate reactions.”
“People should be allowed a certain freedom of movement. They shouldn’t get the feeling that they are constantly required to be some place at some specific time. They should have certain periods when nothing whatever is expected from them.”
“People aren’t always capable of making sense. There are forces—forces in the mind. See, it’s like a jungle, the mind, dark and thick, with a million little paths that the light never reaches. You never know the paths are there until something pops out of one of them.”
He seemed to be moving through a nightmare, without the power to wake up and without the strength to protect himself against the dim shapes of danger.
“I talk the way I want to. I don’t fake things.”
“The beautiful consistency and order of things...it’s what I miss in the real world, some kind of pattern that doesn’t change.”
“I can’t sleep.”
“You’re trying too hard. Just close your eyes and think of something nice and soothing, like rain or grass waving or trees.”
I always say there’s practically nothing the matter with anybody that one hundred deep breaths won’t cure.
Adults are so stupid about hiding things from children.
“In the meantime, don’t worry too much. We and our troubles aren’t so important as we think.”
“Very peaceful. Morphine is a peaceful death. You go to sleep, you dream, you never know where the dream ends.”
July 3, 2020
I would say 9 out of 10 stories worked very well, the other ones, well they were good but seemed out of place. The two novellas were enjoyable to read, The Fly, and The Iron Gates.
Recommended to all suspense lovers.
Recommended to all suspense lovers.
July 1, 2013
LOVED these stories when I was a kid!
October 6, 2018
3 3/4 stars
December 4, 2018
Solid collection of short stories with a supernatural or horror bent. Some, I think, suffer from feeling overly familiar because the tropes they rely on have since been overused—or because one's expectations are higher—but all are excellently written and worth your time.
As to expectations, the opening story ("Death is a Dream") by Robert Arthur is good but seems obvious sixty years later, and my expectations for Arthur are high. Likewise with Bradbury's "The Whole Town Is Sleeping," though his skill there is such that the end surprises me every time I read that one. Or not surprises, but somehow induces me to expect something different.
Two high points are Jerome Bixby's "It's a Good Life" and George Langdon's "The Fly", the former turned into one of the most chilling episodes of "The Twilight Zone" and the latter into a classic horror. It's remarkable upon reading these for the first time how true the filmed presentations were to the written word.
Other high points include a moody little sci-fi tale of time traveling (from the perspective of a contemporary receiving visitors from the future) called "Vintage Season" by C.L. Moore, a supernatural detective story by William Hope Hodgson (which perhaps is undermined by the nature of its boogen) and Margaret Millar's closing novel "The Iron Gates". This last is really an expert piece of writing, with even minor characters drawn vividly in a way that makes you wonder how the mysteries at hand are going to resolve themselves.
It is a kind of morose, moody collection, though. That is, the mysteries and horrors are played very straight with no winking at the audience and full weight given to the consequences of the ironic twists. (Not a criticism, more of a sommelier-style observation.)
As to expectations, the opening story ("Death is a Dream") by Robert Arthur is good but seems obvious sixty years later, and my expectations for Arthur are high. Likewise with Bradbury's "The Whole Town Is Sleeping," though his skill there is such that the end surprises me every time I read that one. Or not surprises, but somehow induces me to expect something different.
Two high points are Jerome Bixby's "It's a Good Life" and George Langdon's "The Fly", the former turned into one of the most chilling episodes of "The Twilight Zone" and the latter into a classic horror. It's remarkable upon reading these for the first time how true the filmed presentations were to the written word.
Other high points include a moody little sci-fi tale of time traveling (from the perspective of a contemporary receiving visitors from the future) called "Vintage Season" by C.L. Moore, a supernatural detective story by William Hope Hodgson (which perhaps is undermined by the nature of its boogen) and Margaret Millar's closing novel "The Iron Gates". This last is really an expert piece of writing, with even minor characters drawn vividly in a way that makes you wonder how the mysteries at hand are going to resolve themselves.
It is a kind of morose, moody collection, though. That is, the mysteries and horrors are played very straight with no winking at the audience and full weight given to the consequences of the ironic twists. (Not a criticism, more of a sommelier-style observation.)
October 7, 2019
Overview: Mr. Hitchcock is better known for his movies such as “Psycho” and “The Birds.” But, that doesn’t mean that he didn’t enjoy a good story now and then. This book has a collection of suspenseful, bordering on horror, stories, novellas, and one novel, for our enjoyment.
Dislikes: That would be ‘The Ash Tree.’ I’d tell you why, but that would ruin the story for you.
Likes: There were several good stories in this collection. Some of them involved rather karmic twists at times. “A Cry from the Penthouse” and “The Iron Gates” were the best stories in my opinion.
Conclusion: If you don’t care much for Mr. Hitchcock’s film work, you might want to skip this book. But if you like twists and a horror bent to your suspenseful stories, give this collection a try.
Dislikes: That would be ‘The Ash Tree.’ I’d tell you why, but that would ruin the story for you.
Likes: There were several good stories in this collection. Some of them involved rather karmic twists at times. “A Cry from the Penthouse” and “The Iron Gates” were the best stories in my opinion.
Conclusion: If you don’t care much for Mr. Hitchcock’s film work, you might want to skip this book. But if you like twists and a horror bent to your suspenseful stories, give this collection a try.
February 15, 2022
There were a wide range of dark and atmospheric stories in this collection. I actually don't like standard murder mysteries very much at all. I quit watching NCIS and CSI TV shows years ago because I couldn't keep suspending my disbelief over murder after murder with exotic methods and motives. There was not a standard mystery in the book.
The last story in the collection, "The Iron Gates," was a murder mystery, but the author had me caught up in the characters' twisty family dynamics. I was hooked and wanted to know what was going on by the time I realized there was a murder to be solved. And I do mean dark and twisty, it was a full blown psychological thriller told at a brisk novella pace.
They don't write them like they used to.
The last story in the collection, "The Iron Gates," was a murder mystery, but the author had me caught up in the characters' twisty family dynamics. I was hooked and wanted to know what was going on by the time I realized there was a murder to be solved. And I do mean dark and twisty, it was a full blown psychological thriller told at a brisk novella pace.
They don't write them like they used to.
December 30, 2024
An excellent anthology—I rated each story out of five as I went along, and ended up with but eight I called a "2/5", out of the two-dozen stories. More importantly, there were several real stand-outs, among them "The Sound Machine," "The Fly," and "Vintage Season." Though I had skimmed almost the entire book in my youth, this time 'round was the first time I read the 100-page novel appended to the end, and it was rather good, as well.
August 5, 2017
What can I say? I'm addicted to these old Hitchcock collection. I found a bundle of them at Goodwill and bought them all up at once, thinking I'd go through them slowly. Instead, I've basically read them all back to back. Do yourself a favor and grab them - any of them - if you ever have the chance.
May 6, 2018
Death is a dream 2/5
The whole town is sleeping 4/5
Lady's man 4/5
Evening Primrose 1/5
The Cocoon 3/5
Vintage Season DNF
Pieces of silver 2/5
The whistling room 3/5
Told for the truth 2,5/5
The ashtree 4/5
The side bet 2/5
Second Night Out 4/5
The Mugging 2/5
Finger, Finger 2/5
The people next door 1/5
The whole town is sleeping 4/5
Lady's man 4/5
Evening Primrose 1/5
The Cocoon 3/5
Vintage Season DNF
Pieces of silver 2/5
The whistling room 3/5
Told for the truth 2,5/5
The ashtree 4/5
The side bet 2/5
Second Night Out 4/5
The Mugging 2/5
Finger, Finger 2/5
The people next door 1/5
February 6, 2018
Solid collection of stories, novellas, and even a novel! Arthur, Slesar, Waugh, Bradbury, Millar, Dahl and others masters of mayhem are represented.
March 25, 2018
I didn't understand some of the stories. But some of them you could see on an episode of Alfred Hitchcock. It was ok, not something I'd read more of.
April 10, 2018
Some of the stories very good The Fly & The People Next Door; others are really wierd The Cocoon. Interesting read, but would not read twice...
May 7, 2019
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories chosen by Alfred Hitchcock. Recommended.
July 6, 2020
Variado cóctel de terrores, misterios y espantos. Para pasar el rato.
August 10, 2021
One of my favorites!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews