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Road Rage
Road Rage unites Richard Matheson's classic "Duel" and the contemporary work it inspired--two power-packed short stories by three of the genre's most acclaimed authors. "Duel," an unforgettable tale about a driver menaced by a semi truck, was the source for Stephen Spielberg's acclaimed first film of the same name. "Throttle," by Stephen King and Joe Hill, is a duel of a different kind, pitting a faceless trucker against a tribe of motorcycle outlaws, in the simmering Nevada desert. Their battle is fought out on twenty miles of the most lonely road in the country, a place where the only thing worse than not knowing what you're up against, is slowing down . . .
2 Audio CDs / 2 Hours 30 mins
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2 Audio CDs / 2 Hours 30 mins
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120 pages, Audio CD
First published February 24, 2009
263 people are currently reading
5348 people want to read
About the author
Richard Matheson
737 books4,838 followersBorn in Allendale, New Jersey to Norwegian immigrant parents, Matheson was raised in Brooklyn and graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1943. He then entered the military and spent World War II as an infantry soldier. In 1949 he earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and moved to California in 1951. He married in 1952 and has four children, three of whom (Chris, Richard Christian, and Ali Matheson) are writers of fiction and screenplays.
His first short story, "Born of Man and Woman," appeared in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1950. The tale of a monstrous child chained in its parents' cellar, it was told in the first person as the creature's diary (in poignantly non-idiomatic English) and immediately made Matheson famous. Between 1950 and 1971, Matheson produced dozens of stories, frequently blending elements of the science fiction, horror and fantasy genres.
Several of his stories, like "Third from the Sun" (1950), "Deadline" (1959) and "Button, Button" (1970) are simple sketches with twist endings; others, like "Trespass" (1953), "Being" (1954) and "Mute" (1962) explore their characters' dilemmas over twenty or thirty pages. Some tales, such as "The Funeral" (1955) and "The Doll that Does Everything" (1954) incorporate zany satirical humour at the expense of genre clichés, and are written in an hysterically overblown prose very different from Matheson's usual pared-down style. Others, like "The Test" (1954) and "Steel" (1956), portray the moral and physical struggles of ordinary people, rather than the then nearly ubiquitous scientists and superheroes, in situations which are at once futuristic and everyday. Still others, such as "Mad House" (1953), "The Curious Child" (1954) and perhaps most famously, "Duel" (1971) are tales of paranoia, in which the everyday environment of the present day becomes inexplicably alien or threatening.
He wrote a number of episodes for the American TV series The Twilight Zone, including "Steel," mentioned above and the famous "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"; adapted the works of Edgar Allan Poe for Roger Corman and Dennis Wheatley's The Devil Rides Out for Hammer Films; and scripted Steven Spielberg's first feature, the TV movie Duel, from his own short story. He also contributed a number of scripts to the Warner Brothers western series "The Lawman" between 1958 and 1962. In 1973, Matheson earned an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his teleplay for The Night Stalker, one of two TV movies written by Matheson that preceded the series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Matheson also wrote the screenplay for Fanatic (US title: Die! Die! My Darling!) starring Talullah Bankhead and Stefanie Powers.
Novels include The Shrinking Man (filmed as The Incredible Shrinking Man, again from Matheson's own screenplay), and a science fiction vampire novel, I Am Legend, which has been filmed three times under the titles The Omega Man and The Last Man on Earth and once under the original title. Other Matheson novels turned into notable films include What Dreams May Come, Stir of Echoes, Bid Time Return (as Somewhere in Time), and Hell House (as The Legend of Hell House) and the aforementioned Duel, the last three adapted and scripted by Matheson himself. Three of his short stories were filmed together as Trilogy of Terror, including "Prey" with its famous Zuni warrior doll.
In 1960, Matheson published The Beardless Warriors, a nonfantastic, autobiographical novel about teenage American soldiers in World War II.
He died at his home on June 23, 2013, at the age of 87
http://us.macmillan.com/author/richar...
His first short story, "Born of Man and Woman," appeared in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1950. The tale of a monstrous child chained in its parents' cellar, it was told in the first person as the creature's diary (in poignantly non-idiomatic English) and immediately made Matheson famous. Between 1950 and 1971, Matheson produced dozens of stories, frequently blending elements of the science fiction, horror and fantasy genres.
Several of his stories, like "Third from the Sun" (1950), "Deadline" (1959) and "Button, Button" (1970) are simple sketches with twist endings; others, like "Trespass" (1953), "Being" (1954) and "Mute" (1962) explore their characters' dilemmas over twenty or thirty pages. Some tales, such as "The Funeral" (1955) and "The Doll that Does Everything" (1954) incorporate zany satirical humour at the expense of genre clichés, and are written in an hysterically overblown prose very different from Matheson's usual pared-down style. Others, like "The Test" (1954) and "Steel" (1956), portray the moral and physical struggles of ordinary people, rather than the then nearly ubiquitous scientists and superheroes, in situations which are at once futuristic and everyday. Still others, such as "Mad House" (1953), "The Curious Child" (1954) and perhaps most famously, "Duel" (1971) are tales of paranoia, in which the everyday environment of the present day becomes inexplicably alien or threatening.
He wrote a number of episodes for the American TV series The Twilight Zone, including "Steel," mentioned above and the famous "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"; adapted the works of Edgar Allan Poe for Roger Corman and Dennis Wheatley's The Devil Rides Out for Hammer Films; and scripted Steven Spielberg's first feature, the TV movie Duel, from his own short story. He also contributed a number of scripts to the Warner Brothers western series "The Lawman" between 1958 and 1962. In 1973, Matheson earned an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his teleplay for The Night Stalker, one of two TV movies written by Matheson that preceded the series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Matheson also wrote the screenplay for Fanatic (US title: Die! Die! My Darling!) starring Talullah Bankhead and Stefanie Powers.
Novels include The Shrinking Man (filmed as The Incredible Shrinking Man, again from Matheson's own screenplay), and a science fiction vampire novel, I Am Legend, which has been filmed three times under the titles The Omega Man and The Last Man on Earth and once under the original title. Other Matheson novels turned into notable films include What Dreams May Come, Stir of Echoes, Bid Time Return (as Somewhere in Time), and Hell House (as The Legend of Hell House) and the aforementioned Duel, the last three adapted and scripted by Matheson himself. Three of his short stories were filmed together as Trilogy of Terror, including "Prey" with its famous Zuni warrior doll.
In 1960, Matheson published The Beardless Warriors, a nonfantastic, autobiographical novel about teenage American soldiers in World War II.
He died at his home on June 23, 2013, at the age of 87
http://us.macmillan.com/author/richar...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 368 reviews
February 7, 2015
This is the third book I've read this week that featured a motorcycle gang and drugs. I might need to read a smexy book soon.
The first story in this book kinda lost me a bit. A motorcycle gang is running from a lone truck. Smashing and bashing happen. Not bad. I like smashing and bashing. (Yes, I do know how weird I am)
Then the second one..is bad-ass. It's based on the movie "Duel" that Joe Hill watched with his dad back in the day. They collaborated on these stories later on. (One of the best parts of this book is letters added that were written by them)
Watch out for those truckers in your rear view windows kiddies.
The first story in this book kinda lost me a bit. A motorcycle gang is running from a lone truck. Smashing and bashing happen. Not bad. I like smashing and bashing. (Yes, I do know how weird I am)
Then the second one..is bad-ass. It's based on the movie "Duel" that Joe Hill watched with his dad back in the day. They collaborated on these stories later on. (One of the best parts of this book is letters added that were written by them)
Watch out for those truckers in your rear view windows kiddies.
September 23, 2019
Whomever it was that had the idea of pairing these two stories was a genius!
DUEL from Richard Matheson is a classic horror tale about a man traveling down the highway, being terrorized by a maniac in a semi. This tale was a re-read for me, via audio. 5*
THROTTLE by Stephen King and Joe Hill. This novella length tale was new to me and I enjoyed it. Having paired these two stories together, I can't help but think that DUEL was the better of the two. THROTTLE was still good and a fun listen just the same. 3.5*
Recommended for a few hours of listening pleasure!
*Thanks to my local library for the free audio download. Libraries RULE!*
DUEL from Richard Matheson is a classic horror tale about a man traveling down the highway, being terrorized by a maniac in a semi. This tale was a re-read for me, via audio. 5*
THROTTLE by Stephen King and Joe Hill. This novella length tale was new to me and I enjoyed it. Having paired these two stories together, I can't help but think that DUEL was the better of the two. THROTTLE was still good and a fun listen just the same. 3.5*
Recommended for a few hours of listening pleasure!
*Thanks to my local library for the free audio download. Libraries RULE!*
October 4, 2023
I actually listened to this in my car! Talk about paranoia! Actually started to look in my rearview mirror to make sure there were no trucks behind me. Most of us spend so much time in our cars; at one point in my life I think I was in my car more than I was at home. So stories that deal with violence on the road really are very relatable.
February 28, 2017
Kings of suspense joined together with a classic tale and a new tale of anger on the asphalt. These two novellas were a nice little palette cleansing getaway.
First, there was Matheson's Duel, which was the inspiration for the classic Spielberg movie. Let's just say, I was listening to this on the highway on the way to work and was very wary of the semis all around me.
Then, there was the newer story, Throttle, by King and son (Hill) and it was done very much in the same vein as Duel. In fact, I swear a few of the lines had to be a direct homage to the original story, not to mention the main crux of the whole storyline being almost identical. These guys are the top tellers of this type of suspense and did not let me down.
Maybe not the best stories for a road trip, but if you like classic suspense and sheer octane fueled terror, pop the clutch and roll with these two tales.
First, there was Matheson's Duel, which was the inspiration for the classic Spielberg movie. Let's just say, I was listening to this on the highway on the way to work and was very wary of the semis all around me.
Then, there was the newer story, Throttle, by King and son (Hill) and it was done very much in the same vein as Duel. In fact, I swear a few of the lines had to be a direct homage to the original story, not to mention the main crux of the whole storyline being almost identical. These guys are the top tellers of this type of suspense and did not let me down.
Maybe not the best stories for a road trip, but if you like classic suspense and sheer octane fueled terror, pop the clutch and roll with these two tales.
August 10, 2022
4 Stars for Road Rage (audiobook) by Richard Matheson, Stephen King, and Joe Hill read by Stephen Lang.
This was a interesting audiobook. It’s two short stories, one classic and another modern story inspired by the classic.
This was a interesting audiobook. It’s two short stories, one classic and another modern story inspired by the classic.
December 31, 2020
THIS. WAS. BRILLIANT. I felt absolutely giddy with glee to finally have this as a part of my King/Hill collection and I swear I was dancing a little in my seat as I was reading because I was just enjoying it so damn much! I recently read Full Throttle and loved it so it was so awesome to see it brought to life in graphic novel form. Same goes for the Matheson story which I read ages ago and loved as well. The illustrations alone are worth 5 stars just on their own, they are just stunning and suit the stories so damn well! If you’re a King fan or a horror fan of any sort, do yourself a favour a pick up this little gem of a graphic novel.
July 20, 2015
Stephen King and Joe Hill wrote Throttle, a short story homage to Duel by Richard Matheson, for He Is Legend, a collection celebrating Matheson’s career. Chris Ryall adapts both Throttle and Duel into comics for this book, Road Rage.
Throttle is about some bikers who’re pissed over a drug deal gone wrong. People are dead, money’s missing and they’re headed off to cause more mayhem. But on the road they’re met with a faceless trucker who decides to run them all down. Who will win – bikers or murderous trucker? It’s Duel: the Sons of Anarchy version!
King should be barred from venturing into comics. The first volume of American Vampire showed his corny stories are totally out of place in today’s environment and his totally uninteresting imitation of Duel is even more boring to read. The bikers are stereotypical bikers: meth-making lunatics on hogs – there’s nothing else to them! And the trucker is the same trucker from Duel without any changes. Originality? He don’t need no stinkin’ originality, he’s Stephen King! Joe Hill, King’s son, is also enormously overrated as a comics writer and the stale story, flat dialogue and simplistic characterisations of Throttle underlines that.
The second and final story, Duel, is slightly better if only because Richard Matheson was a far better writer whose original story was brilliant. But the comics adaptation waters down the impact of the story by taking away a lot of Matheson’s tense writing and letting the murky art try, and fail, to fill in for it. My takeaway from the comics adaptation of Duel is that it made me want to re-read the Matheson prose story – the adaptation is no substitute and really isn’t worth bothering with.
In a perfect world I’d have a truck to run over my copy of this tedious pap but instead I’ll just recommend everyone read Richard Matheson’s superb short stories instead!
Throttle is about some bikers who’re pissed over a drug deal gone wrong. People are dead, money’s missing and they’re headed off to cause more mayhem. But on the road they’re met with a faceless trucker who decides to run them all down. Who will win – bikers or murderous trucker? It’s Duel: the Sons of Anarchy version!
King should be barred from venturing into comics. The first volume of American Vampire showed his corny stories are totally out of place in today’s environment and his totally uninteresting imitation of Duel is even more boring to read. The bikers are stereotypical bikers: meth-making lunatics on hogs – there’s nothing else to them! And the trucker is the same trucker from Duel without any changes. Originality? He don’t need no stinkin’ originality, he’s Stephen King! Joe Hill, King’s son, is also enormously overrated as a comics writer and the stale story, flat dialogue and simplistic characterisations of Throttle underlines that.
The second and final story, Duel, is slightly better if only because Richard Matheson was a far better writer whose original story was brilliant. But the comics adaptation waters down the impact of the story by taking away a lot of Matheson’s tense writing and letting the murky art try, and fail, to fill in for it. My takeaway from the comics adaptation of Duel is that it made me want to re-read the Matheson prose story – the adaptation is no substitute and really isn’t worth bothering with.
In a perfect world I’d have a truck to run over my copy of this tedious pap but instead I’ll just recommend everyone read Richard Matheson’s superb short stories instead!
October 11, 2024
Legendary author Richard Matheson wrote many stories that were adapted into television and movie scripts giving them a wide cultural impact. His short story Duel is a prime example — Matheson adapted it for Stephen Spielberg’s first movie — a tense, tv thriller staring Dennis Weaver (1971).
When author Joe Hill was a kid, he and his dad would watch their copy of Duel over and over, and would play out the movie when they were in the car driving together. So when Hill was asked to contribute a story to He is Legend: An Anthology Celebrating Richard Matheson it was a natural thing that he picked Duel as the inspiration for his tribute. Hill teamed up with dad Stephen King in their first collaboration to pen Throttle, an original tale that captured the spirit of Matheson’s Duel.
Now here they are together, side by side. Two suspenseful tales by three great authors, the original and the tribute, for you to read, compare, and experience all their combined, tense thrills.
Duel (by Richard Matheson): This tense thriller is an absolute classic tale of existential dread in the late 20th century. An Everyman salesman (appropriately named Mann) driving on a sleepy two lane headed for San Francisco, uncountably incurs violent road rage from a big rig truck. Suspense builds as over the next hours and miles the anonymous trucker plays a relentless and deadly game of cat and mouse with the increasingly terrified Mann. There is no clear motive for why the trucker decides to terrorize Mann, and the very inexplicability of the act, and the anonymity of the driver adds to the terror. Horrified, Mann realizes that this is a chase that will almost certainly end in brutal death.
”Maybe it’s the heat, he thought. Maybe the truck driver had a tension headache or an upset stomach — maybe both. Maybe he’d had a fight with his wife. Maybe she’d failed to put out last night. There could be any number of reasons.”
5 ⭐️
Throttle (by Joe Hill & Stephen King): There are major differences between Matheson’s original story and this Hill/King tribute. The victim in Matheson’s story was a solitary Everyman without a clue as to why he attracted the trucker’s murderous rage. In this tale, that role is taken by an outlaw biker gang, and they’ve done plenty that might explain the trucker’s vendetta as he races after them to run them down. So rather than being a story of unexplained existential calamity, this becomes a tale of vengeance vs. survival. The authors do an excellent job of keeping our sympathies engaged with the bikers despite the fact that we are aware of some very dark deeds they have done. A subplot of father/son conflict between the gang leader and his hot head son who rides with the gang helps to humanize these rough riders.
3 1/2 ⭐️
When author Joe Hill was a kid, he and his dad would watch their copy of Duel over and over, and would play out the movie when they were in the car driving together. So when Hill was asked to contribute a story to He is Legend: An Anthology Celebrating Richard Matheson it was a natural thing that he picked Duel as the inspiration for his tribute. Hill teamed up with dad Stephen King in their first collaboration to pen Throttle, an original tale that captured the spirit of Matheson’s Duel.
Now here they are together, side by side. Two suspenseful tales by three great authors, the original and the tribute, for you to read, compare, and experience all their combined, tense thrills.
Duel (by Richard Matheson): This tense thriller is an absolute classic tale of existential dread in the late 20th century. An Everyman salesman (appropriately named Mann) driving on a sleepy two lane headed for San Francisco, uncountably incurs violent road rage from a big rig truck. Suspense builds as over the next hours and miles the anonymous trucker plays a relentless and deadly game of cat and mouse with the increasingly terrified Mann. There is no clear motive for why the trucker decides to terrorize Mann, and the very inexplicability of the act, and the anonymity of the driver adds to the terror. Horrified, Mann realizes that this is a chase that will almost certainly end in brutal death.
”Maybe it’s the heat, he thought. Maybe the truck driver had a tension headache or an upset stomach — maybe both. Maybe he’d had a fight with his wife. Maybe she’d failed to put out last night. There could be any number of reasons.”
5 ⭐️
Throttle (by Joe Hill & Stephen King): There are major differences between Matheson’s original story and this Hill/King tribute. The victim in Matheson’s story was a solitary Everyman without a clue as to why he attracted the trucker’s murderous rage. In this tale, that role is taken by an outlaw biker gang, and they’ve done plenty that might explain the trucker’s vendetta as he races after them to run them down. So rather than being a story of unexplained existential calamity, this becomes a tale of vengeance vs. survival. The authors do an excellent job of keeping our sympathies engaged with the bikers despite the fact that we are aware of some very dark deeds they have done. A subplot of father/son conflict between the gang leader and his hot head son who rides with the gang helps to humanize these rough riders.
3 1/2 ⭐️
April 18, 2013
I was ten when my super cool dad gave me permission to stay up late and watch an ABC-TV movie called Duel. As I recall, it was a somewhat monumental experience. I have never forgotten the images of a lone motorist being chased by that stranger driving a tanker truck, his menacing left forearm propped on the open window.
It was sure a lot more exciting than that moonwalk thing they showed a few years earlier!
The second story in this graphic novel is an adaptation of Duel, a short story written by Richard Matheson, and originally published in Playboy magazine. Rafa Garres' scratchy, gritty artwork is perfect for this frenetic tale, and adds to the chaos and suspense. This story is a plain old thrill ride, no matter how it's presented.
The first story in the book, Throttle, written by Stephen King and Joe Hill, doesn't fare quite as well. It's a tribute to Duel, only this time a biker gang is threatened by a mysterious trucker Visually, it's a bloody mess, as the truck crunches over men and motorcycles. Unlike Duel, where it was easy to feel for the innocent salesman, these bikers are so vile...well, I was rooting for the truck.
I did really enjoy the introductions to both stories, King for Throttle and Hill for Duel. Both men talk about how the Matheson story, and the film made from it, have influenced their writing, and also hint at some great father/son bonding.
Good times, good times.
It was sure a lot more exciting than that moonwalk thing they showed a few years earlier!
The second story in this graphic novel is an adaptation of Duel, a short story written by Richard Matheson, and originally published in Playboy magazine. Rafa Garres' scratchy, gritty artwork is perfect for this frenetic tale, and adds to the chaos and suspense. This story is a plain old thrill ride, no matter how it's presented.
The first story in the book, Throttle, written by Stephen King and Joe Hill, doesn't fare quite as well. It's a tribute to Duel, only this time a biker gang is threatened by a mysterious trucker Visually, it's a bloody mess, as the truck crunches over men and motorcycles. Unlike Duel, where it was easy to feel for the innocent salesman, these bikers are so vile...well, I was rooting for the truck.
I did really enjoy the introductions to both stories, King for Throttle and Hill for Duel. Both men talk about how the Matheson story, and the film made from it, have influenced their writing, and also hint at some great father/son bonding.
Good times, good times.
January 10, 2026
2.5 hours of road rage in flawless audio.
Straight forward, road rage entertainment. 🤬🚕🚗🖕😨👀🚥
Probably don't listen to this while driving, or do, I mean, you do you but yeah doing dishes, mowing the lawn, crocheting, etc, probably more entertaining than listening while in actual traffic. 🚥🚫🐌
🛑🏃♂️💥🤪🛣️😠🚧🚂🔥☕
Straight forward, road rage entertainment. 🤬🚕🚗🖕😨👀🚥
Probably don't listen to this while driving, or do, I mean, you do you but yeah doing dishes, mowing the lawn, crocheting, etc, probably more entertaining than listening while in actual traffic. 🚥🚫🐌
🛑🏃♂️💥🤪🛣️😠🚧🚂🔥☕
February 17, 2018
Road Rage collects two stories. The first is "Throttle" by Stephen King. The second story is the one that inspired SK to write "Throttle", that story is Richard Matheson's (of "I Am Legend" fame) "Duel".
Both stories share a common antagonist- truck drivers. The first is the story of a outlaw band of bikers who are dealing with the fallout of a meth deal gone awry. But they may have bigger problems on their heads as they run into an semi-truck driver who has no intention of letting them live. They "why?" is answered in the end and is a rather interesting twist. I enjoyed it.
The second one, the original, is not as good. But it is still a decent story. The art is certainly not as good as the first story, but it is the story that doesn't resonate like King's tale. The motivations of the trucker and even the car driver are slightly obscure and something about the car driver's personality rubbed me the wrong way (almost ended up siding with the trucker).
So the first story is a 4 star, the 2nd is a 2 star and thus this book ends up a three star. A good volume for horror fans.
Both stories share a common antagonist- truck drivers. The first is the story of a outlaw band of bikers who are dealing with the fallout of a meth deal gone awry. But they may have bigger problems on their heads as they run into an semi-truck driver who has no intention of letting them live. They "why?" is answered in the end and is a rather interesting twist. I enjoyed it.
The second one, the original, is not as good. But it is still a decent story. The art is certainly not as good as the first story, but it is the story that doesn't resonate like King's tale. The motivations of the trucker and even the car driver are slightly obscure and something about the car driver's personality rubbed me the wrong way (almost ended up siding with the trucker).
So the first story is a 4 star, the 2nd is a 2 star and thus this book ends up a three star. A good volume for horror fans.
October 26, 2023
A two for one on spooky season short stories. I’ve read duel before and seen the movie, but the book was a different experience. The writing style was genius, and I enjoyed every page I turned.
December 16, 2015
I read Richard Matheson's story, Duel, (in the collection of the same title) last year and remember being slightly underwhelmed by the whole collection. Not that the stories weren't good - they were - but more that it's just not what I thought they'd be. I had wanted horror, and I got a lot of sci-fi instead. But I digress. The title story was (very) straight-forward suspense, and though (very) dated, it was a good story and I quite enjoyed it.
Let me pause here and add a little side note, which has actually given me a new appreciation for Duel (the story). I'm currently also ADD-reading Stephen King's Danse Macabre, in which he takes a look at horror as a genre and in general. I'm not very far into DM yet, because I'm kind of having issues being monogamous with my reading at the moment, but I did read an interesting section about some stories being great, lasting, brilliant stories that exist simply for the sake of the reaction one has to reading it, or hearing it, as the case may be.
King uses an example of an urban legend story, the one with the kids going up to Lovers' Lane despite the warning that there's a crazed killer on the loose who prowls among unsuspecting snoggers, the girl begs to go home, the guy finally gives in (like he can't get his action elsewhere, the jerk), and finally they leave, only to find evidence that they were mere moments away from being brutally murdered by the psychopath.
King mentions in DM that this story exists simply for the fear it causes. There's no history, no characterization, no real "story" at all - just the terror and suspense and dread.
Duel was like that. We have two drivers: Aggressor and Victim. We don't know why the A has it out for the V, or what happened to cause A to want to commit vehicular murder, etc. We don't know anything about V except for the barest details that show he's an Innocent Salesman just on his way to a job. Nice guy, pays his taxes, that sort. There's not really any STORY to the story, just a little window of time in which some shit goes down, and we're just there to see it. Suspense just for the sake of being suspenseful.
So, like I said, I have a bit of a new appreciation for the story based on this new light, but still, I'm a girl who likes a bit more meat to her stories, namely characterization. I want to be able to identify with the characters and actually fear for them in situations like the one that our victim was in. And I never really did. Not only because of the lack of characterization, but also because I find it incredibly hard to realistically fear the mind-shatteringly fast 60MPH whirlwind that was the Duel chase. Like I said, dated.
Throttle, though, was much fresher and more up-to-date and fleshed out in just about every way. Instead of just a series of close calls and bumps, we have real, honest-to-goodness death and destruction ensuing, and real reason to fear. We have characters that have back stories and histories, we have motive, we have SPEED and danger and crises and reason to care. There's a STORY in this story, folks! Wooo!
I think it doesn't need to really be said that I preferred Throttle to Duel, but I do think that for what each story is in and of itself, both are very good. Throttle is just more my kind of story.
I enjoyed Stephen Lang's reading of these as well. If you are able to listen to the audiobook, it's a good way to kill about 2.5 hours. Otherwise, Throttle can be found in He Is Legend: An Anthology Celebrating Richard Matheson, and Duel, obviously, can be found in Duel: Terror Stories By Richard Matheson.
Horror October 2011: #12
Let me pause here and add a little side note, which has actually given me a new appreciation for Duel (the story). I'm currently also ADD-reading Stephen King's Danse Macabre, in which he takes a look at horror as a genre and in general. I'm not very far into DM yet, because I'm kind of having issues being monogamous with my reading at the moment, but I did read an interesting section about some stories being great, lasting, brilliant stories that exist simply for the sake of the reaction one has to reading it, or hearing it, as the case may be.
King uses an example of an urban legend story, the one with the kids going up to Lovers' Lane despite the warning that there's a crazed killer on the loose who prowls among unsuspecting snoggers, the girl begs to go home, the guy finally gives in (like he can't get his action elsewhere, the jerk), and finally they leave, only to find evidence that they were mere moments away from being brutally murdered by the psychopath.
King mentions in DM that this story exists simply for the fear it causes. There's no history, no characterization, no real "story" at all - just the terror and suspense and dread.
Duel was like that. We have two drivers: Aggressor and Victim. We don't know why the A has it out for the V, or what happened to cause A to want to commit vehicular murder, etc. We don't know anything about V except for the barest details that show he's an Innocent Salesman just on his way to a job. Nice guy, pays his taxes, that sort. There's not really any STORY to the story, just a little window of time in which some shit goes down, and we're just there to see it. Suspense just for the sake of being suspenseful.
So, like I said, I have a bit of a new appreciation for the story based on this new light, but still, I'm a girl who likes a bit more meat to her stories, namely characterization. I want to be able to identify with the characters and actually fear for them in situations like the one that our victim was in. And I never really did. Not only because of the lack of characterization, but also because I find it incredibly hard to realistically fear the mind-shatteringly fast 60MPH whirlwind that was the Duel chase. Like I said, dated.
Throttle, though, was much fresher and more up-to-date and fleshed out in just about every way. Instead of just a series of close calls and bumps, we have real, honest-to-goodness death and destruction ensuing, and real reason to fear. We have characters that have back stories and histories, we have motive, we have SPEED and danger and crises and reason to care. There's a STORY in this story, folks! Wooo!
I think it doesn't need to really be said that I preferred Throttle to Duel, but I do think that for what each story is in and of itself, both are very good. Throttle is just more my kind of story.
I enjoyed Stephen Lang's reading of these as well. If you are able to listen to the audiobook, it's a good way to kill about 2.5 hours. Otherwise, Throttle can be found in He Is Legend: An Anthology Celebrating Richard Matheson, and Duel, obviously, can be found in Duel: Terror Stories By Richard Matheson.
Horror October 2011: #12
November 21, 2023
4.5 rounded up
2 good stories, Duel by Richard Matheson and Throttle by Joe Hill & Stephen King
2 good stories, Duel by Richard Matheson and Throttle by Joe Hill & Stephen King
October 27, 2017
Stories like these always make me happy. I remember seeing Spielberg's adaptation of Duel back when I was a little boy in the late 80s, and it definitely made a great first impression on me. In this two-piece offering, the iconic Stephen King teams up with his son Joe (Hill) for a short but sweet tribute to the trucker-gone-wild classic. I had never read a Richard Matheson tale before...I had only watched his work on the screen—whether it was adapted into an episode of The Twilight Zone or if it were on the "big screen" in the form of the kinda crappy Will Smith vehicle, I Am Legend. And while Duel does still leave a mark as a novella, I can see why the story made so much more impact as a visual medium. Joe and Stephen's story, Throttle, is certainly more exciting and contemporary (obviously). After finishing it up, I read that it'll be turned into a movie down the road. COOL. That'll be fun to watch. Makes me wonder, though...how much money does Stephen King—and perhaps his younger doppelganger by a smaller degree—have rolling in daily? I bet it's a lot. More than I'll ever see in my life. It's probably at the point where the profoundly prolific man despises the color green! Great; now I'm depressed about my own financial situation. If you don't mind, I think I'll just end this review here...so if you need me, I'll be in the corner...cursing at the long-gone bastard who invented money (RIP). Or maybe I will go watch some stuff that was influenced by Duel...like Breakdown (yet another classic—Kurt Russell rules), Joy Ride (um, poor Paul Walker), or The Hitcher (the original, not the remake)! All right. I've typed myself off the ledge; I'll do that instead. Oh yeah, and I'm gonna have to Google the dastardly person who curated currency. That punk ass. Cash kills all of us. Thanks, dead guy! I'm insane. You know that, right?
March 13, 2009
This audio-only book is actually two stories. "Duel" by Richard Matheson was written I believe sometime in the early 70's and features a salesman trying to get to San Francisco on business who is accosted by an oil rig driver with an unhealthy grudge. The second story, a modern composition called "Throttle", written by Stephen King and Joe Hill was inspired by Matheson's entry. The King/Hill tale revolves around a group of bikers who run across a similar threat and must battle for their lives on an open and desolate stretch of 20 mile road in Nevada.
Both of these stories are ideal for the medium that was chosen to present them. I don't know about you, but the only place I listen to audio books is in my car. Otherwise, I much prefer my reading in that old-fashioned format....a book. But the subject matter and setting thrust you right into the stories because how can we better relate to the plight of the character than when we are sitting in their own seat while listening?
While "Duel" sets the stage for "Throttle" in many ways, "Throttle" is the more layered and textured story. "Duel" is relatively short and there is more mystery to the character's backgrounds. "Throttle delves a bit more into back-story, motive, and therefore is a bit longer. While "Duel" may be more effective in its ability to creep you out as our protagonist is alone and isolated, "Throttle" leaves you wondering if there is a protagonist we should be pulling for in the first place.
I highly recommend listening to these stories as you travel the open road. Just remember to check your rear and side view mirrors, and keep your own road rage in check. You never know who might be travelling the road with you that day.
Both of these stories are ideal for the medium that was chosen to present them. I don't know about you, but the only place I listen to audio books is in my car. Otherwise, I much prefer my reading in that old-fashioned format....a book. But the subject matter and setting thrust you right into the stories because how can we better relate to the plight of the character than when we are sitting in their own seat while listening?
While "Duel" sets the stage for "Throttle" in many ways, "Throttle" is the more layered and textured story. "Duel" is relatively short and there is more mystery to the character's backgrounds. "Throttle delves a bit more into back-story, motive, and therefore is a bit longer. While "Duel" may be more effective in its ability to creep you out as our protagonist is alone and isolated, "Throttle" leaves you wondering if there is a protagonist we should be pulling for in the first place.
I highly recommend listening to these stories as you travel the open road. Just remember to check your rear and side view mirrors, and keep your own road rage in check. You never know who might be travelling the road with you that day.
February 19, 2017
This book is spilt into two parts: the story "Throttle" written by the duo of Stephen King and Joe Hill; and "Duel" written by Richard Matheson. Throttle itself is a kind of spin-off of the Richard Matheson story.
I gotta say, the story Throttle was just okay. It focuses on a group of bikers who are angry after a drug-deal goes wrong, so they head out on the road quickly encountering a truck intent on killing them all. It kinda felt a bit all over the place, I didn't care for it much. The illustrations were pretty awesome though.
However, I much preferred the Richard Matheson story Duel. It was about a lone man who finds himself being chased down by a relentless truck intent on murder. This was more exciting and easier to follow than Throttle, I felt.
To be honest, the best part of this entire graphic novel was the introductions by Stephen King and Joe Hill. And they were too short-lived!
I gotta say, the story Throttle was just okay. It focuses on a group of bikers who are angry after a drug-deal goes wrong, so they head out on the road quickly encountering a truck intent on killing them all. It kinda felt a bit all over the place, I didn't care for it much. The illustrations were pretty awesome though.
However, I much preferred the Richard Matheson story Duel. It was about a lone man who finds himself being chased down by a relentless truck intent on murder. This was more exciting and easier to follow than Throttle, I felt.
To be honest, the best part of this entire graphic novel was the introductions by Stephen King and Joe Hill. And they were too short-lived!
July 31, 2010
This set of two stories was a nice diversion while driving down I-75 for a couple of hours this afternoon.
Then again, it had me looking in my mirror a few times whenever I got close to a trucker...
But very enjoyable and Stephen Lang does a good job reading them. The first story was one that I was familiar with, "Duel" by Richard Matheson. I'd seen the movie done by Spielberg so pretty much knew how this went. Still, I was pleased with Matheson's style here, though much of the suspense was lost since I knew the story.
The second, "Throttle" by Joe Hill and Stephen King, is an update to the story while being an homage to the original. It had the same creepy feeling, with some extra twists which we can always count on with Hill and King.
I won't spoil, but fans of all three authors should enjoy this.
Then again, it had me looking in my mirror a few times whenever I got close to a trucker...
But very enjoyable and Stephen Lang does a good job reading them. The first story was one that I was familiar with, "Duel" by Richard Matheson. I'd seen the movie done by Spielberg so pretty much knew how this went. Still, I was pleased with Matheson's style here, though much of the suspense was lost since I knew the story.
The second, "Throttle" by Joe Hill and Stephen King, is an update to the story while being an homage to the original. It had the same creepy feeling, with some extra twists which we can always count on with Hill and King.
I won't spoil, but fans of all three authors should enjoy this.
December 10, 2023
This audiobook pairs two thematically similar stories; Richard Matheson's short story Duel from a 1971 issue of Playboy, now primarily remembered because Spielberg's first film was based upon it, and Throttle by Joe Hill and his father (who has also written some, I think), which was inspired by Matheson's earlier work and first appeared in a limited-edition Matheson tribute anthology. Both are enjoyable and very nicely read by Stephen Lang. Duel is more of a suspenseful violent event account, and Throttle is a longer, fully developed story with interesting backgrounds and motivations for the characters, but it's a very fast-paced tale, too. Set the cruise control and settle back... but remember to keep an eye in the rear-view mirror for eighteen wheelers.
January 17, 2012
Matheson immerses us in a case of Road rage in Duel a short story. He really places you in the thick of the tension. We all know what it's like driving on the freeway those big trucks they own the road due to their size. He takes this tool of terror a Truck coupled with an anonymous driver who is rampant on causing fear and terror to our likable protagonist.
The main protagonist is a salesman on business trip it will be a trip three days of motels and restaurant eating. It all picks up on a Thursday morning on a California Highway. This story is short but it really packs solid prose and psychological thrill. He places you in the shoes of the salesman you see it all through his eyes P.O.V mode and really feel you are there with him in the thick of it, on the highway experiencing the whole series of events to take place. Outstanding Matheson is in his character's and writing.
All it takes is one shocking incident and all the years behind you are displaced!
Was adapted to screen, directed by Spielberg
Throttle by Stephen King and Joe Hill is another story dealing with the road and trucks. Their story is not as first person as Matheson's and you are slightly more away from a psychological thrill. This story is knitted together well.
There is to be a graphic novel version of this out in February.
Review also here.
The main protagonist is a salesman on business trip it will be a trip three days of motels and restaurant eating. It all picks up on a Thursday morning on a California Highway. This story is short but it really packs solid prose and psychological thrill. He places you in the shoes of the salesman you see it all through his eyes P.O.V mode and really feel you are there with him in the thick of it, on the highway experiencing the whole series of events to take place. Outstanding Matheson is in his character's and writing.
All it takes is one shocking incident and all the years behind you are displaced!
Was adapted to screen, directed by Spielberg
Throttle by Stephen King and Joe Hill is another story dealing with the road and trucks. Their story is not as first person as Matheson's and you are slightly more away from a psychological thrill. This story is knitted together well.
There is to be a graphic novel version of this out in February.
Review also here.
December 3, 2021
Book done exceptionally well. The narrator literally made me dose during traffic. Scary scary 😟 how is someone’s voice so monotonous that it puts you to bed. It was calmer than ASMR and it was talking about craziness lol…
I need to get my life together but that’s got another time.
Happy reading everyone 🥰😘
I need to get my life together but that’s got another time.
Happy reading everyone 🥰😘
June 28, 2022
A good pairing of seat-of-your-pants stories.
Duel:
This was my first time to listen to the audiobook; ca. 22 years ago I watched the movie on videotape (the DVD widescreen is much better, ha!). Some interesting differences that I noticed between the book and movie:
* At the beginning of the story "the man" notices a pet cemetery. I wonder if this was partial inspiration for Stephen King's "[Pet Sematary|59347921]" 🙀
* There is some cursing by "the man"; it's hard to image Dennis Weaver uttering some of the words.
* "The man" learns more about the identity of the truck driver than in the movie.
* The ending seemed slightly different. I'll have to get my hands on the print story to get the details. I recall from the extra on the movie DVD that it was originally published in Playboy Magazine. 😉
Stephen Lang is a great narrator and he has the western American drawl that's perfect for Duel and The Hill. However, the Duel story itself didn't seem as thrilling to me as the movie. I'm so used to the multisensory experience of the movie; the story without that wasn't as effective for me. Of course, this is my perspective. Another listener could have quite a different one, especially if they haven't seen the movie.
Throttle:
I originally read this story while on a Stephen King marathon in 2020. I enjoyed the descriptions of the truck and truck driver and their homage to Duel. As in the Duel story, we get some visual clues about the trucker's identity plus background. While listening to the story, I noticed moreso the complexity of the father and son relationship, especially their war veteran experiences. Also, a fellow biker named Lemmy? Rock on! Overall, I didn't like the story as well as Duel. Maybe that's due to me identifying more with "the man" than the bikers. (Dennis Weaver spoke at my dad's college graduation; the same college I graduated from). 😎
Duel:
This was my first time to listen to the audiobook; ca. 22 years ago I watched the movie on videotape (the DVD widescreen is much better, ha!). Some interesting differences that I noticed between the book and movie:
* At the beginning of the story "the man" notices a pet cemetery. I wonder if this was partial inspiration for Stephen King's "[Pet Sematary|59347921]" 🙀
* There is some cursing by "the man"; it's hard to image Dennis Weaver uttering some of the words.
* "The man" learns more about the identity of the truck driver than in the movie.
* The ending seemed slightly different. I'll have to get my hands on the print story to get the details. I recall from the extra on the movie DVD that it was originally published in Playboy Magazine. 😉
Stephen Lang is a great narrator and he has the western American drawl that's perfect for Duel and The Hill. However, the Duel story itself didn't seem as thrilling to me as the movie. I'm so used to the multisensory experience of the movie; the story without that wasn't as effective for me. Of course, this is my perspective. Another listener could have quite a different one, especially if they haven't seen the movie.
Throttle:
I originally read this story while on a Stephen King marathon in 2020. I enjoyed the descriptions of the truck and truck driver and their homage to Duel. As in the Duel story, we get some visual clues about the trucker's identity plus background. While listening to the story, I noticed moreso the complexity of the father and son relationship, especially their war veteran experiences. Also, a fellow biker named Lemmy? Rock on! Overall, I didn't like the story as well as Duel. Maybe that's due to me identifying more with "the man" than the bikers. (Dennis Weaver spoke at my dad's college graduation; the same college I graduated from). 😎
February 14, 2017
I was perusing Hoopla's selection of audios because I like to listen to them on my commute or when I'm cooking/cleaning, and I saw that Matheson's short story "Duel" is available as s two-fer with Stephen King and Joe Hill's contemporary version of anonymous man vs. everyman in a duel to the finish on the highway.
"Duel" - I first knew about this story back in the seventies when I was a kid and watched the made-for-TV movie starring Dennis Weaver. This was before Steven Spielberg hit it big with Jaws, and even as a kid I was sucked into the menace of this story about a man traveling for work getting terrorized by an anonymous man in an 18-wheeler. Why? We don't know and we don't care. It's just fun to watch Everyman battling Anonymous Man AKA Beefy Arm Hanging Out the Window.
"Throttle" - Stephen King and Joe Hill's short story is about a bunch of bikers being stalked by Anonymous Man. As in "Duel" we don't know why...at first, but in this fleshed-out story we get character background, father/child relationships, and a reason why the bikers are being crushed under the truck driver's wheels. And the denouement of this story makes us feel differently than we felt at the end of "Duel." To say more would be to give it away, but have a listen and enjoy.
"Duel" - I first knew about this story back in the seventies when I was a kid and watched the made-for-TV movie starring Dennis Weaver. This was before Steven Spielberg hit it big with Jaws, and even as a kid I was sucked into the menace of this story about a man traveling for work getting terrorized by an anonymous man in an 18-wheeler. Why? We don't know and we don't care. It's just fun to watch Everyman battling Anonymous Man AKA Beefy Arm Hanging Out the Window.
"Throttle" - Stephen King and Joe Hill's short story is about a bunch of bikers being stalked by Anonymous Man. As in "Duel" we don't know why...at first, but in this fleshed-out story we get character background, father/child relationships, and a reason why the bikers are being crushed under the truck driver's wheels. And the denouement of this story makes us feel differently than we felt at the end of "Duel." To say more would be to give it away, but have a listen and enjoy.
September 5, 2023
Fun series.
Enjoyed this series. It was two different stories, two episodes each. I'd give the first story a 3.75 and the second one a 4.25 for a total of four stars overall.
Enjoyed this series. It was two different stories, two episodes each. I'd give the first story a 3.75 and the second one a 4.25 for a total of four stars overall.
April 11, 2018
Basically, Stephen King and his son present their 21st century updating / interpretation (or is it a homage?) of Richard Matheson's classic short story Duel with Throttle, featuring an outlaw biker gang murderously pursued by a vengeful trucker on the less-traveled roads of the American southwest. It was okay, although there was a nice "oh @$%&" realization moment near the climax.
Likely because I am a fan of Matheson's original work (and that TV-movie version by some forgotten guy named Spielberg) that I instead enjoyed the graphic novel version of Duel. Maybe it was just because of its familiarity, but it seemed more frugally effective than Throttle.
Likely because I am a fan of Matheson's original work (and that TV-movie version by some forgotten guy named Spielberg) that I instead enjoyed the graphic novel version of Duel. Maybe it was just because of its familiarity, but it seemed more frugally effective than Throttle.
December 17, 2018
Two short psychologically-twisted stories, from masters of horror. Both stories are about 1 hour and 20 minutes and focus on road rage/crazy truckers. I preferred Matheson’s story, it felt more classic horror, with taut tension throughout. An interesting enough listen on a drive home.
May 26, 2010
My four star rating is an average of my rating for the two novellas included in this audio collection.
Duel by Richard Matheson -- Five Stars
One of the good things about the Will Smith version of "I Am Legend" hitting the big-screen is that it brought a lot of harder to find work of Richard Matheson back into print, introducing a new generation of fans to him. "Legend" is one of his strongest offerings, but it seems the man could really do no wrong and he was an absolute master of the short story and novella.
That mastery shows with "Duel." The story is a simple one--a man driving on a California highway one hot summer afternoon enters into a game of chicken when a huge semi. The situation begins innocently enough with our hero, Mann, passing the truck and slowly devolves into a game of wills and utter paranoia as the truck and its driver seem to have it in for Mann. The slow descent into obsession is marvelously played out over the course of the story and watching Mann's increasing desperation to defeat the truck is a fascinating, compelling and scary journey. If you've ever been tailgated by a semi on a two-lane road, you'll understand how easy it is to slip into the madness that grips and eventually consumes Mann.
Taut, driven and compelling, the story is an example of Matheson at his finest. It shows his skill of taking ordinary people and putting them into extraordinary situations of high tension in order to observe how they react--both positively and negatively. Mann is self-aware enough, at times, to realize just how crazy his current situation is even though at others he's so consumed by the need to out run the truck or to beat it that he's blinded to the possible implications. It's a great story and wonderfully brought to life in this audio release.
"Throttle" by Stephen King and Joe Hill
Stephen King has stated (in fact, it's a blurb on the cover of most reissues of Matheson's books) that Matheson is one of the writers who influenced him the most. That's apparent in a large majority of King's writings, though it's not necessarily on as great a display here in "Throttle." Written with his son, Joe Hill, the story is meant as an homage to Matheson and "Duel" and while it has its moments, it pales by comparison.
A group of bikers, fleeing a bad investment in a meth lab and murder, encounter a mysterious semi that takes on supernatural like proportions in a road game of cat and mouse. The story has potential and maybe if I'd heard it before I listened to "Duel" I would have liked it more. Instead, the story is a more violent version that has too many irons in the fire to be truly satisfying.
Duel by Richard Matheson -- Five Stars
One of the good things about the Will Smith version of "I Am Legend" hitting the big-screen is that it brought a lot of harder to find work of Richard Matheson back into print, introducing a new generation of fans to him. "Legend" is one of his strongest offerings, but it seems the man could really do no wrong and he was an absolute master of the short story and novella.
That mastery shows with "Duel." The story is a simple one--a man driving on a California highway one hot summer afternoon enters into a game of chicken when a huge semi. The situation begins innocently enough with our hero, Mann, passing the truck and slowly devolves into a game of wills and utter paranoia as the truck and its driver seem to have it in for Mann. The slow descent into obsession is marvelously played out over the course of the story and watching Mann's increasing desperation to defeat the truck is a fascinating, compelling and scary journey. If you've ever been tailgated by a semi on a two-lane road, you'll understand how easy it is to slip into the madness that grips and eventually consumes Mann.
Taut, driven and compelling, the story is an example of Matheson at his finest. It shows his skill of taking ordinary people and putting them into extraordinary situations of high tension in order to observe how they react--both positively and negatively. Mann is self-aware enough, at times, to realize just how crazy his current situation is even though at others he's so consumed by the need to out run the truck or to beat it that he's blinded to the possible implications. It's a great story and wonderfully brought to life in this audio release.
"Throttle" by Stephen King and Joe Hill
Stephen King has stated (in fact, it's a blurb on the cover of most reissues of Matheson's books) that Matheson is one of the writers who influenced him the most. That's apparent in a large majority of King's writings, though it's not necessarily on as great a display here in "Throttle." Written with his son, Joe Hill, the story is meant as an homage to Matheson and "Duel" and while it has its moments, it pales by comparison.
A group of bikers, fleeing a bad investment in a meth lab and murder, encounter a mysterious semi that takes on supernatural like proportions in a road game of cat and mouse. The story has potential and maybe if I'd heard it before I listened to "Duel" I would have liked it more. Instead, the story is a more violent version that has too many irons in the fire to be truly satisfying.
January 29, 2023
Fun and frightening! It contained two short stories in graphic novel form. I thought they were good, the illustrations were very good, but I wasn't blown away by the adaptation. I loved reading about Matheson's works in the introduction written by King and it made me want to read some of his books in the future! I definitely recommend this book because it was still a wild ride and I finished it fast in one sitting.
September 16, 2016
A couple of road rage short stories that go pretty much as one might expect. Only in this day and age, they are more frequent. 5 of 10 stars
November 29, 2016
This was always going to get five stars, even before I picked it up, because although it only has two stories, one is Richard Matheson’s “Duel.” The narrator would have had to mess it horribly, and he certainly didn’t.
“Duel” is one of my favorite short stories, being the purest form of a conflict drama, a salesman on the highway pursued by an enigmatic and increasingly violent tanker truck. It’s so strong that the fifth time I read it, sitting on an Amtrak train, after a few pages I unconsciously checked behind myself to see if a truck was following me. It’s a master class in hooks and delivery, climbing gradually out of the salesman’s mundane thoughts about making his meeting and getting a hot bath, that sleepy lull your thoughts get after hours at the wheel, into horrified speculation about who would try to run him off the road. As the truck becomes more and more insistent, the man realizes there is nowhere he can escape from it, which ought to wear itself out, but Matheson paces it perfectly, alternating between escalating events, morbid suggestions of intent, and our salesman’s internal monologue as he tries to make sense of things and gradually loses his grip. It’s a fable of a giant bear for the automotative world.
Stephen Lang doesn’t narrate it like I’ve ever imagined it, but his work is solid. He has a wan voice, reciting his paragraphs, and occasionally leaning in or growing agitated in a way that coaxes emotion out of me. Because if this haggard speaker is worried? Then I also ought to be. He has obvious talent.
He gets more material to work with in King and Hill’s “Throttle,” the story of The Tribe, a drug-running biker gang that is waylaid by a mystery attacker in a semi-truck. Set beside “Duel” its homage is obvious, but the comparison makes “Throttle” seem tacky, particularly for its high frequency of graphic violence. The descriptions of bile, vomit, blood, bones sticking out through skin, a shovel jammed into a skull and men run over by cars are exactly the kind of shock value that “Duel” doesn’t need, and reminds me of the old Alfred Hitchcock quote: “There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.”
“Throttle” is largely bang until the pathos of its climax, which is certainly clever, but still sits on top of a giant highway brawl. That attack, the meat of the story, is a reasonable fight scene, and Lang delivers some of the murders with sinister gravitas, but it’s an odd companion piece to the prolonged tension over the possibility of one man being hurt in “Duel.”
To be fair to “Throttle,” I waited a few days and listened to it again without “Duel.” Lang does an excellent job, one of the best narrations of a short story I’ve heard in a long time. It still feels like an excuse for graphic violence, not much depth or pathos to the criminals who are eventually torn up by their truck-villain. A story that is primarily a battle scene is fair beside one that’s essentially a chase scene; this is just far more garish, far more “bang.” And it’s got a brilliant way of revealing who the attacker is.
Despite the titling, neither story is a novella; they're both short stories, neither lasting much more than an hour. They're both entertaining and splendidly narrated hours. Come for “Duel,” sit deep for “Throttle,” and see which you prefer. Happy driving.
“Duel” is one of my favorite short stories, being the purest form of a conflict drama, a salesman on the highway pursued by an enigmatic and increasingly violent tanker truck. It’s so strong that the fifth time I read it, sitting on an Amtrak train, after a few pages I unconsciously checked behind myself to see if a truck was following me. It’s a master class in hooks and delivery, climbing gradually out of the salesman’s mundane thoughts about making his meeting and getting a hot bath, that sleepy lull your thoughts get after hours at the wheel, into horrified speculation about who would try to run him off the road. As the truck becomes more and more insistent, the man realizes there is nowhere he can escape from it, which ought to wear itself out, but Matheson paces it perfectly, alternating between escalating events, morbid suggestions of intent, and our salesman’s internal monologue as he tries to make sense of things and gradually loses his grip. It’s a fable of a giant bear for the automotative world.
Stephen Lang doesn’t narrate it like I’ve ever imagined it, but his work is solid. He has a wan voice, reciting his paragraphs, and occasionally leaning in or growing agitated in a way that coaxes emotion out of me. Because if this haggard speaker is worried? Then I also ought to be. He has obvious talent.
He gets more material to work with in King and Hill’s “Throttle,” the story of The Tribe, a drug-running biker gang that is waylaid by a mystery attacker in a semi-truck. Set beside “Duel” its homage is obvious, but the comparison makes “Throttle” seem tacky, particularly for its high frequency of graphic violence. The descriptions of bile, vomit, blood, bones sticking out through skin, a shovel jammed into a skull and men run over by cars are exactly the kind of shock value that “Duel” doesn’t need, and reminds me of the old Alfred Hitchcock quote: “There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.”
“Throttle” is largely bang until the pathos of its climax, which is certainly clever, but still sits on top of a giant highway brawl. That attack, the meat of the story, is a reasonable fight scene, and Lang delivers some of the murders with sinister gravitas, but it’s an odd companion piece to the prolonged tension over the possibility of one man being hurt in “Duel.”
To be fair to “Throttle,” I waited a few days and listened to it again without “Duel.” Lang does an excellent job, one of the best narrations of a short story I’ve heard in a long time. It still feels like an excuse for graphic violence, not much depth or pathos to the criminals who are eventually torn up by their truck-villain. A story that is primarily a battle scene is fair beside one that’s essentially a chase scene; this is just far more garish, far more “bang.” And it’s got a brilliant way of revealing who the attacker is.
Despite the titling, neither story is a novella; they're both short stories, neither lasting much more than an hour. They're both entertaining and splendidly narrated hours. Come for “Duel,” sit deep for “Throttle,” and see which you prefer. Happy driving.
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