The Fan

by Bob Randall

Bawdy and aging Broadway star Sally Ross and her tough secretary, Belle, who cling together against the realities of lost loves and life passing, enter a world of bizarre terror when a persistent fan's letters turn perverse, obscene... and menacing.

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Drama, Mystery Thriller

243 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[TK421 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to work at a small library in South Dakota. Please hold all your comments to yourself -- I have heard them all before. One thing the small town where this library is located gave me was books. Lots of them. I was the only male surrounded by women 20 or more years older than me. They knew my passion for reading. And when donated books came to the library after my departure these ladies would place the books they thought I would like to read in a box for me. THE FAN was one of these books. I had never heard of Bob Randall before so I let this one linger on my shelves for a bit.

Well, I read it and now I have a few things to say about it. First off, this epistolary novel has been made into two different movies. The first was in 1981 and starred Lauren Bacall and James Garner. From those names alone you might think this was a popular movie -- you'd be wrong though. The movie was a flop. The second movie based on this book starred Robert DeNiro and Wesley Snipes -- this version is much different. I never saw this movie and am too lazy to see what it grossed at the box office. But it seemed to be popular back in the day.

So the book.

The book was short -- there was a lot of white on the pages. Each chapter was a letter written between the different characters. I have no problem with epistolary novels; in fact, I enjoy them, mostly. This one was a mixed bag. For starters, the novel does not age well. This is almost a period piece. Again, I have no problem with that if the story can stand on its own feet. This one cannot. The characters are flat. The dialogue is stilted. And the ending of the novel is one of the most anticlimactic I have ever read. With that being said, there are some redeeming qualities about this book. The way Randall portrays Hollywood was interesting. The scandals and the personas of that industry were full of vigor...except for the main character, Sally, whose whining and complacency made me want to cheer on the killer. And Jake, the ex-lover, whose valiant efforts to save Sally throughout the book were contrived and cliche, at best.

So why the three stars?

Simple. I liked the killer. Perhaps this says more about me than I care to admit. But Randall created a psychopath that was believable and horrifying. Few books have been more brilliant when portraying the madness and obsession of characters like Douglas, the stalker who fixates about a life with Sally. To me, it seems Randall would agree with me. He spends the most time with Douglas, fleshing out his character, his character's thoughts, and, ultimately, the slip between reality and fantasy that sends Douglas to the edge to commit murder. If only Randall would have done the same with the other characters...it might have made a very good story.

If you can find this book, and want to read a quick psychological thriller, there are worse books that you could choose.

RECOMMENDED (as a time killer...sorry, bad pun)

[Susan (the other Susan) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent creepiness. Creep supreme. All things creepy. Creepy Is Us.

This short, intense story of psychological suspense/horror is told entirely in the form of letters, newspaper articles, police reports and Post-It notes left for the housekeeper. The plot is simple: a legendary stage actress is stalked by an increasingly obsessed fan named Douglas Breen. (After all these years, I still remember the name and it still gives me chills.)

The various voices, particularly that of the celebrity attempting to live her life without giving in to fear, are by turns disarmingly humorous, endearing, loving, concerned, and effing CRAZY. This isn't classic fiction, but it's damned effective and the format is rather brilliant, and imminently readable.

Forget the failed movie whose only saving grace was that it featured Lauren Bacall, who was precisely the person I envisioned as the glamorous, sassy, sharply intelligent New Yorker whose legendary status attracts the wrong fan. This isn't just a case of the-book-is-better-than-the-film, but of significant and ham-handed changes to the plot. If you can find this book, read it. But have a friend or two around. There was a time when I could make my roommate squeal just by whispering, "Douglas Breen."

[Katie T · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been 5 stars if it’d been about a killer oscillating fan like I’d initially thought.

[Karen Hagman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel was excellent, written from beginning to end in the form of "letters" and "notes" to and from the characters. Hilarious and quirky turns to creepy and sadistic. A gripper that I read in a few hours as I was enthralled with the plot.

The Book is much better than the movie that followed in 1981. If the movie has been seen and the book unread I recommend reading the book. The story in the book version is more vivid, exciting and thrilling!

The movie "The Fan" starring Lauren Bacall, James Garner, Maureen Stapleton (1981) was a major disappointment. The ending was drastically changed in the movie.

[zed · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

I read this when I was 18 - 19 not long after release and can hardly recall it but do remember liking it. The link posted reminded me of it.

[Bert · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely wicked and nasty little horror novel. I love epistolary novels so much, I always fly through them with ease, this one I ate up so fast. The ending OMFG!!

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in a Reader's Digest condensed book when I was about in 5th grade. I was staying at my grandparents house while my parents were out of town and I must have been desperate for reading material because this isn't for kids!

Just found it and re-read it as an adult. Story of a stalker to a movie star (before we even knew what a stalker was). All written in a correspondence format through letters. It stood the test of time for me. I just finished it and it was as good and creepy as I remembered it to be in 1978.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel is already a step ahead of the pack because of its epistolary nature -- it forces the reader to make connections, psychoanalyze characters and to imagine events that aren't described in great detail -- and that felt refreshing and new. Where The Fan further succeeds is in creating deep and deeply flawed characters with distinct voices, wounded psyches and desperate hopes for the future - and that where the true rewards of this novel lie.

[Mikepottz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Douglas is Sally's greatest fan. The first letter he writes the ex-movie star is fucking creepy. He works in a record store (jealous) and constantly writes to her wanting a signed photograph. He finally does get a photograph. He is gushing now. His constant letters are causing issues with Sally's secretary. He feels a relationship with a fan and star is sacrosanct. The fan is telling the star about his mundane life. Nobody cares Douglas you sick fuck. Now he is using the word love. Writing how they will meet and how good looking he is. Also saying he isn't a fan but a close friend. Escalating. And if she wants, she can be his lover. He has 'equipment' that would make her very very happy. Watching her from a distance. He stabs the secretary. Describing the knife as his male organ. Remember he has a 10 inch dick. Now he is calling her bitch, his letters spiraling out of control. He is telling her he wants to kill her with a meat cleaver. More letters, more killing. Either Sally dies or doesn't. It is dark, so what do you think?

[Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Missus I'm Too Good To Call Or Write My Fans
This'll be the last package I ever send your ass
It's been six months and still no word, I don't deserve it
I know you got the last two letters, I wrote the addresses on them perfect

[Ireniam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó. Ciertamente se nota que fue escrito en los 70s, algunas expresiones usadas en las cartas, desiciones tomadas por los personajes así como también algunas acciones que hoy en día no colarian en un libro. En mi caso, no afectó mi experiencia de esta lectura.

Según tengo entendido, hay una película basada en este libro sin embargo no estoy segura que tan bien se traduzca a la gran pantalla ya que el formato de cartas fue lo que más disfrute de The Fan. Las interacciones vía correo le dan cierto encanto, además de que hay que admitir que el autor tuvo el talento para contar esta historia de forma epistolar, con varios personajes, dónde no se siente que haga falta nada para seguir la trama y disfrutarla.

Recomendado.

[kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

a real page turner, the stalking plot, although good and creepy, took a back burner in my mind. to my surprise, i was mainly focused on the development and love sal had with her ex-husband and friends, great characterization all around. tho the ending, i felt like, was cheap.

[Brenna Sherrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

a book full of delicious drama!!!

[Michelle E · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember reading this years ago and finding it sooo good. Now I find it dull, over the top and long winded.

[Anoop Pai B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy!! What a creepy novel, and what a unique way of presenting the novel.
Sally Ross is a famous theatre artist whose charm has made many go gaga over her, including one Mr. Douglas Breen, who claims to be her greatest fan and also her lover. All is fine till one day, when Sally's assistant ends up replying to one of the letters of Douglas. What starts as a devotion of a fan ends up being an dangerous obsession, crossing the limits of sanity and logic.
The entire novel is written as correspondence between people, making it an interesting read and a chilling experience, especially while reading the letters of Douglas.
And the ending!!!!! BAM!!!!!

[Kevin Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did I miss this one!? I recently saw the film based on it, and it is a camp masterpiece. However, the book is in a league of its own. The genius writing style of compiling memos, notes, and letters tells the story in an incredible fashion that had me riveted.

[Ondřej · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was honestly perfect.
so captivating, great character development, incredible ending.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this first as a Reader's Digest Condensed Book in my grandfather's library - I was always sneaking looks in those books, to get a taste of the "adult fiction" that was forbidden to me at a tender age. A few years later, I got hold of the full, uncensored version at a B. Dalton's in the mall. (Remember them?) The edited version was creepy enough. The uncensored one? Flat-out NIGHTMARE FUEL.
The story: Broadway diva Sally Ross is having a bad year. She's turning 50, her ex-husband (who she's still in love with) has married a woman young enough to be their daughter, and the clueless director of her new show thinks she's capable of doing dance routines consisting of gymnastics and spinning from one end of the stage to the other. She buries her pain with noisy parties. She starts an affair with a much-younger man. She trades witty barbs with her longtime secretary, Belle. And then, somewhere in the middle of this, the letters start arriving . . .
At first, Douglas Breen is indistinguishable from any other fan of hers. He heaps praise on her and politely requests an autographed photo. We see that he's been pretending to be a close acquaintance of hers in order to impress a friend, and he passes along the photo as proof. Weird, but not quite a red flag yet. Douglas requests a second photo, claiming he lost the first in a toaster fire. Belle sends it along with a polite note - and Douglas responds in an arrogant manner, claiming he's above her "normal" fans. Belle basically tells him to get lost . . . and a spiral of terror and madness begins.
The best part of this story - which is told in the form of letters, notes, memos and newspaper articles - is that the author maintains complete and steady control at all times. The descent into stalker hell is gradual - we see Douglas get increasingly paranoid, then explode into violence, then things keep escalating until the reader is edge-of-seat. One of the most chilling scenes is when Douglas disguises himself as a pregnant woman to sneak into Sally's building - not to do violence, but to prove how easy it would be to slip through security and invade her private sanctuary. The threat of horror is even more terrifying than an actual attack would be.
It's a shame that this novel isn't considered an all-time classic thriller - the lackluster movie adaptation, which had the misfortune of coming out shortly after John Lennon was killed by a stalker fan, probably killed off the book's reputation. The real-life stalker incidents that occurred after its publication - the murder of Rebecca Schaeffer, the stabbing of Theresa Saldana, the aforementioned Lennon assassination - just served to underline how this book could have happened exactly as it was written in the days before traceable E-mails and DNA evidence.
If you can find a copy of this book, by all means, read it. It's fast and easy to get through. Just be prepared to leave the lights on when you go to sleep.

[Eden Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visit JetBlackDragonfly (The Man Who Read Too Much) at www.edenthompson.ca/blog

The Fan is a tense 1977 thriller by Bob Randall written in an unusual epistolary form, a series of personal letters. It was made into a film starring Lauren Bacall, Maureen Stapleton and Michael Biehn in 1981, but due to an overload of slasher films of the time, it was deemed a bomb and Bacall criticized for appearing in perceived trash. Over the years it has proven to be a film of substance, which Bacall says held her best work.

Sally Ross is a glamorous movie star rehearsing for a Broadway show, and over the next six months, receives stacks of mail - agents with new projects, her ex-husband she remains friendly with, and fans asking for signed photographs.
Douglas Breen is one complimentary fan. His letters requesting a photo soon turn sharp when it is not received. He has lots of career ideas for her, and his friendly tone turns demanding when she doesn't respond. Perhaps it is the fault of her secretary Belle? She may not be giving the mail promptly to Sally. Perhaps she needs a sharp talking to. The letters begin to turn nasty and Belle is attacked with a knife one night in the subway.
- My darling. My star. My mate.
Soon he is planning a weekend away for them and expects Sally to attend. The police are called in and bodyguards hired.
- My body hardens at the thought of you my love.
As the opening night arrives, Sally's emotional tension is at a peak, fearing her stalker will be in the theatre - and she is right!

I was surprised how intense this thriller became, merely through short letters - this could be updated easily using emails, and probably has. A great premise, with a satisfying and unforgettable ending! - which, of course, they changed for the film. The characters personalities come through well, and reading personal letters quickly becomes engaging. A dynamite read I would include with Looking For Mr. Goodbar by Judith Rossner, The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin and The Parallax View by Loren Singer for enjoyable 1970's thrillers.

[Zachary Duval · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it has a downer ending such that I had to see if the film adaptation gave a happier and well-deserved closure to this story, this was a surprising short read that made me warm up to the twisted, yet realistic, nature of what I can only assume is a common occurrence in Hollywood or for any artist who has "those" fans. Even presenting the story in letters, while some may call experimental for its own sake, I thought worked wonders to convey the detached nature of the stalker and sympathy towards all relationships in the story. If for anything else, this story helped me see an extreme version of what toxic, hostile modern male fans of media have resorted to such that I wish they read this cautionary tale from the 1970s. Plus, unlike what I can gather the film is like, this a much more psychological thriller and less slasher story.

[Leon Acord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, how I LOVE this book. I first read it in my early teens, when I was just a farm boy in Indiana. I only got about half the references, but it still totally created the world of a Broadway actress, her loves and friends and dramas. The whole fan stalker business was always secondary as far as I was concerned. It was really more a portrait of Sally Ross and the challenges she faced as a single, aging actress in NYC in the late 1970s. And the structure of the book, written as letters and notes, back and forth between the characters, makes it feel like you're really getting an inside peek at their lives. I highly highly recommend it to everyone who loves acting or show business! I guarantee you will read it in one sitting!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This epistolary novel truly captures the psyche of a delusional and obsessed man. The way he reasons out and puts so much meaning into things that are not that deep and glaringly obvious stuns me. It's definitely terrifying to be the object of this person's "affection" for he might turn to violence if things don't go his way. Sadly, cases like these are not far from reality which makes the story more frightening.

[Elexis Padron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from my Nina many years ago and finally got around to reading it. I enjoyed how this book is told entirely through written exchanges. I thought it was a unique and fun way to tell a story. It was also really interesting to see how different communication was in that era--in both the technology and the language. Suspenseful, frustrating, tragic. I enjoyed it!

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than I'd expected. Told as a series of letters; amusing, disturbing but quite clever. I thought I knew what was happening but the author had lots of tricks up his sleeve. A very quick read.

[gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for the first time in high school, in the very early ‘80s. I loved it then, and I love it now.

It’s super short, so it’s a quick easy read.

I’m off to watch the movie version starring Lauren Bacall and a very young Michael Biehn.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

had me captivated. Really creative, creepy, weird and overall entertaining. DAMN that ending. I would’ve loved it more without the last letter lol. To know that Jake was coming back for her :( and then she DIES. ffs. Just end ME atp.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fun, but definitely dated.

[Brennan Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uses the epistolary format to provide tension that could be cut with a letter opener. Excellent use of different voices for different characters.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1981. The Fan chronicles one man's obsession with a celebrity. Creepy and intense.

[Victoria Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t know what I expected, but I’m just glad it’s over.