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Prey
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Published September 15, 1997
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About the author
Richard Matheson
398 books4,858 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 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 3, 2023
Audiobook.
Short story. Wow, that was creepy.
Short story. Wow, that was creepy.
February 4, 2026
Entertaining but soooo creepy I’m glad it’s over
December 26, 2024
My husband was reading "I Am Legend" recently, and his copy of the book came with several short stories. He told me about this one, and I just had to read it for myself!
The tension was UNBELIEVABLE! The whole setup is tinged with gloom and then the plotline with this creepy Zulu doll is sooooo scary. Doll horror is my top top top scariest horror trope ever. It doesn't matter if it's cheasy. Doll stuff always gets me! This was so well done, though.
I will say, for younger people, yes there's an element of racism with the depiction and description of the doll. If you're extra sensitive to that, give this a pass. But if you're not, this is a ridiculous little tension filled story we'll worth a quick read.
The tension was UNBELIEVABLE! The whole setup is tinged with gloom and then the plotline with this creepy Zulu doll is sooooo scary. Doll horror is my top top top scariest horror trope ever. It doesn't matter if it's cheasy. Doll stuff always gets me! This was so well done, though.
I will say, for younger people, yes there's an element of racism with the depiction and description of the doll. If you're extra sensitive to that, give this a pass. But if you're not, this is a ridiculous little tension filled story we'll worth a quick read.
June 17, 2022
This is the story of a woman named Amelia who cancels an evening with her mother to spend time with a man who is her romantic interest. She purchased a strange African doll from a curio shop that is hypothetically a Zulu hunter. Amelia pays little attention to the information included with the doll; however, she should have been aware that the spirit that lives in the figure is a hunter and will destroy its prey. Her boyfriend decides not to visit, and Amelia finds that she must deal with the hunter that sees her as prey.
November 30, 2022
I originally saw this story adapted in the TV anthology film, Trilogy of Terror, and loved it and later on found a copy of the short story collected in a paperback with I Am Legend.
Have to say, still love the story. It was suspenseful, dramatic, tense, a little freaky, and a little bloody... especially the wicked little ending.
Have to say, still love the story. It was suspenseful, dramatic, tense, a little freaky, and a little bloody... especially the wicked little ending.
August 11, 2020
Like a story you would tell at a sleep over.
April 4, 2021
Holy shit. The tension in this is so well done.
July 22, 2021
Although I felt that I could sense what was going to happen next- the anticipation was intense! Great short story.
September 12, 2021
3 out of 5
November 10, 2021
Just fucking awful.. almost offensively terrible.
December 27, 2021
This was a truly stressful read. I was too tense to enjoy it!
May 7, 2022
A creepy story that was the basis for one of the most terrifying and unforgettable Trilogy of Terror episodes. Karen Black starred in it and did a incredible job.
August 12, 2023
Terrifying. Gave me goosebumps. I could see how this influenced so many 20th and 21st century horror writers.
October 7, 2023
🖋️ Very much the creepy, scary story! The ending was excellent—
🎥 Media form: 1975 movie version, “Trilogy of Terror” with Karen Black in the ABC Movie of the Week..
●▬●🔷●🔷●▬●
🎥 Media form: 1975 movie version, “Trilogy of Terror” with Karen Black in the ABC Movie of the Week..
●▬●🔷●🔷●▬●
December 17, 2023
A fun short story about a Zuni doll that comes to life and attacks a woman. 7/10
July 11, 2024
A different version of Chucky.
January 9, 2025
Definitely one of the creepiest stories I have ever read. That was downright disturbing. For adult audiences only
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2025
Edge of my seat the whole time reading.
September 12, 2025
Well, now I know where Stephen King’s idea for “The Monkey” came from.
October 30, 2025
It was creepy, but wasn't the creepiest
November 6, 2025
Perfect short story, and atmospheric, creepy and haunting. One of the original horror concepts that became Chucky type trope. So although doesn’t seem original now it was in the 1960’s.
November 22, 2025
The tension was real but it didn't have the gnawing insanity I felt with many of his other stories. Would be considered racially insensitive today.
March 10, 2021
Clever story idea, but something about the way it was written lacked emotion and was way too mechanical.
January 1, 2025
A Chucky like murderous doll story with a depraved ending. Nothing special here.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews