The Roald Dahl Omnibus: Perfect Bedtime Stories for Sleepless Nights

by Roald Dahl

Ever since his stories first appeared, people have been telling and re-telling each other Roald Dahl's sometimes shocking and always brilliant and bizarre assortment of terror-tinted gems. Bawdy, funny, touching, and downright outrageous, there's simply no one else like Roald Dahl.

This volume is a diabolical collection of 28 of Dahl's best stories. Shiver to classics like The Man From the South, Taste, Royal Jelly and The Great Switcheroo and hard-to-find gems like Poison, The Wish and Neck. It's the perfect remedy for a sleepless night.

From Someone Like You
Taste
Lamb to the Slaughter
Man from the South
The Soldier
Dip in the Pool
Galloping Foxley
Skin
Poison
Wish
Neck
Sound Machine
Nunc Dimittis
Great Automatic Grammatizator
Claud's Dog
Ratcatcher
Rummins
Mr Hoddy
Mr Feasey

From Kiss Kiss
Landlady
William and Mary
The Way Up to Heaven
Royal Jelly
Georgy Porgy
Genesis and Catastrophe
Edward the Conqueror
Pig
Champion of the World

From Switch Bitch
Great Switcheroo
Last Act
Bitch

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Childrens, Fantasy, Young Adult

683 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Roald Dahl was a beloved British author, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter pilot, best known for his enchanting and often darkly humorous children's books that have captivated generations of readers around the world. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led a life marked by adventure, tragedy, creativity, and enduring literary success. His vivid imagination and distinctive storytelling style have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors in modern literature.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.

Reviews

[El · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I realized that Roald Dahl wrote anything other than children's stories was somewhere around 7th or 8th grade when our English class was assigned to read a short story by Dahl called Lamb to the Slaughter. I fell in love with it at that time, I've referenced it numerous times over the years, I've re-read it a few times, and each time it never fails to completely amuse me. It never gets old. After reading his books for a younger audience as a child, the idea that there was this whole new world of Dahl stories out there just waiting for me absolutely blew me away. This never stopped me from re-reading many of his children's stories over the years as well, but in the back of my mind I always kept this little arsenal of a thought: There's even more Dahl out there I haven't read yet.

I was thrilled to come across this book in a used bookstore sometime last year, but I've waited until now to read it. The beauty of these short stories are they are just short enough to read one or two before bed, just as the subtitle ("Perfect Bedtime Stories for Sleepless Nights") suggests. However, Dahl's stories are on par with my other beloved short story writer, O. Henry, in that the stories tend to end with a twist, an unsettling thought, or just plain (purposefully) abruptly which in itself can be unsettling. Some might find it difficult to sleep after reading them, but for some reason his stories are like Ambien for me - except without all the crazy side effects that comes with Ambien...

Besides Lamb to the Slaughter I found some stories familiar, which isn't surprising since several have been used in episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Tales of the Unexpected. I realized one (Man From the South) was familiar because I had seen Quentin Tarantino's film, Four Rooms. Like Ray Bradbury, Dahl's stories have lasting power that transcend literature - they almost become a part of our cultural history because of their simplicity, despite their darkness and - often - their bleakness.

Let's not fool ourselves - Dahl's children's stories aren't all that happy. There's a lot of shit going on in those stories too - but in this collection we can see just how dark Dahl could get if he just let loose; he could go dark without alienating his readers, and for that I think he was amazing.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tagline for this title is "Perfect Bedtime Stories for Sleepless Nights" but what that should actually indicate to you is that if you read these before going to bed, you will not be sleeping. Definitely intended for adults, this collection of short stories all seem to be suspenseful and most of the characters come to horrible, sometimes extra creepy, ends. I like that a lot of the time the stories kind of drift off at the end - he never comes out and says how the person ends up but just hits at it. It makes your imagination run wild, and oftentimes I was trying to find escapes or loopholes to save the character (though that's unlikely). Hence the sleepless nights. All in all it is a fantastic collection, though I would recommend reading them in broad daylight. It is very true to Roald Dahl's style and I could see the similarities to his children's books (which I devoured as a child!) so if you liked his kid's books, you'll like this collection. Also if you like Hitchcock movies, you'll most likely like this collection as well. They did make me question Dahl's sanity though...

[Akie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many people love Dahl for his absurdly comedic children's stories, but their interest unfortunately stops there. He is one of the most chilling, demented & skilled short story writers I have ever read, and this collection of adult fictions is enough to satisfy anyone's taste for macabre humor. Dahl twists the commonplace into the horrific, the sublime & the darkly hilarious in delectable tidbits that brim with the violence that seethes behind every moment of life. In retrospect, his children's books hint at his talent---James' evil aunts are squashed by an enormous peach piloted by vindictive insects, Charlie must defeat uncommunicative aliens that seek to devour him & his family, etc. My personal favorite in this collection is 'Lamb to the Slaughter,' although 'Skin' is also quite good. Perfect for a chilly afternoon with some tea, a blanket & guests later that evening to banish any lingering chills.

[Britney · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's no doubt that Roald Dahl was talented. The BFG was the book that introduced me to fantastical stories and started my obsessive love of reading. Because of this my mom gifted me The Roald Dahl Omnibus when I was in middle or high school, thinking it was a a collection of more children's stories.

I quickly realized it wasn't and didn't pick it up again for years and years. Thinking that age would help me enjoy and understand these stories better, I looked forward to finally reading it.

Oh boy.

I don't know if I'll ever be in the mental space to fully be ready for some of these stories. Maybe it's because they are of a certain time and they didn't all age well. The final two in particular show women as just objects of men's lust with casual misogyny and rape being a main element of both stories. Dahl wipes the issue "clean" in both in having the women showing how much they "enjoyed" themselves, but it's very much written from the male gaze and I couldn't forgive Dahl and his depiction of women.

And then there are the stories that include animal abuse and torture. I was left feeling horrified by more than a few of these short stories.

And then there are those where the cruel or ignorant or outright evil characters get their just desserts and then I'm left unsure what Dahl's message is. I'm happy to have finally read it as it's the oldest book on my physical TBR shelf, but I don't know if I could recommend it to others.

[Anina · Rating 5 out of 5]

stories differ from this collection.
I think with both you have every Dahl story.

This is more of a note to self than a review, sorry!

But I can tell you that if you read this book you will feel really accomplished because it has like 500 pages.

[sara frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this collection of Dahl's adult stories. Pages are splashed with sex, violence, and twists that knock you on your ass. What more could you ask for?

[Carol]

07/13/2019
Was so excited to find this hardcover at the used bookstore today.
Most people associate this author with his wonderful children's books but I have always loved him for his dark and twisted tales that he was such a master at writing.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roald Dahl is a brilliant storyteller. Omnibus is a great collection that showcases his ability to amuse, frighten & entertain beyond compare. Not the kiddie stories that we remember him so fondly for, but these might make you take another look at those childhood favorites to see what dark nuance you may have missed. It's not just the inventiveness of the scenarios themselves, but the way he presents them: the unique perspectives of narrators, sadistic twists & clever dialogue draw you into the tiny worlds he fabricates, and just when you realize where he's taking you, bam! He ends the story how it began, smack when the burst of interesting is over. He gives his audience credit for critical reading skills.

[Laura Leilani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best collection of short stories I've read. All are interesting in their own way, and all have a twist at the end. Most short story collections have a few duds mixed in, but this book is an exception. I recognized a few stories that ended up being produced in Alfred Hitchcock Presents. This book is highly entertaining!

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you only know Roald Dahl as an author of children's stories, you will be surprised. These stories are often dark (not all of rhem) and have a ending I didn't anticipate. I recognized a couple from the old "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" TV show. A good collection of stories!

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, having been on a short story kick for about a year, I was excited when a colleague of mine said he was reading this. I saw the recent movie version of "Fantastic Mr. Fox" and remembered how much I loved the caricatures of British life that Dahl seems to use so well, and that made me go to the library to pick this up. I've read about a third of the stories, and although I do enjoy the little plot twists at the end of most stories, sometimes they're a little underwhelming. Perhaps I'm desensitized to events that would have had a big shock value back in the 40s...

Either way, it's fun to delve into the lives of such interesting characters who live in a very different place from where I do.

[Gerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with most short story collections, this is a mixed bag, still was an enjoyable read. Dahl wrote a Twilight Zone episode and many of these tales have that feel. Many have a slight sinister air, and almost all have some black humor. If this sounds like your bag, it most likely is and I recommend this to you.

[Joe Pratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a library book sale thinking, “I love Roald Dahl. This would be fun to read with my kids someday.” Years later, I’ve finally gotten around to reading it and it is NOT for children. Some of the stories were violent, some sexual, and some just a little unnerving.

It was interesting to read. Imagine reading a book Dr. Seuss has written for adults. I immediately recognized Dahl’s fun, quirky, slap-stick humor but it wasn’t about chocolate factories, giants stealing dreams, and oversized fruit. It was about infidelity, murder, and whats wrong with the world.

I love Dahl’s style. Reading this reinspired me to write short stories (and I’ve written two with Dahl’s signature slow build and twist method). I’ve complied a list of the stories I’d recommend for my future self and friends so you can get a taste of the good stuff while avoiding that which is unworthy the time to read.

Here are the stories I did like:
- Galloping Foxley (an adult man meets a bully from his childhood) four stars
- Dip in the Pool (a man gambles his life savings on a cruise) three stars
- Poison (an Indian doctor attempts to save the life of a patient after a poisonous snake crawls into his bed) five stars
- Neck (a journalist observes how a millionaire deals with his wife’s infidelity) four stars
- Claud’s Dog: Mr. Feasy (two guys attempt to con their way to riches at a dog track) four stars
- The Way Up to Heaven (a lady suffers patiently while her husband pushes her buttons and how she has had enough) four stars
- Genesis and Catastrophe (an infamous baby is born) five stars
- The Champion of the World (the same characters from Claud’s Dog meet up to poach pheasants) five stars
- The Great Automatic Grammatisator (a machine is invented that replaces writers) three stars

The stories I didn’t like because of lewdness:
- The Great Switcheroo (two guys plan how to sleep with the other’s wife)
- Bitch (how a scientist developed a perfume that drove men crazy)

Stories I didn’t like because of violence:
- Pig (a boy discovers how ruthless city life can be)
- The Last Act (a young widow attempts to get back in the dating world)
- Skin (a tattoo done by a famous artist draws suspicious interest from art dealers)

Stories I didn’t like because they were unnerving or just not my thing:
- Taste (a friendly bet turns sour between a millionaire and a wine connoisseur)
- Lamb to the Slaughter (a woman struggles to respond to her husband’s infidelity)
- Man from the South (an unusual bet between a soldier and a foreign man who meet at a hotel)
- The Soldier (a couple struggles with the husband’s PTSD)
- The Wish (a kid playing “the floor is lava”)
- Nunc Dimmittis (a man’s revenge when his girlfriend tells her friends he’s boring)
- Claud’s Dog: The Ratcatcher (an unsavory rat catcher comes to town)
- Claud’s Dog: Rummins (a farmer in too big of a hurry to gather his hay)
- Claud’s Dog: Mr. Hoddy (a man struggles to impress his soon-to-be father-in-law)
- The Landlady (a young boarder rents a room from a suspicious landlady)
- William and Mary (an unusual procedure promises near-immortality but complete immobility)
- Royal Jelly (a beekeeper finds an unusual way to cure his sick child)
- Georgy Porgy (a minister goes mad fending off the women of his parish)
- Edward the Conqueror (a crazy wife and her husband who is jealous of the cat)

[Father Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, the cover of the book says "perfect bedtime stories for sleepless nights," and that's pretty much how I got through Dahl's Omnibus. Though, I was a bit confused as to why you would want to bill your book as perfect for sleepless nights-- as if just cracking this one open would get you snoring in no time. Quite the opposite was the case for me, as this book usually induced sleepless nights rather than remedied them. Dahl's tone in this collection is a far cry from what I've been acquainted with in the past. Forget Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and everything else that made Dahl famous. The Omnibus reveals a more macabre side of his personality, as well as his more sordid imaginings (four of the stories originally appeared in Playboy--quite entertaining, but sordid is definitely the word). There is an astonishing variety of subject matter varying from the mundane to the outrageous, and it's hard for me to fathom just how one imagination could burst into creativity in so many different ways. But the common thread that runs throughout the whole collection is an uncanny ability to create tension either outright or through subtle suggestion, only to resolve it in a ridiculously simple twist or allow it to fester in delicious anguish after the story has come to an end. Take a look at the first story, "Taste": if it whets your whistle, don't look back and plow through to the end. A fine collection that has endeared Dahl's storytelling to me yet more.

[Kirstie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this today and I would say 4 is an overall score..there are some stories in this that knock you right off your feet with a 5 star quality and others that are more ho hum with a 3 star fare. Overall, a very enjoyable read from an author I hadn't realized even wrote for adults until recently. Like countless other girls, I imagined myself having the power of Matilda when I was younger but for many years I have strayed from Dahl as a writer.


Many of these stories are gruesome without being bloody...they are just enough to get under your skin and many have sudden twists at the end. Dahl interjects his own humor in some but it's of an unsettling variety. Often, themes tend to revolve around women...women murdereresses (both intentionally and unintentionally) and women with their giant lips ready to swallow men whole...ha! I find this sort of amusing. But there are many others that don't revolve around this idea that are very original creations, especially for their time. (Originally published in 1949.) In any case, I would say it's an overall strong collection and even though it appears to not be completely comprehensive, at nearly 700 pages it covers quite a bit of territory (and also makes me want to read the rest!)

[Lani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book on my shelf for years, but couldn't bring myself to sit down and read it. Short stories aren't really my thing, and the book is a huge and heavy hardback.

I finally made it my 'bedtime book' and kept it by my bed. Since I got the kittens, I had plenty of excuses to lounge around in my room and power through these stories.

I was surprised how quickly I ripped through the book once I started in earnest. Several of the stories were hilarious, and one in particular is very familiar - if you've ever read Danny the Champion of the World...

These stories were as twisted as one would expect from Dahl, and only a handful dragged a little long. He really has a talent for the short story with a characteristic wry and dark twist at the end.

I'm probably still more partial to his more fantastical childrens literature, but I'm glad I branched out to his short stories after all.

Some of the stories are fairly sexual, so I wouldn't recommend this collection for kids or YA readers. But there are other stories that would be entirely appropriate - and hilarious.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories by a man many consider to be the greatest children's writer ever. This book should end that discussion. First, these stories show clearly that he really never wrote for children. He was a children's subversive, in that his stories are really nursery tales meant for adults. Second, anyone who has read his novels gets the vague sense there is a darker story being told than the mere details suggest. These short stories reveal that dark side: violent, biting and cruel. That is not to say that you will be revulsed by these accounts. In some ways, this shows the versatility of Dahl, a writer more like Flannery O'Connor than I ever knew. Since I love O'Connor, it was a natural that I would like this. Dahl has an ear for strange dialogue that still sounds believable even if it sounds at the same time unreal.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading (most) of this book with my young teenage son periodically at bedtime over the past months. Dahl’s stories in general have the kind of weird twists and turns that I remember enjoying at that age, as well.

However, I would not recommend the last three stories, the first of which I stopped reading to him when I sensed where it might be going. These three stories feature sex-centric “adult” themes and involve misogynistic scenes of adultery, deception, lust, rape, revenge, and suicide. (I have since learned that these three stories were first published in Playboy, which probably begins to explain their vulgarity.)

All in all, an ok collection of stories if you avoid the last three stories—especially if reading with or recommending to children.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good collection of stories. My one criticism is that a few of the stories seemed to be less inspired than the others. This makes perfect sense seeing as the book is a collection of many stories that span the writers career.

These stories delve into the strange workings of upper crust society that are just laughable. Bets, insults, fingers, wine, lamb legs, and other trivial subjects become dreadfully serious.

What a good read. This is not life changing, but HIGHLY entertaining.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wanted to visit an old friend. These are wonderfully wicked short stories. Dahl's control of character and pacing is incredible. Must read.

Favorites in this collection:
"Lambs to the slaughter" which is a warning to spouses and police investigators that pregnant women are very dangerous.
"Pig" which is a moral tale as to why parents should never go out on a date or how vegetarians are benefical to the meat packing industry.
"Royal Jelly" just read it and never underestimate a beekeeper. When the husband takes off his shirt to reveal....

[Kacee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of these short stories were adapted into Alfred Hitchcock Presents teleplays. They are delightfully dark and compelling with the whimsy and wryness one expects from Dahl presented in an entirely different, but still purely Dahl-ian way. These stories are indeed perfect for sleepless nights (I read them in between frequent nighttime feedings when my son was an infant) but I wouldn't recommend them for bedtime reading for the kids. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory they are not.

[Sirena Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first experience with Roald's adult fiction. And I am a fan. These stories were incredible to read. I've noticed writing from around this time to be often times too wordy, but this was not the case with these short stories. They were quite descriptive without using entire pages to describe one simple thing.
There was some disturbing subject matter that unnerved me, but, honestly, that's part of what made these short stories incredible.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not all of the stories in this collection are hits, but the ones that are fairly blew me away. Years after reading, many of these stories still lurk in the grimy corners of my subconscious, sidling out every now and again to leer, reminding me that no one can ever totally rid themselves of the Darkness. And, maybe, you wouldn't want to if you could.

[Mle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of short stories about the small evils (and sometimes not so small ones) in everybody. The tales each feature some dark twist, and they become increasingly sexy and/or spooky metaphysical as the book wears on.

Olden-timey chauvinistic, but good eerie fun!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently I haven't picked this up since April 2014, so I think the likelihood of my returning to it any time soon is slim, but I remember that the stories I read were properly stunning. Roald Dahl = a master.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. I feel like it was a more adult version of the books he writes for kids. It is gruesome, kinda raw.

[Billy Mulligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Roald Dahl Omnibus gives the reader insights into the most brilliant works of the famous writer Roald Dahl. In the book, the author masterfully entwines cliffhangers, flashbacks, and descriptive wording to immerse the reader into the story at hand, with the end goal of aligning the mind of the author and reader as one.

Throughout the various short stories, a common theme can be found in the use of the cliffhanger. The suspenseful tactics used by the author demonstrate a masterclass in how to induce anxiety into the mind of the reader, yet ultimately leaving the reader either laughing or crying by the end of the story. A perfect example of this can be found in the short story “Galloping Foxley”. In this story, the main character, Perkins, believes that he has found his long-lost boarding school torturer, known solely as “Galloping Foxley”, on his morning commute. Perkins then goes into detail about the atrocities committed by Foxley for the entire story and fantasizes about the shock on Foxley’s face if Perkins told him who he was. At the end of the story, Perkins tells the man who he thinks is Foxley his name, and it is revealed to the reader that the man on the train is not Foxley at all, and Perkins is left feeling awkward and dissatisfied.

Now, the use of cliffhangers is somewhat overused. When I read the short story, “Dip in the Pool”, the sheer stupidity of one of the characters at the end left me wondering if it was even possible to be as ignorant as the character. It left me feeling angrier at the cliffhanger rather than laughing at how the main character’s plan failed miserably. The moral of that short story, however, is very applicable. It exemplifies that reliance on others cannot always be counted on in a life-or-death situation, especially if they are a stranger. On the other hand, the short story “Taste” is definitely the most well-articulated short story I have ever read. The little details in the story seamlessly connect to the end of the story, and to the observant reader, the ending may be deduced. The use of cliffhangers must be the most defining quality of the compilation.

To conclude, the omnibus is an excellent read for both the Roald Dahl fan and the casual reader. It’s a useful book both to pass the time and to deeply explore, however, it is important to note that this is not a read for children under the age of thirteen. If you are expecting the Roald Dahl style of The BFG, then you may be disappointed.

[Dan Trefethen · Rating 4 out of 5]

People think of Roald Dahl only as an author of charming children's books like “James and the Giant Peach”, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, and “The BFG”.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Dahl was a complicated man who wrote a lot of adult fiction as well, mostly short stories for magazines like Colliers, The New Yorker, and Playboy. His stories are sharply and clearly written, twisty and often mordantly funny. His grimmer stories remind me of the types of stories that win the Shirley Jackson Award each year. In fact, if that award existed when he was writing, he could have been an odds-on favorite to win the award. Every. Single. Year.

This omnibus contains stories from the 1950s to 1970s. They are dated, but they hold up well as stories of human psychology pushed to the extreme. The stories that don't hold up as well are the Playboy stories, which were prurient and catered to the male audience of the 1960s and 1970s. They are still pretty clever and funny if you can get past the dated attitudes. I rate the Playboy stories 3 stars, and the other ones 5 stars, so this volume clocks in with 4 stars. Well, maybe 4 and a half; only 4 of the 28 stories were for Playboy. The others are a pure delight for those who would like to discover one of the tricksiest authors of the mid-20th century.

[Jasmine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely not something you would expect from a beloved kids' author. But I'm pretty sure I thought the exact same thing when I read an adult novel by Judy Blume; so I guess I should have just known better??

While most of these stories were somewhat entertaining, I didn't really fall in love with the short story format like I did with Ted Chiang's Story of Your Life short story collection. Also, the last three or four short stories were particularly lewd.

All in all, I don't think I will be recommending this to anyone in the future. I am glad that I got to be exposed to more short stories, but I would be more interested to read more modern short story collections rather than an older collection like this one.

[Leslie Dann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book of short stories at a thrift shop for $3.00 and read it in a couple days. Many of the stories were familiar to me such as: " Lamb To The Slaughter " (which was also made into an "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"), " The Landlady" (read first in Junior High), "Royal Jelly" (always a favorite)/and others. There were some new ones to me as well. Several stories were made into "Tales From The Unexpected" episodes, too.. Dahl always has a clever twist at the end of his stories and, as I was reading, several other stories came back to me such as "Neck" and "Bitch". I had never read.any of the "Claud And His Dog" stories and they were a bit different but interesting. All in all, a good collection of Dahl's stories for fans and new readers both.