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donasbooks's review
3.0
Its local lights single homes lamps on barn roofs if she fell
Into water she might live like a diver cleaving perfect plunge p327 James L. Dickey "Falling"
FLIGHT OR FRIGHT edited by Stephen King and Bev Vincent is an anthology of frightening airplane stories--horror stories, weird stories, you know the sort. I was honestly surprised to discover that some of the inclusions were old, as I was expecting previously unpublished work. While I did not get previously unpublished work, I was pretty delighted to read "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" by Richard Matheson, which I had seen on THE TWILIGHT ZONE, but never read. What a delight! Scary as hell.
Matheson's story was my favorite in the collection. I also really enjoyed Joe Hill's piece, "You Are Released," which made me gape for a good ten minutes I think while I read. And then, I just couldn't, with James L. Dickey's jarring poem, "Falling."
I picked this up because it was edited by Stephen King, whose work I love, and whose airplane horror novella, THE LANGOLIERS, I really enjoy. But I didn't enjoy King's story in this collection, "The Turbulence Expert." For me, it was mildly forgettable, as in, I couldn't tell you a thing about it.
It's like any anthology, really! Some great, some good, some forgettable. I'm really glad I got to read this because of the stories I mentioned. It was a good mix of classic and new stories. Worth a read.
Star rating 3 stars
Finished October 2022
Recommended for fans of Stephen King, horror shorts, weird stories, airplane horror stories, classic horror, thriller and suspense shorts
*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! http://www.instagram.com/donasbooks *
Into water she might live like a diver cleaving perfect plunge p327 James L. Dickey "Falling"
FLIGHT OR FRIGHT edited by Stephen King and Bev Vincent is an anthology of frightening airplane stories--horror stories, weird stories, you know the sort. I was honestly surprised to discover that some of the inclusions were old, as I was expecting previously unpublished work. While I did not get previously unpublished work, I was pretty delighted to read "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" by Richard Matheson, which I had seen on THE TWILIGHT ZONE, but never read. What a delight! Scary as hell.
Matheson's story was my favorite in the collection. I also really enjoyed Joe Hill's piece, "You Are Released," which made me gape for a good ten minutes I think while I read. And then, I just couldn't, with James L. Dickey's jarring poem, "Falling."
I picked this up because it was edited by Stephen King, whose work I love, and whose airplane horror novella, THE LANGOLIERS, I really enjoy. But I didn't enjoy King's story in this collection, "The Turbulence Expert." For me, it was mildly forgettable, as in, I couldn't tell you a thing about it.
It's like any anthology, really! Some great, some good, some forgettable. I'm really glad I got to read this because of the stories I mentioned. It was a good mix of classic and new stories. Worth a read.
Star rating 3 stars
Finished October 2022
Recommended for fans of Stephen King, horror shorts, weird stories, airplane horror stories, classic horror, thriller and suspense shorts
*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! http://www.instagram.com/donasbooks *
vlmitchell's review
3.0
I’m already terrified of flying, so I’m not sure why I read this 😂
The story by Joe Hill scared the shit out of me, because it seems like it could happen.
The story by Joe Hill scared the shit out of me, because it seems like it could happen.
cattylou's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable anthology, none of stories of which I'd read before. Loved the narration and introduction of each story by Stephen King and Bev Vincent's Afterword was interesting as well. Definitely some memorable characters and ideas that will come to mind long after I've read this and most likely when I'm next on an airplane, which will be next week.
pio_near's review
4.0
3.5... Not what I would call a collection of really scary tales... But a good collection with two or three notable standouts! A must read... While you are 7 miles in the air...
snazzymoose's review
3.0
I rounded up to 3 stars. I was either very bored or very confused throughout the book. A story here and there caught my attention, but ultimately let me down. I was very disappointed with this collection.
nerfnerder's review against another edition
3.0
The stories in this book were a real mixed bag. There were a couple I didn’t particularly enjoy and preferred to skim through the pages quickly. Overall most of them were enjoyable enough though, but feel like none of them truly gripped me.
I’d recommend for an easy read over some short commutes.
I’d recommend for an easy read over some short commutes.
gaulien's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
dnemec's review
4.0
I am not a good flier. I flew to FL for spring break a few months after 9/11, and there were armed guardsman all over our tiny airport. Ever since then, I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach starting the night before we leave that doesn’t abate until after we land. Yes, I know it’s safer than driving. Yes, I know that there is an infinitesimal chance of something going wrong. No, I don’t care. I’m not unhappy in the least that I haven’t been on a plane in over 3 years.
Needless to say, these stories appealed to all my flying insecurities. This is absolutely one of the best anthologies I have read in awhile. I was stoked to see Matheson’s “Nightmare at 20,00 Feet” in the table of contents. I don’t think a book about the horrors of flying would be complete without it. While I don’t recall reading anything by E.C. Tubb before, I thought that “Lucifer!” was a great tale about both time travel and the horror of flying. “Zombies on a Plane” by Bev Vincent is a rather cautionary tale about the desperate fight for survival and running away from your problems. And even though “Murder in the Air” was more mystery than horror (although having to solve a mysterious death in the air is a horror in itself), it was quite clever.
Coincidentally, my last flight was to see King in Toronto, so perhaps there is some bias, but I really enjoyed his new one. “The Turbulence Expert” has a truly unique premise – imagine if there was someone on the plane to help keep the flight safe that wasn’t an Air Marshal…
I finally had the opportunity to go to a Joe Hill reading a few months ago, and I had heard an abridged version of “You Are Released.” A terrifying story of what if, made more terrifying because it occurs to the passengers while en route across the country. It definitely did nothing for my flying insecurities!
This is a truly unique collection that touches the many horrors of air travel. A wonderful collection of great authors and remarkable stories. 4 1/2 stars.
Needless to say, these stories appealed to all my flying insecurities. This is absolutely one of the best anthologies I have read in awhile. I was stoked to see Matheson’s “Nightmare at 20,00 Feet” in the table of contents. I don’t think a book about the horrors of flying would be complete without it. While I don’t recall reading anything by E.C. Tubb before, I thought that “Lucifer!” was a great tale about both time travel and the horror of flying. “Zombies on a Plane” by Bev Vincent is a rather cautionary tale about the desperate fight for survival and running away from your problems. And even though “Murder in the Air” was more mystery than horror (although having to solve a mysterious death in the air is a horror in itself), it was quite clever.
Coincidentally, my last flight was to see King in Toronto, so perhaps there is some bias, but I really enjoyed his new one. “The Turbulence Expert” has a truly unique premise – imagine if there was someone on the plane to help keep the flight safe that wasn’t an Air Marshal…
I finally had the opportunity to go to a Joe Hill reading a few months ago, and I had heard an abridged version of “You Are Released.” A terrifying story of what if, made more terrifying because it occurs to the passengers while en route across the country. It definitely did nothing for my flying insecurities!
This is a truly unique collection that touches the many horrors of air travel. A wonderful collection of great authors and remarkable stories. 4 1/2 stars.