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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
I liked "Prey," "Where there's a Will," "Button, Button," "Duel," and "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
Some really cool short stories, some really silly ones, some forgettable ones. After a while they all just blend into one another.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Best of Richard Matheson (2017) by Richard Matheson - This collection of 33 short stories originally published ranging from 1950 - 2008 by acclaimed sci-fi/horror writer Richard Matheson was collected and edited by friend/fellow writer Victor LaValle. They include his most famous short stories, many of which were adapted as Twilight Zone episodes, or movies.
This collection is essentially a greatest hits, highlighting Matheson's best and most popular short stories originally written in various sci-fi and horror magazines. He has a unique style when writing most of the short stories. When it comes to the structure of the stories, most of them remind me of a typical Twilight Zone episode. Which is fitting and there's a reason for that since many of Matheson's stories were adapted into Twilight Zone episodes, usually by himself. Because these stories are short, sometimes just a few pages long, the setup is quick and there isn’t much of a background on the characters. This works though as it doesn’t matter what these people were doing before the story starts. When there are twists in the stories they can vary between surprising and predictable but in no way does that take away from craftmanship of the stories. Out of the 33 stories, there isn't a dud in the bunch. Just some of them are a level better than the others. Some highlights for me include:
Prey
Shipshape Home
Where There’s A Will
Dying Room Only
Man With A Club
Button, Button
Duel
Day of Reckoning
The Last Day
The Prisoner
One For The Books
Now Die In It
No Such Thing As A Vampire
These stories aren't all fantasy as many of them resonate in common fears and livable situations. It's very clear that his stories transcend time as many filmmakers and writers such as Stephen King and Steven Spielberg having cited Matheson as a big influence. This is a great collection and a very good jumping point for anyone interested in reading Matheson's material.
This collection is essentially a greatest hits, highlighting Matheson's best and most popular short stories originally written in various sci-fi and horror magazines. He has a unique style when writing most of the short stories. When it comes to the structure of the stories, most of them remind me of a typical Twilight Zone episode. Which is fitting and there's a reason for that since many of Matheson's stories were adapted into Twilight Zone episodes, usually by himself. Because these stories are short, sometimes just a few pages long, the setup is quick and there isn’t much of a background on the characters. This works though as it doesn’t matter what these people were doing before the story starts. When there are twists in the stories they can vary between surprising and predictable but in no way does that take away from craftmanship of the stories. Out of the 33 stories, there isn't a dud in the bunch. Just some of them are a level better than the others. Some highlights for me include:
Prey
Shipshape Home
Where There’s A Will
Dying Room Only
Man With A Club
Button, Button
Duel
Day of Reckoning
The Last Day
The Prisoner
One For The Books
Now Die In It
No Such Thing As A Vampire
These stories aren't all fantasy as many of them resonate in common fears and livable situations. It's very clear that his stories transcend time as many filmmakers and writers such as Stephen King and Steven Spielberg having cited Matheson as a big influence. This is a great collection and a very good jumping point for anyone interested in reading Matheson's material.
'Big Surprise'. All great stories. But that one made me want to jump out of my skin and out the nearest window. After reading these, I can see very clearly why Stephen King holds Mr Matheson in such high regard. Now I do, too. Recommended, especially if you've by chance seen the Twilight Zone episodes he wrote; that's how I discovered this work.
Strong selection of Matheson's stories. I had only read a handful previously and was pleasantly surprised by quite a few of the others in this collection. I particularly liked "No Such Thing as Vampires", it had a great creepy twist that was totally unexpected for me. Still a couple that weren't my cup of tea, but overall a great read.
It was fun to read several twilight zone episodes in the text. Many of the shows didn't change that much.