Book of Fantasy, the
US publication: 1940
Author: Ray Bradbury
Detective:
Genre: Novel
Plot
summary and comments: John Collier's wild and sardonic tales, which were for many years a fixture in the pages of The New Yorker, are, in the opinion of his many devoted admirers, as good as - indeed better than - the best of Saki and Roald Dahl. In stories that explore the logic of lunacy, presenting the most fantastical occurrences as commonplace fact, Collier not only tickles the fancy, but tests our nerve, making us wonder just how deep and firmly placed are the foundations of the (seemingly) real world. Here longtime Collier fan Ray Bradbury offers a new selection of the most inspired works of this singular modern genius.
::READERS REVIEWS::
Well they tried anyway - Never received the book and after a month went by, they finally discovered that it was lost in the mail. Got a full and immediate refund with an apology from seller.
Short, Witty, Twisted Tales - I bought this book for a friend--I remember it from years and years ago. It's a collection of short, twisted, cynical little stories, a couple of pages each, which you'll remember for a long time. There's the beautiful dimwitted lady who gets a gift of her hopeless lover--stuffed; the department store dummies life after dark; the nephew who has his teeth pulled so he can masquerade as his rich uncle....Great for the bathroom or the beside table.
Diabolical delicacies - John Collier belongs in the ingenious, ironic, supernatural short story Pantheon of H.H.Munro (Saki), O'Henry, Edgar Allen Poe, Shirley Jackson, and Roald Dahl. His deft touch with delicious deviltry and humorous horror is unparalleled. "Fancies & Goodnights" is a selection of some of his best works. Laugh, shudder, and enjoy!
Fables From The 20th Century - This collection of 50 short stories and fables won the International Fantasy Award in 1952. Many of the stories were from much earlier though, and the collection covers stories from 1931 - 1951, including many that had not appeared in print before. Ray Bradbury writes a wonderful introduction to the collection, and if you have read Bradbury without reading Collier, you will definitely see that Collier had a big influence on Bradbury.
There are simply too many stories here to talk about them all, but for the most part they are very enjoyable. Many are fables; almost all have twists to them. All in all, this is a very fun collection to read.
Some of the best short stories I've read - Mr. Collier's writing is superb. I am no critic, but simply an avid reader who loves to be entertained by intelligent words and stories. Mr. Collier does it so well with this collection. I wish he could produce one of these a year! This is a collection you will have for years. Don't lend it out you may not get it back!
::AMAZON REVIEWS::
Well they tried anywayNever received the book and after a month went by, they finally discovered that it was lost in the mail. Got a full and immediate refund with an apology from seller.
Short, Witty, Twisted TalesI bought this book for a friend--I remember it from years and years ago. It's a collection of short, twisted, cynical little stories, a couple of pages each, which you'll remember for a long time. There's the beautiful dimwitted lady who gets a gift of her hopeless lover--stuffed; the department store dummies life after dark; the nephew who has his teeth pulled so he can masquerade as his rich uncle....Great for the bathroom or the beside table.
Diabolical delicaciesJohn Collier belongs in the ingenious, ironic, supernatural short story Pantheon of H.H.Munro (Saki), O'Henry, Edgar Allen Poe, Shirley Jackson, and Roald Dahl. His deft touch with delicious deviltry and humorous horror is unparalleled. "Fancies & Goodnights" is a selection of some of his best works. Laugh, shudder, and enjoy!
Fables From The 20th CenturyThis collection of 50 short stories and fables won the International Fantasy Award in 1952. Many of the stories were from much earlier though, and the collection covers stories from 1931 - 1951, including many that had not appeared in print before. Ray Bradbury writes a wonderful introduction to the collection, and if you have read Bradbury without reading Collier, you will definitely see that Collier had a big influence on Bradbury.
There are simply too many stories here to talk about them all, but for the most part they are very enjoyable. Many are fables; almost all have twists to them. All in all, this is a very fun collection to read.
Some of the best short stories I've readMr. Collier's writing is superb. I am no critic, but simply an avid reader who loves to be entertained by intelligent words and stories. Mr. Collier does it so well with this collection. I wish he could produce one of these a year! This is a collection you will have for years. Don't lend it out you may not get it back!