Morrell's early short stories and novellas are a treat for the ability to see his talent ripen over the course of the book, and see the effects of his personal life bleed into the work. The earliest works aren't of the quality you'd expect from Morrell, but you see the seeds of a keen mind and literary skill. By the end of the book, the work is up to his typical quality. The stories are rarely blood curdling, pulling the horror more from internal fear and loathing. The best part of the collection are Morrell's brief interludes to describe the story's context in his personal life, and to see how tragedy spawned the narratives. Morrell is a favorite of mine. If you're not reading him, you're missing out. ( )

Wow. I may have found not just one, but two new-to-me favorite authors this week. So incredible when that happens, it's so rare.
First [a:William F. Nolan|41749|William F. Nolan|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1234221487p2/41749.jpg], now [a:David Morrell|12535|David Morrell|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1218135781p2/12535.jpg].

How was I ever to guess that the author of Rambo: First Blood was an excellent horror writer?

I'll update this review as I progress through the book, not necessarily in order.


***** Author's Introduction

I never rate these, but the intro to this book is really, really good.

**** The Dripping

A man goes into his mother's house where his wife and child were visiting, only to find it empty. He hears dripping in the basement and children's toys are scattered there, and milk is dripping from the ceiling everywhere...and then it gets weird.

The author's first published short story. One of those where the words disappear and you're there. Tense, flowing and really good - even though the ending left me a little confused. Even though I'm not sure I correctly understood the resolution, I really enjoyed reading this.

**** The Partnership

A darkly humorous tale of two business partners completely fed up with each other. Funny stuff, and the kind of tale I like to throw into my own horror collections to lighten the mood.

**** Black Evening

Another wonderfully written tale, full of tension, atmosphere and imagery. A detective and his crew make a grisly discovery in a dilapidated old mansion where neighbors have been complaining of a horrible stench.

This very short story is diminished a bit by the events that unfold on the final page, but the rest is utter brilliance.

*** The Hidden Laughter

A fairly short and self-admitted experimental story about a house that still holds the laughter of the children who once lived and played there. More a sentimental muse on pasts fondly remembered than a full-fledged story, it's still nicely written and somewhat reminiscent of Bradbury.

***** The Typewriter, by David Morrell

I absolutely loved this story! Everything about it. It would make a great episode of The Twilight Zone, and reminded me a little bit of one of my own stories, Whatever Possessed You.
A starving poseur of a writer buys a strange typewriter that types out bestsellers no matter what keys he hits, it seems to have a mind of its own. I'll let you read the rest for yourself. Wonderful writing on dispay here.

**** A Trap for the Unwary

This is not a short story, but rather an introduction for the take that follows. Provides some nice insight into the author's thoughts and his writing process.

**** But at my Back I Always Hear

A gripping story about a college professor being stalked by an unbalanced female student who believes he's telepathically sending sexual messages to her. Loved this one right up to the end, which was fine - but somehow felt like the story was fraying a little by the final paragraphs. Worthwhile read, thought. This author has such a smooth style.

**** The Storm

A simple yet fun supernatural tale about a massive storm that one man can't seem to escape. Solid escapist entertainment.

***** For These and All My Sins

Wonderful horror short that would make an excellent episode of Masters of Horror. A man's car breaks down in rural Nebraska, and he just barely makes it into a small town far from the interstate before sundown. But the locals won't talk to him, or let him see their faces. Is the story that follows a tale of madness or actual horror? That's up for you to decide.

*** Black and White and Red All Over

A story written from the perspective of a young paperboy recovering from an incident that occured on his route. Someone has been kidnapping paperboys in the areas, but only during snowstorms...what does it all mean? Nicely written and somewhat nostalgic, but ultimately doesn't add up to much more than a vaguely pleasant read by the time it's over.

This is a collection of short stories, which I enjoy reading. However, between each story is a bit of an autobiography about how and why the story came into being. I don't like autobiographies and never read them. This is one draw back about this collection.

But like most collections of short stories there are some I enjoyed enormously while there are others I couldn't believe ever got into print. ( )

David Morrell is the Canadian-American author who created the character John Rambo in his critically acclaimed debut novel First Blood...

Wait, wait - come back! Give him a chance!

I've not read First Blood, but from reading Morrell's Black Evening, I'm pretty sure his prose was mangled beyond all recognition by Sylvester Stallone. One story here, Dead Image, hints at the truth behind Morrell's experiences with Hollywood...

"He doesn't act. He poses. It wasn't enough that he wanted eight million bucks and fifteen upfront points to do the picture. It wasn't enough that he changed my scene so the dialogue sounded as if a moron had written it. No, he had to keep dashing to his trailer, snorting some coke (for 'creative inspiration', he said), then sniffling after every sentence in the big speech of the picture."

You warm to David Morrell after that.

Black Evening collects short stories from throughout Morrell's career, many of which stand up well against the work of his contemporary, and obvious comparison, Stephen King. Here are tales of gruesome murder, black magic, haunted houses and deadly obsessions. In one story a writer buys a magical typewriter that writes trashly - yet wildly lucrative - novels, not matter what keys he hits. In another, a man is cursed by a Native American rainmaker so that storms follow him wherever he goes. In yet another, a college football team wins every game they play - as long as each player touches the head of strange little idol before kick off.

Read the full review at my blog ( )

The best stories are the creepy spine chillers, "The Dripping" and "Black Evening" and the haunting, tragic (and particularly relevant at this point in my life) story, "The Hidden Laughter." ( )