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Steel and Other Stories
In the title story of this collection from "New York Times" bestselling author Richard Matheson, "Steel," human boxing has been replaced by heavyweight bouts between massive robots. But that is just one of over a dozen unforgettable tales in this collection, which includes two new stories never before published in book form.
Audio CD, 7 pages
Published
September 27th 2011
by Blackstone Audiobooks
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ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.
Steel and Other Stories is a collection of stories written by Richard Matheson who is probably best known for his novels I am Legend and The Incredible Shrinking Man. Most were originally published in pulp magazines in the 1950s, though two are recent and have never been collected before. Each is quite short:
* "Steel" — (1956, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction) Steel Kelly, a washed-up boxer, is now living vicariously through his broken down ro...more
Steel and Other Stories is a collection of stories written by Richard Matheson who is probably best known for his novels I am Legend and The Incredible Shrinking Man. Most were originally published in pulp magazines in the 1950s, though two are recent and have never been collected before. Each is quite short:
* "Steel" — (1956, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction) Steel Kelly, a washed-up boxer, is now living vicariously through his broken down ro...more
I've never delved into any Matheson, and so this collection of short stories has been both my introduction to his work, and a delightful surprise. The narrative styles, perspectives, and topics covered are surprisingly diverse, and despite the fact that 13 of the 15 stories were written in the 1950's, there are very few elements that feel "dated".
Standout tales for me include "To Fit The Crime", in which the cynical, hate-filled protagonist spews torrents of deliciously creative insults at every...more
Standout tales for me include "To Fit The Crime", in which the cynical, hate-filled protagonist spews torrents of deliciously creative insults at every...more
Richard Matheson uses his wacky ideas to craft a unique volume of various tales. Opening with "Steel," a human fighter subs himself in for his clunker in order to try and win prize money (any rememblance to Hugh Jackman's flick is purely coincidental!) A dying poet snubs his family only to wind up in a literal hell. A man's superstitious nature eventually proves to be a wedding couple's downfall in a wryly crafted story. Gunslinging is the name of the game for a traveling wanna-be, who finds tha...more
Dec 31, 2011
Benjaminxjackson
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Science Fiction Fans, Short Story Fans
This is a collection of short stories that fall into the science fiction and fantasy genres. Most were published in the 1950s and cover the standard science fiction topics of the age including robots, time travel, the atomic bomb, and how human beings interact with them. There is also one Western which is a nice, short study of human folly.
There are two stories from the past three years, one that seems to be an attempt to cash in on the vampire craze in a quirky, but entertaining way, and the ot...more
There are two stories from the past three years, one that seems to be an attempt to cash in on the vampire craze in a quirky, but entertaining way, and the ot...more
view all 4 comments
A free download from my local library by Black Stone Audio. Narrated by Scott Brick.
Steel was good, but the book descriptions tout that this is what the movie with Hugh Jackman in it was based on. OK, but the Twilight Zone episode with Lee Marvin in it was far more accurate to the story & really fantastic.
To fit the crime is a man dying & then what he finds in the afterlife. Pretty much perfect justice. Matheson's got a mean side, no doubt.
The wedding just goes to show there's nothing to...more
Steel was good, but the book descriptions tout that this is what the movie with Hugh Jackman in it was based on. OK, but the Twilight Zone episode with Lee Marvin in it was far more accurate to the story & really fantastic.
To fit the crime is a man dying & then what he finds in the afterlife. Pretty much perfect justice. Matheson's got a mean side, no doubt.
The wedding just goes to show there's nothing to...more
9 likes · like · see review
For those who don't recognize the author's name,he has written tons of things that have been adapted into TV and movies. These include I Am Legend(several versions),What Dreams May come, Stir of Echoes, Terror at 20,000 Feet(there is...some...thing...on the wing)and of course 2 stories from this collection. The Splendid Source was adapted as an episode of Family Guy.Steel was an episode of Twilight Zone and into the movie Real Steel.I have not seen the movie but from the commercials and previews...more
After watching the movie Real Steel, I loved the premise, but hated the campy execution. So I sought out the original source and wasn’t at all disappointed. Unlike the movie, the title story, Steel, is a dark tale about a down-and-out robot boxer who takes the ultimate risk to succeed. I’ll leave it at that, but it is a must read. As for the other stories in the mix, most are great and are worth the read. My favorites are The Doll That Does Everything (one of the best twist endings I have ever r...more
Nov 21, 2011
Michael
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2011,
science-fiction
As I've said in multiple reviews centering on the works of Richard Matheson, the best news in all the recent Hollywood adaptations of his work is that much of the Matheson catalog is coming back into print, allowing readers to discover that Matheson is much, much more that the guy who wrote, "I Am Legend."
I will have to admit I was a bit surprised to find out the recently released "Real Steel" was based on a short story by Matheson. That fact alone made me want to see the movie more than any of...more
I will have to admit I was a bit surprised to find out the recently released "Real Steel" was based on a short story by Matheson. That fact alone made me want to see the movie more than any of...more
This book was a bit of time travel for me, harking back to the good old days and the good old boys of 1950s American science fiction. Back to the days of ever-present threat of nuclear holocaust (have we grown a thicker skin, or have we decided to ignore the fears, or have they morphed into "terrorism" instead of atomic Armageddon?), on the edge of robotic technology developments, space exploration, snap shots of middle clas couples clear enough to see the pointed glasses and crinoline fluffed s...more
Mar 13, 2012
Bradley
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
richard-matheson,
short-stories
Another lot of fine Richard Matheson short tales, this collection published as a result of the 'Real Steel' movie based on the first story 'Steel', which I had already read in the 'Duel' collection. The unique thing about this collection is most of the stories were originally published in the 1950s bar two who were printed in 2009 and 2010 respectively. The third youngest story was printed in 1958, therefore there is a gap of 51 years between stories! I don't think there is a story collection ou...more
I've read a collection of Matheson stories before, centered around "I Am Legend" and while I loved the title story, the rest were a bit too creepy for more, more along the lines of Stephen King.
However, I saw this book at the library and didn't immediately connect Matheson and "I Am Legend" to this collection. Despite that, I loved these stories; all of them excellent, and all of them are very twisty.
This edition of the book uses an image from the film Real Steel to promote the title story Steel...more
However, I saw this book at the library and didn't immediately connect Matheson and "I Am Legend" to this collection. Despite that, I loved these stories; all of them excellent, and all of them are very twisty.
This edition of the book uses an image from the film Real Steel to promote the title story Steel...more
I just didn't get into this collection of short stories. I borrowed it because of the movie tie-in (though I haven't seen the movie yet) and I had high hopes when I found that it was written by the same author as I Am Legend. But it just didn't work for me. Most of the stories just didn't go anywhere, most of the characters were unlikeable and I only finished it so I would feel justified in writing a review. I guess some people enjoy these kinds of stories, but I prefer characters who don't acti...more
When Richard Matheson dies, it’s a fair bet that the lead on his obituaries will be built around the phrase “author of I Am Legend.” He should be known for that, but also for a great deal more from his decades’ long career. Steel is one useful corrective: a collection of Matheson’s taut, highly polished short stories of the fantastic.
The fifteen tales that make up Steel range across multiple genres and moods. “Descent” and “The Doll That Does Everything” are straight-up science fiction, “The Con...more
The fifteen tales that make up Steel range across multiple genres and moods. “Descent” and “The Doll That Does Everything” are straight-up science fiction, “The Con...more
Steel and Other Stories is a collection of 15 stories from the author of I am Legend. 13 of the 15 stories are from the 50's and so early Cold War phobias is a recurring theme
1.)The title story, Steel, is about android boxers. Viewers of the movie Real Steel, which was extremely loosely based on this story, will find the story not at all like the film. In the film the boxers are robots, but in the story they are androids. For those readers who aren't sci-fi geeks, the difference is that android...more
1.)The title story, Steel, is about android boxers. Viewers of the movie Real Steel, which was extremely loosely based on this story, will find the story not at all like the film. In the film the boxers are robots, but in the story they are androids. For those readers who aren't sci-fi geeks, the difference is that android...more
May 11, 2012
Alyssa Archambo
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
short-stories,
science-fiction
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. I have never read anything by Matheson before, so I was surprised to find that I actually enjoyed his style and outlook of the world. Of course, some I liked better than others, but overall, I thought they were enjoyable science fiction pieces. I really enjoyed "Steel," "The Splendid Source," and "The Traveler."
Most of these stories did tend to be depressing, so I wouldn't suggest reading it all in one go. Sprinkle it with some happy reading on...more
Most of these stories did tend to be depressing, so I wouldn't suggest reading it all in one go. Sprinkle it with some happy reading on...more
Mar 16, 2012
Sonatajessica
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Sonatajessica by:
Goodreads giveaway win!
Shelves:
read-in-2012,
shorties-of-fears-and-faerys
Matheson is not simply a good storyteller but a the hell of a writer, too. There was a certain poetic edge underlying these stories which made them even more worthwhile.
A well chosen collection presenting a variety of genres: Science Fiction, Horror, a Wild West tale, Noir, time traveling, Dystopia, and some general fiction with a pleasantly weirdness to them. In parts his style here reminded me of the wonderful Shirley Jackson, a connection I didn't make before but find very fitting now (and i...more
A well chosen collection presenting a variety of genres: Science Fiction, Horror, a Wild West tale, Noir, time traveling, Dystopia, and some general fiction with a pleasantly weirdness to them. In parts his style here reminded me of the wonderful Shirley Jackson, a connection I didn't make before but find very fitting now (and i...more
Richard Matheson is one of my favorite writers. So, naturally, when I heard that Real Steel was based on one of his short stories, I decided I needed to read said story and then see the film.
I still haven’t seen the film yet, but I can say this—the story is great. Like, almost-made-me-cry great. Not because it’s a particularly sad story (by most standards), but because it kinda hit home with me.
The rest of the stories were sorta hit-or-miss. The nice thing about reading Matheson is that you know...more
I still haven’t seen the film yet, but I can say this—the story is great. Like, almost-made-me-cry great. Not because it’s a particularly sad story (by most standards), but because it kinda hit home with me.
The rest of the stories were sorta hit-or-miss. The nice thing about reading Matheson is that you know...more
Nov 19, 2011
Sean Kottke
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2011,
adult-recreational
Even better than "Button, Button," this had some really phenomenal genre-mashing stories, like the sci-fi/boxing title tale (the inspiration for "Real Steel"), the suspenseful Christmas noir "A Visit to Santa Claus," and the time-travel/inspirational "The Traveller." The satire in "The Splendid Source" and "To Fit the Crime" is clever, and the "Twilight Zone" crossed with Philip K. Dick elements of "The Edge" and "Dr. Morton's Folly" genuinely unsettling. Highly entertaining!
A collection of stories by one of the masters of the form. Like many collections, some stories are better than others - and I can't help but wonder what Matheson has against poets, as he attacks them with real venom in three separate stories - but the good ones are wonderful, ranging from the thoughtful examination of atheism faced with belief in "The Traveler" to the families facing nuclear holocaust in surprising ways in "Descent".
Have long heard about Richard Matheson and his influence on film and other writers. Now I get it. these stories are beyond being literary "Twilight Zone" episodes due to their surprising amount of empathy and pathos and sometime full one poetry. I can see why this writer's work is so seminal. Reminded me of Roald Dahl and Ray Bradbury in some instances but probably because these are his contemprories and colleagues.
Richard Matheson is one of the original masters of Sci-Fi, often pitting man against man, machine or nature. In the case of "Steel", the combatants were machines - androids - after human boxing had been banned. This short story became the basis for the 2011 movie "Real Steel". Constant Readers benefit by the publication of these nearly forgotten stories in one volume.
Stories in this collection, originally published between 1952 & 1958 in Playboy and several Fanzines popular at the time, was...more
Stories in this collection, originally published between 1952 & 1958 in Playboy and several Fanzines popular at the time, was...more
Blown away by this collection of short stories. I was a huge fan of I Am Legend and now I'm convinced Richard Matheson is a literary genius. His commanding use of vocabulary is something to just sit back and absorb. If you're a big Twilight Zone fan like me, this is a must-read. The stories are funny, psychologically exciting and are deeply satisfying in such a twisted way. Thumbs up.
This is a neat little collection of stories. Some are better than others, but overall it is a good quick read. If you enjoy the Twilight Zone (which he was a writer for), you will probably enjoy this collection. The stories are those quirky, slice of life, sometimes with a twist ending pieces that Twilight Zone did so well. This is some wonderful science fiction.
I loved Matheson as a kid. Although film versions of his stuff (What Dreams May Come, I Am Legend, Hell House) have been disappointing, I never forgot the Twilight Zone episode about Battling Maxo. The original story is classic Matheson. Other stuff is not bad (except the powerful Descent, which never gets old) is middle-grade, but still enjoyable.
Jun 01, 2013
Fantasy Literature
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-by-kat
Steel and Other Stories is a collection of stories written by Richard Matheson who is probably best known for his novels I am Legend and The Incredible Shrinking Man. Most were originally published in pulp magazines in the 1950s, though two are recent and have never been collected before. Each is quite short:
"Steel" — (1956, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction) Steel Kelly, a washed-up boxer, is now living vicariously through his broken down robot fighter. If they can win the next matc...more
"Steel" — (1956, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction) Steel Kelly, a washed-up boxer, is now living vicariously through his broken down robot fighter. If they can win the next matc...more
Matheson seems to see the worst in humanity and to spray that about.
I think every story was about a human being being irrational in one form or another.
I enjoyed these,[there was comic relief, even if in a bitter form] but would not want to read lots of books like this one right after the other. It would be too much.
I think every story was about a human being being irrational in one form or another.
I enjoyed these,[there was comic relief, even if in a bitter form] but would not want to read lots of books like this one right after the other. It would be too much.
A collection of short stories by Richard Matheson clarified the genius creativity that this man possesses. From a story of futuristic wrestling, to horrific superstition, to time and space travel, to hunting down the source of dirty jokes, the stories not only withhold intriguing scenes and unordinary events, but a deep meaning is hidden behind each one.
Matheson is one of the kings of science fiction for a reason. Whether it's a novel, an episode of the Twilight Zone, or a short story like the ones in this brief collection, the vividness of his unique vision is an amazing thing to witness. If you don't like Richard Matheson, you don't like science fiction.
This is an excellent collection of fun, light short stories. Most were written in the 1950’s and are reminiscent of Ray Bradbury. The last two were written much later [2009 & 2010]. Not all are science fiction but almost all have some sort of little twist at the end.
A selection of his shorter work, including "Steel" which was the (very loose) inspiration for Blue Steel movie. Had come across some of these before, but nice to see a snapshot of 1952-58 SF stories. Plus two which are more recent.
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Born in Allendale, New Jersey to Norwegian immigrant parents, Matheson was raised in Brooklyn and graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1943. He then entered the military and spent World War II as an infantry soldier. In 1949 he earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and moved to California in 1951. He married in 1952 and has four children, three of w...more
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