Alfred Hitchcock's Tales of the Supernatural and the Fantastic

by Alfred Hitchcock (Editor), Cathleen Jordan (Editor)

Drawn from the pages of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, this collection of more than thirty stories features the talents of Lawrence Block, Rob Kanter, Patricia Moyes, Chet Williamson, Taylor McCafferty, and George Chesbro.

Genres: Fiction

469 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1993

About the author

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock KBE (1899-1980) was an iconic and highly influential film director and producer, who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and thriller genres.

Following a very substantial career in his native Britain in both silent films and talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood and became an American citizen with dual nationality in 1956, thus he also remained a British subject.

Hitchcock directed more than fifty feature films in a career which spanned six decades, from the silent film era, through the invention of sound films, and far into the era of colour films. For a complete list of his films, see Alfred Hitchcock filmography.

Hitchcock was among the most consistently recognizable directors to the general public, and was one of the most successful film directors during his lifetime. He continues to be one of the best known and most popular filmmakers of all time.

Reviews

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been collecting these old anthologies for a while now. They are out of print, but you can usually find used copies in decent condition still floating around. I have too many to count but have only read a few. I think this is my third.
This is a huge volume of stories at over 400 pages.
There are some classics included by Poe and H.G. Wells but I more enjoyed the stories that were new to me. One of the few stories that had enough bite to creep me out was The Balancing Man by Charles Ardai, in which a young boy follows his big brother to a mysterious red barn where he sees something unforgettable.
I also loved Roughing It by Michael Beres, probably because I have had some unusual experiences in the great outdoors myself. I found this story quite sinister from the start when a large and luxurious motor home takes over the space next to a tent where a married couple are trying to enjoy some peace and quiet while camping out.
Some stories are more humorous, including one where a ghost still shows up for work every day. They are all pretty tame compared to today's standards, but most were entertaining. A few fell flat and a couple I just skimmed because they didn't interest me. If you are looking for subtle chills and mild thrills, this may be for you.

[Kirby Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting mix of fantasy short fiction that once appeared in "Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine." I went into this expecting tales similar to his films or TV series. How wrong I was! A wide variety of styles and topics await within these covers, from modern and classic writers. Everyone should find something they appreciate.

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of short fiction with a supernatural twist. There are some really wonderful stories here that you might not find elsewhere. While a couple fall a bit flat ('The Spectre in Blue Doubleknit', or 'Going Buggy'), there are some that truly stand out, such as the previously mentioned 'The Balancing Man', 'Catechism for Granma', or 'An American Visit'. There are a few with a sci-fi bent, and even a few by famous authors like Edgar Allen Poe and H.G. Wells.

[bluetyson]

Alfred Hitchcock's Tales of the Supernatural and the Fantastic (1993)

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my secret weapon for any story time / group reading. The Balancing Man is probably my favorite

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really good variety of short stories.