What do you think?
Rate this book
It Came from the Drive-In
Focusing on the world of drive-in theaters, B-movies, and steamy windows, a collection of first-run tales includes the titles "The Blood on Satan's Harley," "The Thing from Lover's Lane," and "59 Frankenstein." Original.
Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1996
1 person is currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Norman Partridge
109 books306 followersNorman Partridge’s fiction includes horror, suspense, and the fantastic—“sometimes all in one story” says his friend Joe Lansdale. His compact, thrill-a-minute style has been praised by Stephen King and Peter Straub, and his fiction has received three Bram Stokers and two IHG awards.
Partridge’s career launched a series of firsts during the indie press boom of the early nineties. His first short story appeared in the second issue of Cemetery Dance, and his debut novel, Slippin’ into Darkness, was the first original novel published by CD. Partridge’s chapbook Spyder was one of Subterranean Press’s inaugural titles, while his World Fantasy-nominated collection, Bad Intentions, was the first hardcover in the Subterranean book line.
Since then, Partridge has published pair of critically acclaimed suspense novels featuring ex-boxer Jack Baddalach for Berkley Prime Crime (Saguaro Riptide and The Ten-Ounce Siesta), comics for Mojo and DC, and a series novel (The Crow: Wicked Prayer) which was adapted for the screen. His award-winning collections include Mr. Fox and Other Feral Tales and The Man with the Barbed-Wire Fists. Partridge’s latest novel, Dark Harvest, was chosen by Publishers Weekly as one of the 100 Best Books of 2006.
Whether working in mainstream markets or the independent press, Partridge’s vivid, exuberant writing style has made him a fan favorite. Never content to be pigeon-holed as a writer, Partridge continues to defy categorization. A third-generation Californian, he lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Canadian writer Tia V. Travis.
Partridge’s career launched a series of firsts during the indie press boom of the early nineties. His first short story appeared in the second issue of Cemetery Dance, and his debut novel, Slippin’ into Darkness, was the first original novel published by CD. Partridge’s chapbook Spyder was one of Subterranean Press’s inaugural titles, while his World Fantasy-nominated collection, Bad Intentions, was the first hardcover in the Subterranean book line.
Since then, Partridge has published pair of critically acclaimed suspense novels featuring ex-boxer Jack Baddalach for Berkley Prime Crime (Saguaro Riptide and The Ten-Ounce Siesta), comics for Mojo and DC, and a series novel (The Crow: Wicked Prayer) which was adapted for the screen. His award-winning collections include Mr. Fox and Other Feral Tales and The Man with the Barbed-Wire Fists. Partridge’s latest novel, Dark Harvest, was chosen by Publishers Weekly as one of the 100 Best Books of 2006.
Whether working in mainstream markets or the independent press, Partridge’s vivid, exuberant writing style has made him a fan favorite. Never content to be pigeon-holed as a writer, Partridge continues to defy categorization. A third-generation Californian, he lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Canadian writer Tia V. Travis.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 7, 2020
This is a very fun anthology of stories spawned by '50s drive-in B-movies. The theme (or something similar) has been done over and over, but this was one of the first and best. My favorites included the Nancy A. Collins, the Edward Bryant, and the Karl Edward Wagner, one of his last. A must for MST3K fans!
July 27, 2020
A pretty meh collection over all. A couple of great standouts - “The Morning of August 18th” and “The Thing from Lover’s Lane” were both quite well done. “Plan 10 From Inner Space” was exactly the kind of camp I wanted from this collection.
Most of the stories were just fine, one was (kind of unexpectedly) some pretty explicit erotica, and two (“Big Bust at Hoover High” and “Jungle J.D.”) were outright trash.
Most of the stories were just fine, one was (kind of unexpectedly) some pretty explicit erotica, and two (“Big Bust at Hoover High” and “Jungle J.D.”) were outright trash.
March 14, 2021
Hello Erin and lena this is my account
Edit: and genny!
Edit: and genny!
August 25, 2020
There are a couple gems in this book and normally that would be enough for me to keep it on my shelf, but the book overall was either so blah or a turnoff. Three stories I didn't even finish. Most of the book spoofs or riffs on the kind of schlock films drive-in theaters showed in the 195os-60s (and one blaxploitation 70s entry - that was one of the gems, was surprisingly and refreshingly funny), and I guess maybe they'd be more appealing if I were a fan of those old junk B-movies. Too much horror in particular for my taste. There was very little light-heartedness in this anthology, and almost none of the stories took place IN a drive-in, which I think is a wasted opportunity of the theme. Overall, disappointing. I'm keeping it for the few gems, but I almost didn't.
April 10, 2025
Collections like this are always hit-or-miss, but this one pretty much does what it sets out to do. You've got a blob, you've got a 50-foot woman, you've got a Frankenstein, and a lover's lane, etc. A couple of the stories ( Edward Bryant's, and Steve Rasnic Tem's) I found to be unbearably bad, but otherwise, there was at least a baseline of interesting happenings. Gregory Nicoll's story about underground Confederates, Nancy Collins's story about a dangerous lover's lane, and Robert Devereaux's story about a living tongue were all memorable for one reason or another.
This is probably about average for these Martin Greenberg co-edited DAW collections. If the theme speaks to you, you'll probably find something to enjoy here.
This is probably about average for these Martin Greenberg co-edited DAW collections. If the theme speaks to you, you'll probably find something to enjoy here.
December 3, 2019
This appears to be a book of short stories somehow based on or around the concept of classic drive-in movies. I found it to be more of a disjointed collection of stories, most set in the '50s, but only a few hewing to the actual purported concept of the book. This in and of itself wasn't a problem, though a bit perplexing. The problem is that the stories were sub-par for the most part, which a few I'd consider "good". "Good", not "great" or "very good". Just "good".
I see no reason to recommend this unless you've read all the other books available.
I see no reason to recommend this unless you've read all the other books available.
Read
August 29, 2020Full review: https://supermonsternovels.com/2020/0...
October 9, 2020
A great collection of fun stories.
August 7, 2016
As with any anthology, It Came from the Drive-In features a bit a variance in style and quality from story to story. However, it is overall an exciting and entertaining read, with nods to monster movies, biker flicks, westerns, and even a little bit of Lovecraft thrown in for good measure.
Some of my personal favorites:
'59 Frankenstein: A good "retro modern day" take on the Frankenstein story.
Die, Baby, Die, Die, Die!: A heartwarming tale of
Jungle J.D.: Throw the 1950s into a blender and you get this beautiful piece of absurdist fiction.
I Was a Teenage Boycrazy Blob: Finally, a killer blob story told from the blob's perspective.
Some of my personal favorites:
'59 Frankenstein: A good "retro modern day" take on the Frankenstein story.
Die, Baby, Die, Die, Die!: A heartwarming tale of
Jungle J.D.: Throw the 1950s into a blender and you get this beautiful piece of absurdist fiction.
I Was a Teenage Boycrazy Blob: Finally, a killer blob story told from the blob's perspective.
November 24, 2025
OK, this anthology is more like ***1/2. There are 18 stories which are based on the type of movies-the "B" movies--that were watched at the drive-ins, especially in the 50s. So you have UFOs, giant bugs, blobs, bikers, and an Amazing Colossal Woman. None of the stories were really standouts...well, maybe the one about that colossal woman...
April 14, 2008
Anthology,Horror
January 19, 2014
Popcorn for the eyes and mind. Entertaining as all you know what. See my sweet review on lurid-lit.com.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews