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Young Monsters
A collection of stories by a variety of authors about young people with one common characteristic--they are all monsters.
213 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1985
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99 people want to read
About the author
Isaac Asimov
4,345 books27.9k followersWorks of prolific Russian-American writer Isaac Asimov include popular explanations of scientific principles,
The Foundation Trilogy
(1951-1953), and other volumes of fiction.
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 11, 2009
Despite the child protagonists here, which evidently prompted my library to classify the anthology in the Juvenile collection, these stories in most cases were not written for kids as such (and a couple are not even really appropriate for children, because of the violent and disturbing content). All of the selections are well-chosen in terms of the collection's theme, however, with the exception of Yarbro's grisly-gory "Disturb Not My Slumbering Fair;" the ghoul protagonist there is a young woman, not a child. (Peter Tremaine's "The Samhain Feis" would have been an excellent choice, but was written after this book was published, unfortunately.) The tone varies from dryly humorous, to touching, to creepy (or touching and creepy in the same story, a difficult combination Bradbury pulls off without missing a beat in "Homecoming"), and some go all the way to chilling and deeply disturbing. Nasty things can happen here (sometimes, but not always, to nasty people), and not all the endings are happy.
Five of the stories (including "The Idiot's Crusade," which is classic Simak) are drawn from the science fiction genre. Theodore R. Cogswell's "The Cabbage Patch," which derives its horror from an alien life form's life cycle, is the weakest story in this group, but the others are effective; Mack Reynold's "Optical Illusion' delivers a surprise ending that would do credit to O. Henry himself.
The rest of the stories are supernatural in character. Werewolves and vampires are each represented twice; Jerome Bixby's "The Young One" is the best werewolf story I've read so far. King's "One for the Road" is a spin-off of his Salem's Lot, and it's a good traditional vampire story; but it's overshadowed here by Tanith Lee's "Red as Blood" (my own all-time favorite vampire short story), which is surprisingly Christ-centered and replete with strong Christian symbolism. (Lee is not a professed Christian, but admits to a sympathy for "the basic teachings of Christ.") Yolen's "Angelica" also has a perhaps surprising religious theme, and invites reflection on the problem of theodicy --but also approaches it seriously, and not invidiously. Both of the latter stories also make the point that in a monotheistic universe where Satan and evil exist only by God's tolerance, He uses them in His providence, without approving of them, to achieve His ultimate ends --a point classical Christianity has always recognized as orthodox, though some less well educated modern believers might find it shocking!
Five of the stories (including "The Idiot's Crusade," which is classic Simak) are drawn from the science fiction genre. Theodore R. Cogswell's "The Cabbage Patch," which derives its horror from an alien life form's life cycle, is the weakest story in this group, but the others are effective; Mack Reynold's "Optical Illusion' delivers a surprise ending that would do credit to O. Henry himself.
The rest of the stories are supernatural in character. Werewolves and vampires are each represented twice; Jerome Bixby's "The Young One" is the best werewolf story I've read so far. King's "One for the Road" is a spin-off of his Salem's Lot, and it's a good traditional vampire story; but it's overshadowed here by Tanith Lee's "Red as Blood" (my own all-time favorite vampire short story), which is surprisingly Christ-centered and replete with strong Christian symbolism. (Lee is not a professed Christian, but admits to a sympathy for "the basic teachings of Christ.") Yolen's "Angelica" also has a perhaps surprising religious theme, and invites reflection on the problem of theodicy --but also approaches it seriously, and not invidiously. Both of the latter stories also make the point that in a monotheistic universe where Satan and evil exist only by God's tolerance, He uses them in His providence, without approving of them, to achieve His ultimate ends --a point classical Christianity has always recognized as orthodox, though some less well educated modern believers might find it shocking!
September 11, 2023
"Exactly who is a “monster” often depends entirely on your point of view."
Wonderful, terrible, and very creepy. This collection is full of stories about kids who are plain odd. Some are bugged by the supernatural, some are just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and some are battling against their destiny. Almost every piece here is a must-read and will make you look twice towards the kids' table at your next family gathering.
______
Homecoming (5/5) - This is now my favorite Bradbury short story. It reminded me a lot of Hotel Transylvania and I wouldn't be surprised at all if there was some inspiration.
Good-by, Miss Patterson (4/5) - This reminded me why I'll never go back to teaching.
The Wheelbarrow Boy (5/5) - So did this one.
Disturb Not My Slumbering Fair (5/5) - I love seeing stories with atypical monsters! This one was great and the twist was awesome.
The Cabbage Patch (3/5) & The Thing Waiting Outside (3/5) - Still enjoyable stories but kind of let downs from the previous selections.
Red as Blood (5/5) - A Snow White retelling with vampires? What more do you need in life. I loved it almost as much as "Pages From a Young Girl's Journal" from Cold Hand in Mine: Strange Stories
Gabriel-Ernest (4/5) - The subtle phrases peppered throughout make this story one to remember. When you mentally put the pieces together and gasp out loud, you know you have something special in your hands.
Fritzchen (2/5) - I love my Eldritch horrors as much as the next lady, but this just felt overly complicated. Everyone here sucked.
The Young One (5/5) - The ending of this alone deserves full stars. I was trying my best to absorb every word and not skip right to the last page! Teen Wolf but cuddlier.
Optical Illusion (1/5) & Angelica (1/5) Twists at the end of a story are great, but some feel more like 'gotcha' moments pinned to the last page in an attempt to make the story memorable. Wasn't a fan of either one here. Angelica especially felt very meme-ish, but being written in 1985 is context to remember.
Idiot’s Crusade (5/5) - I can't even put into words how much I loved this. Other stories in the collection talk about powerless, frustrated kids but this one actually gives that power. Oh boy does it have consequences.
One for the Road (3/5) - We love a good Salem's Lot tie-in. Compared to other stories here that did so much in under 10 pages, this just felt clunky.
Wonderful, terrible, and very creepy. This collection is full of stories about kids who are plain odd. Some are bugged by the supernatural, some are just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and some are battling against their destiny. Almost every piece here is a must-read and will make you look twice towards the kids' table at your next family gathering.
______
Homecoming (5/5) - This is now my favorite Bradbury short story. It reminded me a lot of Hotel Transylvania and I wouldn't be surprised at all if there was some inspiration.
Good-by, Miss Patterson (4/5) - This reminded me why I'll never go back to teaching.
The Wheelbarrow Boy (5/5) - So did this one.
Disturb Not My Slumbering Fair (5/5) - I love seeing stories with atypical monsters! This one was great and the twist was awesome.
The Cabbage Patch (3/5) & The Thing Waiting Outside (3/5) - Still enjoyable stories but kind of let downs from the previous selections.
Red as Blood (5/5) - A Snow White retelling with vampires? What more do you need in life. I loved it almost as much as "Pages From a Young Girl's Journal" from Cold Hand in Mine: Strange Stories
Gabriel-Ernest (4/5) - The subtle phrases peppered throughout make this story one to remember. When you mentally put the pieces together and gasp out loud, you know you have something special in your hands.
Fritzchen (2/5) - I love my Eldritch horrors as much as the next lady, but this just felt overly complicated. Everyone here sucked.
The Young One (5/5) - The ending of this alone deserves full stars. I was trying my best to absorb every word and not skip right to the last page! Teen Wolf but cuddlier.
Optical Illusion (1/5) & Angelica (1/5) Twists at the end of a story are great, but some feel more like 'gotcha' moments pinned to the last page in an attempt to make the story memorable. Wasn't a fan of either one here. Angelica especially felt very meme-ish, but being written in 1985 is context to remember.
Idiot’s Crusade (5/5) - I can't even put into words how much I loved this. Other stories in the collection talk about powerless, frustrated kids but this one actually gives that power. Oh boy does it have consequences.
One for the Road (3/5) - We love a good Salem's Lot tie-in. Compared to other stories here that did so much in under 10 pages, this just felt clunky.
June 24, 2018
I remember checking this book out from the library over and over again as a child, I was so fascinated and entertained by it! Now, over thirty years later, I would probably do the same! Asimov is one of the most brilliant writers in history, and this novel is no exception. I recommend it to anyone who loves horror with a sense of humor, young or old, as well as anyone who appreciates a surprise ending as much as I do, because you never expect what happens in these stories.
April 12, 2024
OMG. SO. GOOD.
Every story in this anthology is well written, creepy, icky, often scary, sometimes uncomfortable, and deliciously juicy. Every one is about a small child or creature that one might consider a bit . . . off. I had to search FOREVER to find a copy, as it's been out of print for quite some time, but it was totes worth it. Such a great read!
Every story in this anthology is well written, creepy, icky, often scary, sometimes uncomfortable, and deliciously juicy. Every one is about a small child or creature that one might consider a bit . . . off. I had to search FOREVER to find a copy, as it's been out of print for quite some time, but it was totes worth it. Such a great read!
December 29, 2025
I'm actually pretty annoyed that the premise of this collection is "kids who are monsters," and a lot of these stories fulfill those conditions in a very technical way. In some of them, there's nothing to indicate that the age of the "monster," there's one where the monster is more like a young animal than a child, and in the last story, the supernatural creature is not a kid and I would argue does not count as a monster, either. I think Yolen would argue that counts as a "monster kid," and while that is a chilling twist, it's not really what I'm looking for in a spooky Halloween read.
ANYWAY. The stories are a mixed bag, as in almost any collection of this sort. Early on I found a lot of them to be kind of confusingly written, though the later entries are generally better. The werewolf ones were naturally among my personal favorites ("Gabriel-Ernest" could be an iconic story if it was long enough to fulfill its potential), though "Idiot's Crusade" was also quite good.
I will say, some of these kids really are monsters—I guess I was surprised by how many of outright murderers there are among the more sympathetic characters.
ANYWAY. The stories are a mixed bag, as in almost any collection of this sort. Early on I found a lot of them to be kind of confusingly written, though the later entries are generally better. The werewolf ones were naturally among my personal favorites ("Gabriel-Ernest" could be an iconic story if it was long enough to fulfill its potential), though "Idiot's Crusade" was also quite good.
I will say, some of these kids really are monsters—I guess I was surprised by how many of outright murderers there are among the more sympathetic characters.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews