La Venganza Es Mia, S. A.

by Roald Dahl

In "Vengeance is Mine Inc.", a special collection of ROald Dahl's world-famous sinister adult stories, you'll encounter two poverty-stricken men and their extraordinary scheme to make money; the wife who ingeniously hides a murder weapon from the police; a man lying awake waiting to be bitten by the venomous snake asleep on his stomach; the newborn baby with unsettling feeding habits; and several other curious individuals in altogether odd situations.

Portraying the strange and unexpected, Roald Dahl's short stories always send a shiver down the spine. What are you waiting for? Start reading and experience the darker side of Dahl...

This book is a gift. It has been given by a passionate volunteer as part of World Book Night 2014 on April 23 to spread the joy of books and reading - particularly among those who don't yet love to read.

You can keep it or pass it on. There are no strings, but please do try it. It's a great book and we think you are going to love it.

Because everything changes when we read.

Genres: Short Stories

Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

Roald Dahl was a beloved British author, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter pilot, best known for his enchanting and often darkly humorous children's books that have captivated generations of readers around the world. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led a life marked by adventure, tragedy, creativity, and enduring literary success. His vivid imagination and distinctive storytelling style have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors in modern literature.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.

Reviews

[Ana Cristina Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siempre bien escritos, siempre originales y algo siniestros, los relatos de Roald Dahl son un clásico. Aunque no me han gustado tanto como la colección de Relatos de lo inesperado, también tienen sus momentos y son una lectura entretenida.
3,5*

[Iain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice collection and - of course - well written and easy to read. However, the expectation is for twists in the tale of which there are very few in this little gathering. On the whole, they're good stories but generally end on a whimper rather than a gasp.

Interesting to read the Royal Jelly one, though. I remember the Tales of the Unexpected version of this on TV many, many years ago which had a slightly less subtle ending! I can still picture Timothy West in the final reveal...

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself not really favouring Dahl's children's books as I got older, so I thought I'd take a stab at some of his adult stories. And I'm very glad I did. What a fantastic collection of stories!

My favourite stories from this collection were "Royal Jelly", "William and Mary" and "The Sound Machine". Such bizarre characters and surreal situations, daft and deadly serious all at once. I'll never look at fat babies the same way again...

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed, but these are really dark and quite a bit creepy - not my usual fare at all!

[Sohail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very funny story. Full of tension, stupidity, and an unexpected ending.

[Gill]

Having just finished reading first Anita Lasker-Wallfisch's harrowing account of her concentration camp incarceration and then Christopher Priest's The Prestige, Dahl's "Vengeance is Mine" came as light relief, and I found I was reading his shorgt stories with real pleasure. This was a book gifted on World Book Night 2014.
The title story from 1980 is a light-hearted one of two friends inventing a company to visit retribution on society journalists on behalf of those insulted. Although it proves lucrative, it also involves the pair having to relocate almost immediately. One wonders what happens to the rest of the thousand fliers they had printed!
Skin is a 1952 story of the demise of a talented young artist, and the very sought-after tattooed painting he did on the back of his friend and early benefactor.
Lamb to the slaughter dates from 1953, and recounts the reaction of a dutiful wife to her policeman husband's revelation that he intends to leave her. You may see there is a pattern forming here of dark tales of emotion and repressed emotions. William & Mary, a 1960 story, follows this with the
desire of a dying man for his brain to achieve immortality, and his downtrodden wife's reaction to his decision.
The 1953 The Great Automatic Grammatizer is a story which has been overtaken by the use of AI today, one hopes the conclusion is in error. Royal Jelly (1960) is another story involving science, and having had dealings with Royal Jelly I feel his valuation of it is rather high, and the effects of it more extreme than those I witnessed myself!
The 1949 tale The Sound Machine is the earliest of those retold here, and again deals with an aspect of science, this time the ability of some species to hear in a range outside that human's can hear normally, and whether animals and plants have feelings and emotions.
The 1953 story The Wish is concerned with a child's perception of the world and its dangers, the sort of childhood imaginations common to many.
The last story, the 1950's Poison is set in India and reveals a nasty streak of racialism in one of the central characters.
The book ends by advancing the first chapter of Dahl's 'not-autobiography' Boy, which leaves one wanting more of this fascinating man's background.

[Matias · Rating 2 out of 5]

Flojo. Leí la mitad. No le encontré interés estilístico ni argumental. No sé por qué pensaba que Roald Dahl sería bueno. Quizá sean mejor sus historias para niños.

[Paulina Palacios Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claud es un personaje inolvidable, su vida transcurre desde una esquina del mundo que hasta para Gordon, su mejor compinche, va más allá de lo aprehensible.

[Mro Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sublime, como todo lo de Roald Dahl

[Goethe · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5-3

[Susan Fiddes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free as part of world book night 2014. On reading, I found a couple of these short stories familiar as there seems to be quite few Dahl story compilations already in printed circulation. I was a huge fan of Dahl as a child and because of this I found most of these short stories vaguely unsatisfactory and not as easy to get into given the characters are adults. Don't get me wrong, the subject matters are often utterly compelling & thought provoking, and the twists and turns excellent. I can't put my finger on why, I just found myself drifting in focus whilst reading most of them. Still worth a read though, especially if interested in the art of short story writing, of which Dahl is technically brilliant. But give me the twits or the bfg any day!!

[Stephen Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed. Given his children's books I was expecting a lot more. There are some good plots but in my view they were either too obvious or too laboured.

[Dora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Está bien