More tales of the unexpected

by Roald Dahl

Paperback, 1980

Status

Available

Call number

813

Collection

Publication

Penguin Books (1980), Edition: 1st thus, Paperback, 127 pages

Description

Two cassettes containing the following eight abridged tales: My Lady Love, My Dove; The Landlady; Poison; The Sound Machine; Georgy Porgy; Vengeance is Mine Inc.; Mr Botibol; and The Hitchhiker.

User reviews

LibraryThing member MinaKelly
Roald Dahl at his best; quirky, sharp-witted and smart tales for adults. Dahl was employed at one point to produce just two stories a year, and the resulting quality really shows. Often macabre, and nearly always with a twist, he always delivers. Many modern authors could stand to learn something.
LibraryThing member bookworm12
Most people know Roald Dahl because of his wonderful stories for children. From Matilda to James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to the BFG, Dahl has enthralled generations of kids. But somehow most people have missed out on his short stories for adults. He published multiple
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collections in this vein and this one is a perfect example of his work.

The book reminds me of short stories from both Ray Bradbury and Flannery O’Connor. He tends towards a darker view of the world and people in general. Some of the stories are creepy, like The Sound Machine and the chilling Genesis and Catastrophe. Others like The Umbrella Man and Vengeance is Mine Inc. are quirky and fun.

The slim book contains the following stories:

Poison
The Sound Machine
Georgy Porgy
Genesis and Catastrophe
The Hitch-hiker
The Umbrella Man
Mr. Botibol
Vengeance is Mine Inc.
The Butler

BOTTOM LINE: If you’ve never read any of Roald Dahl’s adult stories this is a great place to start. The man had a wicked sense of humor and a style of writing that people have adored for decades. I’d also recommend his nonfiction memoirs Boy and Going Solo.
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Language

Original publication date

1980

ISBN

0140056068 / 9780140056068

Local notes

Taken from Someone Like You, Kiss Kiss and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, and including four additional stories, this collection of tales lures you into a world full of unease, coincidence and black humour.

• Poison
• The sound machine
• Georgy Porgy
• Genesis and catastrophe
• The hitch-hiker
• The umbrella man
• Mr. Botibol
• Vengeance is mine inc.
• The butler.
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