Steel and Other Stories

Like so many movie and television productions over the past several decades, the recent Hollywood film REAL STEEL was based on a story by science fiction and fantasy master Richard Matheson. That particular story, "Steel," is the excellent lead-off in this collection of more than a dozen Matheson gems, all brought to life with terrific drama, heart, and edge by Scott Brick. Holding their own amid his fantastic plots, Matheson's main characters always have specific, memorable personalities. Brick makes the most of those detailed characterizations as listeners hear a scientist go back in time to witness the crucifixion, a hateful man who is an elegant orator experience his unique version of hell, and a broken-down boxer in the far-flung future go for that last big score. These are only three of the many expert pairings of story and narrator that will keep listeners immersed. J.P.M. (c) AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

August 8, 2011
Matheson’s latest collection features two recently published pieces, but is otherwise a repackaging of largely unremarkable speculative fiction stories originally published in the 1950s. Matheson’s inextinguishable imagination is apparent in “Dr. Morton’s Folly” (2009), a humorous little gem about a vampire in need of immediate dental assistance, and “The Window of Time” (2010), a heartfelt, quietly profound story about an elderly retired author who seeks out a nearby retirement home and finds a portal to the past. Other standouts include the classic “Steel,” inspiration for the forthcoming film Real Steel, and “The Traveller,” about a researcher who goes back in time and witnesses the crucifixion of Jesus. With stories that span more than half a century and the full range of horror, science fiction, and dark fantasy, this uneven collection primarily stands as a testament to Matheson’s literary longevity.