Black Evening by David Morrell

 

(pb; 1999: story/novella anthology)

 

From the back cover

“Fear of loss, fear of pain, fear of madness, fear of being trapped, fear of the inescapable, unspeakable horrors that fester deep within the soul. . . No matter who or where they are, fear is always with you, always ready to attack from behind the masks of thought and dream.”

 

Overall review

The sixteen stories in this collection are a mixed bag. Morrell, an excellent novelist, is an okay short story/novella author. His end-twists are solid but telegraphed early on in a Stephen King/Dean Koontz mainstream way. The writing is cinematically vivid, a strength in novels, but sometimes a shortcoming in shorter works, particularly works that depends on twist/shock-value elements.

Standout stories/novellas: “The Partnership,” “Black Evening,” “The Typewriter,” “But at My Back I Always Hear,” “The Storm,” “For These and All My Sins” and “Mumbo Jumbo.”

Worth checking out from the library for those seeking fresh-edge thrills. Worth owning for those looking for touchy-feely, solid if often familiar-finish works.

 

Review, story by story

“The Dripping”: A man, walking through a strangely empty house with an ever-present dripping sound, finds himself in the throes of a nightmare. Solid story, feels like an early, still-figuring-it-out work from a fledgling short-fiction writer.

 

 

“The Partnership”: Competitive business partners grow more so when one of them hires a clever, money-hungry hitman. Great, twisty pulpy tale.

 

 

“Black Evening”: A police chief, a deputy and a doctor investigate a dilapidated house with a stench about it—and discover a horrifying crime scene that’s more than it seems.

Good story, with an end-twist that doesn’t feel feels forced, underwhelming.

 

 

“The Hidden Laughter”: An empty house where children’s laughter is heard reveals deeper, possibly darker secrets. Again, good lead-up with an out-of-nowhere, unearned twist.

 

 

“The Typewriter” (novella): A struggling, broke, wanna-be author (Eric) buys an ugly, odd-shaped typewriter that seems to write publishable work almost on its own, making Eric successful. But, as with many things, there’s a catch. This tale, a blend of Ray Bradbury’s supernatural whimsy and style and an old E.C. comic book, is excellent, one of the best novellas in this collection, and one of the best overall short works I’ve read in a while.

 

 

“But at My Back I Always Hear”: Life gets turned upside-down when a college professor and his family when one of his students (Samantha Perry) becomes obsessed with him and calling him late at night. As the intensity of her stalking becomes more elevated, the professor’s family’s lives become terrifying when something that should be impossible seems all-too-possible. Excellent novella, one that feels like Stephen King’s early, better stories, theme-, tone- and edit-wise.

 

 

“The Storm” (novella): A stormfront, increasing in intensity and consistency, follows a vacationing family as they head home, causing disasters and almost repeatedly killing them—eventually they realize what is likely causing it, but can they stop it in time, without making the situation worse? Another above-average supernatural novella that Stephen King fans might like.

 

 

“For These and All My Sins” (novella): After his car breaks down, a man finds himself in a spooky town with monstrously deformed humans, who are not friendly. Lovecraftian-dread, mood-effective, solid and entertaining throughout, has a Twilight Zone feel to it.

 

 

“Black and Red All Over”: A newspaper delivery boy in a small town tells how the town was stalked by a murderer who targeted newspaper delivery boys. Chatty, overlong, okay work.

 

 

“Mumbo Jumbo” (novella): Two friends join their high school football team and experience their coach’s secret pre-game ritual with his players, a ritual that may or may not change all their lives.

Excellent and engaging coming-of-age read, with a touch of the possibly supernatural and more than a touch of religion-based superstition in it. Somehow this has the feel of a Bruce Springsteen song as well.

 

 

“Dead Image” (novella): Good, hint-of-the-darkly-mystical and intriguing story about a Hollywood, CA screenwriter who discovers a bit actor (Wes Crane) who may be the reincarnation of an iconic, died-young actor (James Deacon, a—you guessed it—a fictionalized version of James Dean) makes a huge career gamble and works with him. . . only to possibly see history repeat itself. Can he stop the (perceived) curse before it strikes again?

 

 

“Orange is for Anguish, Blue for Insanity” (novella): Modern day academic researchers follow the creative and physical trail of a nineteenth century, gone-mad painter (Van Dorn) in hopes of understanding the “secret” draw of his work. Any reader familiar with creepy mystery tales like these can easily figure out where the story’s going, but this well-written EC Comics-esque cautionary tale is entertaining throughout.

 

“The Beautiful Uncut Hair of Graves” (novella): A lawyer, grieving for his recently deceased parents, finds a document in their attic-stored papers that turns his world upside down. Following the trail available to him to their—possibly his—past, the mourning son risks everything to discover truths which may kill him. Solid, if overlong story (even for a grief-paced read), not Morrell’s best work.

 

“The Shrine” (novella): Another story about grief, this time a man mourning his recently killed wife and son, a process complicated by his inheritance of two friends’ property. Like “Beautiful,” it’s overlong but it’s a better piece than “Beautiful.” Liked the familiar but warm, character-true finish, the natural melding of darkness and hope.