In his “Author’s Afterword” Robert Bloch mentions his 69 stories published by Weird Tales. Bloch’s also asserts that he’s not just a “weird fiction” writer, he’s a specialist in “psychological suspense.” Actually, Bloch’s work blends the two elements. Take “The Weird Tailor” where a talented but cruel tailor takes on the task of making a custom suit made of unique material. Tension builds as the special suit displays strange characteristics. The startling conclusion reminds me of Bloch’s final scenes of Psycho.
My favorite story in Such Stuff as Scream Are Made Of is “Talent” which celebrates Bloch’s love of fantasy films. “I Do Not Love Thee, Dr. Fell” defines Bloch’s approach to psychological suspense.
In his “Introduction,” Gahan Wilson places Robert Bloch in the league of other Weird Tales writers like H. P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, and Clark Ashton Smith. High praise, indeed…and deserving of it based on the quality of the stories in Such Stuff as Scream Are Made Of . Are you a Robert Bloch fan? GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- ix • Introduction (Such Stuff as Screams Are Made Of) • essay by Gahan Wilson
- 1 • The Tunnel of Love • (1948) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 11 • The Unspeakable Betrothal • (1949) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 26 • The Girl from Mars • (1950) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 34 • The Head Hunter • (1950) • short story by Robert Bloch (variant of Head Man)
- 52 • The Weird Tailor • (1950) • novelette by Robert Bloch
- 74 • Lucy Comes to Stay • (1952) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 81 • The Pin • (1953) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 96 • I Do Not Love Thee, Doctor Fell • (1955) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 107 • Luck Is No Lady • (1957) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 124 • The Cure • (1957) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 132 • The Screaming People • (1959) • novelette by Robert Bloch
- 171 • The Big Kick • (1959) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 181 • The Masterpiece • (1960) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 186 • Talent • (1960) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 200 • The Final Performance • (1960) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 214 • Life in Our Time • (1966) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 223 • Underground • (1967) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 230 • A Case of the Stubborns • (1976) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 248 • The Head • (1976) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 257 • What You See Is What You Get • (1977) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 273 • Nina • (1977) • short story by Robert Bloch
- 284 • Author’s Afterword (Such Stuff as Screams Are Made Of) • essay by Robert Bloch