Richard Matheson

[Connavar]

Has anyone here read Somewhere in Time ? I was wondering what you guys thought about the novel ?

I was so impressed with the literary devices he used and how he made a simple love story and a time travel that was more fantastic than science oriented interesting.

 

[JustPassingThrough]

I didn't' even see this thread!

Richard Matheson. Hmm, what can I say:
Oh.
Hell.
Yeah!

I started Somewhere in Time, had to put it down, and then couldn't fine the damn novel to finish it! (of course I saw the movie, which was great and all that jazz.)

 

[Fried Egg]

Has anyone here read Somewhere in Time ? I was wondering what you guys thought about the novel ?

I've not read it, and hadn't even heard of it until I saw you were reading it. Sounds good though.

However, next on my to-read pile by this author is "The Shrinking Man".

 

[Connavar]

I didn't' even see this thread!

Richard Matheson. Hmm, what can I say:
Oh.
Hell.
Yeah!

I started Somewhere in Time, had to put it down, and then couldn't fine the damn novel to finish it! (of course I saw the movie, which was great and all that jazz.)

The book starts slow but when the actual time travel starts and he gets to the other time it was a fine, beautiful story. It impressed and made me respect RM even more as a legendary writer. It was a great novel like I Am Legend. I can see why it won the prestigious World Fantasy award.

Have you read another novel/collection of his ?

 

[Connavar]

I've not read it, and hadn't even heard of it until I saw you were reading it. Sounds good though.

However, next on my to-read pile by this author is "The Shrinking Man".

Somewhere in Time was known originally as Bid Time Return so you might know that name. Somewhere in Time is much better title feels emotionally better fit for the story. I think you would like it as you have read similar time travel by Jack Finney, who by the way rates novel highly. Myself it made me almost order that famous time travel novel by Finney.

Its not a love story so that novel might fit me better. Like i said of Somewhere in Time in my GR review, in the hands of a weaker writer it would be a gimmick love story like Time Traveler's Wife hollywood film....

 

[JustPassingThrough]

I came to Richard Matheson through Stephen King (who named him one of three novelist that inspired him) and I first read I Am Legend which was such a great story that none of the movies have even approached capturing it. After that, I read any of his short story collections that I could get my hands on. Third from the Sun. Witch War. Dress of White Silk. Dance of the Dead. Whatever I can get my hands on from him, I will read. Great, great author!

 

[GOLLUM]

Somewhere in Time was known originally as Bid Time Return so you might know that name. Somewhere in Time is much better title feels emotionally better fit for the story.

I have a beautiful HB edition of Bid Time Return. I got it imported from the US a couple of years ago as part of my collection of all novel winners of the World Fantasy Award from its inception in 1975 to current. I know you're not that fussed about awards but the WFA generally comes up with excelllent titles. Funny thing is, I've not read this yet but your description has me wanting to read it befroe the end of 2011....

 

[Connavar]

I have a beautiful HB edition of Bid Time Return. I got it imported from the US a couple of years ago as part of my collection of all novel winners of the World Fantasy Award from its inception in 1975 to current. I know you're not that fussed about awards but the WFA generally comes up with excelllent titles. Funny thing is, I've not read this yet but your description has me wanting to read it befroe the end of 2011....

Every WFA book i have read has been very good or great so its the only award i respect truly along with Shamus the American hardboiled PI award. I choose this novel because it won WFA when i was thinking i need Matheson in top shape.

I should look more at 70s-80s WFA i dont know too well when it comes to authors. Although most of the books are literary strong fantasy i have read already or are in my to read pile. Like Forgotten Beast of Eld.

 

[Fried Egg]

Well, I found "The Shrinking Man" to be a very good book. That was a relief, I was worried that I wouldn't like it after quite a few people I know disliked it.

I definitely want to pick up something else by Matheson. "Somewhere in Time" sounds interesting and different from the other stuff I've read by him so I may give that a go. "Stir of Echoes" might also be interesting as I quite liked the film.

 

[Connavar]

Somewhere in Time was really different from his usual style. More emotional, humane story, the prose was not SF/horror type books of his. I wish i could find similar books very fast when i finished the novel.

I cant wait until i got his volume 1 complete collection i ordered.

By the way i hope you are right about Shrinking Man because it put me off RM for like two years...

 

[Fried Egg]

By the way i hope you are right about Shrinking Man because it put me off RM for like two years...

I think a lot of people are simply put off by the protagonist who is extremely unlikeable for most of the story. Makes it harder to empathise with him in his plight.

I think this was intentional though, as it becomes clear that he is on a journey. He has to discover that the problems in his own mind are worse than the problems in his life.

 

[Connavar]

I think a lot of people are simply put off by the protagonist who is extremely unlikeable for most of the story. Makes it harder to empathise with him in his plight.

I think this was intentional though, as it becomes clear that he is on a journey. He has to discover that the problems in his own mind are worse than the problems in his life.

I didnt have any problem with the character, the writing felt dated to me. Like bad pulp sf stories.

I think my expectations was too high after Legend, i expected it to be near as great. Speaking about character i didnt like the lead of Somewhere in Time too at first. A first person POV time traveler that is lovesick......

 

[J Riff]

I thought I knew every Matheson novel but can't remember Somewhere in Time at all. Anybody who writes a story about a giant spider chasing a guy who lives under the water heater in the basement, that I manage to read as a kid - is a hero no matter what else he writes.

 

[Droflet]

My favorite of Mathesons will always be Hell House. What a little ripper. As for Somewhere in Time if you can't find the book a movie was made of it about twenty years ago.

 

[Connavar]

I wonder have any of the RM readers here read his short stories ?

Like Bradbury says in the tribute in my Collected stories voume 1 its hard to categorize him with the blend of weird,horror,SF,fantasy stories. I like reading the stories in publishing order. From horror to sf, to more weird stories. Creepy story just before a smart SF story alà PKD.

 

[Fried Egg]

My edition of "I am Legend" was bulked out with some of his short stories. I read them years ago so I don't remember much about them but at the time, I wasn't really a horror fan and these were pretty much straight horror.

 

[j d worthington]

Some of Matheson's short tales remain among the best in the genre. And "Born of Man and Woman" is an incredible story for what it accomplishes in such small compass.....

 

[Fried Egg]

The stories contained in my edition of "I am Legend" were these:

• Buried Talents
• The Near Departed
• Prey
• Witch War
• Dance of the Dead
• Dress of White Silk
• Mad House
• The Funeral
• From Shadowed Places
• Person to Person

 

[Lobolover]

Some of Matheson's short tales remain among the best in the genre. And "Born of Man and Woman" is an incredible story for what it accomplishes in such small compass.....

I mentioned this ages ago, but somehow I felt less then impressed by that, and it was even read on Mindwebs of all places !

 

[Connavar]

Some of Matheson's short tales remain among the best in the genre. And "Born of Man and Woman" is an incredible story for what it accomplishes in such small compass.....

His novels is so famous in the genres of his that i didnt hear alot about his stories. Im pleasantly surprised by his short stories, prose wise some short is crisper,better than the novels i have read(I Am Legend,Somewhere in Time,Shrinking Man).


"Born of Man and Woman" was great way to start a collection, wonderful little story that i couldnt believe was so short because it felt like a complete story that was like 30 pages.

My respect for him has grown from he is good but not my among favs masters of SFF,horror to i must read like 5-10 more books of him soon