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Atoms and evil
Book by Bloch, Robert
160 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1962
4 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Robert Bloch
1,068 books1,237 followersRobert Albert Bloch was a prolific American writer. He was the son of Raphael "Ray" Bloch (1884, Chicago-1952, Chicago), a bank cashier, and his wife Stella Loeb (1880, Attica, Indiana-1944, Milwaukee, WI), a social worker, both of German-Jewish descent.
Bloch wrote hundreds of short stories and over twenty novels, usually crime fiction, science fiction, and, perhaps most influentially, horror fiction (Psycho). He was one of the youngest members of the Lovecraft Circle; Lovecraft was Bloch's mentor and one of the first to seriously encourage his talent.
He was a contributor to pulp magazines such as Weird Tales in his early career, and was also a prolific screenwriter. He was the recipient of the Hugo Award (for his story "That Hell-Bound Train"), the Bram Stoker Award, and the World Fantasy Award. He served a term as president of the Mystery Writers of America.
Robert Bloch was also a major contributor to science fiction fanzines and fandom in general. In the 1940s, he created the humorous character Lefty Feep in a story for Fantastic Adventures. He also worked for a time in local vaudeville, and tried to break into writing for nationally-known performers. He was a good friend of the science fiction writer Stanley G. Weinbaum. In the 1960's, he wrote 3 stories for Star Trek.
Bloch wrote hundreds of short stories and over twenty novels, usually crime fiction, science fiction, and, perhaps most influentially, horror fiction (Psycho). He was one of the youngest members of the Lovecraft Circle; Lovecraft was Bloch's mentor and one of the first to seriously encourage his talent.
He was a contributor to pulp magazines such as Weird Tales in his early career, and was also a prolific screenwriter. He was the recipient of the Hugo Award (for his story "That Hell-Bound Train"), the Bram Stoker Award, and the World Fantasy Award. He served a term as president of the Mystery Writers of America.
Robert Bloch was also a major contributor to science fiction fanzines and fandom in general. In the 1940s, he created the humorous character Lefty Feep in a story for Fantastic Adventures. He also worked for a time in local vaudeville, and tried to break into writing for nationally-known performers. He was a good friend of the science fiction writer Stanley G. Weinbaum. In the 1960's, he wrote 3 stories for Star Trek.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 13, 2011
Bloch wrote in a lot of genres but he was not equal in all genres. On my Bat Shit thermometer of 10 for Absolutely Bat Shit Wonderful (ABSW) to 1 for Just Bat Shit (JBS), here is a rating
Horror - 10
Suspense/Mystery - 9
Humor - 8
Science Fiction - 3
Atom and Evil is a curious collection. In the first edition of 1962, it was categorized as a science-fiction collection but the later paperbacks of the 70s added the subtitle "Robert Bloch's Tales of Terror". Most of the stories do have a science fiction base therefore making this one of the weaker Bloch anthologies. Yet there are still some tasty tales. Many have Bloch's droll if sometimes sexist wit...
and he could never resist a pun, even a bad one..
Of course horror is never too far away and most of these stories end on a satisfying twist or shock. I wouldn't necessarily pick this ne for a first Bloch read, which is good because it is long out of print. But there are some nice stories here, just not any Bloch classics.
Horror - 10
Suspense/Mystery - 9
Humor - 8
Science Fiction - 3
Atom and Evil is a curious collection. In the first edition of 1962, it was categorized as a science-fiction collection but the later paperbacks of the 70s added the subtitle "Robert Bloch's Tales of Terror". Most of the stories do have a science fiction base therefore making this one of the weaker Bloch anthologies. Yet there are still some tasty tales. Many have Bloch's droll if sometimes sexist wit...
Maybe his daughter, Nora, was not entirely ugly. True everything about her was just a little larger than life-size. Her nose was a trifle big and her mouth was too wide, and her cheekbones were so prominent they might as easily have run for public office. But in an era which bows down before the busts of Monroe, Loren, Lollobrigida, and Ekberg, she possessed certain attributes which might be considered outstanding, In fact, one might easily search the wide world over without finding her equal in either hemisphere.
and he could never resist a pun, even a bad one..
"Don't Forget. I've got a four o'clock date with a gorilla"
"This is not the time for monkey business."
Of course horror is never too far away and most of these stories end on a satisfying twist or shock. I wouldn't necessarily pick this ne for a first Bloch read, which is good because it is long out of print. But there are some nice stories here, just not any Bloch classics.
November 15, 2018
A mixed bag of around 13 short stories that shows it’s age somewhat. A few good ones but most are forgettable. Not up to my expectations of the author.
February 15, 2019
An okay, fairly amusing, if not rememberable collection of sci-fi stories.
Block That Metaphor, Talent and Comfort Me, My Robot were particular favourites.
Block That Metaphor, Talent and Comfort Me, My Robot were particular favourites.
February 7, 2021
A good collection of short stories.
July 17, 2022
3 pluss. Original title: 'Atoms and Evil'. If someone can write scary stories it is Robert Bloch.
February 13, 2024
Misogyny at its finest
August 21, 2024
Some very good short stories in here.
October 2, 2013
Robert Bloch's funny side comes out in this collection, starting with the first line of the first story ("Once there was a sane scientist who had an ugly daughter."). Some of it does not age well ("Wheel and Deal" comes off less satirical than sexist) but "Try This for Psis" is a hoot and "You Could Be Wrong" is rather creepy in undermining reality.
March 11, 2014
Firstly great cover!
Although Bloch was most famous for horror stories especially Psycho, this collection of SF short stories written between 1948 and 1958 worked very well, I was reminded of the collections by Dahl as many of Bloch's tales had often a nasty twist at the finale.
Although Bloch was most famous for horror stories especially Psycho, this collection of SF short stories written between 1948 and 1958 worked very well, I was reminded of the collections by Dahl as many of Bloch's tales had often a nasty twist at the finale.
January 13, 2016
A collection of short stories that aren't quite dark enough to be truly unsettling, and aren't quite whimsical enough to be whimsical. Not bad, just a bit... Middle of the road. It feels like a knock-off Philip K. Dick collection or something. Every story I've seen done better elsewhere.
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June 21, 2009Science Fiction,Anthology
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews