and I was asleep, but I woke to an intense headache. Two aspirin and a glass of milk later, the headache is receding and I’m wide awake. Hmmmm…
Anyway, this reminded me of what I do when sleep eludes me. I like to read and now post in a blog. So why not combine the two.
Just last Sunday, there was a discussion of movies with the main plot being people hunting people. This has occurred in many places, but it always reminds me of a short story I read in my youth. I needed to find that story so I did a quick search of one place I go to find reading material. And I found the story. I’m fairly certain it predates most movies with that theme, if not a lot of other stories. It is on Feedbooks.com so you can read it on your computer or other electronic device. For your pleasure The Most Dangerous Game. Written in 1924, I read this story some time in the late 60’s or early 70’s. I don’t remember what anthology had it, but I do remember reading it more than once. It was a good story then and it holds up well today. I’m going to do more searching to see if this story type had earlier roots.
Speaking of good places to find free books, I found the following sites:
www.feedbooks.com
Project Gutenberg
Google Books
Late night, insomnia hitting? Nothing better than a good story. And now no excuses about cost or making a trip to the library.
Now all I need is a Kindle or some other small electronic reader and I can take them wherever I go. Not as good as a hard copy, but I might be able to get used to it.
I need sleep, but I just saw a story that might be interesting… 😉
Quick search found nothing earlier than this story. Was it the first?
I’m not sure, but I think there may have been a Greek or other mid-east myth with the same plot. I just haven’t found it yet.
I really enjoyed that tale, too in 10th Grade English class.
Kindle, eh? Perhaps when they become a bit more affordable.
Kindle thoughts: perhaps your darlings daughters could get together for Christmas. I will see.
The Most Dangerous Game thoughts: wasn’t that in one of the F&SF magazines? I know you had me read it when I was in middle school.
Ooh, another good one that sticks with you is The Cold Equations. I read that one 10 or so years ago, and it still gets me.
No 3-headed monster in that one like the movie Hydra? I don’t know, I haven’t read it yet… I have to check out how long it is. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to read and getting interrupted by a thousand “MOM!”‘s. That’s why short little blog posts are great to read! 😉
There’s a movie version of “The Most Dangerous Game” if you’re interested. Not bad. Made in 1932 with Joel McCrea and Fay Wray.
Movie filmed at night on the same island lot as King Kong. Fay Wray was working on both movies at the same time. 😉 Not a bad adaptation of the story.
ok – I am #2 on the library’s request list for the dvd at the library
It can be viewed online at
LikeTelevision — The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
I remember reading this story, it is well written and then ends a little abruptly. It took me years to understand the ending – does that mean I was a little slow?