Rating: 
Summary: I can't summarize this in one line...
Review: "Black Evening" is sheer evidence of Morrell, a very talented storyteller at work. He keeps the prose going. I always said I don't entirely like the use of the first-person narrative, and going against me is the fact that most of the stories in this book are presented in that format. Well, I guess I had to agree with it. I read the whole book and enjoyed it. I managed to "ignore" the first-person narrative...to forget about it so I could simply enjoy myself with the book.Although these stories are by and large very good...at least a head and shoulders above other anthologies of the like that I've had a chance to read, there's yet another point I want to make here, and I know, this point doesn't really encourage you, review reader to go out and get this book, I know, but I feel like I should tell you. For those who weren't familiar, before reading this book, I should let you know now (even though Morrell will tell you this in the book himself) that in the late 80s, he suffered the tragic loss of his 15-year old son, Matthew, to bone cancer. (This story is told in David Morrell's book, Fireflies, available here.) The grief of this tragic loss is something that is present in virtually every story here. For people who don't like to be constantly hammered over the head with that theme, I guess this book isn't a good choice. Now for why this book IS a good choice, I guess I could simply say it contains one of the best short stories I've ever read..."The Typewriter". "The Partnership", "But at my back I always hear", "The Storm", "For these and all my Sins", "Mumbo Jumbo", "Dead Image" and "Orange is for Anguish, Blue is for Insanity" It's quite a lot of stand-outs, but, yes, these are my personal picks. These are enough to make you want to buy the book, and buy the book, you should!
Rating: 
Summary: Morrell is a master of the horror novella.
Review: Although his novels often include horrific elements, David Morrell rarely deals with the supernatural and macabre in his longer works. Rather, he explores those topics in his shorter work, such as those gathered in his 1999 collection BLACK EVENING. These well-crafted tales, written between 1971 and 1992, are ample credentials for recognizing Morrell's status among the modern masters of horror. The stories selected for inclusion are presented in order of composition. In Morrell's words, they "wear their age well." "Tales of dark suspense," he continues, "their approach is different from that of my international thrillers. You won't find spies and round-the-globe intrigue here. What you will find are the stark emotions behind that intrigue: fear and trembling." Fear does indeed lurk at the heart of these stories, and in many
permutations. This may be fear for the safety of your loved ones ("The Dripping"), fear of being exposed as a fraud ("The Typewriter"), or the fear of being caught up in someone else's delusions ("But at My Back I Always Hear You"). Each successive story peers deeper into the dark, revealing just how close at hand it really is. Whether he is writing about an apocalyptic thunderstorm, a high school football team that owes its
success to an idol, or a town paralyzed with fear over the presence of a serial killer, Morrell writes with an edge of the seat immediacy, an urgency that communicates his characters' fears directly to his readers. How good are these stories? Consider this: the majority found homes in the premier anthologies of the eighties and nineties, including WHISPERS, SHADOWS, NIGHT VISIONS, PRIME EVIL, and DARK AT HEART. If you question the judgment of experienced editors like Charles Grant and Douglas Winter, you can always find assurance in the fact that two of the stories "The Beautiful Uncut Hair of Graves" and "Orange is for Anguish, Blue is for
Insanity," won Stokers for Best Novella. Enhanced by Morrell's revealing Foreword, individual story notes, and Afterword, BLACK EVENING makes for rewarding reading, the kind that keeps you up late into the night. Just don't turn off the lights.
Rating:
Summary: Black Evening
Review: Am not a fan of short stories, but these were very good.
Rating:
Summary: Loved this Book!
Review: I am a horror story lover...not usually in the short story format. But I REALLY ENJOYED this book. Every story was good with the very enjoyable "twisted-weird" story plots. Also, I found Morrell's personal thoughts throughout the book wonderful. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Loved this Book!
Review: I am a horror story lover...not usually in the short story format. But I REALLY ENJOYED this book. Every story was good with the very enjoyable "twisted-weird" story plots. Also, I found Morrell's personal thoughts throughout the book wonderful. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Beyond Excellent!
Review: I am new to David Morrell's works, but that will soon be remedied, after I listened to the unabridged version of his short stories. Not only are the stories EXCELLENT, but I imensely enjoyed the author's commentary before and after each one. And he makes his points, plots and story lines, with little vulgarity, which is becoming much too common in the latest Stephen King works. Kudos and I will be hearing more.
Rating:
Summary: the most incredible collection i've ever read...
Review: never in my life have i been so captivated by a short story then when i read "Orange is for anguish, Blue is for insanity", the other stories included are tremendous as well, but this one is the spellbinding one that grabs ahold of you and never let's go. i praise Morrell for letting out all of his frustration and his own insanity within this collection of masterpiece writing..."Black Evening" is a must own, no one should go through life without reading these stories...they have the power to keep you reading all through the night, and the power to change your life...now that's an author.
Rating:
Summary: the most incredible collection i've ever read...
Review: never in my life have i been so captivated by a short story then when i read "Orange is for anguish, Blue is for insanity", the other stories included are tremendous as well, but this one is the spellbinding one that grabs ahold of you and never let's go. i praise Morrell for letting out all of his frustration and his own insanity within this collection of masterpiece writing..."Black Evening" is a must own, no one should go through life without reading these stories...they have the power to keep you reading all through the night, and the power to change your life...now that's an author.
Rating:
Summary: Horror Fiction Lifted to the Level of Fine Art
Review: Ordinarily I am not a huge fan of horror stories, but I can honestly say that Black Evening is frightfully fantastic. This spine-tingling collection of sixteen tales explores the dark side of greed, power, and madness. Morrell is able to pack a lot of punches and twists into his short (but not so sweet) stories. Moreover, his writing expresses his compassion and intelligence like that of an accomplished literary great. An added bonus to this book is the foreward at the beginning of each story. Morrell discusses his development as a writer and shares with the reader his personal tales of triumph and tragedy: from his meeting with his idol, writer Stirling Silliphant, to the death of his teenage son to bone cancer. Each story seems to be weaved around an event that touched Morrell's life. This authenticity makes for a more eerie read. For example, "But at My Back I always Hear," is about a professor who is stalked by a female student infatuated with him. Morrell himself faced this dilemma while teaching at the University of Iowa. Other scary topics covered include an art historian who follows his subjects' break with reality and ultimate demise; an amateur writer who becomes a best-selling novelist with the help of a ghostly typewriter; and a high school football team that is victorious because the coach is dabbling in witchcraft and produces an evil good luck mascot. Two of the stories in Black Evening won Best Novella, Horror Writers of America Award. One story was a nominee for this same award and one other story was a finalist for the World Fantasy Award. Morrell stated that the first piece of advice he received as a young writer was to write about what he feared most. Obviously he took that advice to heart and left us with some chilling entertainment.
Rating:
Summary: Horror Fiction Lifted to the Level of Fine Art
Review: Ordinarily I am not a huge fan of horror stories, but I can honestly say that Black Evening is frightfully fantastic. This spine-tingling collection of sixteen tales explores the dark side of greed, power, and madness. Morrell is able to pack a lot of punches and twists into his short (but not so sweet) stories. Moreover, his writing expresses his compassion and intelligence like that of an accomplished literary great. An added bonus to this book is the foreward at the beginning of each story. Morrell discusses his development as a writer and shares with the reader his personal tales of triumph and tragedy: from his meeting with his idol, writer Stirling Silliphant, to the death of his teenage son to bone cancer. Each story seems to be weaved around an event that touched Morrell's life. This authenticity makes for a more eerie read. For example, "But at My Back I always Hear," is about a professor who is stalked by a female student infatuated with him. Morrell himself faced this dilemma while teaching at the University of Iowa. Other scary topics covered include an art historian who follows his subjects' break with reality and ultimate demise; an amateur writer who becomes a best-selling novelist with the help of a ghostly typewriter; and a high school football team that is victorious because the coach is dabbling in witchcraft and produces an evil good luck mascot. Two of the stories in Black Evening won Best Novella, Horror Writers of America Award. One story was a nominee for this same award and one other story was a finalist for the World Fantasy Award. Morrell stated that the first piece of advice he received as a young writer was to write about what he feared most. Obviously he took that advice to heart and left us with some chilling entertainment.
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