A fourth installment, titled robert bloch s psycho. But hitchcocks most significant departure from robert bloch s blueprint is most telling hitchcock starts with the second chapter, marion crane mary in the book fleeing after embezzling money and ending up at the bates motel. Crest books are published by fawcett world library, 67 west 44th street, new york 36, new york. Psycho paths by robert bloch and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Author robert bloch penned psycho in novel form back in 1959, just a year before its theatrical debut. But before the film was even a glint in alfred hitchcocks eye, awardwinning author robert bloch put real fear into the minds of readers with his unforgettable portrait of a very polite young man who proves that evil lurks just beneath a smile. Robert bloch was born on april 5, 1917 in chicago, illinois, usa as robert albert bloch.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Alfred hitchcock too was captivated, and turned the book into one of the mostloved classic films of all time the year after it was released. Psycho tells of a mentally unstable motel owner named norman bates who. Remainder mark to the text bottom, very slight discolouration at the text foredge, otherwise an as new fine unread copy, with flaws listed as near fine. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of psycho by robert bloch. Crest books are published by fawcett world library. Horror author williamson ably succeeds in the tough task of creating a sequel to robert blochs masterpiece, psycho. Robert blochs legendary horror novel psycho deals with a few. To learn that robert blochs original novel of the same name is actually a superior source of entertainment was just about baffling. Two centuries of great vampire stories, and more on.
Psycho series by robert bloch meet your next favorite book. Psycho is a 1959 horror novel by american writer robert bloch. A crest book published by arrangement with simon and schuster, inc. According to bloch, universal studios loathed the novel, which was intended to critique hollywood splatter films. First published in 1959, there is no doubt about it, psycho is an absolutely great horror classic. If by some freak of nature you happen to be in the dark regarding robert bloch s psycho i will warn you not to go in the shower at the bates motel, and be green with envy that you can read the novel with no prior knowledge of the intriguing plot. Pdf psycho book by robert bloch free download 208 pages. Robert bloch wrote psycho in weyauwega, wisconsin 60 years ago. Why psycho is a horror novel you need to read read. Robert bloch books list of books by author robert bloch. Psychosigned by the films costar, janet leigh robert bloch 1959, new york a nice copy of a book often found in various states of woe. Robert bloch s psychos is a 1997 horror anthology that was being edited by american writer robert bloch until his death in 1994. The story was all too realindeed this classic was inspired by the reallife story of ed gein, a psychotic murderer who led a dual life.
May 25, 2010 robert bloch 19171994 is the author of the classic horror novel, psycho, which served as the basis for alfred hitchcocks thrilling film of the same name. Though i was very familiar with the movie when i discovered this book in my grandmothers attic, i was ready to explore the pages and do a little comparing and contrasting between the novel and the movie. Psychos author, robert bloch, lived very near the town where this took place. See all books authored by robert bloch, including psycho, and vampires. Psycho all came from robert blochs book, hitchcock said in the 1971 book the celluloid muse. I wont claim that robert bloch invented this new style of horror fiction with his novel psycho, but this was clearly the story that pushed psychotic criminals to the forefront of the genre. Bloch, in essence, enjoyed the breakthrough success that paved the way for later horrorandcrime hybrid novels such as the silence of the lambs and american. He was a writer, known for psycho 1960, psycho 1998 and star trek. Robert bloch is the author of the classic horror novel, psycho, which served as the basis for alfred hitchcocks thrilling film of the same name. Greenberg completed the editorial work posthumously list of stories. It is more social commentary and a dissection of hollywood than it is a story about horror, suspense or psychology. The film is such an acclaimed success that for many it obscures the fact that before norman bates was on the big screen he was first on the page, in robert bloch s original novel psycho. He is best known as the writer of psycho 1959, the basis for the film of the same name by alfred hitchcock. Robert bloch 19171994 is the author of the classic horror novel, psycho, which served as the basis for alfred hitchcocks thrilling film of the same name.
As a whole, psycho has rightfully earned recognition as one of the greatest films ever shot. The novel tells the story of norman bates, caretaker at an isolated motel who struggles under his domineering mother and becomes embroiled in a series of murders. I was glad, because i didnt enjoy this at all and that is rare for me to dislike something by robert bloch. The classic chiller that inspired the spinetingling alfred hitchcock film. Im jahr 1959 veroffentlichte er seinen roman psycho, dessen verfilmung ihn uber nacht beruhmt machte. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 208 pages and is available in paperback format.
All characters in this book are fictional and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Psycho for psycho this is an extensive psycho fan site, including information on the movie, the sequels, the television series bates motel, and more. Written by robert bloch, audiobook narrated by william hootkins. The word evokes common images, all black and white from the classic alfred hitchcock film. May 25, 2016 and of course, this alternate universe theory applies to psycho, screenwriter joseph stefano and alfred hitchcocks adaptation of robert bloch s novel of the same name. Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial. The novel tells the story of norman bates, caretaker at an isolated motel who struggles under his. Although it might now be more familiar as a 1960 film by alfred hitchcock. Three complete novels psycho, psycho ii, and psycho house. Robert albert bloch was a prolific american writer. The main story between the two is more or less the same, but stef and hitch made enough changes with the characters that the film takes on a life of its own.
Hitchcock did wonders with robert bloch s story, but the book is creepy in another way. Sanitarium written by chet williamson, was released in 2016. Robert bloch 19171994 was a horror, suspense, and science fiction writer and screenwriter, best known for the novel psycho. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The backstory to robert blochs psycho galaxy press. The novel was completed before the screenplay was written for the unrelated 1983 film psycho ii. To learn that robert bloch s original novel of the same name is actually a superior source of entertainment was just about baffling. The book featured the following stories by contributing authors from the horror writers association. May 25, 2010 robert bloch s psycho captivated a nation when it appeared in 1959. May 25, 2010 robert bloch is the author of the classic horror novel, psycho, which served as the basis for alfred hitchcocks thrilling film of the same name. Robert bloch19171994 is the author of the classic horror novel, psycho, which served as the basis for alfred hitchcocks thrilling film of the same name.
Psycho by robert bloch a crest book published by arrangement. A different story was created for the film and bloch was not invited to any screenings. It sounded as though somebody was tapping on the windowpane. The book is set between the events of the original novel and psycho ii, recounting the events which took place in a state hospital for the criminally insane where bates is a patient. The novel is considered as being bloch s most enduring work and one of the most influential horror books of the 20th century. Janet leigh and vera miles both did a bang up job as the crane sisters and martin balsam made a fine arbogast. Psycho by robert bloch first published in 1959 10% of this book is dedicated to harry altshuler, who did 90% of the work one norman bates heard the noise and a shock went through him. He was married to eleanor zalisko alexander and marion holcombe. April 5, 1917 september 23, 1994 was an american fiction writer, primarily of crime, horror, fantasy and science fiction, from milwaukee, wisconsin. Lovecraft, bloch began writing short fiction in the 1930s. Three complete novels psycho, psycho ii, and psycho house hardcover september 1, 1993 by robert bloch author 4. In 1959, the year psycho was published, bloch won the hugo award for a short story and began to write.
He was the son of raphael ray bloch 1884, chicago1952, chicago, a bank cashier, and his wife stella loeb 1880, attica, indiana1944, milwaukee, wi, a social worker, both of germanjewish descent. Autopsy room four by stephen king haunted by charles l. With all due respect to the man who created the franchise, robert bloch, this book in no way inhabits the world that attracted the world to psycho in the beginning. His fondness for a pun is evident in the titles of his story collections such as tales in a jugular. He looked up, hastily, half prepared to rise, and the book slid from his hands to his ample lap. Everyone was scared to death when they saw the movie psycho. Robert bloch has 755 books on goodreads with 335981 ratings. Altogether, he wrote over 220 stories collected in over two dozen collections, two dozen novels, screenplays for a dozen movies, and three star trek episodes. Psycho was almost completed when news of geins actions broke, and bloch was unaware when he was writing his book that it would end up so closely reflecting actual events.
The new york times robert bloch is one of the alltime masters. The book will probably shine very little light onto what you already know about the tale. The spotlight is on robert bloch, author of psycho, the novel which was the basis of alfred hitchcocks movie, a classic in the genre. Tor books, new york, 1991, hardcover first edition. I wont claim that robert bloch invented this new style of horror fiction with his novel psycho, but this was clearly the story that pushed psychotic. Dust jacket with tape repair on verso, rubbed along folds else near fine books cheap paper browned in margins as usual else near fine housed in custom cloth dropback case. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. Robert bloch has become one with his fictional counterpart.
Bloch writes better than any living scaremonger, incl steven king. The main characters of this horror, fiction story are norman bates, mary crane. Psycho by robert bloch copyright 1959 by robert bloch. Psycho ii is a 1982 novel by american writer robert bloch, a sequel to his 1959 novel psycho. Surprisingly this book has nothing in common with the movie psycho ii other than the title. Psycho for hitchcock this is the official hitchcock website, with a biography, filmography, images, quotes, and links to interviews and other information.