Fri 27 Jan 2017
JONATHAN LEWIS: Stories I’m Reading — STANLEY ELLIN “Robert.”
Posted by Steve under Stories I'm Reading[6] Comments
STANLEY ELLIN “Robert.” First published in Sleuth Mystery Magazine, October 1958. Reprinted several times, including Tales for a Rainy Night, edited by David Alexander (Holt Rinehart & Winston, hardcover; 1961; Crest d557, paperback, 1962) and Ellin’s story collection The Blessington Method and Other Strange Tales (Random House, hardcover, 1964; Signet D2805, paperback, 1966).
Frequent visitors to this blog are likely familiar with the work of Stanley Ellin (1916–1986). A prolific mystery writer and the winner of three Edgars, Ellin sold his first story, “The Specialty of the House†to Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine in 1948. Several of his works were adapted for film and television.
One of Ellin’s stories, simply entitled “Robert†has, as far as I know, never been adapted to stage or screen. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t vast potential there for such an adaptation. A work of horror and suspense more than a mystery tale, “Robert†concerns the interactions between a schoolteacher named Miss Gildea and the eponymous Sixth Grade student. Robert is not like the other kids. He’s a bit … different. And his difference seems to stem from his having uncanny, if not almost psychic, powers.
Students and schoolteachers often don’t get along. And there’s always one troublemaker in particular that seems to have it in for the teacher. But Robert really has it in for Miss Gildea, so much so that he confesses that he wished he could kill her. This leads the frantic schoolteacher to rush to the school principal. Big mistake. For from the moment that she makes young Robert her adversary, things start going downhill for her. And fast.
Overall, “Robert†doesn’t explain why things are happening so much as depict a scenario in which such bizarre things could possibly occur. While the resolution to the story is somewhat anticlimactic, getting there is a thrilling little ride.
January 27th, 2017 at 10:56 am
I see this story was first published in SLEUTH MYSTERY MAGAZINE. I have both issues that were published(Oct and Dec, 1958) and it’s interesting to note that the covers have a headline saying “Published in cooperation with MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA, Inc.” The first issue has a one page introduction by Rex Stout who was then president of the MWA.
Though the magazine only lasted two issues, they were part of the enormous influence of MANHUNT. Though not particularly hard boiled there were quite a few short lived crime fiction titles in the 1950’s and 1960’s thanks to MANHUNT’s success.
January 27th, 2017 at 12:16 pm
Other than MANHUNT, the only digest-sized crime magazines that lasted any length of time were ELLERY QUEEN, of course, then ALFRED HITCHCOCK, THE SAINT and MIKE SHAYNE, and it’s been a long time since the last two had issues come out. SLEUTH was one of the better ones, but I’m sure it ran into distribution problems from the start.
January 27th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
There was another crime fiction magazine that last quite a spell in the UK: LONDON MYSTERY MAGAZINE, 1949-1982. I used to have a set but now I have only scattered issues.
January 28th, 2017 at 12:22 am
Ellin’s name is all I need to hear.
January 28th, 2017 at 1:32 am
All of his stories I’ve read have been small polished gems. I wish I could say that I’ve read more of his novels than I have, but I can’t. Another resolution to take care of, as soon as I can.
July 11th, 2020 at 12:11 pm
I found your post while searching for reviews of the Stanley Ellin short story, “Robertâ€.
You might be interested to know that his story was adapted for television at least once. The 1972 American horror anthology series “Ghost Story†(aka Circle of Fear) had an episode loosely based on it. The episode was titled “Alter-Ego†and retains the most memorable parts of Mr. Ellin’s work. The screenwriter, D.C. Fontana, expands on the story and gives the boy’s actions a supernatural explanation. I thought it was well done.
Here is a link to the episode on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jlhjJmK6FE