Story Collections Offer Author Insights, Chilling Tales, Profiles

David Morrell, the author of such testosterone-driven novels as “First Blood” and “Extreme Denial,” recently compiled a collection of his chilling stories written over the past two decades. “Black Evening” is more intriguing than most compendiums as each entry is preceded by an explanation of the author’s mind-set when he wrote the piece. (Dove Audio; unabridged short stories [not all stories in the book are included]; four cassettes; six hours; $25; read by Stefan Rudnicki, Miguel Perez, Robert Forster, Scott Brick, Jamie Farr and Richard Cox.)

Years ago, a beloved teacher taught Morrell to write about what he most feared, and what Morrell feared was a danger to his family. It is a theme that runs through stories spun with complexity and surprisingly subtle horror.

The personal facts Morrell reveals before each yarn, especially those dealing with the death of his 15-year-old son, add depth to his fiction. Stories range from a vividly told tale of a father’s worst nightmare to the supernatural story of a Native American rainmaker and the family man who ridicules his abilities.

It is unfortunate that the audio includes only seven of the 16 stories found in the print version, because the listener is left longing for more. The hard, black plastic box is sturdier and classier than most audio packages. Another added feature is the digitally mastered sound, which is extremely sharp and not muddied by ambient noise.

The six readers are well matched to their stories. Each is professional and polished, though Stefan Rudnicki is a standout for his deep, sensuous voice. He is known in the audio world as a producer (he was executive producer of this audio book), but he also is a remarkably effective narrator.

While it is interesting to hear the author speak of his fears and inspirations, Morrell’s voice is thin and the tonal quality discernibly different and less rich than that of the professionals retelling his stories.

All that Stephen King’s latest collection of short stories shares with Morrell’s well-produced audio is inspirational packaging and high production values. “Blood and Smoke,” three tales linked by cigarettes, is sold in a red and white box that looks like a flip-top cigarette package. (Simon & Schuster Audio; unabridged short stories; three cassettes; three hours, 30 minutes; $23.50; read by the author.)

Don’t be fooled by the gimmicky, if cute, wrapper, as the stories inside are merely average. They lack the complexity and depth found in King’s later work, such as “Bag of Bones” and “Hearts in Atlantis.” They aren’t outright disappointing, as his macabre sense of humor is evident throughout, but they just don’t tingle the spine.

The most obvious problem with this audio is that the author reads his own work. King may be more comfortable in the studio than he once was, but his narration still borders on monotone and he has a nasal, irritating voice.

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David Remnick, editor of the New Yorker, has put together two collections, one of short stories and another of biographies, both culled from the magazine’s 75 years of publication. They are flavorful and varied, giving the listener not only a wide array of subject matter but also a sense of the cultural changes that occur in three-quarters of a century.

“Wonderful Town: New York Stories From the New Yorker” includes 20 stories that differ in tone and subject matter, but take place in a city that is as much a character as the people in these tales. (Random House Audiobooks; unabridged short stories; six cassettes; 10 hours; $29.95; read by Tyne Daly, Timothy Jerome, Joe Morton and Maria Tucci.)

There is a well-wrought parody from Woody Allen (“The Whore of Mensa”) and John Cheever’s suburban nightmare, “The Five-Forty-Eight.” Also represented in this mix of the humorous and serious are Jamaica Kincaid, Dorothy Parker, E.B. White, Vladimir Nabokov and Frank Conroy.

Tyne Daly distinguishes herself with a lilting island accent while reading Kincaid’s story, “Poor Visitor.” Joe Morton also is a standout as a consistently energetic and thoughtful reader. The only complaint is that the publication dates and narrators’ names are not listed on the box. The year of publication is mentioned as each story is read but not the narrator.

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Of the two collections, I prefer “Life Stories: Profiles From the New Yorker,” also edited by Remnick. This is personal bias since I’ve sometimes been annoyed by the rambling structure of New Yorker short stories, whereas I’ve always been amused and intrigued by the biographies published under the banner “Profiles.” (Random House Audiobooks; unabridged nonfiction; six cassettes; 10 hours; $29.95; read by Philip Bosco, Amy Irving and Alton Fitzgerald White).

The pieces are fascinating for the range of subject matter and originality of style. Subjects were not drawn from the cult of personality so prevalent in recent years but from characters who led unusual lives, famous or not.

Bosco has a deep voice and charismatic presence that are well matched to tales of larger-than-life men, such as Ernest Hemingway and Marlon Brando. Irving’s low voice and soft manner are always a pleasure, though her energy is sometimes a bit underwhelming. White has an easy style and clear diction. He may not be memorable, but he is a cut above most narrators in this field.