Product Description
36 PP 1984 5X8 COLOR SOFTCVR, ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET NOT TAPES ... Read more

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Experience one of television’s greatest science-fiction series, The Twilight Zone – fully dramatized for AUDIO!The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas feature a full cast, music and sound effects and today’s biggest celebrities in modern radio dramatizations by Dennis Etchison of creator Rod Serling’s classic scripts.Hosted by Stacy Keach, The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas will keep you glued to the edge of your seat whether listening in your home or while driving in your car.This collection features 4 stereo recordings.

"The Thirty-Fathom Grave" Starring Blair Underwood.When a Naval destroyer picks up a signal from a ship that sank twenty years ago, a crewman is haunted by a strange memory buried at the bottom of the sea.

"The Man In the Bottle" Starring Ed Begley, Jr.What if a genie granted your heart’s desire?Is it possible to wish your way to happiness – or is the hidden price more than anyone can pay?

"The After Hours" Starring Kim Fields.A young woman goes gift shopping in a department store and is trapped on the ninth floor when the store closes – even though no such floor exist.

"Night of the Meek" Starring Chris McDonald.Every year Corwin plays Santa Claus for the kids in a department store.But this time there may be more presents in Santa’s bag than even he can imagine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fun
I am admittedly the perfect candidate for this series; I don't have much time to sit and stare at a TV and watch most of the brilliant original television shows, but the nature of my work is such that I constantly crave new audio entertainment.Short of flying to London and purchasing every audio drama the BBC ever released or picking up scratchy old-time radio broadcasts, wonderful as they are, there's little or nothing for someone like me to enjoy out there.Beyond that, however, I have no idea how anyone thought they could make money off reproducing old Twilight Zone episodes as radio dramas.I was so excited to find out these existed, and that there are so many of them, I may have a bias; however, I've found many of them to be superior in quality as a bonus.

It's true the translated stories suffer from audio over-exposition, some dubious acting even from the guest celebs and, pulled out of the time-frame in which they were originally produced they don't always hold up.However, on the plus side the stories are as solid today as ever, the sound effects and music are genuinely creep-inducing, the shows have a confident polish and the element that imagination adds to the proceedings is exciting and enjoyable.Imagining the dark, dream-like department store landscapes of "The After Hours" is thought-provoking in ways even the best of today's visuals could never live up to.Not on this collection, but one of the more effective moments is the awful sound of the strange creature Anthony conjures up in the audio version of everyone's favorite, "It's A Good Life."

These shows are also wonderfully quiet and cerebral; I've traveled to cities where they air on local radio stations and can attest they're a wonderful way to chill out before bed time.In a world obsessed with literalization and noise, I'm thrilled that something exists out there for adults to enjoy that involves using one's imagination, even if the product isn't perfect.

A Complete Waste
When word got out that "The Twilight Zone" would make its move to radio with Stacy Keach filling in for Rod Serling as
host, the response was generally on the order of, 'Uh,
how can you go from TV back to radio? And why
Twilight Zone to make the regression?' Well, the producers
of the series obviously saw no problem with it...they
pay CBS their fees, get the product on the shelves,
and collect the cash from the sales.

This is, unfortunately, another example of an

over-commercialised, slapdash attempt to sequelize a classic masterwork.If the effort is an attempt to make "Twilight
Zone" accessible to the younger generation, there's no need...you can go pop in a tape or DVD and watch the original
episodes.But this seems to be a case of taking Shakespeare
and cutting out all the middle English, in attempt to make the plays more universal.

The producers hooked Dennis Etchison, an otherwise superlative

writer, to "expand" the great old stories
of Rod Serling (and yes, the stories of Richard Matheson,
Chuck Beaumont, and other writers are going to be
adapted for radio as well, sans a few segments
that don't work well on radio including Matheson's
near-silent "The Invaders" and Serling's highly visual
"Eye of the Beholder"). Sadly, it is all too apparent
that Etchison knows, deep down, that the work of
the old writers can't be topped. For a show like
"The Twilight Zone", whose domain was almost like
a world parallel to our own, with the entire universe
as its breeding ground,
to take its stories and bring them back to the mundane and the reality-grounded
as radio programs is pointless. These first two sets
really come off as no more than bland recitations of
old stories that fans know inside and out from the
original TV versions.

The actors for the first series of eight dramas
include Jim Caviezel, Lou Diamond Phillips, Tim
Kazurinsky, Jane Seymour, James Keach, Blair Underwood,
Kim Fields, Chris MacDonald, and Ed Begley Jr.
Of these, only Jane Seymour does a credible job
as star of Serling's episode "The Lateness of the Hour"
(which originally starred the late Inger Stevens).
Tim Kazurinsky and Lou Diamond Phillips do earn
their paychecks with fairly humorous performances
in episodes "Mr. Dingle the Strong" (originally
starring Burgess Meredith) and "A Kind of Stopwatch",
respectively. The rest of the actors quite obviously
have no clue as to what they were doing, reciting
all their lines as if read directly from a cue card
(which in fact is probably what they did!)

In the role of ersatz-Rod Serling, the narrator,
Stacy Keach pretty much mails in his performance.
His readings of the intro/closings are but
lacking the gripping sincerity and meaning that
Rod always imparted to each and every narration.

Further hampering the dramas is the inclusion
of sponsor commercials, which pop up several
times. The CD versions are all one continuous
42-minute track with no option of fast-forwarding
through the commercials unless done manually.

In short, this new radio series does not yet offer
anything that the original series didn't. The
days of good ol' radio are gone, never to return.
But there are many more of these dramas still yet to
be released. Collections 3 and 4 have already
been released and do offer some nice sound
effects and a fabulous performance by Morgan
Brittany in episode "The Passersby". So perhaps
there's hope. Brittany is the first actor who
appeared in the TV series, to star in these dramas,
and more celebrities are reportedly going to
appear in future installments. Stay tuned...but
keep the volume on low until the producers come
full circle and prove their worthiness to carry
Rod Serling's gauntlet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

some errors
I enjoy the TZ radio adventures but when I got the product several of the C.D.s were different episodes from the ones I had ordered ... Read more

Product Description
Collection 10 Includes:

"Where Is Everybody?"--starring John Schneider, "The Chaser"--starring Stephen Tobolowsky, "Midnight Sun"--starring Kim Fields, "A Short Drink from a Certain Fountain"--starring Adam West, and "Walking Distance"--starring Chelcie Ross.

The Twilight ZoneTM Radio Dramas will keep you glued to the edge of your seat, whether listening in your home or while driving in your car. Each tale unites classic stories and musical scores with contemporary sound effects and readings by a distinguished lineup of guest stars.

Adapted from original scripts written for the television show created by Rod Serling that aired from 1959 to 1965, these radio dramas were contemporized and expanded to accommodate a radio format. Serling's widow, Carol Serling, praised the radio adaptations, calling them "truly astounding." ... Read more

Product Description
Experience one of television's greatest science-fiction seres, The Twilight Zone, fully dramatized for AUDIO!The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas feature a full cast, music and sound effects and today's biggest celebrities in modern audio dramas of creator Rod Serling's classic scripts.Hosted by Stacy Keach, The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas will keep you glued to the edge of your seat whether listening in your home or while driving in your car.

This collection features 4 stereo recordings: The Obsolete Man starring Jason Alexander; Back There starring Jim Caviezel; Still Valley starring Adam West; Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room starring Adam Baldwin. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

older book by experienced financial writer
Paul Erdman wrote several good books about the financial system in the 70's and 80's. The Palace has always been my favorite book of his, with multiple plot twists. It is a timeless story and a lot of fun to read, the background in financial industry makes his look at vegas and casino finance fascinating.

Example off a shallow thriller
What can I saw. My title says it all.If you want a no brainer, shallow thriller to fill your empty time so you don't have to think, then this is your book. It's a quick and entertaining read like a James Bond movie and you don't have to strain your brain to figure out who the characters are because they are just names.

Before you go to Vegas
This book is for those who love life and want to learn how to enjoy it. It does not teach you how to make money, but it sure tells you how to spend it. This book is a must read for those who wish to go to Las Vegas or Atlantic City. I have read it number of times over the years it has been in my possession. This book is in the same class as 'Oil' by Jonathan Black. I wish they make a movie based on this book with Danny DeVito in the lead role. ... Read more

Product Description
Experience one of television’s greatest science-fiction series, The Twilight Zone – fully dramatized for AUDIO! The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas feature a full cast, music and sound effects and today’s biggest celebrities in modern radio dramatizations by Dennis Etchison of creator Rod Serling’s classic scripts. Hosted by Stacy Keach, The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas will keep you glued to the edge of your seat whether listening in your home or while driving in your car. This collection features 4 stereo recordings.

"The Thirty-Fathom Grave" Starring Blair Underwood. When a Naval destroyer picks up a signal from a ship that sank twenty years ago, a crewman is haunted by a strange memory buried at the bottom of the sea.

"The Man In the Bottle" Starring Ed Begley, Jr. What if a genie granted your heart’s desire? Is it possible to wish your way to happiness – or is the hidden price more than anyone can pay?

"The After Hours" Starring Kim Fields. A young woman goes gift shopping in a department store and is trapped on the ninth floor when the store closes – even though no such floor exist.

"Night of the Meek" Starring Chris McDonald. Every year Corwin plays Santa Claus for the kids in a department store. But this time there may be more presents in Santa’s bag than even he can imagine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

twilight zone radio dramas vol.2
it's a great 10 cd set. you will have to spend a lotta $$$ to get all 10 volumes.its great listening if you like a change from music..... ... Read more

Product Description
Experience one of television’s greatest science-fiction series, The Twilight Zone® - fully dramatized for AUDIO! The Twilight Zone® Radio Dramas feature a full cast, music and sound effects and today’s biggest celebrities in modern radio dramatizations by Dennis Etchison of creator Rod Serling’s classic scripts. Hosted by Stacy Keach, The Twilight Zone® Radio Dramas will keep you glued to the edge of your seat whether listening in your home or while driving in your car. This collection features 4 stereo recordings.

"The Passersby" Starring Morgan Brittany. On the road home from the Civil War, a Confederate soldier meets a widow and together they learn that the road they are traveling might not lead home at all.

"The Rip Van Winkle Caper" Starring Tim Kazurinsky. Four master thieves put themselves into suspended animation for 100 years after hiding a fortune in gold bars. But even in the future, wealth is still beyond their reach.

"Four O’Clock" Starring Stan Freberg. Political fanatic Oliver Crangle has determined that at 4 p.m. he’ll rid the world of all evil people by shrinking them to 2 ft. tall. But his plan may prove a little "short-sighted."

"The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street" Starring Frank John Hughes. The residents of a quiet street suspect an alien invasion is imminent and that one of their own is a monster leading the attack. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

This is great fun for a horrible commute.
I was a little skeptical about this at first but I have listened to it several times already in the last few weeks.I never do that with an audio book but found myself traveling through traffic and having a wonderfully suspenseful time.The actors are all amazing.

Not too bad...
This set is actually pretty good.

"The Passersby" - starring Morgan Brittany (supermodel and she also appeared as Katherine Wentworth on "Dallas", as well as tons of staple shows from the sixties).Morgan does a credible job here.She gives it a good effort and it pays off.Her Southern accent is sweet and convincing.Where this one falls down is the use of a bland supporting cast.The role of The Seargent was masterfully played by James Gregory in the original but the person playing it here clearly doesn't have much.
Stacy Keach, for some reason, pops in to play Abraham Lincoln at the end before delivering the closing narration.The casting of Keach as host still remains a mystery to me...give me Rod Serling any day.

"The Rip Van Winkle Caper" - starring Tim Kazurinsky.
Kazurinsky gives the main character, Mr. Farwell, an English accent, which is a nice touch.Also laudable are some great sound effects and the addition of a train heist (which is only referred to in the original).

"Four O'Clock" - starring Stan Freberg.Freberg has a good time playing the part, much as Theodore Bikel did in the original.
However, the story itself was one of Serling's paler attempts.
In fact, it was adapted from a short story that itself is rather brief and unimaginative.

"The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street" - starring Frank John Hughes.You have to listen closely for Hughes' part...there are four other male neighbors who are equally vocal in the Maple Street skurmish.The supporting cast are very good...perhaps better than the actors in the original version.Just my opinion, but I always felt that the TV version was a little too pretentious, much like "The Shelter".Good sound effects here as well, especially at the end where the 'monsters' make their appearance. ... Read more

Product Description
Tough P.I. Mike Hammer emerges from a near-death coma to learn that he is embroiled in a deadly search for billions of dollars of missing mob money, in the latest thriller by the author of I, the Jury. Read by Stacy Keach. Amazon.com Review
It's not clear whether Spillane himself or his venerable detectivehero Mike Hammer has been in a coma during the seven years since his lastbook, but loyal fans who discovered and fell in love with the hard-boiledgenre because of his early books won't care. Hammer is back, along with histrusty sidekick/secretary Velma, and age hasn't slowed them down more thana step. Hammer wakes from his brush with death to find himself embroiled ina mess involving $89 million of missing mob money. Not the smoothest writerin the arena of mystery, but certainly one of the most popular -- andinfluential. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Farewell Read
The book was there.Black letters on a red cover as red as blood.I wanted to impresss the dame next to me.She had curves in all the right places.I wanted her to know that I was the kind of a real man that read Spillane.I got the book and headed to the check out desk.She looked me over.Never saw her again.Read the book as a goodbye to Mickey.Not a real good memory.Mike gets shot and hurts the whole book.Gets the bad guys, but plot isn't too interesting.So long, Mike.

Ray King got it right
Another reviewer said "The story starts with him gut shot and for the rest of the book, he hobbles around. Where the Mike of old would have performed surgery on himself, reloaded the bullet and shot someone with it, this Hammer keeps going to the doctor and complaining"

This is completely perfect.I don't WANT my heros eating a soft boiled egg because they hurt from too much stress.That's not why I picked up this novel.

The mystery itself (missing money, who murdered his buddy) is not very interesting, and drags.Ah, Hammer.

Mike Hammer nearly kicks the bucket (reviewed as a book on tape)...
...and he drives around a lot with a seeping gut wound, visits old friends, gets put in a coma, gets a marriage license and looks for $89 billion. Sounds like a lot of action, doesn't it? In reality, there's not too much going on here.

The series is not aging well. I find myself running the math figures on this 1997 book and most of Hammer's friends and contacts are in their 70s, 80s and 90s. One former Prohibition cop that he uses as an informant would be at least 93 years old - that is if he served as a division chief in the fight against booze brought in to get around the Prohibition laws at the tender age of 18! I conservatively estimated his age to be at least 103 - how many 103-year-olds are sources of current mafia information?

Also, has Spillane ever actually seen a backhoe? It is a heavy duty piece of construction equipment. Even the small ones are extremely heavy and must be towed with special trailers. He has Hammer towing one behind his car on a mountain on a regular trailer with no brakes - that must be a heckuva car!

Anyway, problems like this drug the book down for me.

I listened to this as a book on tape read by, of course, Stacy Keach (who else?!), who played Mike Hammer on the TV series. Keach did a decent job despite being hampered by a poor story.

The Grandmaster Says Good-Bye
Black Alley is the latest and possibly last book in the Mike Hammer series, featuring the toughest private eye in the business.
Hammer is out to avenge the death of an old war-buddy, who was murdered during a mysterious burglary. His vendetta is complicated by several events: He catches a bullet during a mafia gang shootout, which renders him weak and vulnerable througout the book; his dying friend reveals the approximate location of a 89 billion dollar stash that he has stolen and hidden from the mob, who - of course - want to get their money back; and last, but not least, Velda, Hammer's beautiful secretary, is adamant in her desire to finally walk him down the aisle.
Black Alley is somewhat different from the previous Hammer-novels. The crime noir atmosphere is missing for the most part; Hammer has definitely arrived at modernity. This becomes apparent when the hero muses about and decries corporate America, aluminum beer cans, and the future of warfare, which he believes to bring about "ugly, destructive death" due to the use of chemical and biological weapons. Moreover, some humor is added, in the form of Miller Lite Beer, which is consumed in considerable quantities throughout the book (Spillane appeared in TV ads for Miller Lite in the 70s).
It is obvious that Hammer is nearing retirement. Having just recovered from an almost fatal gunshot wound, he is feeble throughout the book. And he does something he has never done before: When he has finally cornered the villain, he does not finish him off with a bullet in his guts, but turns him over to the cops. However, don't be fooled by Mike's ostensible softness - he is still dangerous, and the turks who are trying to take his place still get their feathers ruffled.
Black Alley is not one of Spillane's strongest books. At times, the plot is somewhat predictable; the characters are rather transparent; and the final solution lacks the shocking explosion of the other Hammer novels. On the other hand, perhaps Spillane didn't even attempt to create an ending like that - for a good-bye to his fans the book's ending is definitely better suited, and as a good-bye Black Alley seems to be intended, after all.
Despite its not-so-great plot and characters, the book is still a gem. Spillane's style is still unmatched by any author in the genre. He still makes you not want to put the book down before you've arrived at the last page. In case this is really his last Hammer novel, I would like to extend a sincere "thank you" to him. What he has written is not just "good garbage", as he once described his novels in a reply to his numerous critics, but literature that will stand the test of time. Let's all have a Miller Lite now. Cheers!!

Black Alley
Would you risk your life and the life of your beautiful fiancé over and over in hope of finding 89 billion dollars? This is what the famous, fictitious detective, Mike Hammer does in Black Alley. Mike Hammer, the ruthless, New York City detective fights crime in this action-packed mystery. Not only is Hammer after the loot, he is also out for revenge, after his friend dies from gunshots.
The novel begins with Mike Hammer recovering from bullet wounds received during infiltration of a drug war, which he almost died from. After being thought dead by all of his close friends and family for 8 months, he comes back and resumes his normal, exciting life. When his friend from the war is on his deathbed, he clues him in on a pot of 89 billion dollars he stole and hid from the dons of the mafia. Young, greedy mobsters are also looking for the pot, which they should have inherited, had it not been stolen. Mike Hammer takes on the whole mafia, coolly, in imperfect health.
Black Alley is a thrilling story of good vs. bad. The novel was never too predictable with many unexpected plot twists. As in all Mike Hammer tales, there is a lot of killing, revenge, girls, and near-death struggles. The book was never boring, even in calm parts. It painted a vivid picture in my mind of the numerous settings as well as the various characters. It has a fast pace with many encounters of hostile mobsters. It is a good conclusion of the Mike Hammer series, by Mickey Spillane. This emotive story is suitable for people who like mysteries, don't mind reading about murder, and enjoy gunfights. Anyone who thoroughly enjoyed a James Bond novel or movie will like this book. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (23)

A great exit!!
The last Mike Hammer book has it all! A plot with twists & turns
and some real evil villains!! Mike cleans up all the loose ends and finally
marries Velda!!

great
I like these Spillane books but they are not the caliber they used to be. I think the world is influencing America into this touchy feely mode.

Collins is to be praised for superbly completing Spillane's unfinished novel
The Goliath Bone, by Mickey Spillane with Max Allan Collins (280 pgs., 2008).Spillane died in August 2006.This is the second novel of his which has been published posthumously with the assistance of his long time friend & now collaborator, Max Allan Collins.It's superb!
This novel was left unfinished at the time of Spillane's death.Collins wrote the ending & some additional chapters, based on Spillane's notes & the rest of the story.This reader can't tell where Spillane's writing ends & Collins's writing begins.The transition is seamless.
This novel also marks the return of Mike Hammer.Mike finally has made plans to marry his long time lover & assistant, Velda.Those plans get thwarted when Hammer inadvertently protects two young university students from getting gunned down.Eventually, he is hired on as their bodyguard.
Spillane has taken Hammer & Velda into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with this tale.Apparently, the two students are stepbrother & stepsister who have accompanied their parents on a dig in Israel & discovered what is reputed to be the fossilized human remains of the arm-bone of the giant Goliath.This leads to all sorts of international intrigue with various governments getting involved along with various spies & big money & large multinational corporations.
Mike Hammer stands against them all.Alone, except for Velda & his old pal, NYPD Captain Pat Chambers.Of course, Hammer wins, the kids are saved, there is a twist ending one can barely guess at & Mike & Velda finally get married.
Collins is to be praised for his work on this novel.

Mickey SpillaneThe Goliath Bone
I've been a big fan of Mickey Spillane and his Mike Hammer series since I was in high school, but I never understood just how talented he was. Until I started to read his stories all over again, and I never knew he was involved with these last two books before he passed away. Then it turns out he had several he was working on, and even though his wife and partner finished off these books. They are still in a class of there own, and I still think he was one of the finest writers I've ever read.

Ho Hum
The plot was a little incredible.So is the premise that an aging detective and his equally elderly secretary/fiancee are the agile, physically robust and sexy folks portrayed.But it was still kind of a fun read. ... Read more

Product Description
3 compact discs - approx. 3 hours; authorized Original Abridgements ... Read more

Product Description
Volume 1, 4 episodes, 2 Audio CDs:Hosted by Stacy KeachFully Dramatized Audio Theater Featuring: Jane SeymourJames KeachBruno KirbyBlair UnderwoodEd Begley, Jr. ... Read more