A Stir of Echoes

This is another terrific thriller from Richard Matheson. When the film version came out a few years ago, it was instantly dismissed as a rip-off of The Sixth Sense -- a difficult feat considering that the novel that was the source of the film was written over forty years prior. As a fan of the film (it is highly underrated and will definitely provide entertainment for fans of the genre), and of Richard Matheson's work, I felt I owed it to myself to check out the original: A Stir of Echoes (What, a definite article is good enough for The Sixth Sense, but not for Stir of Echoes? I'll never understand Hollywood). When Tom Wallace is hypnotized at a party by his brother-in-law, he turns out to be a surprisingly good subject. Afterwards, he is told how malleable he was, and a good laugh is had at his expense when he unwittingly performs a post-hypnotic suggestion. But afterwards things aren't the same for Tom: he begins having dreams that a woman in black is in his house, and then realizes that he is able to read people's minds. This comes in handy on more than one occasion, but generally appears to be a nuisance, especially to Tom's wife, Anne, who wants him to see a doctor. Given what I have read of Matheson, I wasn't surprised by the level of quality presented in the story. What did surprise me, however, was that A Stir of Echoes, although first published in 1958, is not at all dated; it could have just as easily been written today, Matheson's story and characters are so "modern" and timeless. This is particularly true given the modern atmosphere of being more accepting to the idea of spirits "crossing over" from another plane. As the story progresses, the tension ratchets higher and higher. Matheson hardly lets up, steadily adding more complications to the plot until the surprise revelation. This is one of the reasons that I like Matheson's work so much: the knowledge that I am always in for a ride. (Fans of the movie please note: the plot of A Stir of Echoes differs from the film in many details. The base story is, of course, the same, but the identities of the participants -- the alleged ghost, the alleged killer -- are different, which allows for a novel experience in reading a book you think you're already familiar with.)

When the movie "Stir of Echoes" came out, I discovered it was based on a book by Richard Matheson. I know Matheson Sr. is always listed among the top 100 Horror Writers of all time, but for some reason I never got around to reading any of his books except "I Am Legend." "Stir Of Echoes" was an outstanding surprise. Although the book was originally copyrighted in 1958, it can fit any time period. I AM glad I read the book before I saw the movie though. There were just too many things in the movie that were different, although the movie wasn't bad.The subject of hypnotism and the "possibilities" it entailed in this book fit right in with the thinking at the time it was published. In the late '50s - early '60s, hynotism was being used on women in labor and delivery to prevent the use of anesthetic and it's dangers, along with the still used stop smoking, stop drinking, stop whatever, post-hypnotic suggestion.However, "Stir Of Echoes" takes hypnotism to a new realm. Are there really ghosts? In an altered state of mind, can a person be contacted by a ghost? Can a person figure out what a ghost wants from the symbolism used to communicate? All these questions and more are examined in the book and it's a real page turner. To say more would spoil the excitement, but as an avid horror fan I highly recommend this book. Ghost stories have been around forever, but this is one of the most intelligently written, suspense filled ghost story I've read in ages.I also highly recommend any other Richard Matheson books you can find. "I Am Legend" (Movie: "The Omega Man") and "Hell House" are outstanding horror novels, but Matheson was all over the map genre wise as evidenced by "Bid Time Return" (Movie: "Somewhere In Time) and "What Dreams May Come" (Movie by same name), "The Incredible Shrinking Man" and many others that I'm still searching for. I've loved every book by Matheson that I've read!

Just Because you have seen the film, doesn't mean you know the book. After seeing the creepy film with Kevin Bacon and Crew, I was curious about the book. It carried the same plotline, but takes you on a different journey through suburban hell. I think it was even a bit more wicked than the film. So buy the excellent DVD (or video if you have too), and pick up this book too, and compare for yourself! Sheeesh you've already clicked your way here, satisfy your curiousity already!PS:Read it by candlelight.

This book was my introduction to the Richard Matheson world, and i enjoyed every second. I decided to read it after i saw (and enjoyed) the movie. They should both be viewed as seperate items with little connention to each other. Anyways, this book is one of those rare reads that just makes you think about what is going on beneath the story and in a sense makes you a co-author molding details to how you interpret them. Not how you are forced to interpret them in some other books. I also like this topic of hypnotism, a lot of what Matheson talks about and the ideas behind it are still considered fresh today even though the book was published in the 1950's. I guess i would give a reccomendation to anyone, but a stronger reccomendation to people who are sick of conventional paranormal books, or people who are intrested in entering the genre.

This is another novel written in its time, although Mr. Matheson does better with the characters in this story. I liked all of them, even the seedy ones like Frank and Elsie. After he is hypnotized by his brother-in-law, Tom Holland begins to experience all sorts of stranger -than-fiction phenomena. Imagine walking into your living room and finding the ghost of the former tenant? Imagine returning a pie pan to your next door neighbor and seeing into her lurid, sex-crazed mind. Imagine looking into the heart of your best friend and seeing the worst possible human being you can imagine. There are other creepy things, but I won't spoil them by listing them. This is a very good book. Buy a copy if you are a fan of the paranormal.