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PattyMacDotComma's Reviews > The Most Dangerous Game
The Most Dangerous Game
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PattyMacDotComma's review
bookshelves: mystery-crime-thriller, free, aa, kindle, fiction, novella-story-article-20plus-pp, read-liked-long-ago
Feb 07, 2014
bookshelves: mystery-crime-thriller, free, aa, kindle, fiction, novella-story-article-20plus-pp, read-liked-long-ago
5�
�‘Off there to the right—somewhere—is a large island,� said Whitney.
‘It's rather a mystery—�
‘What island is it?� Rainsford asked.
‘The old charts call it “Ship-Trap Island,� Whitney replied. ‘A suggestive name, isn't it? Sailors have a curious dread of the place. I don't know why. Some superstition—�
This is why I love short stories. It’s a wonderful, well-known classic, first published in 1924. Who needs a whole novel? Who needs The Hunger Games? I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the inspiration (but don’t quote me) if only a subconscious one.
It’s a dark night when Rainsford, an experienced American hunter is aboard a yacht with Whitney, headed for new hunting grounds. Whitney comments.
�‘We should have some good hunting up the Amazon. Great sport, hunting.�
‘The best sport in the world.� agreed Rainsford.
‘For the hunter.� amended Whitney. ‘Not for the jaguar.�
‘Don't talk rot, Whitney,� said Rainsford. ‘You're a big-game hunter, not a philosopher. Who cares how a jaguar feels?�
‘Perhaps the jaguar does,� observed Whitney.
‘Bah! They've no understanding.�
‘Even so, I rather think they understand one thing—fear. The fear of pain and the fear of death.�
‘NDzԲԲ,� laughed Rainsford. ‘This hot weather is making you soft, Whitney. Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes—the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters. Do you think we've passed that island yet?��
It’s not giving anything away to say NO, they haven’t. Whitney goes below to turn in for the night while Rainsford enjoys a smoke of his favourite pipe on deck. When the pipe falls overboard . . .
I’ve given it 5 stars for what I think it would have been like to read it for the first time, before becoming jaded by the current overload of grisly thrillers. There was a short film also, which I haven’t seen but which is also a classic of its kind, I think.
This is now in the public domain and you can download it on the ŷ page for the title.
I read it years ago and was reminded of it just today. Hope you enjoy it, too!
/ebooks/down...
�‘Off there to the right—somewhere—is a large island,� said Whitney.
‘It's rather a mystery—�
‘What island is it?� Rainsford asked.
‘The old charts call it “Ship-Trap Island,� Whitney replied. ‘A suggestive name, isn't it? Sailors have a curious dread of the place. I don't know why. Some superstition—�
This is why I love short stories. It’s a wonderful, well-known classic, first published in 1924. Who needs a whole novel? Who needs The Hunger Games? I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the inspiration (but don’t quote me) if only a subconscious one.
It’s a dark night when Rainsford, an experienced American hunter is aboard a yacht with Whitney, headed for new hunting grounds. Whitney comments.
�‘We should have some good hunting up the Amazon. Great sport, hunting.�
‘The best sport in the world.� agreed Rainsford.
‘For the hunter.� amended Whitney. ‘Not for the jaguar.�
‘Don't talk rot, Whitney,� said Rainsford. ‘You're a big-game hunter, not a philosopher. Who cares how a jaguar feels?�
‘Perhaps the jaguar does,� observed Whitney.
‘Bah! They've no understanding.�
‘Even so, I rather think they understand one thing—fear. The fear of pain and the fear of death.�
‘NDzԲԲ,� laughed Rainsford. ‘This hot weather is making you soft, Whitney. Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes—the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters. Do you think we've passed that island yet?��
It’s not giving anything away to say NO, they haven’t. Whitney goes below to turn in for the night while Rainsford enjoys a smoke of his favourite pipe on deck. When the pipe falls overboard . . .
I’ve given it 5 stars for what I think it would have been like to read it for the first time, before becoming jaded by the current overload of grisly thrillers. There was a short film also, which I haven’t seen but which is also a classic of its kind, I think.
This is now in the public domain and you can download it on the ŷ page for the title.
I read it years ago and was reminded of it just today. Hope you enjoy it, too!
/ebooks/down...
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Reading Progress
February 7, 2014
– Shelved
September 1, 2017
–
Started Reading
September 1, 2017
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Finished Reading
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I've wanted to read this story since i saw the old black & white film years ago. Thanks for the reminder, review + the link Patty MacD!
Werner wrote: "Patty, great review, as usual! This is one of my all-time favorite short stories, too, though I read it in an anthology, so have never reviewed it as a free-standing work.Thinking about the lines..."
I actually thought that Whitney might have represented the author's view, whereas Rainsford's may have been the prevailing view of the time. And Zaroff was - well - kind of an animal himself, in the negative sense of the term. :)
Interesting stuff!
Rita wrote: "You did a wonderful review of a not well known book. I often wonder how people find some of these gems."This was a well-known short story a long time ago (nearly a century old, now that I think about it!), so it's not likely people would run across it now. I thought it was worth sharing again. :)
There are lots of books in the public domain now. If you look up Feedbooks or Gutenberg.org you'll find plenty.
Icewineanne wrote: "I've wanted to read this story since i saw the old black & white film years ago. Thanks for the reminder, review + the link Patty MacD!"Enjoy your brief visit to the island, IW-Anne!
I'm with ya! I used some of those same quotes in my review. Gave this one 5 stars as well.
Enchantress debbicat � wrote: "I'm with ya! I used some of those same quotes in my review. Gave this one 5 stars as well."Just saw yours and liked it too! Shows how a small story can make a big impact.
Yes, truly!
Thanks for the heads up on this one. I really enjoyed it. Another time capsule from between the wars.
Alex wrote: "Thanks for the heads up on this one. I really enjoyed it. Another time capsule from between the wars."A small but potent capsule! :)
I remember reading this in junior high or high school.
Book Concierge wrote: "I remember reading this in junior high or high school."I bet most people who've read it as kids still remember it, too!
Mmmm... interesting, thanks to your enticing review, Patty! :-))
Margitte wrote: "Mmmm... interesting, thanks to your enticing review, Patty! :-))"Would have made quite an impression on school kids eh, Margitte?
Thinking about the lines of dialogue you quoted above just now made me consider a level of meaning in the tale that I hadn't thought of previously. I don't think Connell equated human and animal life, as General Zaroff does (and as a lot of people in both high and low places did in 1924, and 2017); indeed, the whole thrust of the story argues against that view. But I do think that at least some readers would come away from the story with a very different perspective on the whole idea of "sport" hunting --and that evoking that new perspective is part of what Connell wanted here.