Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Nightmare at 20,000 Feet  By  cover art

Nightmare at 20,000 Feet

By: Stephen King - introduction, Richard Matheson
Narrated by: Julia Campbell, Richard Powers, Malcolm Hillgartner, Arte Johnson, Jay Karnes, Ray Porter, Yuri Rasovsky, Lorna Raver
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $15.56

Buy for $15.56

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

One of the finest and most influential horror writers of the 20th century, Richard Matheson (I Am Legend, The Incredible Shrinking Man, Somewhere in Time) has left his stamp on the collective imagination. Here are more than 20 of Matheson's most memorable tales of fear and paranoia, personally selected by the author. Many of these stories have already entered into popular culture, including the title story, which became a landmark episode of The Twilight Zone, and "Duel", the nail-biting tale of man versus machine that inspired Steven Spielberg's first film.

Other stories include "First Anniversary", "Dress of White Silk", "Witch War", "Dance of the Dead", "Mad House", "Prey", "Blood Son", "Crickets", "Wet Straw", "The Children of Noah", "Through Channels", "Old Haunts", "Disappearing Act", "The Holiday Man", "Legion of Plotters", "The Distributor", "Long Distance Call", "Slaughter House", and "The Likeness of Julie".

Find out why Stephen King (who wrote the introduction) has called Matheson one of his favorite writers.

Narrated by Richard Powers, Malcolm Hillgartner, Arte Johnson, Jay Karnes, Ray Porter, Lawrence Pressman, Yuri Rasovsky, Lorna Raver, Ned Schmidtke, Conrad John Schuck, and Christine Williams.

©2002 RXR, Inc. (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The well-known title tale about a nervous air traveler is a showcase for the author's trademark less-is-more prose style, which suspensefully delineates a psychological tug-of-war between man and a monster that may be purely imagined. Timeless in their simplicity, [Matheson's] stories are also relentless in their approach to basic fears." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Nightmare at 20,000 Feet

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    546
  • 4 Stars
    261
  • 3 Stars
    159
  • 2 Stars
    49
  • 1 Stars
    36
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    512
  • 4 Stars
    214
  • 3 Stars
    117
  • 2 Stars
    29
  • 1 Stars
    18
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    502
  • 4 Stars
    213
  • 3 Stars
    112
  • 2 Stars
    29
  • 1 Stars
    33

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Waste of a credit

I started and quit on this 2 part book several times, before I finally suffered through to the merciful end.There are plenty of better syfy authors to choose from. DON'T waste your credit!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

117 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

An Excellent Collection

I've listened to numerous short story horror collections through
Audible and have to say that this is one of the finest. Unlike many other collections which tend to meander, wandering in and out of the horror genre, Mr Matheson's writing is pure terror; bold, original (even against contemporary authors) and, to quote Mr. King's introduction, 'unrelenting'. From the opening tale Matheson puts you on the edge of your seat and then never gives you a moments' rest! Well narrated, nice clear recording.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

33 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Great collection - false advertising

Great stories. I was happy to get turned on to Richard Matheson and wish I would have discovered him sooner. My only complaint is that the advertising text on Audible makes it appear as if "Duel" is part of this collection, and it's not. "Duel" was a major reason I bought the book and to not have it a part of the collection was very disappointing. That said, the book is still worth the money.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

30 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

dark fantasy, but some of the stories are recycled

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would rerecord any narrations by Yuri Rasovsky. Many of the stories were recycled from the short stories in the I Am Leged collection.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The stories were so dark, I have listened to many Richard Matheson Stories, but these are easily the darkest and angriest

What three words best describe the narrators???s voice?

spitty slobbery gross

Was Nightmare at 20,000 Feet worth the listening time?

not really

Any additional comments?

I love Richard Matheson's writing, but this compilation just seemed lazy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Worst I've ever heard

I wish I would have read further down on the reviews. The first several are very positive reviews. If I would have read further, I would see that this would be a waste of a credit/money/etc. I'm shocked that Stephen King who is one of my favorite authors would give this collection any kudos at all. Don't waste your money. I've not heard one horror story/scary story and most don't even make sense. Sigh......... have only made it through 6 stories so far. May not be able to continue.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Horrible

These are some of the worse stories I have heard. They remind me of the ramblings of the mentally ill. Some didn't even make sense to me. A big waste of money. I gave it one star because that was the lowest I could give it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

SAVE YOUR MONEY

i honestly don't know who's worse, the publisher for publishing this tripe or the writers for their lousy stories.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Short and Terryfying

I listened to this book mostly at work and on the bus and it kept me constantly entertained. The stories here are all by Matheson [the man behind I Am Legend] so they are well written and the narration is fantastic, emotive, and captivating. The stories range in length and scope covering most of the realms of horror. From ghosts to monsters within and without all fans of horror will find something to satisfy their most carnal cravings here! As an added bonus each of Matheson's tales can be enjoyed on many levels, each one with its own messages about life, humanity, and society.

If you want entertaining classic horror fiction that is well written, well read, and engrossing pick this book up!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Hoyley

This was without doubt the worst collection of short stories that I have ever read although I must admit that I gave up on the book after the first 6 or 7 stories. I could not believe that the rest would be any better. A load of crap and a waste of a credit!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Classic

This is a great collection of classic tales by a great old-school horror author.

Most of the 1 star reviews are from people who don't realize how old his works are, have never heard of him, and/or don't even comprehend that all of the stories are by the same person.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful