7.6 /10 1 Votes
Language English Publication date Sep 1958 Publisher Mercury Publications | 3.8/5 Goodreads Media type Print (Softcover) Originally published September 1958 Genre Fantasy Publication type Magazine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Awards Hugo Award for Best Short Story Similar Robert Bloch books, Hugo Award for Best Short Story winners, Other books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"That Hell-Bound Train" is an award-winning fantasy short story by American writer Robert Bloch. It was originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in September 1958.
Contents
Synopsis
Martin is a young criminal with a fondness for trains. One night, as he is considering whether to abandon crime, a large unmarked black train pulls up beside him. The train conductor offers Martin anything he wants, in return for which he will "ride that Hell-Bound Train" when he dies. Martin requests the power to stop time, which he plans to use at the happiest time of his life. The conductor accedes to this request; however, over the years that follow, Martin discovers that he cannot choose which moment is his happiest.
Reception
"Train" won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1959. Comic Book Resources has described it as "a classic deal-with-the-devil tale with a nice twist at the end".
In other media
A comic book version of the story began publication on May 15, 2011. The adaptation was written by Joe R. Lansdale and John Lansdale, with art by Dave Wachter. Running for 3 issues, it was published by IDW Comics.
The song "Hellbound Train (Downbound Train)" by Chuck Berry is about a similar train.