Deal Me In Story #8: The Small Assassin by Ray Bradbury

Just when the idea occurred to her that she was being murdered she could not tell.

Card: 9♦

Anthology: The October Country

Story: “The Small Assassin,” 1946

“The Small Assassin” is one of Ray Bradbury’s  darkest and most disturbing stories, at least to my mind. When Alice Leiber almost dies giving birth to her baby boy, she is convinced that the baby is trying to kill her. Her husband and doctor don’t believe her–at least at first.

I’m not sure exactly why this story disturbed me so much, but it definitely creeped me out. It reminded me of an episode of The Twilight Zone or Night Gallery. This is the fourth story I’ve read this year from The October Country, and all of them have been top notch.

“The Small Assassin” was originally published in Dime Mystery Magazine in November, 1946.

My Rating: ⭑⭑⭑⭑✩