The 1959 novel Psycho solidified Robert Bloch’s reputation as a master of psychological horror, yet his literary output spanned sixty years across multiple genres. Born in Chicago in 1917, he began his professional career immediately following high school graduation at age seventeen, eventually producing hundreds of short stories and over thirty novels throughout his prolific tenure in American letters.
Formative Years and Influences
Bloch’s early fascination with horror began in 1925 after viewing Lon Chaney in The Phantom of the Opera, which induced years of recurring nightmares. His family relocated to Milwaukee in 1929, where he attended Lincoln High School. During this period, he connected with Harold Gauer, editor of the school magazine, who published Bloch’s first short story. He was an avid consumer of pulp fiction, specifically Weird Tales, which he began collecting in 1927.
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As a teenager, Bloch initiated a correspondence with H. P. Lovecraft in 1933. Lovecraft encouraged his early writing efforts and facilitated introductions to members of his circle. While Bloch initially emulated Lovecraft’s style of cosmic horror, he soon pivoted toward psychological character studies and crime narratives to distinguish his own voice. He successfully placed early fiction in magazines such as Marvel Tales and Unusual Stories before selling his first work to Weird Tales shortly after high school.
Professional Versatility and Accolades
Bloch’s career extended far beyond the printed page, encompassing extensive screenwriting for film and television. His diverse body of work earned him significant recognition, including the 1959 Hugo Award for his short story 'That Hell-Bound Train.' He received multiple Bram Stoker Awards, the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 1975, and the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award in 1991. He served as president of the Mystery Writers of America in 1970.
Legacy and Final Years
Beyond his fiction, Bloch contributed critical essays such as 'The Shambles of Ed Gein,' which remained relevant enough to be included in a 2008 Library of America retrospective. He remained an active member of the Science Fiction Writers of America and the Writers Guild of America until his death in 1994. He died in Los Angeles at age 77 and is interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1917, Chicago
- Died: 1994, Los Angeles
- Known for: Psycho
- Hugo Award Winner: 1959
- Career duration: 60 years
- Burial site: Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Was Robert Bloch solely a horror writer?
No, while he is best known for horror, he also wrote extensively in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and detective literature throughout his career.
How did Robert Bloch start his writing career?
He began his professional career at age seventeen immediately after graduating from high school in 1934, having already contributed to school publications.
Achievements
- Hugo Award for Best Short Story — 1959
- Notable work: Psycho
- Genres: noir novel
