| "Umney's Last Case" | |
|---|---|
| Short story byStephen King | |
 Cover of the separate publication (1995) | |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genres | Mystery,science fictionshort story |
| Publication | |
| Published in | Nightmares & Dreamscapes |
| Publication type | Collection |
| Publisher | Viking |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Publication date | 1993 |
"Umney's Last Case" is ashort story by American authorStephen King, first published in King's collectionNightmares & Dreamscapes (1993). In July 1995, it was published as a separate paperback as part ofPenguin's 60th anniversary.[1]
Umney's Last Case is an example ofmetalepsis in narratology.[2]
Prior to the story's original appearance in theNightmares & Dreamscapes collection,Viking Press made the text available online three weeks prior to the book's publication in September 1993 via OBS (The Online Bookstore) for $5.[3][4]
The story begins as aRaymond Chandlerpastiche, and follows a private investigator named Clyde Umney as he goes about what he thinks is just another morning in 1930sLos Angeles. He soon discovers that his life as he knows it is falling apart. All of his lifelong friends and associates are abruptly departing in one fashion or other, for reasons ranging from winning the lottery to terminal cancer, and many of them express disdain towards Umney in place of farewells.
Umney is brooding alone in his office when he receives his final client: Landry, the crime-fiction author who created him. Having suffered the loss of his wife and child as well as a severe case ofshingles, Landry took an overdose of medication and found himself in the world of his creation. He demonstrates that his will is law in this world, and explains to a helpless Umney that he intends to take Umney's place to live a life of eternal adventure and excitement. Umney is cast into oblivion—or so it seems.
Umney finds himself in the year 1994, occupying the vacated body of his creator. Although he realizes/acknowledges that his previous existence was a sham (and falling apart), he also finds himself equally despising the ugly, bland, and generally inadequate nature of the "real" world. He announces that he has begun to practice the craft of writing so that he might return to his fictional home in order to take back his world and his life, and end Landry's.
"Umney's Last Case" was included as the third installment ofTNT'sNightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King, starringWilliam H. Macy in a dual role as both Umney and the author. It originally aired on July 19, 2006. Macy was nominated for an Emmy for his performance.[5]
Jon Condit ofDreadCentral rated the episode two out of five stars. Condit said that the episode deviates too highly from King's original story, and the changes only make the story worse.[6] Brian Pope ofDVD Verdict rated it a B+ and said that Macy's performance was worthy of an Emmy.[7] Christopher Noseck ofDVD Talk said that the episode is "not completely satisfying" but is the best of the episodes on that disc.[8] Virginia Heffernan ofThe New York Times called it "a gonzo noir special with some postmodern curlicues" that emphasizes class issues common to King's work.[9]
The audiobook of this story is read by crime novelistRobert B. Parker, creator of the detective charactersSpenser andJesse Stone.
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