The stories in The Long Valley are interesting because they were written before Steinbeck began work on most of his famous novels. In these stories, written sporadically throughout the 1930's, you can watch him develop his writing style and techniques. I found it interesting to see him trying his hand at different genres, especially compared to the very distinct voice and genre style he eventually developed. Stories like Johnny Bear and The Snake were dramatic, with some classic horror/Gothic themes; Saint Katy the Virgin was satirical and ridiculous, but very funny. Stores like The Raid and The Vigilante show his radical side, which would eventually get him kicked out of his hometown. And of course, there are stories like The Red Pony which provide a glimpse into the themes and styles that would make Steinbeck famous.

As a standalone book, the stories are good, but not great; I think what makes them interesting is the context of Steinbeck's other work. I'd recommend this book to someone who has read the major Steinbeck novels and is ready to take a deeper dive into his works.