Author:Stephen King
It’s been a while since there was a collection of Stephen King’s short stories so what better way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of the author’s first novel, Carrie than this new anthology. Of the dozen tales collected here, most are previously unpublished although there were a couple I’d read before. Over the almost 500 pages, a lot of different genres are explored – sci-fi, horror, the supernatural and the police procedural. It’s the latter that provides the setting for the strongest and longest story here, Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream, which at over 200 pages could almost have been a novel in its own right, and which contains a nod to the obsessed police officer in Les Miserables. Another one I really enjoyed was Rattlesnakes, a sequel of sorts to Cujo, in which a grieving widower receives an unexpected inheritance with a major catch to it! Some of the stories are a bit more throwaway than others, but I can honestly say I enjoyed them all, with each one having something different to offer the constant reader as the author ingeniously lifts the curtain and allows us a peek at the horrors that seemingly lurk behind the façade of day to day life.. This is a collection that’s well worth a read, especially if you’re a King fan – you won’t be disappointed.
Length of Read:Long
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
King’s other work, horror, supernatural, tales of the unexpected.
One thing you’ve learned
At 76 years old, King shows no signs of slowing down so I’m already eagerly anticipating whatever he has in store for us next.
His novella-length stories are his best, for me. Apt Pupil, Gingerbread Girl, A Good Marriage, Big Driver.
I think it imposes a discipline that can be lacking over an 800-page behemoth.
OTOH that may just be the length they ended up being…
Add The Fog to the list too.
Hearts in Atlantis is another and ‘low Men in Yellow Coats’ may be my favourite ever story of his. Perfectly marrying his preferred small town America setting with mysterious alternative reality goings on.
Twenty five!
What with Billy Summers, Holly and now this, SK seems to have hit
something of a purple patch as he heads for his ninth decade
Some terrific stories in the new collection.
Aside from the aforementioned Danny Coughlan and Rattlesnakes particularly
love Laurie (the one about the dog) and Two Talented Bastids, both of which are beautifully observed and written.