Night Shift
Published: February 1978
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Anthologies, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Mystery, Short Stories, Supernatural, Thriller
Check the summary of this book here:
The Review
Stephen King's debut collection of short works, Night Shift, earned the Balrog Award for Best Collection and was nominated for the Locus Award and the World Fantasy Award for Best Collection in 1979. It is Stephen King's fifth novel, following the publication of Rage under the alias Richard Bachman.
The first book for which Stephen King wrote a preface was Night Shift. John D. MacDonald, one of Stephen King's favorite authors, wrote the introduction.
This book is one of the treasures of Deja Vu and memories that are embedded in my mind because this book's short stories were adopted multiple times into films and television and if you watched those movies at a young age then you'll understand what I'm saying but if you don't then read the book and you will surely understand because chances are you must have watched many of these movies without knowing about it.
Some of the stories have been adapted into comic books, podcasts, and stage productions. Some are warped and twisted beyond recognition, yet a sharp eye can still recognize the work of Stephen King.
Nine of the twenty tales were first published in Cavalier Magazine issues from 1970 to 1975, while others appeared in Penthouse, Cosmopolitan, Gallery, Ubris, and Maine Magazine.
Stephen King's debut short story collection is an excellent depiction of his work. This collection contains several introductions to the author's world, as well as references to many recognized sites and people from his later works.
It also includes several pieces that are quite different from the Stephen King we've come to know and love. A number of these masterpieces are quite sad and add a new perspective to our dear author.
In this book, the stories "Jerusalem's Lot," "Quitters, Inc.," "The Last Rung on the Ladder," and "The Woman in the Room" were published for the first time.
Both Children of the Corn and Trucks were transformed into bad movies, yet they function well as short stories. Children of the Corn is the better of the two, focusing on the lonely village rather than the children, and it also has some excellent horrible images near the conclusion.
I'm eager to come through each one individually, but suffice it to say that they're practically all good.
Some serious Stephen King fans may be apprehensive to read these works in a current world when the book has entirely overtaken the short story. Don't make this error. This is some of his finest work by the author.
I never wanted to read short tales before, but Stephen King changed my mind with books like this, and now I don't mind if a narrative is only two pages long since you can build any context and even the aftermath in your thoughts once the rapid thrill on the page is done.
This is a list of 20 short stories from this book, organized alphabetically rather than in the order in which they appear in the book. I have added information about movie adaptations as well as any other valuable information about the narrative under the story name.
1 - Battleground
It is a fantasy short story that first appeared in the September 1972 issue of Cavalier magazine and was later collected in Stephen King's 1978 collection Night Shift.
Richard Christian Matheson turned "Battleground" into a teleplay for the Nightmares & Dreamscapes television series (Name of another great Stephen King short story collection.)
The episode directed by Brian Henson and featuring William Hurt as Renshaw the assassin debuted on July 12, 2006. The entire episode is devoid of conversation.
One of my favorite stories and TV episodes in these volumes. The tale makes you think in two ways; sometimes I was rooting for the main character, and other times I was rooting for the other boys, which was thrilling to watch as a movie/TV program with my cousins and brother.
After reading it, I recommend viewing it with friends or family for maximum fun. Check out the 8-part series here: https://rebrand.ly/Nightmares-Dreamscapes-2006-18
2 - Children of the Corn
It is a short tale that initially appeared in the March 1977 issue of Penthouse and was subsequently included in the 1978 collection Night Shift.
The plot revolves around a couple who find themselves in an abandoned Nebraska community inhabited by a cult of violent youngsters who worship a demon that resides in the nearby cornfields.
The narrative was translated into multiple films, generating a horror feature film series that began in 1984.
The story was published in Stephen King's book Stephen King Goes to the Movies in 2009. It made reference to Gatlin. Hemingford Home, a nearby village to Gatlin, was also the place in "1922" where Mother Abagail lived and picked up the good survivors of the super virus in The Stand.
I've just included the first adoption here, but you can search for rest at the same link: https://rebrand.ly/Children-of-the-Corn-1984-R
3 - Graveyard Shift
It was initially published in Cavalier magazine in October 1970 and collected in Stephen King's book Night Shift in 1978.
The story was adapted into a hilariously terrible film, is surprisingly effective. The plot centers on the struggle between Hall and his boss, Warwick, and keeps the rat substance in small, but still lethal, dosages.
A terrifying trip into the murky world of corporate greed and power. Graveyard Shift is set in a tiny Maine town, with most of the action taking place at a textile factory.
Here's the link to the movie adaptation: https://rebrand.ly/Graveyard-Shift-1990-R
4 - Gray Matter
It is a short tale that first appeared in the October 1973 edition of Cavalier magazine and was subsequently included in the 1978 collection Night Shift.
The narrative takes place in the same setting as Stephen King's novel Dreamcatcher. It is also set in the It universe.
Jesse C. Boyd, Christopher Nathan, Adrienne Barbeau, Giancarlo Esposito, and Tobin Bell feature in the premiere episode of the 2019 Shudder anthology web series Creepshow, which is based on the Gray Matter tale.
Here's where you may find the first season of the show: https://rebrand.ly/Creepshow-2019-TV-MA
5 - I Am the Doorway
It is a science fiction short tale that was initially published in Cavalier magazine in March 1971 and then collected in Night Shift in 1978. Many adoptions are accessible, but I was unable to locate any reliable sources; nevertheless, as soon as I do, I will update this section.
6 - I Know What You Need
It is a fantasy/horror short tale that was initially published in Cosmopolitan in September 1976 and then collected in Night Shift in 1978.
The Necronomicon from the Cthulhu Mythos is one of Ed's novels in this story and that is a nice touch.
The 1973 oil crisis and The Godfather are discussed; the narrative takes place between 1973 and 1974.
A brief version of the adoption is available, but I couldn't find a safe link; I'll update you as soon as I discover one.
7 - Jerusalem's Lot
It is a clear Lovecraft depiction. It doesn't quite equal his finest work, but it's terrific and avoids being overly derivative. '
The story was also included in the illustrated edition of Stephen King novel Salem's Lot, published in 1975.
The author enhances Stoker's Lair of the White Worm with some cosmic horror. The narrative short tale "Jerusalem's Lot" is set in the imaginary village of Preacher's Corners in Cumberland County, Maine, circa 1850.
The story is conveyed through a series of letters and journal entries, most of which are written by the main character, nobleman Charles Boone, though his manservant, Calvin McCann, also serves as narrator on occasion.
The narrative style is well-crafted, and I appreciate the mix. It serves as a precursor to Salem's Lot.
For the first season of the TV adaption, click here: https://rebrand.ly/Chapelwaite-2021-TV-MA
8 - Night Surf
It is a post-apocalyptic short tale that was initially published in the spring 1969 edition of Ubris magazine and then collected in Stephen King's 1978 collection Night Shift in a revised form.
I believe that if you can delve deep enough, you will be able to sense the COVID-19 Vibes here and what mankind is up to.
In 2001, writer-director Peter Sullivan translated "Night Surf" into a short film. The film, which was optioned from the author for $1, is part of the Dollar Baby series of similar short films.
9 - One for the Road
It's a short tale that initially appeared in Maine in March/April 1977, and was then collected in Night Shift in 1978.
This tale is a sequel to Stephen King's 1975 novel "Salem's Lot," and it is also linked to the novella "Jerusalem's Lot," which is a prequel to both and appears in Night Shift.
Both stories were eventually included in the Salem's Lot Illustrated Edition, which was published in 2005.
10 - Quitters, Inc.
It's a short tale from the Night Shift collection from 1978. Unlike the bulk of the other stories in this collection, it was previously unpublished until February 1978 under Doubleday Publishing.
This short story is one of author's lesser-known works, yet it was included in Edward D. Hoch's collection of Best detective stories of the year in 1979.
The narrative concerns Dick Morrison's discovery of Quitters, Inc.'s harsh enforcement techniques, which he hires to help him stop smoking.
This short tale, like most of the author's writing, has elements of horror fiction and satire, with the goal of inducing sensations of anxiety and tension in the reader.
Because I am allergic to smoke, one of my favorite stories is the Quitters, Inc. I want cigarettes to be prohibited as dangerous drugs because the impact is the same on smokers, who are unaware that they are dying a slow painful death while also causing people like me to suffer from secondhand smoke.
Cat's Eye, a 1985 American anthology horror film, was based on the story. This film was not only based on this story; it also included The Ledge from the same book. I discovered numerous versions of this story in other languages, but I think this film to be the most accurate and authentic, therefore I'm just posting the link to it here: https://rebrand.ly/Cats-Eye-1985-PG-13
11 - Sometimes They Come Back
Another short tale that initially appeared in Cavalier in March 1974 and was eventually collected in Night Shift in 1978.
This is perhaps one of my favorite tale in this collection. It's one of the most intensely melancholy pieces the author's ever written, with a few novel twists on the familiar retribution from beyond the dead subject.
The first full-length feature film adaptation of this story can be found here: https://rebrand.ly/Sometimes-They-Come-Back-1991-18
12 - Strawberry Spring
It's a horror short tale that first appeared in Ubris magazine's fall 1968 issue and was collected in Night Shift in 1978.
It is a novel involving a sequence of killings on a college campus, has a somewhat obvious finish, but it has enough atmosphere to be a very amazing narrative in its own right. It has a surprising finale if you don't get it during the story.
13 - The Boogeyman
It is a short tale that was initially published in the March 1973 edition of Cavalier and then included in the Night Shift collection in 1978.
This may cause your hair to stand up, particularly at the end. I discovered a couple of films with the same title, but they are not adaptations of this story, therefore I have not included the links to those films.
Hulu plans to make a film adaption of the same name in 2023. Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina, David Dastmalchian, Marin Ireland, Vivien Lyra Blair, and Madison Hu feature in the film, which was written by Mark Heyman and directed by Rob Savage. So be ready, and I'll provide the link as soon as it's available.
14 - The Last Rung on the Ladder
It's a short tale from the Night Shift collection from 1978. This is another of the author's stories that is linked to a number of others, like as Larry recalls growing up on a farm near Hemingford Home, Nebraska, with his sister.
During The Stand, this is also the town where Mother Abagail dwells. Also the town next door to Gatlin, where "Children of the Corn" takes place and it occurs in It to introduce Ben Hanscom. In Cell, it is discussed. Hemingford Home is also the setting for "1922" from Full Dark, No Stars.
15 - The Lawnmower Man
It's a short tale that initially appeared in the May 1975 edition of Cavalier and was then collected in Night Shift in 1978.
The following is a link to the movie: https://rebrand.ly/The-Lawnmower-Man-1992-18
16 - The Ledge
It's a short tale that initially appeared in the July 1976 edition of Penthouse and was then included in the Night Shift collection in 1978.
It was also included in the anthology film Cat's Eye, and the following is a link to it: https://rebrand.ly/Cats-Eye-1985-PG-13
17 - The Man Who Loved Flowers
It's a short tale that initially appeared in Gallery in August 1977 and was then collected in Night Shift in 1978. The plot follows a young man who buys flowers for his love interest, but he turns out to be someone you don't want to meet.
18 - The Mangler
It is a short tale that was initially published in Cavalier magazine in December 1972 and then collected in Night Shift in 1978.
This is an odd one because it's about a possessed industrial dryer/folder. It has an inadvertently black-comic air to it, as well as some of the most violent, unsettling violence I've read from him. Being murdered by one of those things would entail being crushed and scalded at the same time. I'm sure it's not pleasant.
The story takes place in an American town, with the majority of the action taking place in an industrial laundry.
The author has revealed that he worked in an industrial laundry as one of the numerous jobs he performed to support his family before becoming famous.
The initial movie adoption can be accessed here: https://rebrand.ly/The-Mangler-1995-R
19 - The Woman in the Room
It is a short tale that was originally published in the Night Shift collection in 1978.
While not a horror story, it is one of the darkest and most heartbreaking pieces in the collection. It's about a man's effort to euthanize his terminally sick mother, and plainly reflects on author's mother's gradual death.
Real-life horrors frequently outnumber what humans can conceive. It's difficult to deal with death.
It is, in some ways, tied to the author's own life, much like a lot of the other things he writes that makes readers' hearts explode with the sorrow of truth.
20 - Trucks
It is a short tale that was initially published in Cavalier magazine in June 1973 and then collected in Night Shift in 1978.
Two films have been made based on the narrative. Maximum Overdrive, directed by Stephen King, was released in 1986 as a film adaptation.
It was remade again in 1997 as the television film Trucks, starring Timothy Busfield, which was filmed on a far lesser budget than Maximum Overdrive but was far more loyal to the original tale.
Here are the two links:
Final Thoughts
This book is an excellent display for the young Stephen King's versatility, who is too frequently branded as having solely written gruesome stories, an idea he addresses in a hilarious and instructive introduction.
The stories are all nicely written and different enough that each seems new and separate from the others.
Furthermore, author's brilliance is evident as several of the story's foundations are flimsy, yet Stephen King deftly closes them before the narratives break apart or become too ridiculous.
Instead, the plots are typically dramatic and precise, like a good Twilight Zone or Outer Limits episode.
This collection is a must-have for lovers of the author's work, as well as aficionados of the horror and science fiction genres in general. Even if you are not a lover of those genres, this book is still worth reading.
Synopsis
“Stephen King’s first collection of short stories showcases the darkest depths of his brilliant imagination and will "chill the cockles of many a heart" (Chicago Tribune). Featuring “Jerusalem’s Lot," the basis for the upcoming tv series Chapelwaite.
Here we see mutated rats gone bad (“Graveyard Shift”); a cataclysmic virus that threatens humanity (“Night Surf,” the basis for The Stand); a possessed, evil lawnmower (“The Lawnmower Man”); unsettling children from the heartland (“Children of the Corn”); a smoker who will try anything to stop (“Quitters, Inc.”); a reclusive alcoholic who begins a gruesome transformation (“Gray Matter”); and many more shadows and visions that will haunt you long after the last page is turned.”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords
Come Back, Graveyard Shift, Jerusalems Lot, Last Rung, Lawnmower Man, Rung On The Ladder, Salem's Lot, Sometimes They Come, Strawberry Spring
Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
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