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Full Dark, No Stars Review

Stephen King, American, Anthologies, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Mystery, Occult, Psychological, Short Stories, Suspense, Thriller

Full Dark, No Stars

Published: 9, November 2010
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Anthologies, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Mystery, Occult, Psychological, Short Stories, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:
Full Dark, No Stars Summary


The Review

Stephen King's Full Dark, No Stars is a compilation of four stories that all deal with the concept of revenge. One of the novellas, 1922, is set in Hemingford Home, Nebraska, the home of Mother Abagail from King's epic novel The Stand (1978), the town to which adult Ben Hanscom relocates in It (1986), and the site of the short tale "The Last Rung on the Ladder" (1978). The collection received the Bram Stoker Award for Best Collection in 2011 as well as the British Fantasy Award for Best Collection in 2011. In addition, 1922 was nominated for a British Fantasy Award for Best Novella in 2011.

After Different Seasons (1982) and Four Past Midnight (1984), this is King's third collection of four stories (1990).

Stephen King excels at the short form, such as short tales or novellas. I believe it is because the duration serves to keep the author in control. 

Stephen King's works might appear to wander at times. His talent can keep the plot fascinating even if the ultimate product is hampered by the excessive length. 

Short tales and novellas force King to concentrate, resulting in a more interesting story with stronger ideas. It's no wonder that some of his finest works, such as Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption, The Body, Everything's Eventual, and Riding the Bullet, are brief.

Stephen King and Richard Christian Matheson wrote the scripts for A Good Marriage and Big Driver, respectively. A Good Marriage was released in theaters in 2014, while Big Driver was broadcast on television the same year. 1922 was converted as a Netflix original film in October 2017. The main character was played by actor Thomas Jane.

All of the novellas build up to a sense of impending doom, making each of the stories extremely compelling. 

King's visual descriptions of some of the most heinous events are truly horrifying, and the images he creates in our minds are difficult to shake. 

The language appears to be more mature here as well, with some of King's greatest work to date. 

There is a little too much use of common sayings such as "it takes two to tango," which makes the writing appear cheaper than it is, and in the case of "1922," the phrases feel out of place and unrealistic, which I believe was done on purpose by the author to create a sense of strange and unrealistic while remaining grounded in reality.

There isn't a single one of these stories that I wouldn't grade as less than perfect, and that consistency alone gets it a full recommendation. I miss monsters and the otherworldly, but King here is analyzing the gory, dirty, and frequently horrifying "reality," as he does far too often. Even if there are no vampires or ghosts, this is pure terror.


The four novellas, or short stories, from the book, are listed below, along with some information on them.

01 – 1922
In this story, which has echoes of Poe's Tell-Tale Heart, a father takes a decision that affects not just his own destiny but the futures of at least a half-dozen other people in his life, most notably his 14-year-old son. This novella is difficult to put down because of the guilt, the intentional choices made, and the escalating tension.


02 – Big Driver
It is a very traditional vengeance thriller, although it contains a few enjoyable moments. This narrative portrays a terrifying tale of treachery, assault, rape, and attempted murder that leads to a moral dilemma for the traumatized victim and retribution and to some extent of reporting it to the police and going on with life. 

Of course, revenge as an option always brings with it the law of unintended consequences that seldom permits the anticipated revenge and the actual retribution to blend as one and the same.


03 – Fair Extension
This is the shortest of the group, and it is indeed a short story, but it is a very well-written one that takes the usual selling your soul to the devil scenario and transforms it into something new, unexpected, and darkly amusing. 

The discussion between the main character and the devil among us is so powerful and brilliantly written that it is simple to picture the situation, which is one of the reasons Stephen King's works are adapted for the big screen or television.


04 – A Good Marriage
This story explores how we don't always know everything about the people we care about. A woman finds a terrible secret about her spouse and then urgently attempts to escape the situation.


All four of these stories are well-written and feature believable characters. In "Full Dark, No Stars," King accomplishes a lot in a few pages to acquaint the reader with the thoughts and feelings of his characters, allowing us to cringe or cheer at their decisions. 

The horror and suspense in these stories are based on everyman or everywoman making choices with monstrous consequences, rather than on supernatural or walking dead demons.


Final Thoughts

You may also put Full Dark, No Stars, a collection of four novellas, in your list of Stephen King's finest works. 

Murder, secrets, family, and desperation are common themes in the novellas' tones, tale components, and styles. 

The stories are extremely grim, with a few exceptions. "1922" is a period play about a father, mother, and son, and how a bequest for agricultural property threatens to drive the family apart. 

What follows is an engrossing story about the high cost of committing a crime. The plot is highly intriguing and never fails to surprise. It delicately treads the boundary between the real and the otherworldly.

With "1922" and "Fair Extension," the Audiobook version read by Craig Wasson does an excellent job. He does an excellent job with male voices and creates distinct characters, making listening much easier. 

With "Big Driver" and "A Good Marriage," Jessica Hecht does a respectable job. However, some of her narration makes the female characters appear weaker than they are because her main characters' voices are a little too soft and girlish, but it was still an amazing experience.

Overall, this is an excellent book and Audiobook. It's a quick read or listen, but the stories, characters, events, and images are more likely to stick with you than many of Stephen King's other works. 

This is a novel that deserves all of the praise from any Stephen King fan, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.


Synopsis

“From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King, four “disturbing, fascinating” (The Washington Post) novellas—including the story “1922,” a Netflix original film—that explore the dark side of human nature.

“The pages practically turn themselves” (USA TODAY) in Full Dark, No Stars, an unforgettable collection centered around the theme of retribution.

In “1922,” a violence awakens inside a man when his wife proposes selling off the family homestead, setting in motion a grisly train of murder and madness.

In “Big Driver”, a mystery writer is brutally assaulted by a stranger along a Massachusetts back road and plots a revenge that will bring her face-to-face with another stranger: the one inside herself.

In “Fair Extension,” making a deal with the devil not only saves a man from terminal illness but also provides rich recompense for a lifetime of resentment.

In “A Good Marriage,” the trust forged by more than twenty years of matrimony is irrevocably shattered when a woman makes a chance discovery leading to the horrifying implications of just who her husband really is.

Like Different Seasons and Four Past Midnight, which generated such enduring hit films as The Shawshank Redemption and Stand by Me, King’s Full Dark, No Stars is a “page-turner” (The New York Times) “as gripping as his epic novels” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch), and “an extraordinary collection, thrillingly merciless, and a career high point” (The Telegraph, UK).”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Deal With The Devil, Different Seasons, Full Dark, Good Marriage, Highly Recommend, Human Nature, Long Time, Ordinary People, Past Midnight, Serial Killer, Thomas Jane, Well Written


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

Tales From the Darkside: The Movie (1990) (R)

1408 (2007) (R)

Stand by Me (1986) (R)

Apt Pupil (1998) (R)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) (R)

Secret Window (1994) (PG-13)

The Langoliers (1994) (PG-13)

Under The Dome - Season 1 (2013) (13+)

Dreamcatcher (2003) (R)

Cell (2016) (R)

Bag of Bones Season 1 (2012) (13+)

Dolores Claiborne (1995) (R)

It (1990) (R)

It (2017) (R)

It Chapter Two (2019) (R)

Needful Things (1993) (R)

Desperation (2006) (16+)

Silver Bullet (1985) (R)

The Tommyknockers (1993) (M)

Christine (1983) (R)

The Dead Zone (1983) (R)

Misery (1990) (R)

Carrie (1976) (R)

Firestarter (1984) (R)

Mr. Mercedes Season 01 (2017) (TV-MA)

Thinner (1996) (R)

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

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Just After Sunset Review

Stephen King, American, Anthologies, Fiction, Horror, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Short Stories, Suspense, Thriller

Just After Sunset

Published: 11, November 2008
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Anthologies, Fiction, Horror, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Short Stories, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:
Just After Sunset Summary


The Review

Stephen King's Just After Sunset, is his fifth collection of short tales. Scribner published it as a hardback on November 11, 2008, with a holographic dust jacket. Just Past Sunset was unveiled as the title of the collection on the author's official website on February 6, 2008. The title was altered to Just After Sunset about a month later. Pocket Rockets and Unnatural Acts of Human Intercourse were previous names cited in the media by Stephen King himself.

I believe it is one of his best short story collections. While the stories aren't all winners, King covers a wide variety of narrative topics, demonstrating his incredible ability to elicit feelings ranging from dread, contempt, humor, and, most impressively, an uncomfortable sensation that his tales might actually happen. 

These pieces, when compared to his previous works, show an astonishing maturity that makes them well worth reading.

King has an incredible capacity to communicate with his audience/readers, which is most noticeable in his introductions. 

In this section, he discusses what sparked the collection and why the short tale is significant. Despite his nearly nasally voice, King is a terrific reader of his own work and has a distinct folksy manner about him, which means you will undoubtedly like the audio version of this book as well.

End notes, which I'm sure all of King's readers enjoy, are also included, as are a few comments from King about writing. 

When I read these additions by King, I fall in love with them. This is a compilation for fans of Stephen King's uncanny ability to create believable, engaging characters.


The following are the titles of short stories from this collection, along with some details:

01 - Willa
Stephen King's story about the afterlife and the fear of what we can't comprehend. Many of these stories deal with the unknown; sadly, it is one of the weaker stories in the collection; however, keep in mind that it is the weakest of the best collection of stories, so you can't really call it a bad story when compared to stories outside of this book. And one thing is certain: this narrative gives you goosebumps of a different type.


02 - The Gingerbread Girl
It is an excellent illustration of two things King excels at: tension building and painting amazingly complicated and varied characters. 

This suspense story is strengthened by a strong psychological profile of the main character and King's flair, which provide a nice touch to everything. 

The title references the fairy tale The Gingerbread Boy, also known as The Gingerbread Man.


03 - Harvey's Dream
Another narrative with good depiction, but this short story doesn't have much else going for it. It's a good read, with language that conveys the same matter-of-fact sense of late-life sadness and tragedy. It is worth reading and especially listening to since Stephen King read this story to us.


04 - Rest Stop
This is the narrative, about a writer who relies on his alter identity in a pinch, is amusing, and may be regarded as a decent story; but, I don't think it would come over as well without O'Hare's delivery in the audio version. A strong, no-nonsense reading elevates this narrative from unremarkable to memorable.


05 - Stationary Bike
This is the story of an artist who is tormented by his work and whose addiction has been smoothed out through time. Another terrific character makes the narrative easier to swallow, despite a somewhat sad finale.


06 - The Things They Left Behind
This is a fantastic narrative that, unfortunately, resolves too quickly and then drags towards the finish. 

There are many unsettling concepts in this story, and the main character has some of the most compelling expressions. 

There's one amazing anecdote here; King knows how to make us uncomfortable in the most delectable ways! 

If you have the audio version and are in the mood to experience a wide range of emotions, this is a terrific listen.


07 - Graduation Afternoon
It's a short story about a girl who sees a catastrophe. The tale isn't particularly interesting, but King maintains his streak of exceptional character development. However, because the character has nothing to do, this one is forgettable, albeit it can be a memorable read in rare situations.


08 - N.
This story, which appears for the first time in this collection, is another King nod to Weird fiction, and it ranks among the finest of the bunch. 

King may have been thinking about Machen here, but Lovecraft devotees will recognize several clichés mastered by the master himself. 

The plot revolves around a man seeking therapy for OCD and explaining why he's suddenly got the ailment. The story's structure, which has the eponymous man discussing his life and experiences, is an exceptionally perceptive examination of OCD, but with a supernatural twist. 

This is so brilliant that it almost makes you angry that King can still wield the pen with such accuracy, intelligence, and ingenuity. This narrative deserves to be at the top of the list of stories in this book. 

I'm using the author's words here, but merely modifying the way they were expressed to avoid the Copywrite issue: In interviews and in the book, King stated that the story was inspired by Arthur Machen's The Great God Pan: "It's not Lovecraft, but a play on words of Arthur Machen's 'The Great God Pan,' one of the finest horror stories ever written. The greatest in the English language, maybe. My writing is nowhere near that brilliant, but I enjoyed the opportunity to combine neurotic behavior—obsessive/compulsive disorder—with the concept of a monster-filled macro verse."


09 - The Cat from Hell
This is one of King's shocking stories that works because it blends absurdism and graphic, primal gore in such a manner that you have to take it seriously until the trigger is pulled and you know the joke is on you. 

It doesn't exactly fit in with the rest of the book, but it's good to have this classic included in an official collection. 

The audio version of this story is also excellent. This story was also adapted for film in the anthology film Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990), and I loved it. 

I remember my cousins' faces when one of the craziest scenes from the book happened on screen, the eyes of all my cousins looked like they were going to pop out and one of them threw up with sheer terror of it but I was laughing so I think it really depends on who is reading or watching this story and that determines how they will react.


10 - The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates
This is similar to Harvey's Dream. This seems like a fragment of a wonderful narrative that isn't long enough to please you, and you're left wanting a lot more of this amazing idea and plot. 

In this one, a phone call from beyond affects a recent widow, but there's not enough to it. A film project was in the works, but it became stalled and has remained dormant for a long time.


11 - Mute
This is another story that appears to be a snoozer at first but then turns out to be extremely good towards the conclusion. A powerful character propels a narrative of betrayal, rage, and bewilderment that takes a softer approach to organized religion than King is renowned for. It's not a terrifying narrative, but it has a tremendous emotional pull.


12 - Ayana
A narrative about miracles and their positive and negative aspects with a good plot that is greatly aided by King's ability to generate almost lyrical passages in a narrative.


13 - A Very Tight Place
Another absurd tale But this one is a slam dunk! With one character spouting hate speech in the beginning, I was already uneasy, but as the tale progresses, it becomes a compelling thriller that is skillfully written behind all the awful stuff. 

There is an Easter egg for Stephen King fans. The numerals on the main character's dog's collar total up to 19, an important number that appears throughout King's novel worlds, most notably in the Dark Tower series.


Final Thoughts

The stories themselves exhibit King's distinct blend of horror, pop culture, and music allusions, all laced with King's tremendous sense of humor. 

Almost all of the stories are excellent and innovative in the King tradition. Nobody writes like King, and it pays off, as seen by this compilation. 

This compilation will be quite entertaining and even interesting for both first-time King readers and those who have read huge portions of his literature.

You know how it is with short stories: we don't all like the same ones, but there are always a few that you enjoy. 

I used to feel the same way after reading all of Alfred Hitchcock's short story collections. This book featured some extremely fantastic stories and some that were just okay. 

I also enjoyed how Stephen King wrote a little bit about how he wrote each story, which is near the finish but I would not read it till the end so they are not spoiled.

In a nutshell, this is a compilation of short stories that all kept me fascinated from beginning to end. 

I've never read anything by Mr. King that didn't grab my interest and keep me wanting more.

He's been doing it since I was a kid, and he still does it now. I can't imagine growing up without being both bewildered and delighted by The King. This is a fantastic collection of short stories, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.


Synopsis

The following synopsis is taken from the book's audio version.

“Who but Stephen King would turn a Port-O-San into a slimy birth canal, or a roadside honky-tonk into a place for endless love? A book salesman with a grievance might pick up a mute hitchhiker, not knowing the silent man in the passenger seat listens altogether too well. Or an exercise routine on a stationary bicycle, begun to reduce bad cholesterol, might take its rider on a captivating -- and then terrifying-journey. Set on a remote key in Florida, "The Gingerbread Girl" is a riveting tale featuring a young woman as vulnerable -- and resourceful -- as Audrey Hepburn's character in Wait Until Dark. In "Ayana", a blind girl works a miracle with a kiss and the touch of her hand. For King, the line between the living and the dead is often blurry, and the seams that hold our reality intact might tear apart at any moment. In "N", which recently broke new ground when it was adapted as a graphic digital entertainment, a psychiatric patient's irrational thinking might create an apocalyptic threat in the Maine countrysideÉor keep the world from falling victim to it.

Just After Sunset -- call it dusk, call it twilight, it's a time when human intercourse takes on an unnatural cast, when nothing is quite as it appears, when the imagination begins to reach for shadows as they dissipate to darkness and living daylight can be scared right out of you. It's the perfect time for Stephen King.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Christian Slater, David Johansen, Deborah Harry, James Remar, John Harrison, Left Behind, Mitchell Galin, New York, Paramount Pictures, Rae Dawn Chong, Richard P. Rubenstein, Richard P. Rubinstein, Stationary Bike, Tight Place, William Hickey, York Times


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

Tales From the Darkside: The Movie (1990) (R)

1408 (2007) (R)

Stand by Me (1986) (R)

Apt Pupil (1998) (R)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) (R)

Secret Window (1994) (PG-13)

The Langoliers (1994) (PG-13)

Under The Dome - Season 1 (2013) (13+)

Dreamcatcher (2003) (R)

Cell (2016) (R)

Bag of Bones Season 1 (2012) (13+)

Dolores Claiborne (1995) (R)

It (1990) (R)

It (2017) (R)

It Chapter Two (2019) (R)

Needful Things (1993) (R)

Desperation (2006) (16+)

Silver Bullet (1985) (R)

The Tommyknockers (1993) (M)

Christine (1983) (R)

The Dead Zone (1983) (R)

Misery (1990) (R)

Carrie (1976) (R)

Firestarter (1984) (R)

Mr. Mercedes Season 01 (2017) (TV-MA)

Thinner (1996) (R)

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

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Everything's Eventual Review

Stephen King, American, Anthologies, Fiction, Horror, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Occult, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Supernatural, Suspense

Everything's Eventual

Published: 19, March 2002
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Anthologies, Fiction, Horror, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Occult, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Supernatural, Suspense

Check the summary of this book here:
Everything's Eventual Summary


The Review

Stephen King's Everything's Eventual is a collection of 11 short stories and three novellas. The title of this book is derived from what is possibly the best tale in the collection. It's a strange story about a young man who has the capacity to influence others through symbols and writing. He tells the narrative himself, sounds like the village fool, and has the oddest job conceivable.

L.T.'s Theory of Pets is a close second. It's a narrative about marital strife, pet incompatibility, and the art of storytelling. It's quite good, far better than any storyline explanation could possibly do credit to. You'll laugh, weep, and have a good time.

The longest tale is a prelude to the Dark Tower series, and lovers of that series will undoubtedly like it. Another interesting story is "1408," which was made into a film. This, I admit, was my driving force, and it's well worth reading. Because it is a factual short tale, it has less twists and turns than the movie and concludes more neatly.

The most suspenseful story may be Autopsy in Room 4. It depicts a paralyzed guy on an autopsy table, and you don't have to be the most imaginative person on the planet to understand how terrifying that idea might be.

King discusses the peculiar process he used to categorize the stories in the book's preface (the following phrases are not precisely his words; I simply put his words in basic form): I removed all of the spades from the deck, as well as the joker. 1-13 from ace to king. Joker has a value of 14. I dealt the cards after shuffling them. Based on their position on the list my publisher supplied me, the order in which they came out of the deck formed the sequence of stories. It also served as a great counterpoint to the literary tales and the all-out screamers. I also included an explanation note before or after each story, based on which place looked most appropriate. Tarot has chosen the next collection.


There are 14 short stories in this book, and I'm sharing names and information about each one here:

01 - Autopsy Room Four

After being bitten by a rare snake on a golf course, a guy is paralyzed. Everyone believes he is dead, which is why he is in an autopsy room. 

This narrative gives you the uneasy feeling that you would have if you were buried alive. King is a virtuoso at making his readers feel the same emotions as his primary characters. 

This is an excellent story and an excellent way to begin the book. However, owing to the theme of this narrative and what is going on with the bitten individual, it may make you uneasy at points. 

The storyline is based on the setup of Louis Pollock's short tale "Breakdown," in which the protagonist is incapacitated in a car accident and must show that he is still alive. At one point in King's narrative, the protagonist reflects his focus in a television adaptation of "Breakdown" that appeared on Alfred Hitchcock Presents in 1955.

The short tale, together with "The Road Virus Heads North," was adapted into an hour-long episode of the Turner Network Television mini-series Nightmares and Dreamscapes in 2006, and was almost as remarkable and effective in causing the readers to forget about breathing in many scenes.


02 - The Man in the Black Suit

Consider encountering the devil in a very real-world context. In a nutshell, this is the plot of this narrative. It's a lot better than it sounds. This piece earned King a prize for best short fiction, and it was well deserved.


03 - All That You Love Will Be Carried Away

A disturbing narrative about a traveling salesperson who is on the edge of attempting suicide. This is a story that makes you ponder if we all have a predetermined fate or if we have the ability to change the course of our life. An intriguing narrative, not the finest but certainly not the worst.


04 - The Death of Jack Hamilton

This narrative is based on the actual story of a member of John Dillinger's first gang's death. Normally, I enjoy westerns or outlaw stories, but King drew me in even more with this one. It was a fantastic novel, and I was delighted to read it. King does an excellent job at describing the story in the first person.


05 - In the Deathroom

An odd King narrative involving something that does not generally occur in his stories. Throughout most of the novel, however, it does not appear that this will be the case. 

Again, King makes you feel as though you are the main character. He manages to make the scenario both sympathetic and terrifying. 

I had a feeling I knew the twist and finale from the beginning, but I won't reveal anything here. 

It was initially published in textual form in Secret Windows in 2000. As stated by Stephen King this is a little Kafkaesque narrative about a torture cell in a South American version of Hell.


06 - The Little Sisters of Eluria

This is a narrative about the Dark Tower series. I've read this series several times and want to read or listen to it again as soon as I get some spare time. 

Dark Tower is a fantasy series with a western flavor, related to a gunslinger. I'd like to say a lot more about this extension of that story, but I'll let the admirers of the series read and decide for themselves.


07 - Everything's Eventual

In my view, this is one of King's greatest stories. It's about a tormented child who discovers his abilities and fights back against the bullies. 

This is a guy with abilities, unlike Carrie or Firestarter. The main guy is a nerd, yet he is easy to sympathize with. The narrative will undoubtedly leave you wondering and yearning for more.

The inspiration for this short tale came from a dream about someone dumping coins down the storm drain, according to King's foreword.

Dinky, like Ted in the novella Low Men in Yellow Coats, is a "Breaker," according to Stephen King, who thereby connects this story to the universe of The Dark Tower, The Stand, and other King Dark Tower works. 

Dinky and Ted also featured together as minor characters in the Dark Tower series' last novel.


08 - L. T.'s Theory of Pets

An intriguing story about the dissolution of a marriage and how dog and cat interactions are comparable to those of married couples. 

I am confident that the readers will be surprised at the conclusion of this story. This is the type of story to tell over a campfire because it puts you on an emotional roller coaster ride. This story, like Everything's Eventual, is one of King's greatest.


09 - The Road Virus Heads North

This is another narrative based on a picture owned by King. Those paintings that appear to move in front of your eyes. 

Unlike the other drawings or paintings, the author, who purchased it at a yard sale, is haunted by it. 

After a period, he attempts to get rid of the picture, only for it to return to torment him, and the driver of the automobile in the painting tracks down the author. 

The primary premise of the narrative is that we are all doomed to our own fate.

In 2006, the short tale was turned into an hour-long episode of the Turner Network Television mini-series Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From Stephen King's Stories. Kinnell was played by Tom Berenger in the episode.


10 - Lunch at the Gotham Café

This story is about a couple going through a divorce and how much of the journey is a waking nightmare. This is a twisted narrative, but you can envision something like this occurring. Another excellent story in this compilation!


11 - That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French

A woman traveling with her husband witnesses a reenactment of events, beginning with flying on an airplane and ending with riding in a limo to the flight. This story demonstrates how repetitive occurrences may be exhausting, yet it is still a good story.


12 - 1408

This is a narrative about a haunted hotel room that King began in his work On Writing. It was simply to demonstrate to fans how to compose a narrative that has been told a thousand times but in a way that makes it seem new and creative. 

You nearly get the impression that this narrative is set in one of the rooms of the Overlook hotel The Shining. Anything else would ruin the plot; therefore I'm not going to say anything further.

Based on the short tale, Swedish film director Mikael Hfström adapted the film 1408, starring John Cusack as Michael Enslin and Samuel L. Jackson as Mr. Olin. It was a great blockbuster when it was released on June 22, 2007.


13 - Riding the Bullet

It began as an online book. A straightforward story about a character confronting death. He's hitching to see his mother, who has recently had a major stroke. 

He falls asleep in a cemetery, unaware that the gravestone he is sleeping near is the next driver who will come to pick him up. 

Alan Parker the main character is compelled to confront his mother's death. If he does not pick her to die, Alan will be the one to die. 

A wonderful story that reminds us that neither we nor our loved ones are immune to death. Much better than the dreadful 2004 film adaption.


14 - Luckey Quarter

In a casino hotel, a man tips a woman a lucky quarter. She imagines herself wagering the quarter and winning again and again. 

The woman has two children, a teenage daughter, and a sickly younger boy. I don't believe it's a good idea to say anything further after this to avoid giving away the entire narrative, but it was a nice story. 

A pleasant upbeat narrative, which is unusual for King. Neither one of the greatest nor one of the worst.


Final Thoughts

Reviewing a collection of short stories may be difficult since there are so many stories in the book, and each one is an experience in its own right. 

Three or four are absolutely exceptional, and the majority of the rest are still extremely good and well worth reading. 

There were a couple of stories that didn't grab me, but the beauty of a short story is that you don't have to devote as much time, so the lesser pieces don't detract from your pleasure of the book.
 
Stephen King, one of the finest pure storytellers of the last several decades, isn't bound by narrative length: he'll produce short stories, novellas, short novels (like the Different Seasons collection), lengthy novels, and epic series (The Dark Tower). As a result, he can appeal to the reader in nearly any length of time and deliver.

This collection of short stories is intended for those who wish to read something in a single sitting. 

King is a writer who has had his quality highs and lows, but these pieces were written when he was at one of his peaks. 

As a result, the majority of these stories are decent, and a handful are outstanding. It comes highly recommended. One of King's greatest efforts to date! I'd suggest this book to anyone who enjoys Stephen King or the short tale style.


Synopsis

“Includes the story “The Man in the Black Suit”—set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King, the iconic, spine-tingling story collection that includes winners of an O. Henry Prize and other awards, and “Riding the Bullet,” which attracted over half a million online readers and became the most famous short story of the decade, as well as stories first published in TheNew Yorker, “1408,” made into a movie starring John Cusack.

“Riding the Bullet” is the story of Alan Parker, who’s hitchhiking to see his dying mother but takes the wrong ride, farther than he ever intended. In “Lunch at the Gotham Café,” a sparring couple’s contentious lunch turns very, very bloody when the maître d’ gets out of sorts. “1408,” the audio story in print for the first time, is about a successful writer whose specialty is “Ten Nights in Ten Haunted Graveyards,” or “Ten Nights in Ten Haunted Houses,” and though Room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel doesn’t kill him, he won’t be writing about ghosts anymore. And in “That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French,” terror is déjà vu at 16,000 feet.

Whether writing about encounters with the dead, the near dead, or about the mundane dreads of life, from quitting smoking to yard sales, Stephen King is at the top of his form in the fourteen “brilliantly creepy” (USA TODAY) tales assembled in Everything’s Eventual. Intense, eerie, and instantly compelling, they announce the stunningly fertile imagination of perhaps the greatest storyteller of our time.”


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Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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1408 (2007) (R)

Stand by Me (1986) (R)

Apt Pupil (1998) (R)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) (R)

Secret Window (1994) (PG-13)

The Langoliers (1994) (PG-13)

Under The Dome - Season 1 (2013) (13+)

Dreamcatcher (2003) (R)

Cell (2016) (R)

Bag of Bones Season 1 (2012) (13+)

Dolores Claiborne (1995) (R)

It (1990) (R)

It (2017) (R)

It Chapter Two (2019) (R)

Needful Things (1993) (R)

Desperation (2006) (16+)

Silver Bullet (1985) (R)

The Tommyknockers (1993) (M)

Christine (1983) (R)

The Dead Zone (1983) (R)

Misery (1990) (R)

Carrie (1976) (R)

Firestarter (1984) (R)

Mr. Mercedes Season 01 (2017) (TV-MA)

Thinner (1996) (R)

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

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