Loved this anthology. It offers a diverse range of stories that are both captivating and thought-provoking. Here's a more detailed breakdown of each entry.

Stephen King's contributions are outstanding. "The Reploids" takes us on a nostalgic journey back to the 80's, which is a treat for Gen X'ers like me who watched Johnny Carson's late-night show. King's storytelling prowess is on full display as he peels back the layers of the story, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. "Sneakers" introduces the concept of bathroom horror in a unique and terrifying way. And "Dedication" not only delivers a powerful horror element but also weaves in some searing social commentary, making it a truly remarkable piece.

Dan Simmons also shines with his entries. "Metastasis" combines a great concept with wonderful creepiness and strong emotional blows, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. "Iverson's Pits" is a masterfully told ghost story set on an old Civil War battlefield. However, "Vanni Fucci Is Alive and Well and Living in Hell" was my least favorite, as it felt like a bit of a tired satire on wealthy TV preachers.

George R.R. Martin's "The Skin Trade" is a novella-length werewolf story that stands out as one of the few great ones in the genre. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Martin worked on "Beauty and the Beast," one of my all-time favorite childhood TV series. And yes, I admit to having had a crush on Linda Hamilton as a sensitive kid. Overall, this anthology is a must-read for fans of horror and great storytelling.

Die Reploiden: 4/5

Turnschuhe: 3.5/5

Entschlossenheit: 1.5/5

Metastasis: 3/5

Vanni Fucci lebt in der Hölle: 4/5

Iversons Gruben: 3/5

Maskerade: 4/5

In this assessment, the Reploiden receive a score of 4/5, indicating a relatively high level of performance or quality. The Turnschuhe score 3.5/5, showing a good but not excellent standing. Entschlossenheit, on the other hand, has a score of 1.5/5, suggesting that there may be room for improvement in this aspect. Metastasis gets a score of 3/5, which is a moderate rating. Vanni Fucci lebt in der Hölle is rated 4/5, indicating a high level of significance or impact. Iversons Gruben has a score of 3/5, similar to Metastasis. Finally, Maskerade receives a score of 4/5, highlighting its importance or effectiveness. Overall, these scores provide a snapshot of the various elements being evaluated and can be used to identify areas of strength and weakness.

I truly enjoyed reading "Dedication", and "The skin trade".

These stories had their own charm and kept me engaged from start to finish. However, the cherry on top of this collection for me is undoubtedly "Metastasis".

What makes this story so special is its unique idea. It presents a concept that is both thought-provoking and original, something that really stands out among the other stories.

But it's not just the idea that makes "Metastasis" great. The writing style is also superb. The author has a way of painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind and creating a sense of atmosphere that is truly immersive.

Every sentence is carefully crafted, and the pacing is perfect, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end.

In conclusion, "Metastasis" is a gem of a story that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great read. It's a testament to the author's talent and creativity, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

Well, if it hadn't been for GRRM, this would've been a 2. It's a very strange set of stories that mainly seem half finished.

1. "Reploids" by Stephen King - 1/5
This story made no sense whatsoever and seemed to end abruptly in the middle of a story! I even checked whether my book was missing pages. I googled what a reploid was, which made slightly more sense, but still not good enough.

2. "Sneakers" by Stephen King - 2/5
This was a better story, but again, the ending made no sense. Maybe there are two versions of this as when I googled it, there appears to be a slightly different ending that makes more sense.

3. "Dedication" by Stephen King - 3/5
I read this thinking "what the hell am I reading?!?!", but I did enjoy it more than the other two. It did at least have an ending and one I certainly won't forget in a hurry. This is the sort of story that makes me wonder what would become of SK if he didn't have his writing.

4. "Metastasis" by Dan Simmons - 2/5
I didn't like this story at all.

5. "Iversons Pits" by Dan Simmons - 3/5
I did like the story, but I didn't understand the ending. Was Captain Montgomery really dead? Was Iverson and his nephew really dead?

6. "Skin Trade" by George R.R. Martin - 4/5
Hurray! It's not my usual type of book as I don't really like werewolves, but it was very good with excellent characters. The ending was a bit ambiguous and I would love to hear others' takes on this.

This is a nice and solid collection of horror stories contributed by three different well-known horror/fantasy authors. I initially purchased it mainly for the stories by Stephen King. However, upon reading, I found that the stories by the other authors might actually be even better.

Stephen King's "The Reploids" reads like the opening of a novel, more of a scene-setter than a complete story. It's interesting to read his description of another dimension's version of Johnny Carson, which strangely reminds me of Jay Leno. This is the only King story not collected elsewhere, but it's rather fluff. "Sneakers" is about a haunted bathroom stall, both funny and creepy. I prefer the rewritten version in NIGHTMARES & DREAMSCAPES. What I really like about it is its portrayal of a recording engineer's life. "Dedication" is sure to gross you out. It's not really scary but just gross, so those with sensitive stomachs should skip it. It's also available in NIGHTMARES & DREAMSCAPES with a slight rewrite.

Dan Simmons' "Metastasis" offers an interesting take on why people really get cancer. It's creepy and scary on the first read but seems a bit silly on subsequent reads. Still, it's well-written, engrossing, and somewhat gross. "Vanni Fucci Is Alive And Well and Living In Hell" is a vicious satire of TV evangelists with nods to Dante and is one of the best stories in the collection. "Iverson's Pits" is an excellent Civil War horror story that gave me shivers with its vivid imagery. It's definitely anti-war, vividly describing the true horrors of Gettysburg.

George R.R. Martin's "The Skin Trade" is a short novel about a private detective investigating a series of murders and her friend who is a werewolf. It's both a good mystery and a good werewolf tale, with a surprising amount of sympathy for lycanthropes. Overall, this is a nice collection with some good scares and lots of creeps.

Absolute ekelhaft, nur gore.

This statement seems rather extreme and perhaps a bit one-sided. While gore can be a disturbing and unpleasant aspect in some forms of media or real-life situations, it's important to consider the context.

Gore might be used in certain horror movies or works of art to create a specific atmosphere or to explore the darker side of human nature. However, it doesn't mean that it's always "absolutely disgusting" or the only thing that defines a particular genre or experience.

There are many other elements that can contribute to the overall impact and value of a piece, such as the story, characters, and the emotions it evokes. We should also be cautious about making blanket judgments without fully understanding the intentions and the potential positive aspects that might be hidden within the gore.

In conclusion, while gore can be off-putting, we should approach it with a more open and discerning mind to truly appreciate the complexity and diversity of different forms of expression.

Ihan jees kokoelma. King toimii ihan hyvin novelleinakin.

Dan Simmons ei oikeastaan ole koskaan osunut kauhean lähelle sydäntäni vaikka "Vanni Fucci on elossa ja terveenä ja asuu helvetissä" oli oikeasti hyvä.

Mutta George R. R. Martin ei ole ikinä hyvä. Ei nytkään.

However, there was still a good taste left in my mouth from this.

It's a strange collection indeed. King works quite well with novellas too.

Dan Simmons has never really touched my heart very closely although "Vanni Fucci is alive and well and lives in hell" was really good.

But George R. R. Martin has never been good. Not now either.

Nonetheless, there was still a pleasant flavor remaining from this.

Rounded up to 3*** because although I didn't like the endings in The Reploids and Sneakers, I still enjoyed the stories.

Dark Visions is a 1989 horror fiction compilation. It contains three short stories by Stephen King, three by Dan Simmons, and one by George R. R. Martin. I'm only reading the ones by Stephen King.

***

The Reploids – 2**

The ending of this story left me a little up in the air. At first, I thought my copy was missing some pages, but it turns out that wasn't the case! It just had an ending that didn't quite satisfy me.

***

Sneakers - 2**

(Also collected in Nightmares and Dreamscapes)

This story also had an ending that left me feeling flat. It didn't have the impact or resolution that I was hoping for.

***

Dedication - 3***

(Also collected in Nightmares and Dreamscapes)

Now this one I did enjoy! It had a different feel to it, and the story engaged me from start to finish. The ending was more satisfying and left me with a sense of fulfillment.

Overall, while the endings of The Reploids and Sneakers were a bit of a letdown, I still found value in reading these stories. And Dedication was a pleasant surprise that made me glad I picked up this compilation.

I really regret it. I lost this before I was able to read it.

It's such a pity. I don't know what was in it. Maybe it was something very interesting or important.

I keep thinking about it. What if it could have changed my life or given me some valuable knowledge?

But now it's gone, and I can only wonder. I hope that one day, I will be able to find something similar and have the chance to read it.

Until then, I will always remember this lost opportunity and try to be more careful with the things that come my way.

Maybe this experience will teach me a lesson and make me more appreciative of the things I have.

I just have to move on and look forward to the future, hoping that better things will come my way.

Stephen King, Dan Simmons, and George R.R. Martin are all renowned authors, and this collection brings together their stories.

To be honest, I was only familiar with Stephen King's work before. Regarding George R.R. Martin, I had only read "A Song of Ice and Fire".

Stephen King's stories in this collection are not bad, but within his extensive body of work, they are not overly outstanding. (One could always say that a story about an enchanted water is not remarkable.)

Among Dan Simmons' stories, "Metástasis" stands out. It has a curious and well-presented idea that is well-developed. The experience of having a special vision that is not shared with others is a very interesting theme. How could one distinguish oneself from a mere lunatic in the eyes of others?

Finally, and clearly not the worst, is George R.R. Martin with a short novel that leaves you craving more. It is truly a pity not to have a more developed novel. The feeling of missing out on more fun is frustrating when determining the story. The world of lycanthropes is revealed to you, along with a story of detectives, police, and assassins that unfolds in the present but has connections to the common past of the protagonists. George makes fun of the clichés of werewolves to show us very human monsters. And those who wish can see connections with the Seven Kingdoms.

Some really interesting yet rather strange short stories await you. Among them, "Iverson's Pits" and "The Skin Trade" are the ones that truly stand out. These stories have a certain allure that draws you in and keeps you engaged. While they may not be considered extremely outstanding in the traditional sense, they are definitely worth a read. They offer a unique perspective and take you on a journey through the author's imagination. You'll find yourself intrigued by the characters and the situations they find themselves in. So, if you're looking for something a little different to read, give these short stories a try. You might just be pleasantly surprised.

This book was truly a remarkable discovery. I came across it for just 50p in the Ten Bob Barn at Astley Book Farm.

The cover immediately caught my attention due to its psychedelic design and amazing colours. Additionally, it being a hardback is a plus. Although I don't刻意 seek them out, I do appreciate them when I find them.

Mostly, however, this book caught my eye because it features Stephen King and George R. R. Martin.

Here, we have a great collection of shorts grouped by author for your convenience. We begin with Stephen King, who contributes three short pieces. One is about a haunted shithouse in a recording studio, which is my favorite. Another is a longer piece about a black woman that took some time to gain momentum.

Dan Simmons' effort was decent, but perhaps not the best introduction to his work as I haven't read anything else by him. Then there's George R. R. Martin, who is the only author to choose a single story, a piece about werewolves called The Skin Trade. It was good, but his longer works are even better.

Overall, it's a quirky little read that you should get if you're a fan of any of these authors. However, individually, they all have better material. King's first two stories were truly excellent!