Skeleton Crew is an outstanding collection of short stories. The title itself is quite fitting. Some of the stories in this collection are truly terrifying, while others may not have the same level of scare. Let me highlight a few of my favorites.

The Mist - This is by far the longest "short story" in the collection, almost a novella. I'm glad it's included here. It starts with a storm, and then comes the mist, which hides the stuff of children's nightmares. A group of people find themselves in turmoil against this unknown threat. King explores the characters involved, which I really enjoy. It reminds me of some of his other full-length novels.

The Monkey - After reading this story, I doubt that toy monkey ever sold well again. The idea of that monkey lying in a box in the attic, with its wide eyes and poised cymbals, is truly creepy. This story may be the reason I never owned one myself.

The Raft - The title alone makes you wonder. A raft in the water, isolation. King's imagination takes you beyond the norm. The thought of being on that raft with a shark and trying to figure out a way to shore is terrifying. I felt like the fifth person on that raft, desperate to get to safety.

Word Processor of the Gods - This is a great reimagining of the genie in the bottle or "The Monkey's Paw". It makes you ask the question, "What would I do?" while at the same time telling the main character to stop and think. It's both fun and thrilling.

The Reaper’s Image - An antique mirror is locked away in the attic for a reason. Some people just can't help themselves. The story is short and seems to have been written with little crisis, but the end still gets you.

Survivor Type - This story proves that it's possible to hate the protagonist and still love the story. It's a rarity for me. Maybe King set out to create a desperate situation and place a despicable character in the center of it. The shock value here is high, and it makes me wonder if I would like the story more or less with a character I cared for.

The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet - The title is great, but the story starts off a bit slow. However, you have to make it to the end because that's where the payoff is. It's saved by a great finale.

King also includes a nice afterward in the 1985 HC edition, where he shares some notes about how each story came about. It's interesting to get a peek into his mind and see how even he can be stumped for an idea at times, but then a mundane experience can give birth to a great story.

There were several stories presented, but in my personal view, none of them were truly great. They seemed rather ordinary and lacking that special something that would make them stand out. The overall quality was not up to par, and I would rate them only 4 out of 10 stars. It's not that there was nothing redeeming about them, but they simply didn't have the wow factor that one would expect from truly excellent stories. There were moments that showed potential, but they didn't quite manage to develop into something more substantial. Perhaps with a bit more polish and refinement, these stories could have been better. However, as they are, they fall short of what I would consider to be great.

Out of all the stories in this collection, it’s The Mist that truly stands out. Not only is it the longest, but it is also the strongest and most well-known. In fact, it might have overshadowed the others for me.

The novella-length tale makes this collection more than worth reading. Additionally, some of the other stories that have been adapted were the highlights of the rest.

‘The Raft’ (from Creepshow 2) was my next favorite, along with ‘Gramma,’ which was creepily good.

Among the stories that I had no prior knowledge of, the diary entries by Richard Pine in ‘Survivor Type’ really caught my attention.

It was also great to see King venture into Sci-Fi with ‘The Jaunt,’ which was quite memorable as well.

Overall, this collection offers a diverse range of stories that showcase King’s talent and creativity.

It's got "The Mist", a story that sends shivers down your spine with its menacing and mysterious fog filled with terrifying creatures. "Survivor Type" is another one that has stayed with me, a tale of extreme survival and the lengths one will go to in order to live. "The Raft" is equally captivating, with its isolated setting and the horror that unfolds. And then there's "Gramma", a story that lingers in your mind long after you've finished reading. These are stories that have truly stuck with me all my life.

And it doesn't stop there. The collection then follows up those with a strong set of second tier tales that are also well worth reading. King wouldn't publish another story collection this rock solid for a long, long time. It's a testament to the quality and power of these stories.

Read more over at my Great Stephen King Reread.

This is one of the greatest short story collections that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Even after all this time, it still holds a special place in my heart.

Each story within this collection is a masterpiece in its own right. The authors have crafted tales that are both engaging and thought-provoking, taking the reader on a journey through a variety of emotions and experiences.

The writing is superb, with vivid descriptions and well-developed characters that come to life on the page. It's no wonder that this collection has received such high praise and has become a classic in the world of literature.

I would highly recommend this short story collection to anyone who loves a good read. It's a must-have for any bookshelf and is sure to provide hours of entertainment and enjoyment. Five stars without a doubt!

Okay, it’s official:

I’m adding Stephen King to the favourite writers list. There are so many remarkable little stories within this collection that the few less-than-perfect ones do nothing to diminish the overall quality. It’s an incredibly playful assortment that effortlessly switches between genres and experiments with various forms such as novellas, poems, and even a “chant”!

Almost all of the stories truly hit the mark. He is a master storyteller, as if gathered around that eternal campfire, skillfully pulling out those old childhood fears and then rearranging and twisting them into something new and terrifying at every single turn. Additionally, I love some of the nods to Lovecraft!

However, his female characters are never entirely convincing. Nevertheless, he is able to elicit a delighted cackle or send a shudder down my spine almost every time in this collection. Highly recommended!

It has been quite some time since I delved into this collection. However, certain stories within it, not the ones that are typically lauded by reviewers, truly sent shivers down my spine.

For instance, "Here There Be Tygers" - we are all aware that the tiger lurking just around the corner in the L-shaped bathroom is merely a childhood fancy. But still, it's best not to take any risks, right?

"The Monkey" is another terrifying one. Scary toys that your parents might brush off your fears about, but deep down, you know they have some malevolent intention towards you.

"The Raft" presents a situation where safety is just a few metres away, yet it remains frustratingly out of reach.

"The Jaunt" makes us question our desires. Haven't we all at times wished for "all the time in the world"? Well, this story reveals the possible unpleasantness that could come with it.

"Beachworld"描绘了一个满是沙滩的星球，但那里可绝非一个欢乐的度假胜地。

"Survivor Type" is the ultimate account of cannibalism. And no, that's not giving away too much!

The other stories, including the highly publicized "The Mist", are all more or less engaging. Sadly, it's only the poems that really disappointed me.

Stephen King is truly a master at his craft, and his wonderful series of short stories is a testament to his talent.

Each story in the series is a unique and captivating journey that takes readers into the depths of the human psyche. King has a remarkable ability to create vivid and believable characters, as well as settings that are both familiar and yet充满奇幻色彩.

Whether it's a story about a haunted house, a mysterious creature, or a psychological thriller, King always manages to keep his readers on the edge of their seats. His writing is engaging, descriptive, and full of suspense, making it impossible to put down.

The wonderful series of short stories by Stephen King is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story. It's a collection that will leave you entertained, scared, and thinking long after you've turned the last page.

This volume had a significantly better impact on me this time compared to the first encounter.

Perhaps the reason lies in the fact that each story is narrated by a different celebrity. We have Will Patton, Paul Giamatti, David Morse, and others lending their voices to bring these tales to life.

Among them, I particularly adored Patton's performance of The Mist. His narration added a unique charm and intensity to the story, making it truly captivating.

As a result, I decided to bump my rating to 4 stars. This volume has shown me that a great narration can enhance the overall experience of a story and make it even more memorable.

I look forward to exploring more volumes with such talented narrators in the future.

For me, this is one of the best, if not the best short story collection by Stephen King (at least among those that I have read).

Five stars are not given only because a few stories did not completely convince me, but they are almost negligible.

King's ability to create vivid and disturbing worlds within the confines of a short story is truly remarkable. Each story in this collection has its own unique charm and manages to draw the reader in from the very beginning.

Some of the stories are truly terrifying, while others are more thought-provoking and explore deeper themes.

Overall, this is a must-read for any fan of horror or short stories in general. It showcases King's talent as a writer and his ability to create unforgettable characters and situations.

Even though a few stories may not have been to my personal taste, the majority of them more than make up for it, and I would highly recommend this collection to anyone looking for a great read.

Some of the stories in this collection were truly awesome, while others were not quite as remarkable. However, none of them could be considered terrible.

I decided to reread several of these tales and finally completed the entire book. As a result, I bumped up my rating from 3 stars to 4. I must admit that I really enjoyed this compilation. My two favorite stories were "The Mist" and "GRAMMA." Oh my goodness, that latter one was so incredibly good and completely unexpected.

The only story that I didn't have much interest in was "The Jaunt." I didn't listen to the whole thing, so it might have been great, but space-related stuff just isn't really my cup of tea.

Dylan Baker's reading of the milkman stories was absolutely FANTASTIC!! Due to his outstanding performance, I'm placing them in the #2 spot for my favorite audio story. Kate Mulgrew's reading of NOS4A2 takes the #1 position.

I truly believe that everyone should pick up this book, if only to read "The Mist" and "GRAMMA," and also to experience the audiobook for Dylan Baker's amazing reading. (Mr. Wilkins from Trick R Treat <3 )

Up to now, I've written a bit about each story in the short story collections I've reviewed. However, damn it, that takes an incredibly long time and I simply don't feel like doing it anymore. So, if you're really eager to know my specific thoughts on the Milkman duology, well, too bad.

Since my second reading of this book as a teenager, I've held the idea that I like this collection more than Night Shift. But now, I'm not so certain. It's not just because my tastes have changed, but also because both collections show their age unfavorably. Also, yes, my tastes have indeed changed. The Mist was once an outstanding story, the standout from this collection that received multiple screen adaptations. While it still retains the sense of dread and fatalism I remember, the 1980s central casting characters made it rather lousy this time around. For example, a dad giving his 6-year-old sips of beer? What? That's a bad dad. Everyone, including the "heroes," was irritating, and I'm actually happy they all got devoured by those horrific acid web spider dogs. Half of the remembered horror for me was due to the parallels with the nightmares I often had as a kid of giant moths clinging to walls. So, that's the first quarter of the book.

Several of the stories in this collection are some of the oldest things King ever wrote, and you can often tell which ones they are because they're not very good. It felt like there were too many filler stories. They weren't included in Night Shift perhaps because it had performance requirements, but at this point, anything King published was immediately snapped up, so why not throw in those has-been stories too? Most of these I didn't recall. Some wouldn't play well at all today, like Cain Rose Up, which is about a campus mass shooting. King pulled Rage out of print for similar content, but Cain is much more tone-deaf now.

Two stories, The Wedding Gig and Word Processor of the Gods, contain grotesquely fat-phobic descriptions that similarly don't play well today.

There are two pieces of poetry included, which made me glad that King is a horror novelist and not a poet.

However, there was also plenty to enjoy. Many stories still lived brightly in my memory. The Jaunt is almost as sharp as ever, though it also shows its age with its foundation in an oil shortage and an overall retro feel. But this puts it in good company with classics like those of Ray Bradbury. Mrs. Todd's Shortcut I remember well because it was my first audiobook. I had read it the normal way, but at the public library where I worked through high school, there was a cassette tape of King himself reading it that I listened to. He did the old Mainer accents, and that's where I learned how "Ayuh" is pronounced. This is essential King knowledge. The Raft is another unforgettable one, in large part due to its inclusion in Creepshow 2. I knew there was a story featuring the gentleman's club first introduced in Different Seasons' The Breathing Method, but I did not remember its story-in-story. The club itself is my favorite part of those.

One story, Survivor Type, I remembered so well that I didn't need to read it again. I just skipped to the end for a perfect example of King's portrayal of madness on the page (something which would never translate correctly to audiobook; how do you verbalize a lack of capitalization?):

left hand washes the right don't let your left hand know what your right hands doing one potato two potato three potato four we got a refrigerator with a store-moor door

hahaha.

Who cares. this hand or that. good food good meat good God let's eat.

lady fingers they taste just like lady fingers

Some stories I had no memory of, but were excellent. In particular, Nona and The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet, King's contractually required story about a writer for this collection.

One story, Gramma, I skipped once the outcome was obvious, not from memory but simply because it was obvious to any horror reader. And one story, the last, The Reach, I also didn't remember at all, but didn't read because of too many italics. C'est la vie.

So, there is Skeleton Crew. I never have to read it again.