Skeleton Crew is a remarkable short story collection by Stephen King.

I deliberately put off reading it because I knew that once I finished all of them, I would be extremely upset as there would be no more to read.

Now, where should I begin? This collection is filled with numerous gems that I absolutely adored. Ranking them all is a difficult task, so I'll simply mention the ones that I rated as 5 stars. In no particular order of preference, here they are: Survivor Type, The Raft, The Monkey, Gramma, Word Processor of the Gods, The Jaunt, Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut, and of course, The Mist.

In my opinion, the aforementioned stories are the "must-read" ones in the King collection. The Jaunt, in particular, is a story that I keep thinking about long after having finished it. It was truly mind-bending and trippy!

If you're in the mood for some excellent short stories, I highly recommend giving Skeleton Crew a try. It's well worth your time and will surely keep you entertained from start to finish.

I have been reading this book intermittently for a really long time now. However, I am gradually getting attached to King's short stories. To be honest, on average, his stories in this collection grip me more intensely than they did in Night Shift. That doesn't mean that Night Shift didn't have some intense, scary, and horrifying stories (just read Quitters, Inc., The Ledge, or Sometimes They Come Back). But in Skeleton Crew, there are fewer missteps and more stories that just grab you by the throat and won't let go even after you've put down the book.

Beyond the spoiler tags, there are hidden a few thoughts on each story I've read so far. Proceed at your own risk.

1) The Mist

2) Here There Be Tygers (2/5 stars)
Rather badly written and poorly plotted, this story had no appeal to me. Although the image of being confronted with a predator at the school toilet is indeed frightening. No wonder it was first published a few years before King began his professional career - he was still in the writer's sandbox, just playing around with words.

3) The Monkey (2/5 stars)
In which a toy monkey starts haunting an entire family. King has written worse stories, but this one just didn't do much for me.

4) Cain Rose Up (2.5/5 stars)
This story felt like it could have benefited from further investigation into the characters' motives. So, it ultimately didn't engage me much. I re-read it more or less by accident in 2023 - 10 - 26 because I thought I hadn't read it yet and didn't remember anything from my first reading. It's still not the most impressive story and is mostly average among King's short stories simply because it isn't long enough to flesh things out properly.

5) Mrs. Todd's Shortcut (3.5/5 stars)
The title is accurate - it's really about Mrs. Todd and the shortcuts she becomes obsessed with. This one is more about character development than the deepest fears within us. King manages to find the humanity in a story that feels original despite its familiarity.

6) The Jaunt (4.25/5 stars)
Reviewed in detail here. One of my favorites in this collection.

7) The Wedding Gig

8) Paranoid: A Chant
I firmly believe that King is a terrible poet, and this poem is no exception. That's why I won't give it a rating. It's too short to negatively affect my perception of the collection.

9) The Raft (4.5/5 stars)
A chilling and truly frightening story that further solidifies this as King's finest collection of short stories.

10) Word Processor of the Gods

11) The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands

12) Beachworld

13) The Reaper's Image (3/5 stars)
A rather forgettable, yet readable little tale that thankfully wasn't overly stretched.

14) Nona (4/5 stars)
Brilliantly written and engaging from start to finish, this horror story details the life of a doomed man accompanied to his downfall by a mysterious woman he's fallen in love with. With vivid imagery, insightful details, and nice connections to other books, King managed to create a suspenseful and frightening story.

15) For Owen

16) Survivor Type

17) Uncle Otto's Truck (4/5 stars)
Very much a typical King story as it tells an interesting tale about several generations of a family and infuses their history with horror elements. Generally engaging and well-written, this is another standout from this collection.

18) Morning Deliveries & 19) Big Wheels: A Tale of The Laundry Game (Milkman #1 & #2) (2/5 stars)
This story had a few interesting moments here and there but generally conveyed a feeling of boredom and stiffness. The narrative didn't flow as smoothly as King's other stories, and the characters were bland stereotypes, making this one of his weaker efforts.

20) Gramma (4/5 stars)
A spine-tingling horror story and one of King's best short works. Just thinking of *that* ending still sends a shiver down my spine.

21) The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet

22) The Reach

A bit of a mixed bag, this one. However, I believe most of King's short story collections are similar. Some of the tales here are among my favorite King moments, such as "The Mist", "Mrs Todd's Shortcut", and "Nona". Plenty are perfectly enjoyable slices of King mayhem like "The Raft", "The Jaunt", "Survivor Type", and "The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands". But there are also some real misses, like the kind of trash where you wonder how intoxicated he was when he dreamed them up (both "#Milkman" stories).

As for points of interest in the King universe, we get what I think is King's first mention of Derry, Maine (in "Mrs Todd's Shortcut" and in "Uncle Otto's Truck"). Now, I'll just go over the ones I enjoyed the most.

The Mist
King opens with a novella, as he did with his previous collection. I didn't care for "Jerusalem’s Lot", which opened "Night Shift"; it felt more like a full-blown rip-off of Lovecraft than an homage. "The Mist" has its roots in the Lovecraft mythos too, but it feels much more like a Stephen King story. I also think it's one of the most frightening things he's written.

The premise is simple: a strange mist envelops a small Maine tourist town, trapping a group of shoppers, residents, and out-of-towners inside a supermarket. There are creatures lurking in the mist, scurrying out of the gloom to snatch anyone who dares step outside. What makes it stand out is King's ability to make the human drama just as engaging as the supernatural shenanigans. It's almost a cliché nowadays to have an apocalyptic tale where your fellow citizens turn out to be as much of a threat as the outside force menacing you, but King wrote this before the market was saturated, and he does a masterful job.

We have a great boo-hiss villain in Mrs Carmody, who starts off as a harmless old eccentric, spouting about the End Times when the mist first appears, with nobody paying her much attention. But as the situation becomes more desperate, she begins to draw an audience, almost a congregation, of people trying to make sense of how their world has turned upside down and will listen to any logic, however twisted. And it does become very twisted indeed.

After a tense opening passage where a storm wreaks havoc on the town, King takes his time setting the scene. Our narrator, David Drayton, sets about repairing the damage to his house with his wife. The electricity is out, and he decides to head into town to get some supplies, taking his son with him. Drayton is a likable guy, if a bit unremarkable, but his relationship with his boy feels genuine, and as the sense of danger starts to set in, we're with him every step of the way. The passage where the mist rolls down the street towards the supermarket, while fire sirens wail and police cars, lights flashing, race up the street and get swallowed by the fog, is a flawless exercise in nerve-jangling tension. The monsters, when they arrive, are enjoyably schlocky 50s B-Movie horrors, with all their claws, jaws, tentacles, and suckers, but the sense of peril is palpable, leading to a thrilling climax.

A lot has been said about Frank Darabont's excellent movie (seriously, can we just get Frank to do every King adaptation?), and specifically his ending, which deviates from King's in a completely shocking way. But reading this again, I realized that Darabont's ending is actually hinted at by King in the story. I like both endings – King's works better in print, allowing the reader some leeway to let their imagination run wild, and Darabont's is a satisfyingly nasty end that horror movie fans everywhere applauded.

All in all, this sits comfortably in my top ten King creations. I often think he's more subtle than a lot of people give him credit for, but here, King goes straight for the jugular, and boy, does it pay off.

Mrs Todd’s Shortcut
Oddly, for a story about someone always looking for ways to make a journey shorter, I remember this story as being longer than it is. It's a little 21-page epic, full of all the things I love about Stephen King. Old timers sitting around telling each other stories? Check. Castle Rock setting? Check. Little hints at a world just beyond our own, tantalizingly out of reach? Yep, we're three for three.

This very much reminds me of King's novel "From a Buick 8" and his short story "‘N.’" I have a lot of love for both, and also for this story. I think I just like it whenever Uncle Steve gets a little weird.

Nona
An enjoyably nasty tale about a hitchhiker meeting the girl of his dreams at a roadside diner... although his dreams are actually nightmares, and she's actually as evil as they come (if she exists at all), as is he. What follows is a Charles Starkweather-esque road trip through the snow, on the way to Castle Rock. It's heavy on atmosphere and isn't easily forgotten.

I'd probably have given "Skeleton Crew" three stars, but I think "The Mist" deserves a star all of its own.

A collection of short stories is truly a captivating literary form.

It allows authors to convey powerful emotions, tell engaging tales, and explore various themes within a concise framework.

I have a particular admiration for the works of King, and I firmly believe that some of his best creations are in the short story format.

In these short pieces, King has the remarkable ability to draw readers in from the very first sentence and keep them on the edge of their seats until the very end.

His vivid descriptions, well-developed characters, and unexpected plot twists make each story a unique and unforgettable experience.

Whether it's a horror story that sends shivers down your spine or a thought-provoking piece that makes you reflect on life, King's short stories have the power to leave a lasting impression.

They are a testament to his talent as a writer and his ability to create compelling and engaging literature in a short amount of time.

Overall, a collection of short stories is a wonderful addition to any bookshelf, and King's short works are definitely worth exploring.

When I rate a (short) story collection, I don't necessarily rely on my average rating of the individual stories. However, three stars seems about appropriate for this one.

To be honest, this collection was always going to struggle to receive a higher rating from me because I don't particularly like this kind of books. Now, if you follow my reviews, you might wonder why that is. I read a lot of short fiction, right? True. But what I appreciate about short fiction is that whenever I'm in the mood for something specific, I can simply pick up a short story or novelette that suits that mood and read it in one sitting. With novels, it's a different appeal for me. That sense of spending some time in the same world, with the same characters, getting to know them and feeling more comfortable in that world with each passing day. A book like Skeleton Crew offers neither of those experiences.

That being said, it is a good collection. But like almost all such books, there are some highlights and some duds, and some stories that fall somewhere in between and for which I might not have been in the right mood at that particular moment. It's rare for an author to manage to compile only stories that I like. King achieved this in Different Seasons. But those were all novellas, which makes it something different again.

Anyway, let's move on to the individual stories. Starting with one that isn't exactly short fiction. Probably not even a novella anymore.

Der Nebel / OT: The Mist (1980 / horror / 201 pages)

The story has an ominous start and then transforms into a creature feature with people trapped in a supermarket while the outside has become extremely deadly. The ending was a bit of a letdown at first. But after reflecting on it for a moment, I think I actually quite like it. 3.5 - 4 stars

Hier seyen Tiger / OT: Here There Be Tygers (1968 / horror / 8 pages)

Well, the good thing is that it was short. 1 star

Der Affe / OT: The Monkey (1980 / horror / 58 pages)

A cymbal-smashing toy monkey announces the death of people, and its owner can't seem to get rid of the thing. Jang-jang-jang! It's creepy. I was hoping for a different ending. 3.5 - 4 stars

Kains Aufbegehren / OT: Cain Rose Up (1968 / crime / 11 pages)

A college student starts shooting people from the window of his dorm room. It's grim, full of anger, and without a clear reason. It's not bad, but it's not a fully realized story. 2 - 2.5 stars

Mrs. Toods Abkürzung / OT: Mrs. Todd's Shortcut (1984 / fantasy / 42 pages)

Mrs. Todd keeps finding ways to shorten the route from Castle Rock to Bangor until it becomes shorter than should be possible, and she and her car go missing. It's whimsical and stimulates the imagination. 4 stars Full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Der Jaunt / OT: The Jaunt (1981 / SF-horror / 40 pages)

A 24th-century teleportation story that I enjoyed for both its goofy 1950s SF nature and its horror twist. This has actually been a reread for me, the only story from this collection that I already knew. The implications of its ending still send a shiver down my spine. 4 – 4.5 stars Full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Der Hochzeitsempfang / OT: The Wedding Gig (1980 / crime / 26 pages)

A Jazz Band gets hired to play at a wedding during the prohibition era. There are gangsters and people being killed. I'm not sure what the point of the whole thing was. 1.5 stars

Paranoid: Ein Gesang / OT: Paranoid: A Chant (1985 / poetry / 5 pages)

I read a German translation of this book, which I think doesn't really work well for poetry. And anyway, I zoned out midway through. No rating

Das Floß / OT: The Raft (1982 / horror / 44 pages)

The simple premise is that four college students swim to a raft on a remote lake and then can't get back because there's something in the water. The grisly results show that the something in the water isn't nice. It's classic horror that is gory and fun. 3.5 – 4 stars There's an interesting story about this one in the afterword. King wrote this much earlier and sold it under a different title (The Float) to a magazine called Adam in 1969. A year later, he received a check for it, which came at the perfect time as it saved him a 30-day prison sentence (though that's a different and quite funny story which can also be found in the afterword). You see, back then, you usually got paid after publication. So, he went to look for the magazine but couldn't find the issue in which his story had been published. And he also had lost his own copy of it. More than a decade later, he rewrote the story, and the result can be found in this book. To own a copy of whatever magazine The Float had been published in must be one of the coolest things for any Stephen King fan, I imagine.

Textcomputer der Götter / OT: Word Processor of the Gods (1983 / fantasy / 31 pages)

The main protagonist inherits a word processor from his dead nephew. He quickly discovers that this is no ordinary machine. Deleting text on the screen also deletes the corresponding objects/people in the real world, while inserting text has the opposite effect. This is a fun idea, and it seemed like it was going to be a great story when it became clear that people don't just disappear but everything else changes in such a way that they had never existed in the first place. There was a sense that anything could happen here. Unfortunately, the ending didn't fulfill that promise. 3.5 - 4 stars

Der Mann, der niemand die Hand geben wollte / OT: The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands (1982 / fantasy / 31 pages)

Another story told one evening at the gentlemen's club that we know from Different Seasons. The story itself was decent enough, but I'm more intrigued now by the club itself. Clearly, something isn't quite right with it. 3.5 stars

Dünenwelt / OT: Beachworld (1985 / SF-horror / 28 pages)

In the distant future, a spacecraft crash-lands on a planet that seems to be made up entirely of sand dunes. One of the two surviving crew members becomes hypnotized by the dunes while the other tries to find a way for them to survive and call for help. Another SF story with a horror twist, but this one lacked both the charm and the chills of The Jaunt. 1.5 - 2 stars

Das Bildnis des Sensenmanns / OT: The Reaper's Image (1969 / horror / 13 pages)

A haunted mirror story that is devoid of any surprises. I liked its ending, though. 2 stars

Nona (1978 / crime / horror / 53 pages)

The story of a college dropout hitchhiking on a snowy winter's night in Maine. He recounts that night's events while he's in prison. So, from the outset, it's clear that some sort of crime is going to happen that night. And it was a delight to see everything unfold. Also, it was a nice surprise to see some characters from The Body here. 4.5 stars Perhaps I should have made this a part of my Castle Rock project.

Für Owen / OT: For Owen (1985 / poetry / 3 pages)

More poetry that didn't really get through to me at all. But again, it might be a matter of me reading the book in German. No rating

Überlebenstyp / OT: Survivor Type (1982 / horror / 32 pages)

A former surgeon gets shipwrecked while trying to smuggle heroin from Saigon to the US. Alone on a very small island and with no supplies, the question is what he would be willing to do to survive. Turns out, quite a lot. My reading buddy Justine said it was like bad Mark Watney gets shipwrecked. Well, I too had to think of The Martian. 4 stars

Onkel Ottos Lastwagen / OT: Uncle Otto's Truck (1983 / horror / 29 pages)

Two Castle Rock businessmen are getting very wealthy in the post-depression era, buying a huge piece of land. One of them dies when he gets crushed beneath his derelict truck. The other becomes obsessed with the truck and thinks that it is out to kill him. Or has Uncle Otto gone crazy and murdered his partner? It had its moments. 3 stars

Morgenlieferungen / OT: Morning Deliveries (Milkman #1) (1985 / horror / 10 pages)

The milkman delivers some nasty surprises to his customers. Apparently, this was adapted from an unfinished novel, and there's also a second part in this anthology. So, it's not surprising that it doesn't feel like a finished story. But it has some nice imagery, and the milkman seems to enjoy himself quite a bit, which was kind of fun for this reader too. 3 stars

Grosse Räder: Eine Geschichte aus dem Wäschereigeschäft / OT: Big Wheels: A Tale of the Laundry Game (Milkman #2) (1982 / drinking and farting – is that a genre? / 23 pages)

Uhm... what? 1 star

Omi / OT: Gramma (1984 / horror / 47 pages)

A kid is home alone with his bedridden grandma. It's the first time he's alone with her, and there are stories about grandma. Unsettling stories. Not a lot happens here, but a lot does happen in the kid's head. It's creepy, with very effective prose. 4 stars

Die Ballade von der flexiblen Kugel (a.k.a. Der Fornit) / OT: The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet (1984 / fantasy - perhaps / 79 pages)

A writer's descent into madness, a mysterious and brilliant short story that never got published, little elves that live in typewriters, paranoia, fear of electronic devices, an unreliable narrator... Was there really a small hand coming out of the typewriter? Is this fantasy or the story of two men with a psychosis? Whatever this is, it was fun. 4 stars

Die Meerenge / OT: The Reach (1981 / fantasy / 36 pages)

This story about community, love, death, and the afterlife was kind of sweet but ultimately not for me. 2.5 stars

And that's it. 895 pages of mostly short fiction. Wow! I'd say three stars is a pretty good rating for a book that is so not my thing.

Buddy read with The Stephen King Readers

Individual ratings for my second read through. This might be my favorite short story collection of all time.

The Mist - 5
This story creates a sense of dread and mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The atmosphere is palpable, and the characters are well-developed.

Here There Be Tigers - 2
While not as strong as some of the others, it still has its moments. The concept is interesting, but it feels a bit rushed.

The Monkey - 4
A thought-provoking tale that explores themes of guilt and responsibility. The ending is particularly powerful.

Cain Rose Up - 4
This story has a unique premise and keeps you guessing until the end. The writing is engaging, and the characters are complex.

Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut - 4.5
A charming and somewhat bittersweet story. The characters are endearing, and the setting is vividly描绘.

The Jaunt - 5
A truly terrifying story that will haunt you long after you’ve finished reading. The idea is both simple and brilliant.

The Wedding Gig - 2
This one didn't quite work for me. The plot felt a bit thin, and the characters weren't as developed as I would have liked.

Paranoid - 4
A tense and suspenseful story that explores the mind of a paranoid individual. The writing is excellent, and the pacing is perfect.

The Raft - 3.75
A solid story with a good premise. The characters are believable, and the ending is satisfying.

Word Processor of the Gods - 4
A fun and imaginative story that plays with the idea of the power of words. The writing is lighthearted and engaging.

The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands - 3.5
A good story, but it didn't quite have the impact that some of the others did. The characters are interesting, but the plot could have been more developed.

Beachworld - 3.5
This story has a unique setting and some interesting ideas. The writing is good, but it could have been more atmospheric.

The Reaper’s Image - 3
A decent story, but it didn't really stand out for me. The concept is interesting, but it felt a bit derivative.

Nona - 5
A beautiful and moving story. The characters are well-developed, and the ending is both tragic and uplifting.

For Owen - 3
This one was a bit of a disappointment. The story felt unfinished, and the characters weren't as engaging as I would have liked.

Survivor Type - 5
A dark and disturbing story that will make you question your own morality. The writing is excellent, and the pacing is intense.

Uncle Otto’s Truck - 3.5
A solid story with a good premise. The characters are likable, and the ending is satisfying.

Morning Deliveries (Milkman #1) - 3.5
A short and sweet story that has a nice twist at the end. The writing is simple but effective.

Big Wheels - 5
A fun and exciting story that will appeal to fans of adventure. The characters are engaging, and the action is non-stop.

Gramma - 4
A creepy and atmospheric story. The characters are well-developed, and the ending is truly chilling.

The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet - 4
A unique and imaginative story that combines elements of science fiction and horror. The writing is excellent, and the pacing is perfect.

The Reach - 3.5
A good story, but it didn't quite have the impact that some of the others did. The characters are interesting, but the plot could have been more developed.

Stephen King is a master of the short story, and there are lots of great ones to choose from.

One of the best in my opinion is "The Mist". It's a story that really sticks with you and, in my view, is far superior to the movie adaptation. I'd rate it an 8 out of 12.

"Mrs. Todd's Shortcut, from Skeleton Crew" is another favorite. This simple yet compelling story has a delightfully dark side, with Mrs. Todd's obsession with finding the quickest route between two points and something just a bit off-kilter about the journey. I give it a 10 out of 12.

"The Jaunt" is, in my opinion, King's best ever sci-fi/horror short. It's a perfectly set-up, chilling read that only takes about 10 minutes. I also rate it a 10 out of 12.

Other highlights include "The Wedding Gig", "Skeleton Crew: The Raft", "Uncle Otto's Truck", and "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet". However, there are some weaker stories in the collection, which is why I give the overall collection a 6 out of 12.

Despite the few duds, there are still plenty of great stories here that are well worth reading.

The horror genre offers a plethora of captivating stories that can send shivers down your spine. Among them are The Mist, a tale that plunges its characters into a thick, menacing fog filled with unknown terrors.

Then there's The Jaunt, which explores a disturbing concept that will make you question the boundaries of reality.

The Raft presents a group of young people stranded on a raft in the middle of a vast lake, facing a deadly and mysterious threat.

And if you're looking for something that really goes for the gross out factor, Survivor Type is a must-read. I absolutely love it! It takes the idea of survival to a whole new and extremely disturbing level.

These stories are just a taste of the many amazing works in the horror genre, each with its own unique twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I find it extremely difficult to assign an overall rating to short story collections. However, without a shadow of a doubt, in my mind, Skeleton Crew is most definitely worthy of a 5-star rating.

Skeleton Crew is a remarkable short story collection penned by Stephen King in 1985. I have always been vocal about the fact that I'm not an overly enthusiastic fan of King's short stories. For instance, Night Shift didn't leave a profound impression on me, perhaps with the exception of only three stories. Nevertheless, Skeleton Crew completely transformed my perception. I swiftly fell head over heels in love with these captivating stories. It seems as if King's short stories serve as blueprints or prototypes for his novels. He experiments with various ideas in his short stories and if he deems them worthy, he further develops and expands them into full-fledged novels.

Here are some of the short stories that truly stood out to me: The Mist - Well, of course! It's The Mist, a classic. The Jaunt - It is hopelessly terrifying, yet it has some really enjoyable and simultaneously spine-chilling aspects that I found to be truly delightful. The Raft - King masterfully crafts some deeply disturbing imagery that lingers in the mind. Word Processor of the Gods - It has a very creepy and eerie flair to it. The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands - It's just a fun and entertaining read. Nona - It gives me American Psycho vibes, which I find to be great fun. Survivor Type - It's like Saw meets cannibals. Oh my, that's seriously disturbing. Gramma - It's very unsettling and makes you feel a sense of unease.

In conclusion, this collection was truly great and a must-read for any Stephen King fan or lover of short stories.

There's a truly magical quality to Stephen King's early short stories.

Even at their most pulpy, they seem to be infused with a remarkable creative exuberance that, unfortunately, I find sorely lacking in his later forays into the medium.

Perhaps I'm viewing the early stories through the rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia. After all, I was much younger and more impressionable when I first delved into them.

Moreover, I haven't revisited these tales in many long years. It's entirely possible that they wouldn't hold up as well as I might hope.

However, my gut instinct firmly insists that I'm right. The hungry young Stephen King who pounded out these suspenseful and gruesome fantasies on an electric typewriter in the 70's and early 80's was simply a superior short story writer compared to the world-famous literary icon he would soon become.

Some of the standouts for me in Skeleton Crew include "Ballad of the Flexible Bullet," a deeply disturbing meditation on the complex relationship between creativity and madness.

"The Mist" is like a cheerfully cheesy B movie presented in prose. And "Survivor Type" might just have the most disgustingly unique premise for a story that I've ever come across.

But the crown jewel of the collection is undoubtedly "The Reach," a haunting and atmospheric tale that would easily rank among the very finest of any writer of ghost stories throughout history.

I have a profound love for his short stories.

Despite the fact that the quality and style can vary, it is most interesting to observe when comparing the publication date with his probable state of intoxication.

The strange aspect is that there isn't always a direct correlation between drug-induced states and the quality of the work. Instead, it is more a result of King's working method, which allows the characters and his subconsciousness to drive the story. This approach can yield excellent results, be average, or, in rare exceptions (seen through rose-tinted fanboy glasses), be just average. After all, there is no such thing as bad work in King's oeuvre, right?

Possibly, some works may not be that great, perhaps those written during ultra-stoned blackouts, like the entire novel "Cujo," which he can't remember.

I sometimes also think about the "Family Guy" episode and the potentially true element of überproductivity in it.

This could also play a role here to some extent.

But seriously (or not really), I want to reread his works and check the publication date beforehand because there is this timeless debate about stoned inspiration, ingenuity, and creativity. Some of King's books were written when he was a multi-drug-using alcoholic, so... if you want to be successful.

No, really, I'm really looking forward to reading all of his works and comparing the pre-drug era, the drug era, and the later periods to dissect what makes the difference.

I've read most of King's short story collections and wouldn't recommend starting with this one. It's better to choose one of his later works when he was a sober, super-professional, and talented writing prodigy.

If you're a picky reader, I suggest checking the individual ratings of reviewers who are ambitious enough to rate every single short story and thereby extract the best of the best. Honestly, I can't remember which ones were the most disturbing and mind-penetrating because I read it a while ago. Except for "Survivor Type," because hard drugs and autocannibalism are always a perfect match made in hell. Yum, now I want to have a special snack and some mind-altering substances.

Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...

From the very powerful collections of stories of King, with variety being his main weapon. It is difficult for you to like all the stories, but it is very likely that you will say so for most of them, always depending on the tastes of each one. The diversity within these stories offers a rich tapestry of experiences and emotions. There are tales that will grip you with their intense drama, while others will charm you with their gentle humor. Some may transport you to far-off lands and introduce you to cultures you've never known before. Each story has its own unique flavor, and King has masterfully crafted them to appeal to a wide range of readers. Whether you prefer action-packed adventures or thought-provoking character studies, there is something in his collections to satisfy your literary cravings.