Stephen King is truly a remarkable master storyteller. Over the past few years, I have developed a deep love for his works and now count him among my all-time favorite authors. It is a widely held opinion that King sometimes struggles with endings in his novels. However, this is not a major concern when it comes to his short stories. In fact, the open-ended nature of short stories seems to work to his advantage.

Just like his first short story collection, Night Shift, Skeleton Crew is filled with interesting, terrifying, and uncomfortable tales. While not every story in this collection is a complete success, the number of hits far outweighs the misses. Out of the twenty-two installments, several stories will stay with me for a long time.

The first selection in this collection is one of King's novellas, The Mist, which I have reviewed here. Beyond that, stories like The Monkey, The Jaunt, Word Processor of the Gods, Nona, Survivor Type, The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet, Gramma, and The Reach really resonated with me. I would rate all of these stories between 4 and 5 stars, which is a very high percentage for a short story collection.

Some of these stories were simply scary, while others were more uncomfortable. Only one story, a tale of self-cannibalism without any supernatural elements, actually gave me nightmares. It was truly horrifying. On the other hand, The Reach was a poignant way to close out the collection. Additionally, there were a few Castle Rock stories, which are always a treat for King's Constant Readers like myself.

One thing that King should probably avoid in the future is poetry. There were two poems in this collection, and they just didn't quite hit the mark.

If you've never read Stephen King and want to give his work a try, I highly recommend picking up one of his short story collections. You'll get a great sense of his style, and I find that his storytelling in short form can be even scarier than some of his novels. Whether he's writing a dozen-page story or a thousand-page epic, King is undoubtedly the master of the horror genre, at least in my eyes. Long live the King!

You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.

I have wanted this collection ever since I read "The Night Shift" when I was about 14 years old, but unfortunately it had not been translated yet. So, just as it was published after several years, I regained that feeling of the first encounter with King and took the book without a second thought. A feeling that I regained as I read the book since many of the stories reminded me of that era (although I had read some of the stories in another collection as well as "The Mist" as a stand-alone book). The classic King with his verbosity and his strange and inventive ideas. I singled out "The Monkey", "The Raft" (what an ending that was...), "The Lawnmower Man", "The God of the Copybook Headings" (incredible conception), "The Man Who Wouldn't Shake Hands" and "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet" (although this could have been presented in fewer pages - the verbosity I mentioned before). Of course, I enjoyed it although there were some stories that I didn't find interesting. But what can we do... King is who he is. He never disappoints us. I would give it 4 but my hand doesn't go there...

Continuing my journey of reading all Stephen King's books in publication order, the short story collection The Skeleton Crew was next. This is a re-read for me, and it didn't disappoint. The collection is filled with a diverse range of stories that showcase King's talent for creating engaging and often terrifying tales.

The Mist – 5 Stars The Mist is one of my all-time favorite short stories. It's a masterpiece, with a fast pace, a powerful impact, and beautifully written sentences. What makes this story truly scary is not just the man-crushing creatures but the way humanity quickly falls apart and turns on each other. It only takes one person to feed on trauma and distress, and soon a mini cult forms. The characters are well-developed, and whether you love them or hate them, you can't stop reading about them. It's one of the longer stories in the collection, but it's so easy to read.

The Monkey – 5 Stars The Monkey is a great little story that is very creepy. A creepy little monkey doll wreaking havoc is enough to give anyone nightmares. It's like Toy Story gone bad, and I don't know if there's anything scarier than that. The dad in this story has good character growth, as we see how he deals with the Monkey as a child and as an adult. He tries to protect his own child from repeating the past, creating a really good dynamic.

The Raft – 4.5 stars I really hate LaVerne in this book. You just know she'll get what's coming for her, and I couldn't wait. This story has the element of gore that I enjoy from King, but it's not quite my type of horror. It will definitely put you off swimming for a while. The ending was okay, but it didn't blow me away.

Word Processor of the Gods – 4.5 stars A word processor that changes reality is a little odd. When I first read this story, I thought it wouldn't be very scary. But I ended up really loving it. It's one of those Stephen King books that makes you wonder what you're reading while you can't put it down. It also has a nice message about appreciating what you have in life and not realizing what you have until it's gone.

Survivor Type – 5 Stars This one is not for the faint of heart. It has some really nasty scenes that will make you recoil and wince. If you like a little more gore in your books, this one has plenty. The main character is awful but awesome. He doesn't have any development or growth, but I loved hating him.

Gramma – 5 Stars For me, this is the scariest story in the collection. It's about the fear of death, old people, being alone, and not being a "man" or a grown-up. Gramma is one of those stories where if you get it, you get it, and if you don't, you don't. Some people, especially children, find seeing a grandparent ill or old to be nightmarishly scary, and I really sympathized with the main character. The story is beautifully written and has amazing descriptions that are spine-chilling.

The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet – 3 stars This story was interesting because I gave it 4.5 stars when I first read it, but this time around, I didn't feel a connection to it. I found it too long and too unbelievable to be scary. It dragged for me and didn't give me any fear. It's still okay, but it doesn't stand up to the rest of the collection.

Here There Be Tygers - 3 stars This story was too short to make me feel or think much. It didn't really leave an impression on me.

The Jaunt - 4 stars This is a little bit of sci-fi that is odd but really interesting. It's also scary, with some nice elements of gore. Although it's a good read, it doesn't really stand out in the collection.

The Wedding Gigg - 3 stars This story is pretty good, with some nice messages and a lot of action. However, it didn't manage to scare me or invoke any strong emotions, which is why I gave it an average rating. It also has a heavy element of crime that is enjoyable.

The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands - 4 stars Somehow, I don't remember reading this one before. But it's really good. It's very intriguing and keeps you guessing until the end. There isn't a lot of gore or frights, but it's weird and creepy in its own way.

Nona - 3 stars Nona is okay, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. Because it's a short story and not a full book, we don't get enough character development, and I think we really needed that for the plot to be something special.

The Reach - 5 stars This short story is just beautiful. It's not conventionally scary, but it's haunting. I could write full reviews about each of these short stories, but there are a few that I've missed out on because I don't have much to say about them. Overall, this short story collection has some of the best short stories ever (in my opinion). There are some that don't quite hit the mark, but as a whole, it's incredible!

Stephen King's works are extremely hit or miss for me.

Some of his stories, like "Mrs. Todd's Shortcut", "The Jaunt", "Morning Deliveries", and "The Reach", were truly standouts. Among them, "Mrs. Todd's Shortcut" is by far the best, leaving the others in the dust. However, the rest of the stories ranged from really bad to just mediocre.

The stories that were supposed to be scary often came across as trying too hard, with only a superficial layer of horror. I prefer something that has a psychological impact, not just a gimmick like a monkey that claps its cymbals and people die. Sometimes, the concept in a story was good, but King would overwrite it and make it way too long, losing any sense of urgency.

Also, for some reason, King talks a lot about rats, fat women, and old people. It's like he has some hang-ups that I don't quite understand.

Here are my ratings for some of his stories: "The Mist" - 3/5, "Here There Be Tygers" - 1/5, "The Monkey" - 2/5, "Cain Rose Up" - 1/5, "Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut" - 5/5, "The Jaunt" - 5/5, "The Wedding Gig" - 2/5, "Paranoid: A Chant" - 1/5, "The Raft" - 2/5, "Word Processor of the Gods" - 3/5, "The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands" - 3/5, "Beachworld" - 3/5, "The Reaper’s Image" - 3/5, "Nona" - 5/5, "For Owen" - 1/5, "Survivor Type" - 3/5, "Uncle Ottos’s Truck" - 2/5, "Morning Deliveries" - 4/5, "Big wheels" - 1/5 (so bad), "Gramma" - 1/5, "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet" - 4/5, "The Reach" - 5/5.

Чудова, збалансована жанрами та темами збірка улюбленого діда ❤️

Із топового:

«Туман» - Це може бути mystic та захоплюючий рассказ, який втягує читача у свій магічний світ.

«Мавпа» - Можливо, це історія про особливу мавпу та її пригоди, яка може бути як забавною, так і мудрою.

«Довгий джонт» - Можна здогадуватись, що це може бути пов'язано з одним із видів рекреації чи спорту, що буде цікаво для багатьох.

«Всемогутній текст-пооцесор» - Навіть назва сама по собі викликає цікавість, може бути, тут буде описано функції та можливості такого програмування.

«Нона» - Можливо, це є ім'ям персонажа або назвою історії, яка має свої особливості та привабливість.

«Той, хто хоче вижити» (місцями до мурашок) - Це назва, яка створює атмосферу напруги та можливих переживань.

«Балада про гнучку кулю» - Балада, як правило, має певний ритм та емоційний наповнення, а гнучка куля може бути символом чогось глибокого та важливого.

«Протока»

After rereading these short stories, my perception and rating for each story have undergone significant changes.

The Mist, which initially received a perfect 5/5 rating, still holds its charm. It creates an atmosphere of intense mystery and horror that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

Here There Tygers has improved from a 3/5 to a 4/5. The story's unique concept and engaging narrative have grown on me, making it a more enjoyable read.

The Monkey, once rated 4.5/5, has now been downgraded to 4/5. While it still has its strengths, some aspects of the story didn't resonate with me as strongly upon rereading.

Cain Rose Up remains at a solid 4/5. Its exploration of dark themes and complex characters continues to be captivating.

However, Mrs. Todd's Shortcut has seen a significant drop in rating from 5/5 to 2/5. The story that once seemed so enchanting now appears somewhat平淡 and unremarkable.

The Jaunt has also been downgraded, from 5/5 to 3/5. Its pacing and overall execution didn't hold up as well on a second reading.

These changes in ratings reflect the evolving nature of my literary tastes and the different perspectives that come with multiple readings. Each story offers new insights and interpretations, making the rereading experience both rewarding and enlightening.

This is the classic old school Stephen King that many fans know and love. I truly adored the majority of the stories in this collection, and below is my detailed attempt at reviewing each one.

The Mist kicks off this collection in a perfect way. If the idea of being trapped in a supermarket, surrounded by a mist filled with terrifying monsters, doesn't sound appealing to you, then perhaps you should skip this entire collection of stories altogether.

Here There Be Tygers is a fun, albeit really short story. There's a tiger lurking in the bathroom of Charles' third grade classroom, and you definitely don't want to venture in there.

The Monkey is like what you'd get if Stephen King were to write the next Toy Story movie. It's about a cursed monkey toy that, whenever it claps its cymbals together, brings death.

Cain Rose Up is not a terrible story, but with the frequency of school shootings in real life these days, in my opinion, you might be better off skipping it altogether.

Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut is a fun story for those who like the concept of worm holes and time travel.

The Jaunt makes you wonder if you'd be brave enough to teleport you and your family to Mars if the technology existed. Find out what happens to this family when they take the trip, also known as the Jaunt.

The Wedding Gig reads like an old school mobster tale, which is different from your typical King story.

Paranoid: A Chant is a short poem that is rather forgettable.

The Raft is my absolute favorite story in the collection. It's horrifying and classic King. The message is clear: don't go in the water!

Word Processor of the Gods is short but sweet. It makes you think about what you would do if you had a word processor with the power to rewrite reality.

The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands is about a poor guy who causes death to anyone he touches, which is the reason for the title of the story.

Beachworld is a fun sci-fi story about a ship that crashes on a planet full of sandy dunes. The question is, is there something living in the sand?

The Reapers Image has a nice concept of a mirror that causes people to disappear when they look at it, but King doesn't really do much with it.

Nona is about a man who falls for a mysterious beautiful girl who is not what she seems and leads him down a dark path. It's okay but ultimately forgettable.

For Owen is a poem King wrote for his son. I personally don't feel that the poems belong in this collection. SK should perhaps put out a separate collection of poetry for those who are interested.

Survivor Type is like what would happen if Stephen King wrote the script for Cast Away. In this story, Tom Hanks would be a cannibal.

Uncle Otto’s Truck is one of those stories where Stephen King explores the idea of vehicles that are basically alive and evil. It's just okay.

Morning Deliveries (Milkman #1) brings back memories of having a milkman who dropped off milk. Glad we didn't have the one in this story.

Big Wheels: A Tale of the Laundry Game (Milkman #2) is a hilarious story, and the Milkman from the previous story makes a cameo.

Gramma is about an 11-year-old George who is home alone with his creepy, dying old grandma, and he has good reasons to be scared.

The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet is a story that I felt was terrible, but I've read other reviewers who thought it was their favorite. To be honest, I'm not even sure what this story was about. Something about elves living in typewriters?

The Reach is a somewhat touching tale about death and joining those who have passed on.

The Revelations of Becka Paulson is an okay story about a woman who accidentally shoots herself in the head and starts having some rather crazy after effects. It's not included in all editions of Skeleton Crew, which is fine.

All in all, this is a great collection. If you were to remove a handful of the stories, you'd almost have a perfect book. I really enjoyed it.

It was to be expected that a short story collection would always be a mixed bag of quality to me.

This collection was overall good, but in verdict, only a couple of stories stood out. About two of them I could count as my favorite stories of this collection, yet they didn't rank among the higher echelons of all King stories. The rest were quite painful to read as they dragged on for much longer than they should have been. As I rated each story, there were a lot of one stars, and for me, the average of the whole collection was a two-star. However, as an overall experience of carrying this book around and reading a few stories, it was just a mediocre set of tales. I do prefer "Night Shift" as my favorite of all King stories, followed by "Just After Sunset". Another thing I can credit this collection for is that the whole book is better than "Nightmares and Dreamscapes".

My individual ratings for each story are as follows:

"The Mist": 4 / 5 - Great setting and a great ending. I prefer the ambiguity of this one more than the movie.

"Here There Be Tygers": 2.5 / 5 - Sometimes King has stories that play with the idea of actual fear, pressure, and anxiety of some weird thought, like thinking there's a tiger in the bathroom you really need to go to. The story plays out literally, and it was definitely weird to read and think about how King came up with this idea. Apparently, he's very intelligent to even provide a commentary on how he wrote this in the back of the book. This was unnecessary but was justified by the better writing.

"The Monkey": 3.5 / 5 - I haven't been creeped out by a King short story in a while. While I think it's good, I think the characters could have been more fleshed out and memorable. The ending was kind of funny and a little bit dark to think about.

And so on for the rest of the stories, with varying ratings and thoughts. In conclusion, I think what makes this a painful mixbag is the lack of consistency among the stories. I tend to like the pure horror stories more than what King called in "Everything's Eventual": “A literary piece” or something along those lines. It's not that I dislike the more grounded stories here, but it's noticeably clear to me that the horror stories are at their best in this collection compared to some of the non-horror stories in "Just After Sunset" and the few 3 - 5 star non-horror stories in "Night Shift", which I think is, of course, much better in my opinion than the ones in this collection.

I read King's collection of stories once, and it wasn't enough for me, so I read it again.

My "Kingomania" has been going on since my adolescence, and this collection of stories has only further strengthened it.

I would just add that the excellent translation by Goran Skrobonja definitely contributed to my positive impression. (After all, not everyone can handle King. And those who can master him are rare.)

As with every collection of stories, some stories will appeal to you more, some less, some will blow you away, and some will leave you pondering the book for minutes, hours... What is specific about the collection of stories "Gole kosti" is that, despite everything mentioned, many stories make every hair on your body stand on end. And that's what makes King such a special and personally dear writer to me.

I don't know which story I would specifically single out of the twenty-two that are in the collection. Let's say that the ones that appealed to me the most were the indispensable Izmaglica, Ovde ima tigrova, Majmun, Prečica gospođe Tod, Splav, Peščani svet, Nona, Baka i Tesnac. The others are right there, breathing down their necks.

I used to have a strong aversion to short story collections. I really couldn't quite put my finger on what exactly had changed. But here we are, five months into 2018, and I've just completed my second short story collection of the year. Granted, they're both works penned by the great Stephen King. But still, I'm going to embrace my little victories however I can manage to get them.

Sandwiched neatly between The Talisman and It, Skeleton Crew was King's sole release in 1985 and his second short story collection. Similar to his previous collection, Night Shift, Skeleton Crew is mostly composed of previously published work, with only a handful of original contributions.

Now, let me share a few of my absolute favorites.

First up, The Mist. Obviously, this one is the basis for both the 2007 film and the short-lived 2017 TV series. There has been quite a debate as to which ending is better, and I'm inclined to side with the film. The book ending isn't bad per se, but King himself has even admitted that he wished he'd thought of the film's ending.

Next, we have The Jaunt. I heard a great deal about this one from my fellow King fans. In fact, it was actually the very reason I picked up the book in the first place. I think this one might just be my favorite. It details the short history of the use of teleportation and its discovery, as told by a father to his children as they wait to teleport to Mars. The ending really sent shivers down my spine and stuck with me long after I'd moved on to other stories.

Survivor Type was a truly gruesome read. King writes about a man who is shipwrecked on an island completely devoid of vegetation and food. The story takes the form of diary entries written by the man as he struggles to survive. King has even noted that this story goes a little bit too far, even for him.

Nona was a suspenseful read about a pair of killers traversing the roads of Maine, leaving chaos in their wake. I really liked the use of narration as one of the two tells of their actions while residing in a jail cell.

Those were the ones that really stood out as exceptional stories. The majority were good to okay (Cain Rose Up, The Raft, and Beachworld being examples), but there were also a few duds. I really didn't care for There Will Be Tygers, The Monkey, or both of the Milkman stories. Several of these stories were written before Night Shift and were likely left out of that collection, which had me thinking that they weren't quite as strong.

Outside of Mr. Mercedes, I've yet to be truly disappointed by a King release. So even his more average ones are enjoyable reads. If we were just comparing his first two collections, I'd choose Night Shift over this one. But Skeleton Crew is still worth picking up, especially for The Jaunt.

Stephen King is a master of horror, and when he is at his gruesome best, he truly terrifies his readers.

His stories are filled with vivid and disturbing imagery that haunts the imagination long after the book has been put down.

Whether it's a bloodthirsty creature lurking in the shadows or a psychological thriller that delves into the darkest recesses of the human mind, King knows how to create an atmosphere of fear and dread.

His characters are often ordinary people thrust into extraordinary and terrifying situations, making it easy for readers to identify with their struggles and fears.

With his unique blend of horror, suspense, and supernatural elements, Stephen King continues to be one of the most popular and influential authors in the genre.

When he is at his gruesome best, he takes readers on a wild and terrifying ride that they will never forget.

King's second short fiction collection is a remarkable work.

These are fully developed and mature fictional pieces, distinct from the excellent yet inconsistent stories in his first collection, Night Shift. Some of my all-time favorite King tales are included here, such as "The Raft", "Mrs. Todd's Shortcut", "The Monkey", and "The Reach".

But the true highlight is the novella (or novelette?), "The Mist", which is one of King's most spine-chilling and successful forays into science-fiction horror.

Now, let's talk about the story "Survivor Type". I find the backstory of this tale quite fascinating. I first came across it in Danse Macabre. King was discussing the idea that he could "get his laundry list published". To prove otherwise, he recalled a fictional piece he wrote about a doctor on a deserted island who amputates his own body parts and consumes them to survive. He said he submitted this story everywhere, but no one would accept it.

Shortly after reading that, I happened to read the "unpublishable" "Survivor Type" in Whispers Magazine, a small press horror periodical. So, it seems that King can indeed get his laundry list published. Nevertheless, it is a great story. Just be careful not to read it right before dinner.