La niebla

This is the novella from the short story collection 'Skeleton Crew' by Stephen King. It is truly one of my favorite stories that King has ever published. He is a master at writing amazing novellas, and this particular one holds a special place in my heart.

I still vividly recall the chills that this story gave me. It begins in the woods, with a man cutting wood. At that point, I had no idea where the story was headed. Then, suddenly, we find ourselves inside a grocery store, and the world has gone completely crazy. It is a brilliant and captivating story that has stuck with me for more than 20 years. To this day, I still think about it often.

In my opinion, this story really delivers. Up until 2005, I used to own all of Stephen King's books. I had an extensive paperback collection. However, when I moved, I unfortunately gave them all away. Now, I truly wish I still had this story so that I could go back and read it again. There are many other books in the collection that I also wish I had kept. Oh well. Hopefully, the library will open soon, and maybe I can borrow this wonderful novella and relive the excitement once more.

Este libro está compuesto por 3 relatos.

1️⃣ La niebla (9/10). Es el que más me ha gustado. Las criaturas son espeluznantes y este relato es King en estado puro.

2️⃣ El mono (7/10). No está mal pero no me ha impresionado. Las desgracias que sucedían no eran macabras ni muy sangrientas.

3️⃣ El atajo de la señora Todd (6/10). Historia más de fantasía que de terror. Aún así, los dos protagonistas son muy entrañables.

This book is made up of 3 stories.

1️⃣ The Mist (9/10). It is the one that I liked the most. The creatures are creepy and this tale is King at its purest. The way he describes the mist and the unknown horrors lurking within it is truly masterful.

2️⃣ The monkey (7/10). Not bad but not impressed. The misfortunes that happened were neither macabre nor very bloody. However, the story still had an element of mystery that kept me reading.

3️⃣ Mrs. Todd's shortcut (6/10). More fantasy than horror story. Still, the two protagonists are very endearing. Their relationship and the adventures they have together make for an enjoyable read.

Overall, this book is a great collection of stories that展示了 King's versatility as a writer.

What would you do if suddenly you find yourself locked in a closed place with no possibility of escape and no knowledge of the cause?

The Mist is a claustrophobic and anguishing tale where King immerses us in our worst nightmares, the fear of the unknown and the restriction of freedom. It confronts us with loss, with the deepest and most primordial fears of man, sometimes perpetrated by men themselves.

It is also a story of overcoming, survival and adaptability, of accepting loss and moving forward. In short, of living.

We have well-developed and perfectly profiled characters, each in their role. King is a master in character building, and this aspect is not affected by the fact that it is a short story.

BUT, the author already announces to us in the book that it is not an ending that will please part of his readers... As the saying goes "He who warns is not a traitor" (what a rascal), and this has been the case in my case. King leaves an ending that is too open and free to the imagination of each reader. It gave me the feeling that he couldn't think of anything better and left it like that

The mist is truly EERIE. It shrouds everything in an otherworldly veil, hiding within it monstrous creatures that lurk and menace. There seems to be no way out, no escape from this terrifying situation. The future is left in question, filled with uncertainty and dread. Hopelessness pervades the atmosphere, as if there is no glimmer of light in this dark and foggy world.

It's a story that will send shivers down your spine and keep you on the edge of your seat. The description of the mist and the unknown horrors within it is vivid and captivating, making it a great read for October, when the air is filled with a sense of mystery and the supernatural. Whether you're a fan of horror or just looking for a thrilling story to get you in the Halloween spirit, this one is sure to deliver.

So, grab a blanket, turn off the lights, and lose yourself in the pages of this eerie tale. But be warned, you may never look at the mist the same way again.

This review is a part of my goal to read and review all of King~~~ Welcome to The Mist!

The Mist is a creature feature that has a lot more depth than one might initially anticipate. It's an isolated novella that manages to make the human terrors even more frightening than the Lovecraftian monsters. Surprisingly, this novella is now tied with Pet Sematary (my all-time favorite) for the most times reread, and the reason isn't what you'd expect.

The story begins on the eve of a storm near Bridgton, Maine. King immediately sets the stage, making us understand that something unprecedented is about to happen. The story is told from the perspective of David Drayton, a local and the son of a famous artist. The night before the catastrophe, David has a cold dinner with his wife, Steff, and their five-year-old son, Billy. He senses that something is amiss, especially with the strange weather.

The next day, after a violent storm, they wake up to a tree smashed through their window and destruction outside. With live lines hissing in the yard, they need food and supplies. Steff stays home to deal with the mess, while David, Billy, and their neighbor Norton head into town. We spend a significant portion of the novel in this "BEFORE" stage, and it's 44 pages before the mist reaches the market.

I absolutely love the opening sequence. It's like reading a great, mundane short story that could end with the characters coming home and having a normal day. King has created the perfect small-town atmosphere, which is why I've read The Mist so many times. Whenever there's a heatwave followed by a thunderstorm and a cooling mist, I can't help but want to read the opening.

When the mist comes, it's heralded by the sound of a police car and the wail of the town's fire siren. There are many people in the market, and some go out to see what's happening, never to be seen again. Screams are heard, and thuds like earthquakes are felt. Once isolated in the market, the conditions quickly deteriorate.

King does an excellent job of setting up the isolation, hysteria, and problem-solving among the people in the market. It all feels very realistic. David even mentions that he feels like a character in one of the adventure comics he's illustrated, and King nails this feeling. The cover of this edition also evokes this sense, with people groping in the dark with flashlights, hoping for hope but also afraid of what might reach back.

For a novella under 200 pages, King manages to create a cast of mostly distinct and memorable characters. David is the everyman, Norton is the frenemy and out-of-towner, Billy is a young boy missing his mommy, and Mrs. Carmody is one of King's greatest villains. She's a flesh-and-blood woman with dark ideas and a convincing tongue, using her beliefs to wield hysteria and power.
A major theme in the novel is what happens when humanity breaks down. Factions appear, reality seems to shift, and logic is defeated by those who speak the loudest. The inciting incident is climate-related, which sets up a divisive thematic element throughout the story, with discussions about eco-terrorism and the toxicity of the mist.
Now, the ending. I don't like the ending of The Mist. In fact, it's one of my least favorite of King's endings. However, this is one of the rare instances where the movie is better than the book. I recommend reading the book first and then watching the movie.
Some of my favorite lines from the novel include: "Candles are funny things, you know. You lay them by every spring knowing that a summer storm may knock out the power. And when the time comes, they hide." "Carrying a candle, carrying the fire, was a very big deal for him. It helped him forget about being afraid." "I stayed awake for another half hour with one lit candle for company, listening to the thunder walk and talk outside."
There are no direct connections to the Kingverse, but some might argue that the monsters in the mist are related to those in the Dark Tower, and that the Arrowhead Project is an offshoot of The Shop from The Langoliers/Firestarter. I've seen some mentions of The Arrowhead Project in The Tommyknockers, but as I haven't read that yet, I'll leave it for future discovery.

**"The Mist": A Book Review**

I'm just goin' to the store, to the store, I'm just goin' to the store / You might not see me anymore, anymore (Store – Carly Rae Jepson).

I'm always fashionably late to things, and this time it's with Chappell Roan. I just started listening to her this week and now I'm stopping people in the street raving about "Red Wine Supernova." But enough about that. Let's talk about my review of Stephen King's "The Mist." I know it might seem redundant since everyone has already read it, but here I am playing catch-up.

I read this book after watching the movie recently. Stephen King has always been an intimidating author for me, yet I'm familiar with many of his stories through adaptations. For example, "Stand by Me" is one of my favorite movies, and Pennywise the Clown from "It" haunted my childhood nightmares. Another reason I stayed away from his books was the criticism of them being overly wordy. And while "The Mist" does have a lot of descriptive language for every character, I actually enjoyed this "procedural" prose as it contrasted well with the unknown monsters.

Now, let's compare the book and the movie. The movie has a famously bleak ending that King said improved on his original work, but I couldn't disagree more. I was spoiled on both endings, but it didn't stop me from reading the book. I think if a story can be easily ruined by a spoiler, it might not be that good. In my opinion, the movie was silly and answered too many questions, while the book's open-ended conclusion is much more daunting. It makes us wonder what we would do in David's situation.

Overall, "The Mist" is a great book that is haunting, disturbing, and makes us think. I'll definitely be looking at fogs differently from now on. And it seems Stephen King will continue to haunt my adult nightmares too. He can't keep getting away with it!

"The horrors of the Inquisition are nothing compared to the fates your mind can imagine for your loved ones."

The plot of this story is interesting enough and truly compelling.

However, I simply could not overlook the way Stephen King portrays the women in this novel.

The sexism and misogyny are so palpable that they almost jump off the page.

It's disheartening to see such a talented author write in a way that seems to devalue and objectify women.

It makes me question whether King truly understands the experiences and perspectives of women.

Despite the engaging plot, the negative portrayal of women detracts from the overall enjoyment of the book.

It's a shame that such a great story is marred by these issues.

Perhaps in future works, King will be more conscious of his treatment of female characters and create more well-rounded and respectful portrayals.

I read this short story approximately 25 years ago.

It was perhaps one of the most hair-raising stories I had ever come across.

Even now, when I look back on it, I firmly believe it is still one of the most petrifying tales I've ever read.

Nearly all of King's books possess their own unique brand of terror, vividly brought to life by his descriptions.

This particular one oozes horror in such a profound manner that it seems to paralyze a person within the confines of time and space.

There is simply no way to escape the encroaching mist.

It looms large, menacing and unyielding, instilling a sense of dread that is palpable.

The story unfolds with a slow and deliberate pace, building the tension steadily until it reaches a crescendo of fear.

King's masterful storytelling weaves a web of horror that entraps the reader, making it impossible to look away.

Even long after the story has ended, the image of that mist and the terror it represents lingers in the mind, leaving an indelible mark.