The last story was my favorite. It had a certain charm that captured my attention from the very beginning.

The plot was engaging and full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were well-developed and I found myself easily relating to them.

I could feel their emotions and understand their motives, which made the story even more captivating.

The writing style was also very appealing. It was descriptive and vivid, painting a clear picture in my mind of the scenes and events that were taking place.

I could almost imagine myself being a part of the story, experiencing everything along with the characters.

Overall, this story was a true gem and I will definitely be thinking about it for a long time to come.

This was the book that completely turned me off Stephen King forever.

Normally, he is indeed a great writer, albeit perhaps not the most original one. However, the stories presented here are nothing more than rewritten Twilight Zone episodes, and what's worse, they are rewritten rather badly.

Stephen King has once said in an interview that he is the fast food of literature. Well, in my opinion, he is most definitely the junk food of literature. Four Past Midnight is just a regurgitation of lame story plots that lack any real creativity or innovation.

It's truly disappointing to see such a talented author produce something of such poor quality. I had high hopes for this book, but it failed to deliver on every front.

From now on, I will think twice before picking up another Stephen King novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this compilation of King's works. It had that perfect cheesiness that is so characteristic of Stephen King. I understand that some people may not be fans of his stuff and claim that his work is too intense or that it "goes to you" rather than you going to it, and somehow this makes his writing terrible. But come on, admit it - you're just a scaredy cat who can't handle the boogeyman. Go on, say it. I'll wait...

Done? Good. Here's the lowdown on each story:

The Langoliers: This one was quite cheesy. People wake up on a plane to find the rest of the passengers gone, vanished without a trace. All that's left are their personal belongings, even items that were inside their bodies. I watched the movie as a kid and remember it being somewhat terrifying, but as an adult, I couldn't help but laugh. The story was entertaining in a classic King way, though, and deserves at least three stars.

Secret Window/Secret Garden: I thought this story was very predictable. I could see what was coming from a mile away. It's another of King's works that was made into a movie, and even the movie I found tame and predictable. Two and a half stars for this one.

The Library Policeman: This was my favorite of all the stories in the collection. It had a very intriguing plot, although King couldn't resist throwing in a brutal rape scene. Listening to it on audio made me queasy, but the story itself was great. A local guy goes to the library for help with a speech and meets the "librarian" - or is it? Cue the dramatic music! Things quickly go wrong from there.

The Sun Dog: I didn't really like this one. It had no intrigue for me. I even liked the video game Fatal Frame, which is also about a "ghostly camera," but this story just didn't do it for me. I may give it another try in the future, but for now, that's how I feel.

All in all, I still enjoyed this compilation. It had its flaws, but it also had some great moments that reminded me why I love Stephen King's writing.

I think I had the highest expectations after "The Two After Midnight".

Right from the beginning, it seemed long to me... But hey, it's Stephen King

I have rather lukewarm feelings towards this novella collection. To start with, I'm not a big fan of short story collections in general. And the fact that they were written by Stephen King didn't really sway me one way or the other. I didn't actively dislike it, but it wasn't something that made me eager to revisit. I'm also a bit on the fence about whether I want to give his other collections a try. For now at least, I think I'll stick with his full-length books.

I feel that with a novella collection, there's less time to really develop the characters and the plot as deeply as I might like. In a full-length novel, King has more room to create a rich and immersive world. However, I know that many people love his short stories and novellas, so perhaps I'm missing something. Maybe I'll give it another chance in the future and see if my opinion changes.

It was about time I read this book. The paperback was released in 1991, and I obtained it shortly after that. My copy has been sitting on shelves, being moved from one place to another, with each move, from one apartment to another, and so on. I'm glad I finally got through this, mostly. It was like reading a horror time-capsule. It came out before Dreamcatcher, and the Dark Tower was not yet finished. There were a lot of them. So it was kind of cool to go back now and see this collection of earlier novellas. Here's one guy's take on them:

\\n  The Langoliers:\\n It was way better than the movie. Although I will say as an aside that it was cool to rewatch the movie and see that it was very faithful to the source material. It was creative and shows (in my humble opinion) that sometimes it is just too difficult to capture the essence of a book in a movie. It was decent, but not mind-blowingly great. I would rate it 3.75/5.

\\n  Secret Window, Secret Garden:\\n This was the only one of the four that didn't work for me. The whole unreliable narrator thing is hard to pull off, even for a storytelling master like King. It seemed to me to have plot holes, and a lot of it didn't make sense. I would give it a 2/5.

\\n  The Library Policeman:\\n This is the one that is really going to stay with me. It was brutal, dark, emotional, and had all the elements and threads neatly tied up. Every part of the narrative seemed to have a purpose and advanced the story. It was brutal stuff, but it had meaning. I would rate it 4.5/5.

\\n  The Sun Dog:\\n It's a supernatural tale with colorful characters, an evil jerk, and a touch of omniscient POV. It's classic King. I would give it a 4/5.

So, overall, I would rate this collection 3.56, which rounds up to 4.

Four Past Midnight is a remarkable collection that consists of four stories, which some might classify as novellas, yet they verge closer to the length and depth of novels. These were penned during the time when Stephen King was purportedly "retired." However, as we know, with numerous novels and stories following, it's safe to say he has no intention of retiring. I had the pleasure of seeing him in a Zoom meeting through Murder by the Book in Houston. He was not only funny but also sharp, still going strong.

THE LANGOLIERS

This story is a must-read for both avid flyers and those who are not so keen. It begins with eleven passengers waking up on a redeye flight from LA to Boston only to find that all the other passengers have vanished mysteriously. The world they are flying through seems dead, with no signs of the usual city lights. When they land in Bangar, Maine, they discover a world devoid of life, and something menacing doesn't want them there.

SECRET WINDOW, SECRET GARDEN

The film adaptation of this story, Secret Window, is a favorite of mine. The story itself is a writer's worst nightmare. Morton Rainey is accused of plagiarizing a complete short story by a man named John Shooter. Rainey, who is going through a difficult divorce and is in a slump, has to deal with this accusation, and as the truth unfolds, things spiral out of control.

THE LIBRARY POLICEMAN

Sam Peebles borrows some books from the library to write a speech, but somehow the books get lost. What follows is a terrifying encounter with a librarian, Ardelia Lortz, who seems otherworldly. Sam soon realizes that there is something much more sinister going on at the local library. King's inclusion of Robert Louis Stevenson's The Black Arrow and the mention of the 1980 Kansas City Royals' World Series add an interesting touch to the story.

THE SUN DOG

Kevin Develan gets a Sun 660 Polaroid Camera for his birthday, but he discovers that each picture, regardless of what he photographs, comes out the same. As he delves deeper, he realizes that the camera is supernatural and that the image in the pictures is changing and becoming more sinister. Pop Merrill, who runs a shop of unusual things, becomes involved, and things take a dangerous turn.

The four concepts in this collection are truly excellent. King's prefaces for each story are a valuable addition, as he discusses writing with honesty, aptitude, and excitement. However, one issue I have with King's writing in this collection, as in most of his works, is that he tends to stretch an idea. There are times when I wished the plot would move forward more quickly, as he adds excessive details that make the story feel bloated. Nevertheless, I still enjoy reading his work and have come to accept this aspect of his writing style.

If you want to read more of my book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com. You can also find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jeffreykeeten/.

The library policeman gets a perfect 5/5⭐ rating. It's a captivating story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The plot is full of twists and turns, and the characters are well-developed.

The sun dog, on the other hand, has a rating of 3.5/5⭐. While it may not be as highly rated as the library policeman, it still offers an engaging and interesting read. The story has its own unique charm and吸引力.

This is an amazing book of short stories by SK that I highly recommend. It's a must-read for fans of the genre.

Based on an average of my rating, it comes to 3.4 stars for the entire book. I have read this in the past, but am now enjoying listening to the books. There's something special about having an actual voice behind the words. Each story has a different narrator, which gives an interesting feel to the story based on its presentation. The stories can be classified in various ways, from fantasy to science fiction and even horror.

4.5 stars: 'The Langoliers' narrated by Willem Defoe. This is one of my favorites and always entertains. Defoe's vocal style maintains the tension throughout the story as the passengers realize what has happened. A routine flight turns terrifying as they try to figure out how they got lost and what happened to the others. The characters are typical but function well within the group dynamic.

2.5 stars: 'Secret Window, Secret Garden' narrated by James Woods. This has never been a favorite King story for me, and the movie didn't change that. Woods' narration doesn't improve it either. A writer's confrontation with an unknown person over a story's authorship takes a dangerous turn. It reminds me of other King stories, but this one doesn't stand out.

4.0 stars: 'The Library Policeman' narrated by Ken Howard. At first, I wasn't sure who Howard was, but then I remembered a basketball coach. I really enjoyed his narration as he brought the characters to life. This slow-burning story always creeps me out a little. The local library should be a pleasant place, but there are sinister things lurking in the shadows. It's a vampire story with a twist.

2.5 stars: 'The Sun Dog' narrated by Tim Sample. The narration is good, even though I don't know what the narrator looks like. This story is slow but mentions characters from other King stories, which I like. When a boy gets a perfect birthday gift, there's always a chance for a supernatural encounter. The camera seems to tell a story he doesn't want to see end. I liked it okay, but it didn't hold my attention as much as I hoped.

If you've read the stories before and liked them, listening will probably be similar. I would say you can never go wrong with some King in your life. I've been reading him since his first novel and continue because he gives me what I like. So, go for it!

The Stephen King Goodreads Discussion Group is embarking on an ambitious re-read of his works, starting from the very beginning and going all the way to the end. It has been a long while since I truly immersed myself in Uncle Stevie's captivating world. But with a rate of one book per month, I'm fully committed. My aim is to read and review each one with utmost honesty and deep reflection.

"Four Past Midnight" was originally published in 1990 in hardcover by Viking Press. It is a collection of four novellas, similar to King's previous work, "Different Seasons", but this time the stories are centered around horror, with elements of science fiction and the supernatural thrown in. My Kindle and paperback list the combined length of the novellas as 995 and 925 pages, respectively.

The four novellas included are: "The Langoliers", where an airline pilot's life changes forever after a mysterious event during a flight; "Secret Window, Secret Garden", which features a writer accused of plagiarism and the dark turn the situation takes; "The Library Policeman", about an insurance agent who has a disturbing encounter at the library; and "The Sun Dog", which follows a teenager who receives a haunted camera.

My thoughts and reflections on the stories vary. "The Langoliers" was a highly enjoyable read, with its blend of drama, science fiction, and supernatural elements. The characters were well-developed, the plot intense, and the story fast-paced and captivating. "Secret Window, Secret Garden" was an absolute page-turner, a psychological thriller with supernatural overtones that kept me on the edge of my seat. However, "The Library Policeman" had its ups and downs. It started slow and steady but disappointed in the last quarter, with a villain that was too similar to others and an ending that left many loose ends. "The Sun Dog" was my least favorite, starting slow and lacking the drama and pacing to keep my attention.
Overall, the first two novellas were excellent, exemplifying King's writing prowess. They alone made the collection worth reading. The last two had their moments but suffered from plotting issues and weak endings. Still, two out of four wasn't bad, especially when those first two were so good. This collection of novellas also won the Bram Stoker Award in 1990 for Best Collection and was nominated for a Locus Award in 1991. Additionally, two of the novellas were adapted for television and the big screen.

Four Past Midnight

The Langoliers: This story seems to polarize readers. I had high hopes for it, but unfortunately, it ended up being more frustrating than enjoyable.

The concept of a commercial flight passing through a rift in space and arriving in a strange land is quite interesting. I was eager to discover more about the events that unfold.

However, none of the characters are fully developed. King once again uses a minority character as the "gifted one with superpowers". And someone using a toaster as a weapon just seems silly. In some ways, it reminds me of The Tommyknockers, with its silly dialogue and obnoxious style. Even the origin of the name is similar.

Another aspect that bothers me in post-apocalyptic, survival, or zombie stories is when a psychotic human disrupts everything for the survivors and shifts the story too much in their direction. I just want to get back to the supernatural monsters. Sadly, The Langoliers falls into this trap.

Fortunately, it is somewhat entertaining. The concept is cool, and I can see King's attempt to replicate the success of The Mist, although it falls far short compared to his best short story or novella. I wish the story had more depth. Overall, it's okay but feels too recycled.

2.5/5

Secret Window, Secret Garden: Once again, I can't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. There's a twist, but it's not particularly unexpected. It's like a combination of The Dark Half and Misery. To its credit, it starts off slowly but becomes quite engaging towards the end.

2.8/5

The Library Policeman: The first chapter didn't grab my attention. I wasn't interested in the characters or their lives. Fortunately, things pick up once the main character enters the library.

The villain reminds me of Pennywise. In fact, I'm starting to notice a pattern in this collection. They all seem to be rehashes of previous stories. I'm not sure if this is intentional or if King was running out of ideas. Either way, it makes the book feel inferior.

I also dislike the inappropriate joking during a traumatic event. A character is fighting for his life, racing across the country, and then suddenly he's fooling around with a friend, laughing and flirting. It doesn't make sense and takes me out of the story.

Overall, this story is at least better written than the first two, and it was mostly entertaining. I was curious to see where it was going. However, I hated the ending. Maybe if it was shorter and included in one of his short story collections, I would like it more.

2.8/5

The Sun Dog: This is the only story that was truly creepy and made me feel uncomfortable in a good way. Apart from the fact that a dog is the antagonist, it has no resemblance to Cujo.

The Sun Dog is the most original of the four stories in this collection. It doesn't feel recycled like the others. It reminded me of the thrills and scares one gets from J-horror. It's also nice to be back in Castle Rock with some familiar faces. Pop Merrill was a great character.

Despite enjoying it, The Sun Dog isn't groundbreaking in any way. It's a moderately successful short story. Among all the shorts and novellas I've read by King, it sits firmly in the middle. Still, it annoyed me far less than the others in this collection. It's strange that this one is considered the worst of the bunch. Sometimes I wonder if people think I'm being deliberately contrary, but this is how I truly feel.

3/5

Overall Review: This wasn't the start to the 90's that I was hoping for. It's easily my least favorite King book so far, lacking in originality and ingenuity. King himself admitted that he was having trouble at the time, and it shows. I only enjoyed the last story, but not enough to salvage the overall experience. IT has now moved up the list, while Four Past Midnight sits firmly at the bottom of King's body of work so far.

King Ranked:

1. The Stand

2. Pet Semetary

3. Salem’s Lot

4. The Dead Zone

5. Misery

6. The Shining

7. The Long Walk

8. Night Shift

9. Different Seasons

10. The Eyes of the Dragon

11. The Drawing of the Three

12. The Dark Half

13. Cycle of the Werewolf

14. Thinner

15. Christine

16. Roadwork

17. Skeleton Crew

18. Cujo

19. Firestarter

20. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

21. Carrie

22. Rage

23. The Tommyknockers

24. The Running Man

25. Hearts in Atlantis

26. The Gunslinger

27. The Talisman

28. IT

29. Four Past Midnight*

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

The original article is not provided, so I will create a sample article for you to rewrite and expand.

**Original Article**: The dog is running in the park. It looks happy.

**Rewritten and Expanded Article**:

The dog is running freely in the park.

Its tail is wagging vigorously, as if it is expressing its joy.

The wind is gently blowing through its fur, making it feel even more comfortable.

It seems to be enjoying every moment of this run, exploring the new smells and sounds in the park.

Its eyes are shining with excitement, and it looks truly happy.

People passing by can't help but smile at the sight of this lively and happy dog.

It is a beautiful scene that brings a sense of warmth and happiness to everyone in the park.