favorite story in fdns?

[footofthehare]

Personally I like Fair Extension, it was the only one that made me laugh at any point. Not saying that the other stories weren't good, but Fair Extension really lightened the mood.

Second favorite was probably Good Marriage, it was the most interesting. I probably read it the fastest.

[Patricia A]

I think A Good Marriage was my favorite, but then I think Big Driver might be the best story, the suspense level was crazy and there was a character named Patsy in it and hey, great name. I agree about Fair Extension's much appreciated moments of comic relief, it was really thought provoking too. But 1922 was really, really creepy probably the scariest story... Awww shoot I don't know I think they are all my favorite. I hate deciding.
I loved the afterward too.... there's no hope for me.

[GNTLGNT]

"Big Driver"....I know people like that, it worries me a little...

[doowopgirl]

For me it was A Good Marriage. Just the idea of your closest loved one hiding such a horrible secret, send chills down my spine just thinking about it. Then it would have to be 1922, then Big Driver with Fair Extension last, but by no means least.

[Haunted]

I am a firm believer in the more words and pages the better in a book so I am not a short story/novella person n'tall BUT BUT these four stories had me from the get go!! Each is special in its own realm.

Ah, human nature at its best as only Mr. King can tell it to us:eek2:

[Sigmund]

I stumbled onto this website. Very Cool! Lots of info, images, gifs and SK line notes. I took my sweet time looking through the entire thing. Loved it!

Psssttt! Ms.Mod! if this is a no-no, delete my post, please.

http://www.fulldarknostarsbook.com/

[Moderator]

Posting a link to Stephen's publisher is in no way a no-no. :smile2:

[Becks19]

My favorite was Big Driver. I loved how she got her revenge...

[aintshesweet]

I thought this collection was terrific. I always think that the more SK, the better, but I'm glad this one only had 4 (well 5 in the PB version) stories in it. I have to agree with footofthehare, my favorite was "Fair Extension" as well. I love that SK is able to write about things that people have thought about but would never actually go through with...at least, most people. I think that "Fair Extension" was placed as the third story to provide comic relief, especially after the suspense of "1922" and "Big Driver." What does everyone think about the order of the stories? Also, why do you think SK titled the book Full Dark, No Stars?

[GNTLGNT]

why do you think SK titled the book Full Dark, No Stars?

I've felt it's because the soul of the stories is so dark-there ain't a glimmer of light anywhere...

[JellybeanJay]

My favorite was Big Driver, I always love a good revenge story

[sam peebles]

1922. I like period pieces.

[jchanic]

My favorite was The Good Marriage, followed by Big Driver, then 1922, the Fair Extension.

John

[Sigmund]

I enjoyed all the stories. I must say, Fair Extensions was THE most disturbing to me. Fair Extensions just...messed with my head. Streeter enjoying all the grief his best friend was going through and gloating and relishing the fact that it was all due to him, Streeter. *shakes head side to side*

[king family fan]

I believe it is the darkest reading yet by King. I enjoyed it very much. I guess I would pick 1922.

[Haunted]

I enjoyed all the stories. I must say, Fair Extensions was THE most disturbing to me. Fair Extensions just...messed with my head. Streeter enjoying all the grief his best friend was going through and gloating and relishing the fact that it was all due to him, Streeter. *shakes head side to side*

I have to admit--I got to a point where I wanted to opt out--it kind of just went on and on and on and on....so much human misery.:oo:

[gypsyred]

Fair Extension, The Good Marriage and Big Driver were tied, and then 1922. Maybe I have a sadistic streak (well, probably), but haven't we all known people like that? They could fall into a pile of sh*t and end up smelling of roses, and others could fall into the roses and smell like fertilizer. Kind of fun to see it turned around. I know, I know, probably time for a trip to the therapist's couch, right? :wink2:

[dsurrett]

It would be difficult to point to any one story and say "Yup, that was my favorite. At the moment I'd lean toward 'A Good Marriage' but if asked later I might name another. After finishing them all, I initially was less than overwhelmed. But since then I've read a book of novellas by another horror writer who I'll choose not to name, and none of his stories were even in the same realm as King's. So now as I look back on FDNS, I can say it was great. Glad I have it on audio so I can listen through it again soon.

[ginapenn]

For me: Fair Extension is tops followed closely by 1922. Good Marriage and then Big Driver. Fair Extension was fantastic. I am fascinated by the dark side of humanity...so much closer to us than we care to realize.

[friend of Oye]

I really enjoyed 1922.....It set the tone for the rest of the book. One of the many things that I like about The Masters work is his ability to create the environment, in this case, Nebraska during the depression. It all seemed so accurate.

Long days pleasant nights
Please recycle

[Sundrop]

!922
A Good Marriage
Fair Extension
Big Driver

[Perdissa]

I liked A Good Marriage. Sadly, I was wondering whether my wife would find out if I were in fact a serial killer.

I also liked Fair Extension, enjoyed the tragedy perhaps a bit too much.

I disgust myself.

[sprinco12]

I liked 1922 the best because of the good descriptions. Then A Good Marriage, Big Driver, and Fair Extension. I guess I like the suspense and gore the best. :blush:

[Slow Reader Luke]

1922. I like period pieces.

I agree. 1922 would be my fav. followed by good marriage, fair extension, Big Driver.
Big driver to me didn't seem as original as the other pieces. something i've seen or heard before. i enjoyed the story, but thought the others hooked my attention more so.

As for the order, i thought it was set up like an old play. When an act came to a close and tensions and suspense were high. A small interlude of softer topic to give the audience a moment to catch themselves.

[Ace Merrill]

1922 really creeped me out. Well they all did, but I love a good revenge story so I think Big Driver was my fav

[aKINGreader4ever]

Hello Everyone:cool2:,

My favorite story so far has been Big Driver, I still have the last two stories to read; but I liked Big Driver because of the storyline. Here we have this Author who experiences one of the worst experiences an individual can have. She breaks down on the road and an individual who poses as a good Samaritan, becomes her nightmare:eek2:. I liked it because at first Tess seemed meek and not like the tough time; but after the hell she went through, she gets even. It's a story that keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. Will she end up like his other victims or will she be able to escape? I'm glad she didn't become a causality and was able to fight back as well as finding someone she could talk 2 about her hell on Earth. A great story, I can't wait 2 see what Fair Extension and A Good Marriage have to offer. I did like 1922 but Big Driver was better, did anyone else feel the same about comparing just these 2?
THX,
-Kris-

[Debbie913]

I really liked this whole book! Not sure I can choose a favorite! I do have to add that Under The Weather was good and creepy!
I guess most of these posts were put up before any of the posters had a chance to read it?

[m-o-o-n-thatspellskim]

Big Driver...Disturbing but good.

[Canis]

A very close match between Big Driver and 1922.
If forced at gun point I'd probably have to go with 1922, that ending with the realizing what the rats really were just turned the whole thing on it's head and made the whole story a shade darker.

[aKINGreader4ever]

Hey All:grinning:,

I am on the last story in Full Dark No Stars, and even though I replied earlier and said my favorite story was BIG DRIVER I got to admit all the stories have been excellent, I am surprised by this because I usually just have a couple of favorites from each of his short story collections :cool2:. A few from Night Shift/Skeleton Crew, one or 2 from the 4 story books, a lot people either like his short stories and a lot just like his novels. I like both, even though some of those shorts can get very weird:oops:. I have made some mistakes and saw a Stephen King movie before reading the book and was like WTF, only did that a few times. The Golden
Rule with every movie is read the book 1st; than see the movie, a book is always better- especially a Stephen King movie:biggrin2:.

THX,
-Kris L. CocKayne-

[rickeap]

1922, Big Driver, A Good Marriage were all excellent.
Fair Extension was a bit disappointing

[Mark R]

I found 1922 the better read out this collection. Some parts of the other stories I found personally hard to read.

[Jax]

I really enjoyed 1922. While I was listening to the audio I burst out laughing when the son starts singing, "mama's in the well and I don't care." My husband looked over at me and asked me what I was laughing at, so I explained, and he just shakes his head and tells me, "you're sick". I couldn't help it. That just cracked me up. :laugh:

[bethlytle]

Personally, Big Driver was my absolute favorite with 1922 coming in as a close second. A Good Marriage was also good, but I really didn't care for the Fair Extensions story. It was okay, but not my cup of tea.

[tedthepowerman]

1922 is my favorite for sure. Such a grim, downtrodden story. I read somewhere else on this site that someone who was reading it started out envisioning the story in color, and by the time they were done, they were envisioning it in black and white. I was kinda the same way, except replace B&W with sepia. Every ounce of cheer and happiness is slowly siphoned out of Wilf's life, it's just epically depressing. The other 3 are all tied for 2nd since none of them came close to 1922's brilliance. Heck, I can't even remember how A Fair Extension and A Good Marriage end!

[jbaud23]

I really enjoyed the first story the one about the man who murders his wife. The theme was dark and creepy but I give it real kudos for great imagination.

[bryantburnette]

I thought that not only is 1922 the best in the collection, it's one of the best things King has written in his entire career. Great stuff.

[Alexandra19]

Hi !
As I've just finished reading the book, I'm now able to answer this thread.
This is a pretty good question, as all of these short stories are really different one from another.
I found 1922 really really dark, more than King has lately been in his other books, therefore I really like this one.
I've also enjoyed a lot Good Marriage and Big Driver, which have the heroin type in common I think (both of them actually made me think of Rose Madder as women trying to find their inner strength).
And Fair Extension did make me laugh.

If I had to vote, I would say :
1. Big Driver
2. Good Marriage
3. 1922
4. Fair Extension
But there is no huge gap between the four of them.

I also need to add that I had a really good time reading FDNS.
No that I had any doubts about it, but well, just saying !

[Teddy Duchamp]

Wow! Got to say I was totally blown away by this book. I read it on holiday sitting in the sun and even then got the screamin' heebie jeebies as the subject matter was so dark!

That said............hmmm very hard to pick a favourite - while I immediately choose "Big Driver", it did have a couple of little niggles in regard to the plot, where I felt "hmmmm I dont know if I can believe that".........while she was taking her revenge, but y'know what - Im being totally pernickety because it was such a fabulous page turner, and the best story I have read in a very long time!

Secondly "the good marriage" - would have difficulty actually in choosing between this one and Big Driver, I wish in a way it had been "longer" as I was enjoying it so much! How great a story this was is actually is proven by the fact that you are left wanting "more"!!

1922 - now here is a real enigma - while in some ways it was possibly the best story in the book, for me, while being glued to it, it depressed me so much, as you kept reading you just knew that nothing good was ever going to happen, and while the writing was amazing, it hit home so much the scenes involving Elphis and the other cow.......being a huge animal lover they affected me more than the killing of his wife!

But again that proves what a fantastic story it actually was, because you were MEANT to feel like that, every paragraph brought the story to life and you could actually SEE the characters and their interactions with each other, brilliant stuff!!!! I think I might read this one again, as being on holiday wasnt the perfect place to take in the horror and sense of helplessness, I think I would have been better reading this one at home on a dark night with the wind whistling round the roof.........it could even turn out to be my favourite after all!

Fair Extension - while brilliantly written, it didnt grab me as the others did - but that said, if you compare it to other writers in the same genre its still miles ahead............but just not up there with the others, for me.

The last little story, (how embarrassing I have forgotten the name -was it "under the weather?") - wow - for such a short story it was really quite freaky - loved it!

All in all a fantastic book of stories, hugely recommended!!!

[effalumpkin]

I loved 1922, but I think A Good Marriage was my favorite. It brought to mind The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule. Under The Weather is the one has lingered in my mind the most. I don't know if it's because it was placed at the end or because it was just so sad and grotesque.

Fair Extension felt unfinished to me ... I wanted details like if and when the cancer came back and if the curse was lifted off Tom once Streeter finally died.

I disliked Big Driver mainly because I couldn't figure out Ramona's motivation. Sometimes there is no explanation for the evil people do, but in terms of fiction I wanted more of an explanation. I also didn't care for the meeting at the end between Tess and the blue eyed girl. She came across as too cold for someone with a shared experience.

Overrall, a brilliant collection of stories. I couldn't put the book down.

[bryantburnette]

I also didn't care for the meeting at the end between Tess and the blue eyed girl. She came across as too cold for someone with a shared experience.


The idea there, I think, is that sometimes the LAST thing you want is to be reminded of something terrible that has happened to you. She had sympathy for Tess, but also disliked her because being around her was forcing her to think about things she really didn't want to be thinking about.

[CarrieJo]

I love, love, love this collection. It's moved into the #1 SK short story collection spot for me. There wasn't one moment where I wasn't completely involved in this book. Which is hard to say about short story collections because there are so many different subject matters.

1922 was my favorite. It's now one of my all time favorite short stories. I can't honestly put my finger on exactly why it's my favorite. Just everything about it. How killing off the problem should have totally made everything better but it just ruined everyone involved I think was the biggest thing. All of the 'real life' stuff was so dark and chilling it didn't even need the supernatural. But I will have a hard time forgetting the sentence, "She came into the kitchen, moving with a horrible boneless gait that had nothing to do with walking." That gave me the heebie jeebies just typing it out!

My second favorite was A Good Marriage. Basically because it's always been a fear in the back of my mind. I have always had trouble trusting people. Unless you can read minds, you really have NO idea who anyone truly is. So yeah, this one especially freaked me out.

Big Driver is scary because hell...it could really happen to anyone. Plus it was interesting to see the mind frame of "should I, or shouldn't I?". And then the revenge! Oh man, the suspense!

Fair Extension I liked because it was dark and everything but you still had a glimpse of that good 'ol King humor throw in.

All of the stories played on basic human emotions. That was the foundation and only 2 of them had any supernatural elements. I'll probably read a few books and then go back and Full Dark, No Stars again. I can't wait!

[J.T. Adams]

Fav=1922

Maybe the most disturbing for me as well . . .

[btobey]

It's funny how people are so different--I didn't like "1922" at all! It just went on and on to me..."Big Driver" was my favorite, and I liked the other two equally well (I was surprised that I enjoyed "Fair Extension," as I usually don't like black humor).

[fmurray]

Big Driver and A Good Marriage were my tied-for-first favourites. I HATED Fair Extension. No, that's not true. I didn't really hate the story, but I HATED Streeter. The Goodhughs reminded me of a couple that I know -- attractive, prosperous, two great kids -- but so generous and charming that you end up loving them despite their "perfection" (Nobody's life is perfect, though). I just wanted Streeter to end up suffering the way he made them and their children suffer. Didn't like him, wanted him to die.

Big Driver was great. I think SK has such a huge talent for writing from a woman's point of view, and I don't know how he does it really. He must listen really well when he's doing his research. The revenge was wonderful, but perhaps went a bit too smoothly. In a longer format there could have been some roadblocks to Tessa finding out who her rapist was, which would have been more difficult than in the story.

Also, A Good Marriage was a story that I could relate to. Not that I was married to a serial killer, but my ex had an affair going on for a year before I knew about it. And I learned then that you never really know another person. I think a scenario like this could happen to almost anyone. And I loved the ending of the story too.

This was a fantastic read. I thoroughly enjoy the short story format.

[rahul]

A Good Marriage really good. i like it.

[AchtungBaby]

A Fair Extension.

Revenge is sweet.

[michal]

I'll have to go along with the majority here (what a frightening notion for an individualist!) A Good Marriage and Big Driver would be at the top of my list, probably because they both portray strong women, who didn't even know they were strong until they were thrown into hard circumstances and they both got their revenge, even if it did not come without some price.

[Evil Queen]

My favorite was 1922....very horrific & creepy & I loved the ending, very Poe-ish! Big Driver & A Good Marriage were also very good...Fair Extension was ok, I didn't enjoy all hell the one guy's family went through just to satisfy the revenge of the other guy...not my cup of tea. 1922-just enough blood & horror to satisfy me...although a little more wouldn't hurt...pardon the pun... :)

[charmed_one3]

I enjoyed them all, but I really enjoyed "Big Driver", which I read twice. It's a brutal story, and scary, as it could happen to anyone. For me it was a page turner and full of suspense.
Stephen does a fantastic job at writing female characters.

[ashiepoo84]

1922, its been months and that one is still stuck in my head. That doesnt happen that often. It is so dark and disturbing!

[Manxkitti]

Mine was 1922, with BigDriver a close second

[Homer403]

Hard to say but I will go with 1922 because I like the era.....

[Lina]

Now, when I have read all the stories, I can finally make my mind about my favorite one. I think it would be Fair Extension. But very close to it on my list will be standing Big Driver. I loved both of the stories so much. Though, I love all the stories. I think it is the first time when I love everything in the book, from cover to cover, every story, every word.

[Shoesalesman]

1922, its been months and that one is still stuck in my head. That doesnt happen that often. It is so dark and disturbing!

Mine too, for the same reason. Quite dark indeed.

[Chris1974100]

My fave story will be 1922, very creepy and disturbing story

[king4aday]

I thought 1922 was by far the best one of all, however, I also liked Fair Extension a lot too. Over all I think Full Dark, No Stars in whole is my favorite collection of Mr. King's short work to date.

[mustangclaire]

I pretty much liked them all. Big Driver was perhaps in front by a nose for me.

[fljoe0]

This is my favorite of SK's novella books. Every story is great but my favorite is 1922 by a nose.

[Chris1974100]

Best cover for Full Dark 17698No Star

[Chris1974100]

This is my favorite of SK's novella books. Every story is great but my favorite is 1922 by a nose.

It also my fave story in the collection, scary and creepy, pity for the main character of the novella