"The Jaunt"

[SereneShadow]

I read Skeleton Crew about a year ago, and I loved it. All of the stories were amazing, many of them were scary, and it was such an entertaining read that I've re-read it twice since.

But, most importantly, I created this thread to assert this: "The Jaunt," a story in the book, is not only the scariest short story King has ever written, but that it is second-best in quality only to "The Library Policeman" (Four Past Midnight.)

"The Jaunt" was a great story, unique in style, and overall entertaining. Most importantly, it was scary. For weeks after reading it, I kept remembering over and over, "longer than you think."

I've had several nightmares about it. Generally, it frightens me half to death. And it's not even necessarily the very end (though that of course is horrific in and of itself), it's the idea of something that never ends. That one could spend an eternity in the same place (or have the sensation of doing so) only to come out the other side and die...that gives me the chills. How about you?

[AnnekoMartian]

Just reading the words 'longer than you think' gave me actual, factual, literal chills.

It's four thirty-four in the AM where I am. I will not be sleeping tonight.

Constantly Reading,
Anneko Martian

[snagswolf]

I agree with you. I've always thought this was the scariest story King has ever written.

Being alone with just my own thoughts for 'longer than you think' is much scarier to me than vampires and rabid dogs.

[rjt65]

ahahah loved the story but not frightened these days---- love Sk crew!!

[heather_eaves]

COLOR="DarkOrchid"]I totally agree that this story is really scary. I gone back to reread it four or five times and I still get chills when I read it. I normally aren't really into sci-fi type stories but I really enjoyed reading this. I think it is one of his best short stories!COLOR]

[Er0tic NeUr0t1c]

I cant get over thinking whatd it be like to spend billions of years sitting as a disembodied thought... just you and your thoughts

[michal]

Loved that story and yes, those aging eyes did haunt me in my dreams. But to tell you the truth what I found most fascinating was the In Between time - that forever of being trapped in that white light, going mad within your own thoughts.

[bryantburnette]

I'd love someday -- and I'm assuming there isn't already such a thing out there -- to see somebody do a study of King's science-fiction writing. It's certainly not hard sci-fi, but that hardly matters.

From Carrie forward, he's gone to the sci-fi well fairly frequently, and I tend to enjoy his writing in that mode.

I recently reread Skeleton Crew, and I'd entirely forgotten what "The Jaunt" was about. The ending is absolutely horrifying, and yet totaly relatable, in a bizarre way. That relatability factor is one of the things King does best; what a talent!

[millionargonaut]

Yeah, this story was an awesome forray into the realm of sci-fi. This story shocked me and kept me thinking about its disturbing images for days after I read it. I love when a story can do that!

[Dances_in_Underwear]

What if you went through the Jaunt under the influence of drugs or drunk? You'd be inebriated forever! Most people would think that's awesome, but I imagine that it would get old after a while and probably speed up the deterioration of your mind. Haha.

[Pucker]

Does no one besides me see the parallels between what this kid went through ("Longer than you think, dad.") and our dear friend, Roland?

[Doc Wilson]

Great story, Uncle can really write them. In this collection, I'd have to say Survivor Type is the story that really tripped my triggers.

[Dishsoaps]

Wow just read this one and kept wondering throughout what happened to the mice? Then I hit the last page and almost jumped out of my seat! Very good story that gave me the chills!!

[A Guest from Roanoke]

It is a wicked good story, I like the whole concept of it, I mean what would you think about 'forever' and then to finally arrive back in your body a nanosecond later, I mean there's only so much life experiance you can fall back on isn't there. Another reason I liked the story was the fact that he made relative some other uses of the Jaunt e.g the doctor getting rid of his wife ... That was incredible but best not to dwell on it eh? :D

[motocop]

Just finished reading this story, and I agree with everyone that this one gave me a real scare. Poor dad must feel awful about it, seeing as he built the story up in his kids head. He just had to find out what happenes if your not knocked out. I wonder if thats how its gonna happen. Just one day whatever scientist is currently working on teleportation happens to stumble on it unexpectedly, flash forward a few hundred years and were working on other planets. Thats gonna be awesome when that day comes.

[Seb Shaw]

Absolutely loved this short. so imaginative, so compelling and very creepy. I came out in goosebumps/goose-flesh after reading this one. one of my favorites in the Skeleton Crew collection

[PeNnYwIsEgRay]

What if the in between time in the white lights were the Deadlights? Not probable but possible.

[Aericanwizard]

I have to agree with a lot of you, I read "the Jaunt", not really expecting much (at the start, I just thought it was another of those "humanity finally colonizes the stars" stories). However, by the end, I was hooked, and am pleased to list "The Jaunt" among the best short fiction I have ever read.

Awesome story that just keeps building and building, with an incredible payoff.


Long days and pleasant nights.

[CaseyM]

What if the in between time in the white lights were the Deadlights? Not probable but possible.

Very interesting. I never thought about that before, but I guess it is possible. What I imagined both to be like are quite similar, but maybe that's because it's impossible to actually know for certain what it's like. But I do seem to recall it was hard to keep sanity in the Deadlights (I think...), so I like this idea.

[Olivia Dunham]

This is indeed one of the best short stories I have ever read with an incredible and incredibly sad payoff. When the father looks at his son's old and young face with the insane eyes, he must of felt like going insane himself. When SK decides to delve into scifi it is usually enjoyable.

[TheGoodSon]

The end of this story froze my heart to ice. It is quite simply the most disturbing short story I have ever read.
It is also, of course, brilliant.

[Keatah]

Or what about the opposite, you go through in a heightened state, like a caffeine overdose. Or better yet, while in orgasm! Then what?

And adding a twist to the plot, what would happen if you had a telepathic link to someone outside of the Jaunt? Like a mind-meld from the Star Trek series. Then what?