Best SK short story collection? Tough Call

[Doc Wilson]

May be impossible. Just reached Nightmares and Dreamscapes on my second trip back through the King cannon, and I'm amazed all over again. Ten o'clock People and Umney's Last Case totally rock my world, as does Home Delivery.

Skeleton Crew was amazing as well, Survivor Type would be a lifetime achievement for any other writer, as would the Raft.

But then I'd be tempted to give it to 4 Seasons just for Shawshank alone.

The later ones aren't too shabby either, just way too recent for me to reread.

can anyone else see a clear winner?

[JWP]

After reading Premium Harmony I picked up Just After Sunset which I liked. Not having
read the other short story collections you mention in years I'm tempted top go back and read Skeleton Crew to see how K's writing has matured. I think it might be a tough call
because IMO K's interests and outlook have changed over the years. One things for sure, he is not afraid to hit you below the belt now and for that reason I might say Just after Sunset is at the top of my list, especially N, which does Lovecraft proud.

[Doc Wilson]

Just After Sunset rocked, N was great, as was the Roland story and A Very Tight Place. Having just reread the early books I find it hard to put a finger on what exactly has changed about his voice in these short works, but its definitely there.

[JWP]

I think K is focusing a bit more on the terror that could actually happen to someone
in Just After Sunset, whether it's a Psycho homicidal homophobe (scares me) to a hydrogen bomb over Manhattan (scares me to death). I'll have the read the earlier
works to get a handle on the style but these new shorts seem to be stripped down a bit
as far as the prose is concerned.

[Doc Wilson]

Reading them back to back, the contrast is huge, especially between Nightshift and JAS. As you say the new tales are somwhat less fantastical for the most part but there is something more than that.

Its almost like in those early stories SK was always going for shock and awe. Every story starts with a bang and goes right for the horror jugular. The later stuff tends to be more nuanced, in terms of pace and emotional impact.

[rvialet]

For me, I truly think it would be Just After Sunset.

It is the only one of the collections where i really enjoy EVERY story. The only story in Just After SUnset that I wasnt crazy about was Stationary Bike (which I know many love). I love "New York Times at Special Bargain Rates", "Willa", "Harvey's Dream", "The Things They Left Behind", as well as the "Gingerbread Girl", "N.", and "A Very Tight Place" novellas.

Second may be Skeleton Crew, which has some of my two favorite King shorts: "Survivor Type" and "The Jaunt"

But all of them are great!

[Cowboy]

Nightshift since that was my first....don't we always have a special love for our first???

Although Just After Sunset is a close second because that was my first meeting with SK and he signed it.

[~Ally~]

So far I've enjoyed all of the short story collections but my favourite is Hearts In Atlantis. I really cared about the characters in that book, and enjoyed how the stories were all connected in some way. It is definitely due another re~read soon. Strangely I've never seen the movie, may have to buy it.

[Snaggletooth]

Indeed a difficult decision. Nightmares is my personal favorite, because Steve's writing had matured and Dolan's Cadillac. Skeleton Crew comes in second, for nostalgic reasons.

[Sigmund]

Absoultely, positively,"Skeleton Crew "(LOVE "Ballad of The Flexible Bullet," and "Survivor type".
And "Just After Sunset."
And "Everything's Eventual,",
And....

[Donald W. DeClicko]

Different Seasons
Night Shift

[JAMESTHEKINGFAN]

I love Everything's Eventual because of the first three or four stories especially (though the whole book was really good). I only cared for Shawshank in the book Different Seasons, so I don't care for that one; Skeleton Crew was a stupendous encore to King's first collection. Just now getting into Just After Sunset, so can't be a good judge on that one.

Right now, as far a favorite, I would say it's a toss-up between Everything's Eventual and Heart's in Atlantis (although the latter seems to me it's own narrative, as each story plays into the others in the book).

[chrismart83]

Night Shift is my favorite. I really enjoyed almost ever story in that collection.

[Doc Wilson]

After thinking more about it, I'm with snaggletooth, gotta be Nightmares followed closely by Skeleton Crew. Nightmares and Dreamscapes is King stretching out, Skeleton Crew is King at his Kingiest.

[xkittyx]

Wow, definitely a tough choice. My top 2 though would prolly have to be Nightmares and Dreamscapes and 4 Past Midnite, 'cause those were the first 2 I ever read short story wise, but they're all so good, I got a soft spot for the shorties :blush:

[GNTLGNT]

Hey, Hey-Here I am trying to vote!!! Pick me! Pick me! I have to cast my ballot for the representative from Maine...Different Seasons! Love em all-and being a nurse, The Breathing Method is just cool...

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

All of the above, I can't pick one.

Long days and pleasant nights

[michal]

Can't. I have favorites on each of the collections. Plus: Why should I choose? I have them all on my shelf and when I get the itch to read one - there it is. :laugh:

[Pucker]

For me, Different Seasons seems to stand the test of time. I suppose it's because I prefer the horror we inflict upon each other to the supernatural variety (with apologies to The Breathing Method), but I don't spend a lot of time classifying the things I enjoy in order of their importance, or which is "best." All of the stories have their merits and their drawbacks, and I've changed my opinion of many of them . . . and changed it back again, over the years. One of the things I've discovered since I started perusing this forum is that I don't remember a lot of the things I thought I did (insidious old age . . . it's coming for you, too) and I'm finding myself entertaining a lot of re-reads that were nowhere on my horizon even a week ago.

So I got that going for me . . .

which is nice.

[Doc Wilson]

Can't wait for Full Dark No Stars!

Hope its a contendah!

[Mookie]

I love them all, but really really liked Just After Sunset !

[deroche]

I think its a tie between Night Shift and Different Seasons for me. I personally loved all the stories in both of these books. There were NO disappointment stories in these two books.

[wally wonder]

For me, Different Seasons seems to stand the test of time. I suppose it's because I prefer the horror we inflict upon each other to the supernatural variety (with apologies to The Breathing Method), but I don't spend a lot of time classifying the things I enjoy in order of their importance, or which is "best." All of the stories have their merits and their drawbacks, and I've changed my opinion of many of them . . . and changed it back again, over the years. One of the things I've discovered since I started perusing this forum is that I don't remember a lot of the things I thought I did (insidious old age . . . it's coming for you, too) and I'm finding myself entertaining a lot of re-reads that were nowhere on my horizon even a week ago.

So I got that going for me . . .

which is nice.

i've discovered what you are saying, again...reading vonnegut's jailbird for the second time. i'd read this one probably around the time it came out, maybe i was at the 32nd street naval station, jives w/the date. but there's something in vonnegut's story that makes me wonder: how in the world did i not see that the last time. and i guess that tells me as much about that time as it does about me now. or maybe...who knows...

the curious thing about it is that i remember, vividly, the little lingo this character repeats. i remembered that part of it verbatim: sally in the garden sifting cinders lifted up her leg and farted like a man the bursting of her bloomers broke sixteen winders the cheeks of her arse went....and here the character claps his hands three times.

[HorrorMama]

SK goes to the movies (or night shift.. both very similar)! Or Skeleton Crew!

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

I know that they're 'novella's' rather than short stories (although it's a kinda fine line between them IMO) but it won't be long until Full Dark, No Stars is a contender, will it?

Long days and pleasant nights

[king family fan]

My first was Different Seasons. I really like Shawshank Redemption. But have enjoyed many others since. Skeleton Crew and Just after Sunset are next .

[randallFlaggfan1]

May be impossible. Just reached Nightmares and Dreamscapes on my second trip back through the King cannon, and I'm amazed all over again. Ten o'clock People and Umney's Last Case totally rock my world, as does Home Delivery.

Skeleton Crew was amazing as well, Survivor Type would be a lifetime achievement for any other writer, as would the Raft.

But then I'd be tempted to give it to 4 Seasons just for Shawshank alone.

The later ones aren't too shabby either, just way too recent for me to reread.

can anyone else see a clear winner?

Doc - you are right. They're all great stories, though for different reasons. The Mist, The Body, and The Langoliers (amongst others) really stand out for me. But then there are tales like A Very Tight Place and The Things They Left Behind, which are amazingly brilliant, IMO.

[glyde69]

Skeleton Crew!

Although Different Season if that is eligible.