Stephen King's most anthologized story...

[adrianmarley]

I recently started reading The Dark Descent edited by David G. Hartwell. It's a massive 1,000 page anthology of horror stories that has been critically acclaimed. It features stories from Ray Bradbuy, MR James, Ramsey Campbell, Clive Barker, Shirley Jackson and many many others. It also features 3 stories from Stephen King: The Reach, The Monkey and Crouch End. Indeed, King is very well represented and The Reach opens the anthology.

Any anthology worth its salt should open with a very strong story. It sets the tone for what is the follow and builds up the expectations of the reader. The Reach is no exception to this rule. It's a beautifully written meditation on island-life, death and ghosts. For my money, it is one of King's most atmospheric stories and one of his very best. Reading it made me wonder what SK stories have been anthologized the most? Which stories do editors pick as being most representative of his work?

Anyway, sorry for rambling, but any horror fans out there could do a hell of lot worse than pick up this massive anthology. Essential reading.

[Moderator]

Great question. I don't have my reference books to check that out as I'm working from home today but if anyone else knows the answer, feel free to chime in.

[Bev Vincent]

I don't know for a fact, but I'd guess that The Night of the Tiger has appeared in the most anthologies:

1. Fantasy and Science Fiction (February 1978) (original appearance)
2. More Tales of Unknown Horror (1979)
3. The Year's Best Horror Stories (1979)
4. The Third Book of Unknown Tales of Horror (1980)
5. Chamber of Horrors (1984)
6. The Best Horror Stories from the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (1988)
7. Horrorstory Volume Three (1992)

Check out this resource: Find that Short Story

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

The Cat from Hell
1. Cavalier (Mar 1977) (First 500 words)
2. Cavalier (Jun 1977) (Entire Story by King)
3. Cavalier (Sep 1977) Phil Bowie’s winning story with King’s beginning
4. Gent (Dec 1977) Marc Rain’s runner-up story with King’s beginning
5. Second Book of Unknown Tales of Horror (1978)
5a. Tales of Unknown Horror (1978)
6. Year's Finest Fantasy (Jul 1978)
7. Magicats (Jun 1984)
8. New Bern Magazine Mar/Apr (1984) Phil Bowie’s winning story with King’s beginning
9. Top Horror (1984)
10. Twists of the Tale: An Anthology of Cat Horror (Nov 1996)
11. Just After Sunset (2008)

The Monkey
1. Gallery (Nov 1980)
2. Modern Masters of Horror (1981)
3. Year’s Best Horror Stories: Series IX (Aug 1981)
4. Horrors (Aug 1981)
5. Fantasy Annual IV (Nov 1981)
6. Skeleton Crew (Jun 1985)
7. The Dark Descent (Oct 1987)
8. The Mammoth Book of Short Horror Novels (Sep 1998)
9. Horrorstory Volume 3 (Jan 1992)
10. Secretary of Dreams Vol 2 (2009)

The Mangler
1. Cavalier (December 1972)
2. Night Shift (1978)
3. The 21st Pan Book of Horror Stories (1980)
4. Arbour House Celebrity Book of Horror Stories (1982)
5. Tales of Dungeons and Dragons (Nov 1986)
6. Demons! (July 1987)
7. Dark Voices (April 1990)
8. Young Blood (March 1994)
9. Technohorror: Inventions in Terror (Nov 1999)

[Poetrychic222]

Id say the mangler but I can be wrong

[tillyn]

I'd say Mr. Rabbit did his homework wow.