Night Surf

**simon1** · August 12th, 2009

For me this is one of the best short stories Stephen King has written.

I cannot recommend it enough. I read it for the first time 20 years ago, and I read it again before I posted this, and it still contains a massive punch.

**michal** · August 13th, 2009

Can't say I agree, but maybe I haven't paid enough attention to it. What about it did you like so much? What made is so special to you? Tell me and maybe I'll go dig it up for a rereading session.

**simon1** · August 13th, 2009

You know I cannot really say I like it so much. I just do. There's an almost overwhelming sense of melancholy about the piece that really struck me when I first read it, and again the other day. I cannot recall any other King piece like it.

I have always wondered where such a powerful short story came from.

I agree though its easy to miss it! If you do read it again I'd appreciate your thoughts.

**strange** · August 18th, 2009

I thought it was one of the best in the book just because it had a sense of human suffering and how we'd sort of react to that situation, like the fact he doesn't know what next and distances himself from things.

**bopropadop** · August 18th, 2009

While this story isn't one of my favorite short stories, I like it's similarity to The Stand and the fact that given their circumstances, they live for the day if nothing else.

Can anyone remember if Captain Trips is specifically mentioned in this story? I think it is though I'm at work and can't look it up...

**strange** · August 19th, 2009

Originally Posted by bopropadop

Can anyone remember if Captain Trips is specifically mentioned in this story? I think it is though I'm at work and can't look it up...

It is, they call it that and they say it oringated in Asia.

**wally wonder** · September 14th, 2009

read this one again. story has some of the feel of rage in the character of bernie. bernie is not a nice guy. there's a scene that brings to mind the charyou tree from the dark tower series. but if these characters were in the stand, i could see them heading to vegas, not boulder. world of difference between these characters and those in the stand.

**Aarny** · September 28th, 2009

Something about it struck me. A sense of lonliness, and the imagry of the whole story was excellent.

**edkemper** · December 7th, 2009

This collection was my intro to SK about fifteen years ago and this story has always been one that stuck with me. It was the reason I read The Stand. I recently borrowed The Night Shift from my brother and after a re-read I still like this story alot.

**Alan Pangborn** · March 23rd, 2010

Sweet story - reminds me of Catcher in the Rye due to the narrator's tone and inflated toughness. I like that it is horrifying in its implications, rather than anything that actually occurs. I also like the idea of calling a beach home at the end of the world.