"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.