Best SK short story collection? Tough Call

[Becks19]

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.