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Descendants
Five short stories from Stephen King’s mysterious and thriller packed story vaults. Open up your imagination and let the vivid writing and frightening tales awaken your mind. Scream late into the night with more great horror for all your senses.Evil comes in many forms. Travel through the desert, speak with others from another world, and smell the roses in these incredible journeys and wild realities.
194 pages, Paperback
Published January 7, 2016
421 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Stephen King
2,385 books890k followersStephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
April 8, 2017
Fake Stephen King
April 10, 2016
Not Stephen King
I wondered why I found myself offering so many edits and corrections... this author is not the Stephen King I expected. Disappointing.
I wondered why I found myself offering so many edits and corrections... this author is not the Stephen King I expected. Disappointing.
June 24, 2016
Fake Stephen King :(
March 11, 2021
I was tricked again. I thought I was reading a book by the famous Stephen King, and I just realized that this is by Stephen R. King. It was an interesting read, but not of the same caliber as the more famous Stephen King. This set of four stories all revolve around technology. There are interesting ideas explored that really get you thinking about where our future in going with technology.
May 30, 2016
Wish they had been longer
I wish that the stories had been a little bit longer, it felt like some ended prematurely. Good quick read
I wish that the stories had been a little bit longer, it felt like some ended prematurely. Good quick read
July 8, 2025
Firstly, not the real Stephen King from Maine, a namesake imposter, trading on clicks to get his work out there.
Secondly, absolute trash. When I downloaded this with a Stephen King anthology and started reading I thought at first it was early Stephen King that had been recycled into a 2016 release. I soon realised that wasn't the case because even early Dark Tower stuff written was King was 19 was miles better than this.
It's pappy, badly written, hack sci-fi horror. To be fair the first one (the Descendants of the title) isn't that bad (that's the one star) but by the time we get inside the VR gaming robotic brain swap nonsense of the others you realise how poor it is. Typos, lack of cohesive story, poor research. I can't even remember the names of the stories. Nor want to. Didn't even read the last.
Avoid.
Secondly, absolute trash. When I downloaded this with a Stephen King anthology and started reading I thought at first it was early Stephen King that had been recycled into a 2016 release. I soon realised that wasn't the case because even early Dark Tower stuff written was King was 19 was miles better than this.
It's pappy, badly written, hack sci-fi horror. To be fair the first one (the Descendants of the title) isn't that bad (that's the one star) but by the time we get inside the VR gaming robotic brain swap nonsense of the others you realise how poor it is. Typos, lack of cohesive story, poor research. I can't even remember the names of the stories. Nor want to. Didn't even read the last.
Avoid.
May 14, 2022
I was skeptical at first
I'll be honest when I got the first book by the author I thought it was Stephen King when I realized it wasn't I expected well lousy stories. Well I was VERY WRONG. Mr S.R. Kings stories are entertaining and well written. His stories seem to be in a few different genres: horror, science fiction and crime stories. No he's not as good as the "OG Mr King but then again who is lol. But all the stories are very good. I honestly think that the author will only get better. Right now I'm working on all available titles which I got through Kindle Unlimited but yes I would be willing to buy these titles. Give the stories a chance without the inevitable comparison. You won't be sorry.
I'll be honest when I got the first book by the author I thought it was Stephen King when I realized it wasn't I expected well lousy stories. Well I was VERY WRONG. Mr S.R. Kings stories are entertaining and well written. His stories seem to be in a few different genres: horror, science fiction and crime stories. No he's not as good as the "OG Mr King but then again who is lol. But all the stories are very good. I honestly think that the author will only get better. Right now I'm working on all available titles which I got through Kindle Unlimited but yes I would be willing to buy these titles. Give the stories a chance without the inevitable comparison. You won't be sorry.
August 9, 2017
Another great! Steven King is truly a genius.
This author has a talent for creating fiction that is so close to reality, it is unbelievably amazing. An inventor of entities and worlds. No other comes close. Steven King is an inspiration to generation's of inventors. Never letting down imaginations of dreamers.
This author has a talent for creating fiction that is so close to reality, it is unbelievably amazing. An inventor of entities and worlds. No other comes close. Steven King is an inspiration to generation's of inventors. Never letting down imaginations of dreamers.
Read
June 23, 2021I have always been a huge Stephen King fan, and collect first editions of his works in hardcover.
This book was very satisfying, as the short story format makes it easy to stop and restart as needed without having to go back for refreshers. Good solid, creepy stories as only King can write.
This book was very satisfying, as the short story format makes it easy to stop and restart as needed without having to go back for refreshers. Good solid, creepy stories as only King can write.
November 21, 2018
Resting on the laurels of others
If the name wasn't so famous, I doubt he would sell anything but b rated paperback books. This reads like high school fiction but with much better punctuation.
If the name wasn't so famous, I doubt he would sell anything but b rated paperback books. This reads like high school fiction but with much better punctuation.
November 22, 2018
Not the “real” Stephen King
Beware this is a ripoff! Not the “real” Stephen King. Barely adequate writing, poorly edited, lacking the amazing character development and naturalistic Americana we have come to expect from Stephen E King.
Beware this is a ripoff! Not the “real” Stephen King. Barely adequate writing, poorly edited, lacking the amazing character development and naturalistic Americana we have come to expect from Stephen E King.
January 21, 2025
i liked some more than others, they can get interesting with good atmospheric details, but sometimes i wanted the plot to go a bit different (the one which gave the title, for example, was interesting as something more realistic, without the mind transplant).
February 28, 2019
Short stories
Nice little collection of short stories ,didn't take long to read I was able to get if at a low price too as I wouldn't have wanted to pay full price
Nice little collection of short stories ,didn't take long to read I was able to get if at a low price too as I wouldn't have wanted to pay full price
December 28, 2022
This was a very shallow, average, and completely unfulfilling set of short stories. I do not plan to read any more by this author as it is a waste of time.
April 15, 2024
Great Read
I so enjoyed this book. I've been catching up on Kings short stories, and it did not disappoint. Can't wait to begin the next.
I so enjoyed this book. I've been catching up on Kings short stories, and it did not disappoint. Can't wait to begin the next.
September 21, 2024
Now...that was fun...AI....zombies....man-eating "children"....what's not to like?
July 30, 2017
Pretty good
A pretty good quick read, makes you think on some of the stories. I enjoyed it. It is worth reading.
A pretty good quick read, makes you think on some of the stories. I enjoyed it. It is worth reading.
October 17, 2016
five short stories
I am a big fan of Mr King and consider him one of our greatest living writers, I am not however a big fan of short stories. I find just as I become emotionally invested in the characters and the story it ends. I like a good 800 page King story. For those of you who like short stories I have been unfair because of my personal dislike of them to give this book only 3 stars. The stories were all excellent but as with this genre everyone of them left me wanting more.
I am a big fan of Mr King and consider him one of our greatest living writers, I am not however a big fan of short stories. I find just as I become emotionally invested in the characters and the story it ends. I like a good 800 page King story. For those of you who like short stories I have been unfair because of my personal dislike of them to give this book only 3 stars. The stories were all excellent but as with this genre everyone of them left me wanting more.
April 18, 2023
Stephen King knows how to tell a story. Been reading him for years.
September 18, 2016
This author is NOT the Stephen King I was expecting as became very obvious as I read through the stories.
October 13, 2016
AVOID THIS BOOK and any others under this "Stephen L. King" profile on GoodReads!
This "author" knows exactly what he is doing. By branding his books as "Stephen King" he is intentionally confusing himself with the famous author of that name. This, however, is not the "real" S.K. that many readers have come to know and love. That will be obvious upon opening this book and finding it riddled with middle-school level errors that should have been sorted out by even the most half-assed of editors.
Deserves 0 stars out of sheer principle.
This "author" knows exactly what he is doing. By branding his books as "Stephen King" he is intentionally confusing himself with the famous author of that name. This, however, is not the "real" S.K. that many readers have come to know and love. That will be obvious upon opening this book and finding it riddled with middle-school level errors that should have been sorted out by even the most half-assed of editors.
Deserves 0 stars out of sheer principle.
November 1, 2016
NOT Stephen King we all love. This book is horrible and selling falsely because you think it is the legend. Do not buy this book or any other of this imposter's books.
Not the caliber of work I expected.
Not the caliber of work I expected. I suspect this is the "other" guy by the same name trying to get sales. Beware and make that I will do research before I get duped again. Not anywhere near the real Kong's work.
Not the caliber of work I expected.
Not the caliber of work I expected. I suspect this is the "other" guy by the same name trying to get sales. Beware and make that I will do research before I get duped again. Not anywhere near the real Kong's work.
July 8, 2016
Short stories
These set of stories are fiction but who knows what the future holds. At one time the thought of a round world was thought to be insane . Everybody thought the world was flat. Or Buck Rogers was to far out to be anything but fiction. Not true in 2016.
These stories would interest a person who loves science fiction Stephen King is the master of the genre. Wonder if he is thinking of what could actually come true.
These set of stories are fiction but who knows what the future holds. At one time the thought of a round world was thought to be insane . Everybody thought the world was flat. Or Buck Rogers was to far out to be anything but fiction. Not true in 2016.
These stories would interest a person who loves science fiction Stephen King is the master of the genre. Wonder if he is thinking of what could actually come true.
June 7, 2016
Fun read!
As much as I enjoy epic tales spanning volumes of books, think Lord of the Rings, The Dark Tower or Wheel of Time, short stories have always been my favorites. To be grabbed by your imagination and dragged briefly into a well spun tale is incredibly satisfying to me and King is one of the best!
As much as I enjoy epic tales spanning volumes of books, think Lord of the Rings, The Dark Tower or Wheel of Time, short stories have always been my favorites. To be grabbed by your imagination and dragged briefly into a well spun tale is incredibly satisfying to me and King is one of the best!
January 28, 2016
Interesting read
As a long time constant reader, I have grown to enjoy all of King's many topics. This collection of short works studies and spans AI attacks and zombies and monsters. A good, quick read for any King fan
As a long time constant reader, I have grown to enjoy all of King's many topics. This collection of short works studies and spans AI attacks and zombies and monsters. A good, quick read for any King fan
February 1, 2016
I'm dumbfounded
I believe this is not my Mr. King. Boring story, not typical of what I love. The editing was atrocious. Could read only one story. Should have read the sample before buying.
I believe this is not my Mr. King. Boring story, not typical of what I love. The editing was atrocious. Could read only one story. Should have read the sample before buying.
January 27, 2016
Typical king
I am so happy to read this...my King is writing from the dark room again. I was giving up hope...Faith is restored.
I am so happy to read this...my King is writing from the dark room again. I was giving up hope...Faith is restored.
February 4, 2016
Love his writing
I love the short stories. Great reading. Naturally his strong characters and descriptions are still there. Enjoyable read for a rainy day.
I love the short stories. Great reading. Naturally his strong characters and descriptions are still there. Enjoyable read for a rainy day.
February 6, 2016
Just ok.
For King readers it's a read. There are so many stories with these same plot ideas. Tired of same old stuff. Evan from my favorite author.
For King readers it's a read. There are so many stories with these same plot ideas. Tired of same old stuff. Evan from my favorite author.
February 11, 2016
Not STEPHEN KING Fraud
Amazon needs to do more than just a disclaimer.
Of all the authors to fake!!! Amazon should be ashamed of themselves!
Amazon needs to do more than just a disclaimer.
Of all the authors to fake!!! Amazon should be ashamed of themselves!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews