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Six Scary Stories
Six Scary Stories
selected and introduced by Stephen King
Number 1 bestselling horror author Stephen King introduces and presents six gripping and chilling stories in this captivating anthology!
Stephen King discovered these stories when he judged a competition run by Hodder & Stoughton and the Guardian to celebrate publication of his own collection The Bazaar of Bad Dreams. He was so impressed with the entries that he recommended they be published together in one book, which Cemetery Dance Publications and Hodder & Stoughton are pleased to report has become a reality. The six stories are:
WILD SWIMMING by Elodie Harper
EAU-DE-ERIC by Manuela Saragosa
THE SPOTS by Paul Bassett Davies
THE UNPICKING by Michael Button
LA MORT DE L'AMANT by Stuart Johnstone
THE BEAR TRAP by Neil Hudson
Reader beware: the stories will make you think twice before cuddling up to your old soft toy, dipping your toe into the water or counting the spots on a leopard…
selected and introduced by Stephen King
Number 1 bestselling horror author Stephen King introduces and presents six gripping and chilling stories in this captivating anthology!
Stephen King discovered these stories when he judged a competition run by Hodder & Stoughton and the Guardian to celebrate publication of his own collection The Bazaar of Bad Dreams. He was so impressed with the entries that he recommended they be published together in one book, which Cemetery Dance Publications and Hodder & Stoughton are pleased to report has become a reality. The six stories are:
WILD SWIMMING by Elodie Harper
EAU-DE-ERIC by Manuela Saragosa
THE SPOTS by Paul Bassett Davies
THE UNPICKING by Michael Button
LA MORT DE L'AMANT by Stuart Johnstone
THE BEAR TRAP by Neil Hudson
Reader beware: the stories will make you think twice before cuddling up to your old soft toy, dipping your toe into the water or counting the spots on a leopard…
126 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2016
1267 people are currently reading
9401 people want to read
About the author
Stephen King
2,389 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 637 reviews
July 19, 2018
Story 1: 'Wild Swimming' by Elodie Harper
Brrrr... This creepy, little tale has genuinely given me chills... The only thing I wasn't keen on was the epistolary nature of the tale: in her e-mails to her friend, the protagonist wrote a bit too much like a fiction writer rather than how people actually write in e-mails. Still, this story genuinely made my flesh crawl so I'm giving it 4.5 stars...
Story 2: 'Eau-de-Eric' by Manuela Saragosa
This tale was very well-written with a three-dimensional (if rather unlikeable) protagonist. It was certainly a bit creepy but, for me anyway, never actually scary. If it makes the author feel any better, I never found the Chucky films scary, either. 3 stars…
Story 3: 'Spots' by Paul Bassett Davies
Superbly written with a painfully believable narrative voice, this story is technically science fiction and is scary in the way '1984’, 'Fahrenheit 451’ and 'A Brave New World' are scary rather than in a horror genre way. There's a dash of dark humour here as well... or at least I think there is; I might just be warped. 4 stars…
Story 4: 'The Unpicking' by Michael Button
Another tale of evil toys and, like the first one, I didn't find it very scary. I just don't find toys scary... but I guess a lot of people do, as these stories seem to be quite common in the horror genre. I also found it a little disjointed, to be honest. 2 stars…
Story 5: 'La Mort de l'Ament' by Stuart Johnstone
This is a clever little story in which the characters and situation feel very real. My only complaints are that it's more tense than scary and that it's too short for its own good. 3.5 stars…
Story 6: ‘The Bear Trap’ by Neil Hudson
This story might not have scared me but it sure as heck made me laugh my balls off! (I mentioned I have a warped sense of humour, right?) The fact that it was a twisted love letter to ‘Calvin & Hobbes’ also gets it major points from me. 4.5 stars…
Which makes the average score for the book: 3.6 (ish) rounded up to 4. Not bad at all.
Brrrr... This creepy, little tale has genuinely given me chills... The only thing I wasn't keen on was the epistolary nature of the tale: in her e-mails to her friend, the protagonist wrote a bit too much like a fiction writer rather than how people actually write in e-mails. Still, this story genuinely made my flesh crawl so I'm giving it 4.5 stars...
Story 2: 'Eau-de-Eric' by Manuela Saragosa
This tale was very well-written with a three-dimensional (if rather unlikeable) protagonist. It was certainly a bit creepy but, for me anyway, never actually scary. If it makes the author feel any better, I never found the Chucky films scary, either. 3 stars…
Story 3: 'Spots' by Paul Bassett Davies
Superbly written with a painfully believable narrative voice, this story is technically science fiction and is scary in the way '1984’, 'Fahrenheit 451’ and 'A Brave New World' are scary rather than in a horror genre way. There's a dash of dark humour here as well... or at least I think there is; I might just be warped. 4 stars…
Story 4: 'The Unpicking' by Michael Button
Another tale of evil toys and, like the first one, I didn't find it very scary. I just don't find toys scary... but I guess a lot of people do, as these stories seem to be quite common in the horror genre. I also found it a little disjointed, to be honest. 2 stars…
Story 5: 'La Mort de l'Ament' by Stuart Johnstone
This is a clever little story in which the characters and situation feel very real. My only complaints are that it's more tense than scary and that it's too short for its own good. 3.5 stars…
Story 6: ‘The Bear Trap’ by Neil Hudson
This story might not have scared me but it sure as heck made me laugh my balls off! (I mentioned I have a warped sense of humour, right?) The fact that it was a twisted love letter to ‘Calvin & Hobbes’ also gets it major points from me. 4.5 stars…
Which makes the average score for the book: 3.6 (ish) rounded up to 4. Not bad at all.
July 14, 2022
A face bobbed up out of the broken dome, like a snail. It was a person, Suse, all bloated and rotting, the eyes white and sunken like a dead fish when it’s been left out in the sun. It had swollen lips, lips which had just touched mine. Terrified, I pushed it away, and its jaw fell open. Half the tongue was gone.
Then a hand floated – or reached – towards me.
Wild Swimming ~~ Elodie Harper
2.5/5 There's not much to say about this slim volume. I initially thought this was a collection of stories by Stephen King. Once I found out the premise of this being stories that were selected by King in conjunction with a contest run by his British publisher, I was intrigued. The problem with this book is that the majority of stories were not scary.
The standouts were The Unpicking by Michael Button and The Bear Trap by Neil Hudson. Both gave me shivers and I have to admit and ending of The Unpicking really shocked me.
If you've got a couple of hours to waste and nothing much in mind to read, check this out. But, if you're looking for some scary stories, look else where.
Then a hand floated – or reached – towards me.
Wild Swimming ~~ Elodie Harper
2.5/5 There's not much to say about this slim volume. I initially thought this was a collection of stories by Stephen King. Once I found out the premise of this being stories that were selected by King in conjunction with a contest run by his British publisher, I was intrigued. The problem with this book is that the majority of stories were not scary.
The standouts were The Unpicking by Michael Button and The Bear Trap by Neil Hudson. Both gave me shivers and I have to admit and ending of The Unpicking really shocked me.
If you've got a couple of hours to waste and nothing much in mind to read, check this out. But, if you're looking for some scary stories, look else where.
November 12, 2020
A collection of six short stories ranging from creepy and unsettling to a bit underwhelming.
Average rating: 3.25 stars ⭐️
Wild Swimming by Elodie Harper - 3.5 ⭐️
Eau-De-Eric by Manuela Saragosa - 3 ⭐️
The Spots by Paul Bassett Davies - 2 ⭐️
The Unpicking by Michael Button - 3.75 ⭐️
La Mort De L' Amant by Stuart Johnsone - 3.5 ⭐️
The Bear Trap by Neil Hudson - 4 ⭐️
Average rating: 3.25 stars ⭐️
October 17, 2017
This book contains six very short, more or less creepy and weird stories, selected by Stephen King in a competition. My personal favorites were EAU-DE-ERIC by Manuela Saragosa which would have gotten 5 stars and THE UNPICKING by Michael Button, which scared the hell out of me.
March 29, 2018
It took me less than an hour to read this book.
I can not say much descriptively about the book, It has vulnerability leading within character at different milestones.
It was shortly expressed but utterly at instant.
I had enjoyed it, But I felt lack of enthusiasm.
Kind of ominous read, although has conventional aspects throughout the writings.
I can not say much descriptively about the book, It has vulnerability leading within character at different milestones.
It was shortly expressed but utterly at instant.
I had enjoyed it, But I felt lack of enthusiasm.
Kind of ominous read, although has conventional aspects throughout the writings.
March 16, 2017
This book was fun and super short. I read it quickly in a single sitting, and while none of the stories blew me away, I did enjoy it, with the standout for me being The Unpicking. None of theses stories are going to keep you awake at night, but I still had a good time reading them. And that cover art is gorgeous.
September 4, 2016
3.5
Collection of 6 short stories selected through a writing competition and edited by Stephen King.
Some are more enjoyable than others. My favourite is the first story.
Collection of 6 short stories selected through a writing competition and edited by Stephen King.
Some are more enjoyable than others. My favourite is the first story.
June 10, 2019
More morbid and dark than actually scary. No need to read with the lights on like I had originally planned! The title mislead me, but the cover art, that I'm assuming is for the opening short story "Wild Swimming" is not only gorgeous but extremely fitting- that's what drew me to this book, that and Stephen King's stamp of approval.
"Wild Swimming" by Elodie Harper was my second favorite short in this anthology. I loved the style and anticipation it created. I also thought the ending was clever. This was a fun read for me. I'll definitely be checking out her gothic thriller, set in a Norfolk prison, "The Binding Song".
"Eau-De-Eric" was definitely the one I am identifying as morbid and personally, my favorite. The way scent can trigger memories and things such as PTSD was eerily spot on and crafted in a brilliant manner. Including children along with these aspects always makes for that extra freaky factor. I love stories that are so close to real life they walk the lines of reality. —"Eau De Eric" by Manuela Saragosa does just that.
"The Spots" by Paul Bassett Davies, honestly went right over my head. I just didn't connect with it, but feel Mr. King did because of the political undertones. Idk, if I wasn't smart enough to understand this one or maybe I'm just not the right audience.
"The Unpicking" by Michael Button really reminded me of the strange put-back-together doll from the movie: Toy Story. In this short, toys come alive, humans are involved and things get dark. I liked the beginning of this story more than the end. I really liked the title tie-in, the wording of the rest of the story is what I had a little trouble keeping clear. This one was alright for me.
"La Mort De L'amant" by Stuart Johnstone was interesting. I love stories that make a reader anticipate and think, but dislike easy saved by the bell situations. This one feels like there is a part two, or leaves the reader wanting more? You'll have to see for yourself.
"The Bear Trap" by Neil Hudson had some qualities that I treasured and others that I thought didn't really work. The overall plot was good, some of the other aspects were just meh. Gotta love some crazy, or is the character an underlying genius? I guess it depends on the reader's perspective.
Three of these stories dealt with stuffed animals, which I find pretty funny. As a child, I FEARED any type of stuffed or plastic Chuckie dolls. Stuffed teddy bears may not be all that scary, but children whispering ritualistically or sadistically to them, gives fuzzy wuzzy little teddy bears an entirely new quality, maybe one you should fear.
While these are not King's own works, I do see why he has put his stamp of approval upon this set of authors. I think each one of them has shown their inspiration and love for Stephen King in their own way, even if just a glimmer.
"Wild Swimming" by Elodie Harper was my second favorite short in this anthology. I loved the style and anticipation it created. I also thought the ending was clever. This was a fun read for me. I'll definitely be checking out her gothic thriller, set in a Norfolk prison, "The Binding Song".
"Eau-De-Eric" was definitely the one I am identifying as morbid and personally, my favorite. The way scent can trigger memories and things such as PTSD was eerily spot on and crafted in a brilliant manner. Including children along with these aspects always makes for that extra freaky factor. I love stories that are so close to real life they walk the lines of reality. —"Eau De Eric" by Manuela Saragosa does just that.
"The Spots" by Paul Bassett Davies, honestly went right over my head. I just didn't connect with it, but feel Mr. King did because of the political undertones. Idk, if I wasn't smart enough to understand this one or maybe I'm just not the right audience.
"The Unpicking" by Michael Button really reminded me of the strange put-back-together doll from the movie: Toy Story. In this short, toys come alive, humans are involved and things get dark. I liked the beginning of this story more than the end. I really liked the title tie-in, the wording of the rest of the story is what I had a little trouble keeping clear. This one was alright for me.
"La Mort De L'amant" by Stuart Johnstone was interesting. I love stories that make a reader anticipate and think, but dislike easy saved by the bell situations. This one feels like there is a part two, or leaves the reader wanting more? You'll have to see for yourself.
"The Bear Trap" by Neil Hudson had some qualities that I treasured and others that I thought didn't really work. The overall plot was good, some of the other aspects were just meh. Gotta love some crazy, or is the character an underlying genius? I guess it depends on the reader's perspective.
Three of these stories dealt with stuffed animals, which I find pretty funny. As a child, I FEARED any type of stuffed or plastic Chuckie dolls. Stuffed teddy bears may not be all that scary, but children whispering ritualistically or sadistically to them, gives fuzzy wuzzy little teddy bears an entirely new quality, maybe one you should fear.
While these are not King's own works, I do see why he has put his stamp of approval upon this set of authors. I think each one of them has shown their inspiration and love for Stephen King in their own way, even if just a glimmer.
September 2, 2016
Well two stories out of six is not real good odds. These stories are a result of a contest that Stephen King's British publisher did in line with "The Bazaar of Bad Dreams" publication. We have the winning story and then five other stories that were part of the final six finalists. I really only liked two stories, "Wild Swimming" and "The Unpicking". I did think that two stories had promise, "Eau-de-Eric" and "La Mort De L'amant" and the last two stories I did not get or care for that much "Spots" and "The Bear Trap."
WILD SWIMMING by Elodie Harper (5 stars)- I really enjoyed this story of a young woman who is into wild swimming (yes I actually know what this is because of a Vera BBC episode I saw) who goes to a very odd town where something seems to be beneath a lake. I have to say though, I don't get why people mess around with lakes. This coming from a person who runs around the woods with total abandon though in the fall isn't saying much though.
EAU-DE-ERIC by Manuela Saragosa (3 stars)- This started off so well and then it just fell apart at the end. Having a story involving a widowed mother who buys her daughter a toy bear (I hate anything with glass eyes...they are not welcome in my house) after the death of her father in order to cheer her up. The daughter names the bear after her father, and the mother starts to notice it smells like her now dead husband. This brings up all kinds of memories that are dragging the women back to her past. I really wish it could have stuck the landing more.
THE SPOTS by Paul Bassett Davies (1 star). This story did not scare me at all. I honestly got to the end and went huh too. So I don't know what I was supposed to take away from it. This is one of the stories that I said would definitely have helped if it were a bit longer.
THE UNPICKING by Michael Button (5 stars)- Super messed up. That's all I am going to say here to not spoil any potential readers. I think at one point I noticed my cat watching me and her tail got all ruffly and she fled the room. I seriously looked under the bed to make sure nothing was lurking there. So high five for this story giving me the willies.
LA MORT DE L'AMANT by Stuart Johnstone (2.5 stars). This was way too short. I mean to the point I think this was maybe 10 pages (maybe) and there was not a real feeling of horror about it. In fact I think I just went well that was kind of a letdown. I also had more questions than answers since a lot of focus was on the guys pockets and there didn't seem to be anything in them. Maybe I missed something.
THE BEAR TRAP by Neil Hudson (2 stars). Ehhhh. I just didn't feel this. Especially since it didn't make a lot of sense to me in the end because we know there has been some type of incident and I have to wonder about how the (redacted) was alive through all of that. Anyway I am sad this ended up being the last story in the collection.
Overall I wish that this had been longer. This took me less than 2 hours to finish. In fact I think it took me an hour and ten minutes. If I hadn't been focused on posting updates it would have been even quicker.
WILD SWIMMING by Elodie Harper (5 stars)- I really enjoyed this story of a young woman who is into wild swimming (yes I actually know what this is because of a Vera BBC episode I saw) who goes to a very odd town where something seems to be beneath a lake. I have to say though, I don't get why people mess around with lakes. This coming from a person who runs around the woods with total abandon though in the fall isn't saying much though.
EAU-DE-ERIC by Manuela Saragosa (3 stars)- This started off so well and then it just fell apart at the end. Having a story involving a widowed mother who buys her daughter a toy bear (I hate anything with glass eyes...they are not welcome in my house) after the death of her father in order to cheer her up. The daughter names the bear after her father, and the mother starts to notice it smells like her now dead husband. This brings up all kinds of memories that are dragging the women back to her past. I really wish it could have stuck the landing more.
THE SPOTS by Paul Bassett Davies (1 star). This story did not scare me at all. I honestly got to the end and went huh too. So I don't know what I was supposed to take away from it. This is one of the stories that I said would definitely have helped if it were a bit longer.
THE UNPICKING by Michael Button (5 stars)- Super messed up. That's all I am going to say here to not spoil any potential readers. I think at one point I noticed my cat watching me and her tail got all ruffly and she fled the room. I seriously looked under the bed to make sure nothing was lurking there. So high five for this story giving me the willies.
LA MORT DE L'AMANT by Stuart Johnstone (2.5 stars). This was way too short. I mean to the point I think this was maybe 10 pages (maybe) and there was not a real feeling of horror about it. In fact I think I just went well that was kind of a letdown. I also had more questions than answers since a lot of focus was on the guys pockets and there didn't seem to be anything in them. Maybe I missed something.
THE BEAR TRAP by Neil Hudson (2 stars). Ehhhh. I just didn't feel this. Especially since it didn't make a lot of sense to me in the end because we know there has been some type of incident and I have to wonder about how the (redacted) was alive through all of that. Anyway I am sad this ended up being the last story in the collection.
Overall I wish that this had been longer. This took me less than 2 hours to finish. In fact I think it took me an hour and ten minutes. If I hadn't been focused on posting updates it would have been even quicker.
August 28, 2016
Oh my, Stephen, I am right mad at you about now
I was looking forward to this book, and had preordered it when I first heard of it. If these were the best of 20 that he read, then the other 14 must have been truly awful. These are the worst I have read in some time, the only one that was halfway ok was the 2nd one, "Eau de Eric" I am truly disappointed in this endeavor. A no star rating would have been better
I was looking forward to this book, and had preordered it when I first heard of it. If these were the best of 20 that he read, then the other 14 must have been truly awful. These are the worst I have read in some time, the only one that was halfway ok was the 2nd one, "Eau de Eric" I am truly disappointed in this endeavor. A no star rating would have been better
December 27, 2016
Six fun stories! A couple of them weren't creepy but they were entertaining. A few were genuinely creepy. I particularly loved "Wild Swimming" and "The Unpicking." Enjoyed this fast read!
June 10, 2024
What a fantastic collection of short stories! There was only one I wasn’t in to
Wild Swimming: 5 ⭐️- “wild swimming” is a new concept for me - I didn’t even realize it was a sport. Cool though. The ending 😱
Eau-de-Eric: 4 ⭐️- ewww sniffing an old dirty/used bear before laundering… I thought “wtf” more than once
The Spots: 1 ⭐️- I couldn’t get in to this one.
The Unpicking: 5 ⭐️ oh. My. God. This is like a new fear unlocked. If Toy Story were a horror. That’s not a spoiler, btw
La Mort de L’amant: 5 ⭐️- so… avoiding spoilers here, but I totally wonder how often this scenario plays out 😳
The Bear Trap: 5 ⭐️: my favorite out of the six stories, this one was excellent!!!
Wild Swimming: 5 ⭐️- “wild swimming” is a new concept for me - I didn’t even realize it was a sport. Cool though. The ending 😱
Eau-de-Eric: 4 ⭐️- ewww sniffing an old dirty/used bear before laundering… I thought “wtf” more than once
The Spots: 1 ⭐️- I couldn’t get in to this one.
The Unpicking: 5 ⭐️ oh. My. God. This is like a new fear unlocked. If Toy Story were a horror. That’s not a spoiler, btw
La Mort de L’amant: 5 ⭐️- so… avoiding spoilers here, but I totally wonder how often this scenario plays out 😳
The Bear Trap: 5 ⭐️: my favorite out of the six stories, this one was excellent!!!
September 14, 2016
I received a copy of this short story collection from Cemetery Dance in exchange for an honest review. I have been reading Cemetery Dance publications for years and they are a great publisher of many special editions and one of a kind books. I met some of my favorite writers through them.
Stephen King introduces this horror collection. He was called upon to judge a short story contest and choose his favorite, which he did. He chose Wild Swimming and he explains why. My personal favorite is a different story, and yours may be yet another one. I can say that I think all of the stories were enjoyable and a couple were quite good. I also enjoyed the fact that each author gave us the story of how they created the story. Mr. King says nobody is interested in this, but I disagree. I find that it adds quite a bit to my enjoyment of the story; at least it does for me.
Wild Swimming by Elodie Harper
Wild Swimming is basically swimming in areas that are not meant for swimming, in this case the lake formed above a submerged town. A town the locals claim is still inhabited. There are actually lakes and towns like this and, as this story illustrates, I sure as hell wouldn’t put on goggles and investigate. Creepy and creepier still because these places exist and if anyplace is haunted, they certainly are.
Eau-de-Eric by Manuela Saragosa
What is it about dolls and stuffed animals that freak us out so badly. They are a common trope in horror fiction to be sure. In fact, there are 2 stuffed animal stories in this small collection of 6 stories. This is the better of the two, in my opinion, and to me is more about grief than menace.
The Spots by Paul Bassett Davies
This is an odd story, as are many satires. Not really horror at all. You will either like it or give it a meh. It is the odd man out in this collection.
The Unpicking by Neil Hudson
The second of the stuffed animal stories and for me the weaker of the two. It was well written, but completely predictable from the onset for me.
La Mort De L’Amant by Stuart Johnstone
My favorite story in the group. I found the two characters to be very natural and the slow building situation completely believable. It read like a Lansdale story and I enjoyed every word. I also thought the author’s exploration of clichés, in speech and in real life, to be a very interesting second layer of meaning. This is a 5 star story.
I give the overall collection 4 stars.
Stephen King introduces this horror collection. He was called upon to judge a short story contest and choose his favorite, which he did. He chose Wild Swimming and he explains why. My personal favorite is a different story, and yours may be yet another one. I can say that I think all of the stories were enjoyable and a couple were quite good. I also enjoyed the fact that each author gave us the story of how they created the story. Mr. King says nobody is interested in this, but I disagree. I find that it adds quite a bit to my enjoyment of the story; at least it does for me.
Wild Swimming by Elodie Harper
Wild Swimming is basically swimming in areas that are not meant for swimming, in this case the lake formed above a submerged town. A town the locals claim is still inhabited. There are actually lakes and towns like this and, as this story illustrates, I sure as hell wouldn’t put on goggles and investigate. Creepy and creepier still because these places exist and if anyplace is haunted, they certainly are.
Eau-de-Eric by Manuela Saragosa
What is it about dolls and stuffed animals that freak us out so badly. They are a common trope in horror fiction to be sure. In fact, there are 2 stuffed animal stories in this small collection of 6 stories. This is the better of the two, in my opinion, and to me is more about grief than menace.
The Spots by Paul Bassett Davies
This is an odd story, as are many satires. Not really horror at all. You will either like it or give it a meh. It is the odd man out in this collection.
The Unpicking by Neil Hudson
The second of the stuffed animal stories and for me the weaker of the two. It was well written, but completely predictable from the onset for me.
La Mort De L’Amant by Stuart Johnstone
My favorite story in the group. I found the two characters to be very natural and the slow building situation completely believable. It read like a Lansdale story and I enjoyed every word. I also thought the author’s exploration of clichés, in speech and in real life, to be a very interesting second layer of meaning. This is a 5 star story.
I give the overall collection 4 stars.
October 26, 2018
I grabbed this collection of short stories even not in the mood for a full novel. These were chosen by King as his six favourites submitted out of many in a competition run in the UK. His top story is the first one.
I was expecting 6 very creepy and well written stories but sadly half of them just didn’t deliver. I loved three and was bored as a banana with the other three. I really am unsure as to why King chose the ones he did. I’d love to read what was rejected!
His favourite story is the first in the book and personally I thought the story about the toys that come to life after dark so much more creepy with a very dark ending. Loved that one!
If you fancy some shorts I’m sure this was on Kindle Unlimited, see what you think but it’s 3 stars from me.
I was expecting 6 very creepy and well written stories but sadly half of them just didn’t deliver. I loved three and was bored as a banana with the other three. I really am unsure as to why King chose the ones he did. I’d love to read what was rejected!
His favourite story is the first in the book and personally I thought the story about the toys that come to life after dark so much more creepy with a very dark ending. Loved that one!
If you fancy some shorts I’m sure this was on Kindle Unlimited, see what you think but it’s 3 stars from me.
April 4, 2017
I am totally not going to make a joke about how life these days is just one scary story after another . . .
I'm usually skeptical of collections like this. I don't know if I'm picky or what, but I usually don't find the claim of ". . . in each and every one there was that icy frisson of fear . . ." to be accurate as far as my tastes go, but color me pleasantly surprised because five out of six of these are really solid and creepy and well worth the read, and two of them are so good I've continued to think about them a day after reading this and it doesn't get any better than that. Mild discussion of the contents of each story, and while I'm not planning to give much away, read no further if you want to go in completely blind like I did.
"Wild Swimming" - This story had a line that truly made me shake: "I'm very used to lakes, the fact that there's nothing but dark below you, going down tens, often hundreds of feet." Um, yeah, no. We went camping several times this summer at a site that had a lake that people could swim in. I found that when I got out to where my feet could no longer touch the bottom, I tended to panic a bit & flail around until I got to shallower waters. I know how to swim so it wasn't that I was afraid of foundering in water over my head, and I know that there are no sharks in mountain lakes no matter what my six-year-old would like me to believe, but the thought of dark, watery space below me fills me with such unreasonable revulsion that I couldn't do much more than wade (but the wading was nice). Elodie Harper might not have intended this to be the scariest part of her story, but it added such an element of aversion for me that I ended up really enjoying this despite being able to immediately predict what was going to happen.
"Eau-de-Eric" The weakest one of the bunch. I understand that the horror is supposed to be in Kathy's actions rather than Ellie's stuffed animal, but this escalated in a way that I found really artificial .
"The Spots" This is one of the stories that stuck with me. I just finished Without You, There is No Us, a non-fiction account from a teacher in North Korea, and the description of The Leader, the single leopard remaining in the People's Menagerie, the "November plotters," the basement of The Great Hall of Conciliation, etc. were so apt I assumed at the beginning I was reading specifically about the DPRK. Five stars for this one.
"The Unpicking" Ahhhh! Brecht Evens's Panter is one of the most unsettling books I read this year and it apparently left me with the lasting impression that are completely evil, so the actions of the group in this story haunt me still. "'Oh. An Unpicking doesn't have rules. And we don't need any balls, or mats, or skittles. We do need someone to be the Baby. I think Bunny would make a good Baby.'" Shudder.
"La Mort de L'amant" A perfect case study in how an author can ramp up tension without saying too much. "He drew a hidden thumb across a hidden handle." By littering a few careful words across the landscape of his story, Stuart Johnstone builds pressure and makes you draw your own conclusions about what has happened. I love it when authors can do that.
"The Bear Trap" I honestly didn't see that coming. In much the same way that I didn't realize how much I needed to have Isaiah Quintabe foil an abductor with a grenade launcher until I read it, I didn't know how much I needed to see until I read that.
I'm usually skeptical of collections like this. I don't know if I'm picky or what, but I usually don't find the claim of ". . . in each and every one there was that icy frisson of fear . . ." to be accurate as far as my tastes go, but color me pleasantly surprised because five out of six of these are really solid and creepy and well worth the read, and two of them are so good I've continued to think about them a day after reading this and it doesn't get any better than that. Mild discussion of the contents of each story, and while I'm not planning to give much away, read no further if you want to go in completely blind like I did.
"Wild Swimming" - This story had a line that truly made me shake: "I'm very used to lakes, the fact that there's nothing but dark below you, going down tens, often hundreds of feet." Um, yeah, no. We went camping several times this summer at a site that had a lake that people could swim in. I found that when I got out to where my feet could no longer touch the bottom, I tended to panic a bit & flail around until I got to shallower waters. I know how to swim so it wasn't that I was afraid of foundering in water over my head, and I know that there are no sharks in mountain lakes no matter what my six-year-old would like me to believe, but the thought of dark, watery space below me fills me with such unreasonable revulsion that I couldn't do much more than wade (but the wading was nice). Elodie Harper might not have intended this to be the scariest part of her story, but it added such an element of aversion for me that I ended up really enjoying this despite being able to immediately predict what was going to happen.
"Eau-de-Eric" The weakest one of the bunch. I understand that the horror is supposed to be in Kathy's actions rather than Ellie's stuffed animal, but this escalated in a way that I found really artificial .
"The Spots" This is one of the stories that stuck with me. I just finished Without You, There is No Us, a non-fiction account from a teacher in North Korea, and the description of The Leader, the single leopard remaining in the People's Menagerie, the "November plotters," the basement of The Great Hall of Conciliation, etc. were so apt I assumed at the beginning I was reading specifically about the DPRK. Five stars for this one.
"The Unpicking" Ahhhh! Brecht Evens's Panter is one of the most unsettling books I read this year and it apparently left me with the lasting impression that are completely evil, so the actions of the group in this story haunt me still. "'Oh. An Unpicking doesn't have rules. And we don't need any balls, or mats, or skittles. We do need someone to be the Baby. I think Bunny would make a good Baby.'" Shudder.
"La Mort de L'amant" A perfect case study in how an author can ramp up tension without saying too much. "He drew a hidden thumb across a hidden handle." By littering a few careful words across the landscape of his story, Stuart Johnstone builds pressure and makes you draw your own conclusions about what has happened. I love it when authors can do that.
"The Bear Trap" I honestly didn't see that coming. In much the same way that I didn't realize how much I needed to have Isaiah Quintabe foil an abductor with a grenade launcher until I read it, I didn't know how much I needed to see until I read that.
February 16, 2017
This book contains six pretty short stories. Some I loved and some were just "meh." They're so short they are actually rather hard to review so here's a breakdown of my thoughts and ratings on each.
WILD SWIMMING: (3/5)This one is represented by the cover art and sort of gave me a "creature from the black lagoon" vibe.
EAU-DE-ERIC: (4/5)A maniacal dead husband returns in the form of a stuffed teddy bear - or does he?
THE SPOTS: (2/5) Counting spots on a leopard - my least favorite.
THE UNPICKING: (4/5) So this is what my dogs stuffed toys do while we're sleeping each night?
LA MORT DE L'AMANT: (3/5) Stupid cop!
BEAR TRAP: (3/5) This book is obsessed with stuffed animals! Wait until you meet Diablo!
So overall it was a pretty decent collection. I didn't think I'd make it through THE SPOTS but I did. It was really the only one I didn't find entertaining. I figured since Stephen King recommended these, there would be some decent finds within the pages and I wasn't entirely wrong.
WILD SWIMMING: (3/5)This one is represented by the cover art and sort of gave me a "creature from the black lagoon" vibe.
EAU-DE-ERIC: (4/5)A maniacal dead husband returns in the form of a stuffed teddy bear - or does he?
THE SPOTS: (2/5) Counting spots on a leopard - my least favorite.
THE UNPICKING: (4/5) So this is what my dogs stuffed toys do while we're sleeping each night?
LA MORT DE L'AMANT: (3/5) Stupid cop!
BEAR TRAP: (3/5) This book is obsessed with stuffed animals! Wait until you meet Diablo!
So overall it was a pretty decent collection. I didn't think I'd make it through THE SPOTS but I did. It was really the only one I didn't find entertaining. I figured since Stephen King recommended these, there would be some decent finds within the pages and I wasn't entirely wrong.
July 30, 2023
Introduction - This was of course done by Stephen King, and they are usually amazing. They give the reader a teeny-tiny snippet of his backstory with brief info on what the book is about. Not this time. I felt like he phoned it in, and I do not blame him at all. A person can’t be on point for everything all of the time. Especially, when it is some kind of publicity thing done for the release of one of his books. I’m sure he is signed up to do a thousand things a month, so not representing fully on one can be forgiven. What he did do that I am going to honor in this review is, not give away the guts of each story.
1. "Wild Swimming" - Extremely Predictable.
2. "Eau-de-Eric" - Not bad but not great.
3. "The Spots" - Not bad but not great.
4. "The Unpicking" - Tied for first spot.
5. "La Mort de L’Amant" - Made me laugh.
6. "The Bear Trap" - Tied for first spot.
Overall, I am just okay with having it in my collection. Not in love or super like with it, but the cover and the twinge of remembering how much I loved Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark made it worth it. (DISCLAIMER: THIS BOOK IS NOTHING LIKE THAT INSANELY AWESOME BOOK BECAUSE THAT BOOK HAD THE BLOW YOUR MIND ART WHICH STILL TO THIS DAY TERRIFIES ME.)
Three stars to a book that was a quick and easy read, and that gave new writing voices a shot at something.
P.S. - I did like the bit at the end of each story where the story author told what thing about Stephen King stood out for them. I think all of us King lovers have that in us, and it was cool to see it on paper.
1. "Wild Swimming" - Extremely Predictable.
2. "Eau-de-Eric" - Not bad but not great.
3. "The Spots" - Not bad but not great.
4. "The Unpicking" - Tied for first spot.
5. "La Mort de L’Amant" - Made me laugh.
6. "The Bear Trap" - Tied for first spot.
Overall, I am just okay with having it in my collection. Not in love or super like with it, but the cover and the twinge of remembering how much I loved Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark made it worth it. (DISCLAIMER: THIS BOOK IS NOTHING LIKE THAT INSANELY AWESOME BOOK BECAUSE THAT BOOK HAD THE BLOW YOUR MIND ART WHICH STILL TO THIS DAY TERRIFIES ME.)
Three stars to a book that was a quick and easy read, and that gave new writing voices a shot at something.
P.S. - I did like the bit at the end of each story where the story author told what thing about Stephen King stood out for them. I think all of us King lovers have that in us, and it was cool to see it on paper.
September 18, 2016
A disappointment
I purchased this book thinking I was getting a book written by Stephen King. He wrote a few words,but what I got was something written by six other authors. Nothing against anyone of them, but to pass this off as work by Stephen King was total bull$hlt. Would never have purchased this book had I known he wasn't the author. I want my money back.
I purchased this book thinking I was getting a book written by Stephen King. He wrote a few words,but what I got was something written by six other authors. Nothing against anyone of them, but to pass this off as work by Stephen King was total bull$hlt. Would never have purchased this book had I known he wasn't the author. I want my money back.
January 28, 2024
Sadly, I give two stars. This book is not what I have expected. The only two stories I have enjoyed was: "Wild Swimming" and "The Bear Trap". Other than the other stories, I did not like at all. Plus! I would have liked if Stephen King actually put a short story himself. Eventually, he did not. Was a waste of money I have spend. I'll just place it on my shelf to be forgotten and a collection. Or maybe resale it. Who knows.
September 2, 2016
I may have mentioned it once or twice, but in case you missed it – I would by a limited edition bound copy of Stephen King’s grocery list if he ever decided to do something like that. Yes, that’s how much I love the man’s writing. On top of that, it’s published by Cemetery Dance Publications (which I may have also mentioned more than once). With those two things going for it, I knew it just had to be a win… until I discovered that the stories weren’t actually BY King, but chosen by him. When Bizarre of Bad Dreams came out, King ran a short story contest for Hodder & Stoughton Publications – a well-known UK Publishers. The stories contained within are the winner, followed by the five runner-ups. To be honest, besides the fact that it was a very quick read, some of the stories were disappointing to say the least; and I’d hate to see what the losing stories were.
1) Wild Swimming by Elodie Harper – This was the winner. While this wasn’t my least favorite, it most certainly, in my opinion, wasn’t the best. First, I’m not a fan of the way it was written; a one way email communication. Second, the story was very predictable, it really only had one ending that the reader was able to discover very early on in the story.
2) Eau-de-Eric by Manuela Saragosa – This was one of my favorites. I thought I saw the ending coming, and while I didn’t get it exactly, it was just creepy enough to be relatable; especially if you have children.
3) The Spots by Paul Bassett Davis – This was, hands down, my least favorite of the lot. The story made no sense, and again, only had one plausible ending. I agree with King when he says, “Never tell too much. The monster is always scarier when it is still under the child’s bed…” however, in this story, there needed to be more explanation to make it more relatable.
4) The Unpicking by Michael Button – This story takes a well-known theme, and ups the ante. You may want to put a lock on your child’s toy box in the future. Just saying. Well written, and creepy.
5) La Morte De L’Amant by Stuart Johnstone – A story about clichés should be described with one, avoid it like the plague. There was nothing creepy, scary, or disturbing about this story – except for how it wound up in this anthology. Absolutely nothing happens, and what’s left to the imagination is nothing short of a typical CSI episode.
6) The Bear Trap by Neil Hudson – This was my favorite; hands down. Another story where I thought I had the ending figured out, and was pleasantly surprised to find out that I didn’t; in fact, I wasn’t even close.
So, there you have it. Six stories, and read like the Sergio Leone movie: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. The eBook price of $4.99 makes it worth checking out since it comes to less than a dollar a story. And even if you only like a few of them, you’re still only out the price of a Starbucks. But still, I find it hard to believe that these were the top choices by the master himself.
1) Wild Swimming by Elodie Harper – This was the winner. While this wasn’t my least favorite, it most certainly, in my opinion, wasn’t the best. First, I’m not a fan of the way it was written; a one way email communication. Second, the story was very predictable, it really only had one ending that the reader was able to discover very early on in the story.
2) Eau-de-Eric by Manuela Saragosa – This was one of my favorites. I thought I saw the ending coming, and while I didn’t get it exactly, it was just creepy enough to be relatable; especially if you have children.
3) The Spots by Paul Bassett Davis – This was, hands down, my least favorite of the lot. The story made no sense, and again, only had one plausible ending. I agree with King when he says, “Never tell too much. The monster is always scarier when it is still under the child’s bed…” however, in this story, there needed to be more explanation to make it more relatable.
4) The Unpicking by Michael Button – This story takes a well-known theme, and ups the ante. You may want to put a lock on your child’s toy box in the future. Just saying. Well written, and creepy.
5) La Morte De L’Amant by Stuart Johnstone – A story about clichés should be described with one, avoid it like the plague. There was nothing creepy, scary, or disturbing about this story – except for how it wound up in this anthology. Absolutely nothing happens, and what’s left to the imagination is nothing short of a typical CSI episode.
6) The Bear Trap by Neil Hudson – This was my favorite; hands down. Another story where I thought I had the ending figured out, and was pleasantly surprised to find out that I didn’t; in fact, I wasn’t even close.
So, there you have it. Six stories, and read like the Sergio Leone movie: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. The eBook price of $4.99 makes it worth checking out since it comes to less than a dollar a story. And even if you only like a few of them, you’re still only out the price of a Starbucks. But still, I find it hard to believe that these were the top choices by the master himself.
June 13, 2019
3.5 stars
This book was definitely entertaining to read. For the most part, the stories weren’t terribly scary. A better title might have been: One Scary Story With Four Other Slightly Disturbing Tales and a Satirical Political Statement. But that’s an awfully long title and it would have really ruined the lovely cover art.
My main complaint, aside from the lack of scariness, is that most of these stories felt underdeveloped. Since they were submissions for a contest, I am guessing that there was a character limit. Generally the thing I love about short stories is the lack of needless fillers I sometimes see in novels. Short stories get to the point. Unfortunately, I now realize that with limitations, they can get to the point too quickly.
I rated each story individually and then averaged them out for the rating on the book as a whole. My individual ratings and thoughts are:
Wild Swimming by Elodie Harper ~ 3 ~ An intriguing concept executed creatively. I felt it needed a bit more meat to it. It reached its conclusion too quickly.
Eau-de-Eric by Manuela Saragosa ~ 4 ~ This was pretty interesting. While the story wasn’t necessarily very scary, it definitely produced an eerie vibe with what it seemed to represent: One’s inability to ever fully escape an abusive relationship. That hit particularly close to home for me.
The Spots by Paul Bassett Davies ~ 3.5 ~ Going in and expecting more of a straightforward scare, I was a bit baffled by this one as it ended. Mind you, I was very tired when I read it and needed a clearer head to process what I had read. The story came across as a rather absurd scenario but my take on it, after thinking it over, was that it represented political control. In that, it is frightening but it’s one you have to think about to actually conjure some level of fear.
The Unpicking by Michael Button ~ 5 ~ This is the tale of Toy Story gone wrong. Despite the lack of gore, the author really got into my head so I could imagine the graphic nature of what was to come. It was incredibly creepy and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. I’d like to see more from this writer, for sure!
La Mort De L’Amant by Stuart Johnstone ~ 2.5 ~ The concept was interesting but really, this was just a story. It wasn’t scary at all. I was rather disappointed.
The Bear Trap by Neil Hudson ~ 3 ~ I am pretty sure this is the only story that contained gore. I saw where it was going but it still was an interesting read. I definitely think this has more room for development, and with that development, I think the scary elements could be greatly enhanced.
My final take on this is that one should go into it expecting to be entertained but not necessarily frightened, unless you are one who scares easily.
It’s an enjoyable book and I am glad I had the chance to read it.
This book was definitely entertaining to read. For the most part, the stories weren’t terribly scary. A better title might have been: One Scary Story With Four Other Slightly Disturbing Tales and a Satirical Political Statement. But that’s an awfully long title and it would have really ruined the lovely cover art.
My main complaint, aside from the lack of scariness, is that most of these stories felt underdeveloped. Since they were submissions for a contest, I am guessing that there was a character limit. Generally the thing I love about short stories is the lack of needless fillers I sometimes see in novels. Short stories get to the point. Unfortunately, I now realize that with limitations, they can get to the point too quickly.
I rated each story individually and then averaged them out for the rating on the book as a whole. My individual ratings and thoughts are:
Wild Swimming by Elodie Harper ~ 3 ~ An intriguing concept executed creatively. I felt it needed a bit more meat to it. It reached its conclusion too quickly.
Eau-de-Eric by Manuela Saragosa ~ 4 ~ This was pretty interesting. While the story wasn’t necessarily very scary, it definitely produced an eerie vibe with what it seemed to represent: One’s inability to ever fully escape an abusive relationship. That hit particularly close to home for me.
The Spots by Paul Bassett Davies ~ 3.5 ~ Going in and expecting more of a straightforward scare, I was a bit baffled by this one as it ended. Mind you, I was very tired when I read it and needed a clearer head to process what I had read. The story came across as a rather absurd scenario but my take on it, after thinking it over, was that it represented political control. In that, it is frightening but it’s one you have to think about to actually conjure some level of fear.
The Unpicking by Michael Button ~ 5 ~ This is the tale of Toy Story gone wrong. Despite the lack of gore, the author really got into my head so I could imagine the graphic nature of what was to come. It was incredibly creepy and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. I’d like to see more from this writer, for sure!
La Mort De L’Amant by Stuart Johnstone ~ 2.5 ~ The concept was interesting but really, this was just a story. It wasn’t scary at all. I was rather disappointed.
The Bear Trap by Neil Hudson ~ 3 ~ I am pretty sure this is the only story that contained gore. I saw where it was going but it still was an interesting read. I definitely think this has more room for development, and with that development, I think the scary elements could be greatly enhanced.
My final take on this is that one should go into it expecting to be entertained but not necessarily frightened, unless you are one who scares easily.
It’s an enjoyable book and I am glad I had the chance to read it.
July 14, 2021
Six stories that were in a contest which Stephen King judged. He liked all six and suggested they all be published as a collection.
Had this on my Kindle for awhile and want to tackle it before I move on to something else.
1. "Wild Swimming" by Elodie Harper - Good. Expert swimmer goes to remote village to explore a sunken medieval town underwater. Told in 1st person POV through emails to a friend back home.
2. "Eau-de-Eric" by Manuela Saragosa- Good
A widow buys her child a teddy bear in a thrift store. The bear smells like her deceased husband who abused her. The child even names the bear after her deceased father. "Eric." Is the bear somehow possessed by the real Eric's ghost?
3. "The Spots" by Paul Bassett Davies -Weird
The "leader" has put Max to the test of counting a leopard's spots. When Max fails, he flees, but is yet caught and made to complete his task which will end his life. I can't help but think this story has more meaning than what is simply implied. Told in 1st person.
4. "The Unpicking" by Michael Button -Good and creepy
What do toys in the toybox do at night when a child is sleeping? They unpick!
5. "La Mort de L'Amant" by Stuart John - Good, Very short.
A man looking over a bridge is spotted by a police officer who thinks he may be trying to commit suicide. The office also notices something in the backseat of the man's truck. Is it his murdered wife? Or was the man telling the truth about it being a deer he just struck?
6. "The Bear Trap" by Neil Hudson -Good
Post nuclear in the south. A 12 year old boy has a thing for bears. When a man comes along and holds a gun out to the boy, looking to take his home and food (his pa was a prepper), the bears help get rid of this pest.
Had this on my Kindle for awhile and want to tackle it before I move on to something else.
1. "Wild Swimming" by Elodie Harper - Good. Expert swimmer goes to remote village to explore a sunken medieval town underwater. Told in 1st person POV through emails to a friend back home.
2. "Eau-de-Eric" by Manuela Saragosa- Good
A widow buys her child a teddy bear in a thrift store. The bear smells like her deceased husband who abused her. The child even names the bear after her deceased father. "Eric." Is the bear somehow possessed by the real Eric's ghost?
3. "The Spots" by Paul Bassett Davies -Weird
The "leader" has put Max to the test of counting a leopard's spots. When Max fails, he flees, but is yet caught and made to complete his task which will end his life. I can't help but think this story has more meaning than what is simply implied. Told in 1st person.
4. "The Unpicking" by Michael Button -Good and creepy
What do toys in the toybox do at night when a child is sleeping? They unpick!
5. "La Mort de L'Amant" by Stuart John - Good, Very short.
A man looking over a bridge is spotted by a police officer who thinks he may be trying to commit suicide. The office also notices something in the backseat of the man's truck. Is it his murdered wife? Or was the man telling the truth about it being a deer he just struck?
6. "The Bear Trap" by Neil Hudson -Good
Post nuclear in the south. A 12 year old boy has a thing for bears. When a man comes along and holds a gun out to the boy, looking to take his home and food (his pa was a prepper), the bears help get rid of this pest.
September 28, 2016
Honestly I wasn't all that impressed with this collection. There were a few I thought were quite good. One in particular was excellent. The others... well it's pretty uneven as far as quality. I'm not going to see which ones I liked here and which I didn't, but if you read this go into it expecting to like some and not the others. Or maybe you'll like them all and I have bad taste. :)
October 22, 2023
This was a really fun read for spooky season. Each story, penned by a different writer from the UK, was quick and enjoyable. The collection even included a couple of post apocalyptic or dystopian tales which was quite fitting since all six stories were chosen by the legend who penned "The Stand" and "The Long Walk."
My favorites were "Eau de Eric" in which an abusive (and very dead) husband possesses his daughter's new teddy bear, much to her delight and her mother's horror; and "Spots," which tells the tale of a man tasked with counting a leopard's spots at the demand of his school-time friend who is now the terrifying "supreme leader" of all.
Each story came with the writer's biographical information, stated what inspired the story, and featured the author's thoughts on Stephen King. These blurbs were also fun to read. Some of the writers of these six short stories also have novel(s) under their belts, and I'll be checking those out now.
My favorites were "Eau de Eric" in which an abusive (and very dead) husband possesses his daughter's new teddy bear, much to her delight and her mother's horror; and "Spots," which tells the tale of a man tasked with counting a leopard's spots at the demand of his school-time friend who is now the terrifying "supreme leader" of all.
Each story came with the writer's biographical information, stated what inspired the story, and featured the author's thoughts on Stephen King. These blurbs were also fun to read. Some of the writers of these six short stories also have novel(s) under their belts, and I'll be checking those out now.
August 21, 2017
This was an okay collection of stories. I wouldn't necessarily classify them as scary per se. My favorites were The Unpicking which involves stuffed animals and The Bear Trap, both were really great.
February 18, 2018
I love the thrill that horror stories bring. These days, its hard to find well-written horror stories. When I saw this book, I immediately picked it up. But then I saw that the short stories weren't actually written by King so I felt hesitant to continue. Well, I was pleasantly surprised by how good the shorts were. I hope these up and coming authors create more amazing stories.
April 5, 2022
Wild Swimming by Elodie Harper ★★★★
Eau-de-Eric by Manuela Saragosa ★★★1/2
The Spots by Paul Bassett Davies ★★★1/2
The Unpicking by Michael Button ★★★★
La Mort de L' Amant by Stuart Johnstone ★★★
The Bear by Neil Hudson ★★★★
Eau-de-Eric by Manuela Saragosa ★★★1/2
The Spots by Paul Bassett Davies ★★★1/2
The Unpicking by Michael Button ★★★★
La Mort de L' Amant by Stuart Johnstone ★★★
The Bear by Neil Hudson ★★★★
January 4, 2019
If you've ever wondered what Stephen King thinks is scary writing outside of his own tales, this is the book for you. The six stories within this small collection were hand-picked by King. A full three of the six stories ("THE UNPICKING", "EAU-DE-ERIC," and "THE BEAR TRAP") prominently feature toys, including plush/stuffed animals. These three are among the better stories in the collection.
The remaining stories ("LA MORT DE L'AMANT", "WILD SWIMMING", and "THE SPOTS") all read as if they are first parts among larger works. Of those three, "THE SPOTS" is my favorite because it reads very much like a George Orwell story.
I'm a huge fan of King, but I was a bit surprised by some of his choices for inclusion in this volume. I nearly put down the book after reading his introduction, which came off as trying to sound excited about the works within instead of actually being excited about them.
As for the meat of this book, I am certain King could have selected three more toy-themed stories to accompany "THE UNPICKING", "EAU-DE-ERIC", and "THE BEAR TRAP". Then, instead of titling the volume something mediocre like Six Scary Stories, he could've used a themed title. Maybe something like Stephen King's Toy Box or Tales From The Playground.
Six Scary Stories is a quick read and includes some refreshing voices. However, it's probably not a volume that I will return to when I'm inclined to read a scary short tale before bed.
The remaining stories ("LA MORT DE L'AMANT", "WILD SWIMMING", and "THE SPOTS") all read as if they are first parts among larger works. Of those three, "THE SPOTS" is my favorite because it reads very much like a George Orwell story.
I'm a huge fan of King, but I was a bit surprised by some of his choices for inclusion in this volume. I nearly put down the book after reading his introduction, which came off as trying to sound excited about the works within instead of actually being excited about them.
As for the meat of this book, I am certain King could have selected three more toy-themed stories to accompany "THE UNPICKING", "EAU-DE-ERIC", and "THE BEAR TRAP". Then, instead of titling the volume something mediocre like Six Scary Stories, he could've used a themed title. Maybe something like Stephen King's Toy Box or Tales From The Playground.
Six Scary Stories is a quick read and includes some refreshing voices. However, it's probably not a volume that I will return to when I'm inclined to read a scary short tale before bed.
September 4, 2016
Stephen King's British publisher wanted to have a short story competition to accompany the publication of his The Bazaar of Bad Dreams and he agreed, because, hey, he likes short stories. These were the six best, including the winner of the competition and the first story in the anthology "Wild Swimming" by Elodie Harper.
I did not find these to be good stories. Maybe scary short stories are incredibly hard. I've read a number of anthologies of them for NetGalley and I'm nearly always horribly disappointed. Perhaps King just makes it look easy. Anyway....I didn't like them.
Book includes:
"Wild Swimming" - Elodie Harper
"Eau-de-Eric" - Manuel Saragosa
"The Spots" - Paul Bassett Davies
"The Unpicking"- Michael Button
"La Mort de L'amant"-Stuart Johnstone
"The Bear Trap"- Neil Hudson
I did not find these to be good stories. Maybe scary short stories are incredibly hard. I've read a number of anthologies of them for NetGalley and I'm nearly always horribly disappointed. Perhaps King just makes it look easy. Anyway....I didn't like them.
Book includes:
"Wild Swimming" - Elodie Harper
"Eau-de-Eric" - Manuel Saragosa
"The Spots" - Paul Bassett Davies
"The Unpicking"- Michael Button
"La Mort de L'amant"-Stuart Johnstone
"The Bear Trap"- Neil Hudson
February 14, 2017
This book falsely claimed to be by Steven King. In fact he wrote the Introduction and judged the contest that these stories were part of. I liked as couple of the stories but felt misled in the overall transaction.
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